I hope to learn something here, what you think.
My thought is the purpose of religion is to bring ones own life into harmony with the will of God. Agree or disagree .
Curious what you think , believer and atheist .
What is the purpose of religion
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Bust Nak
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Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #21Hey, I am right here, a moral authority if you need one.Tcg wrote: I have found no reason to conclude that such an authority exists.
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ttruscott
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Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #22On the moral grounds that you have claimed you would accept a forced morality so no one could even think of sinning over our free will allowance to sin, I deny your authority!
PCE Theology as I see it...
We had an existence with a free will in Sheol before the creation of the physical universe. Here we chose to be able to become holy or to be eternally evil in YHWH's sight. Then the physical universe was created and all sinners were sent to earth.
This theology debunks the need to base Christianity upon the blasphemy of creating us in Adam's sin.
We had an existence with a free will in Sheol before the creation of the physical universe. Here we chose to be able to become holy or to be eternally evil in YHWH's sight. Then the physical universe was created and all sinners were sent to earth.
This theology debunks the need to base Christianity upon the blasphemy of creating us in Adam's sin.
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Tcg
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Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #23ttruscott wrote:Tcg wrote:Then we don't agree at all. I have found no reason to conclude that such an authority exists. We may wish such a thing exists, but our desire doesn't create it. Tcg
Amen! My answer:
Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding....of the bible, of the church authority or anything of man. WE must learn to Hear Him and follow the Spirit.
I'm not sure why my reply earned your, "Amen!", when we seem to be saying the exact opposite.
Our understanding, and that of other humans, appears to be all we have to lean on. WE must decide for ourselves. There is no authority to do that work for us. No GOD to hear from or Spirit to follow.
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
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Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
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I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
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Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
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Tcg
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Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #24dio9 wrote: [Replying to Tcg]
What about moral authority? would you not agree people need a just moral authority?
I don't believe humans need anything that we don't have.
If you are referring to some other-than-human authority, then no, we don't need it. Even if we did, that need wouldn't create such a thing.
Tcg
Last edited by Tcg on Mon Feb 25, 2019 2:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
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Tcg
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Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #25Yes, but I wasn't referring to a moral authority in that reply.
MatthewS brought up the concept of a just authority who mediates our affairs. That is the authority I see no reason to conclude exists.
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #26[Replying to Tcg]
But wouldn't you agree we need a moral authority better than the one we have? That's how we progress . We believe we can do better. Some of us do anyway.Where does that desire come from.
But wouldn't you agree we need a moral authority better than the one we have? That's how we progress . We believe we can do better. Some of us do anyway.Where does that desire come from.
Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #27[Replying to post 21 by Bust Nak]
We may not have a perfect moral authority among us but we have some imperfect moral authority , its religion. God would be the perfect . Its a human thing to believe we can always do better. without exception We want our children to live in a better world.
We may not have a perfect moral authority among us but we have some imperfect moral authority , its religion. God would be the perfect . Its a human thing to believe we can always do better. without exception We want our children to live in a better world.
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Tcg
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Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #28dio9 wrote: [Replying to Tcg]
But wouldn't you agree we need a moral authority better than the one we have?
I've already answered that:
I don't believe humans need anything that we don't have.
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #29[Replying to Tcg]
There are always exceptions but it is clear somethings are absolutely wrong, such as lying cheating stealing murdering adultery this is absolute . Where does it come from? Who knows it just is. God is a word we use meaning absolute value.
Even though many Catholic priests are pedophiles and many evangelical ministers are adulterers pedophilia and adultery are absolutely wrong.
Religion's absolute purpose is to point the way toward absolute value . Not a way to barter god making prayers and offerings to get something back.
There are always exceptions but it is clear somethings are absolutely wrong, such as lying cheating stealing murdering adultery this is absolute . Where does it come from? Who knows it just is. God is a word we use meaning absolute value.
Even though many Catholic priests are pedophiles and many evangelical ministers are adulterers pedophilia and adultery are absolutely wrong.
Religion's absolute purpose is to point the way toward absolute value . Not a way to barter god making prayers and offerings to get something back.
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William
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Re: What is the purpose of religion
Post #30[Replying to post 29 by dio9]
The purpose of any religion, is displayed in their outward expressions.
The purpose of any religion, is displayed in their outward expressions.
