Originally posted by Scribble
I generally find Sam Harris to be pretty thorough and he states his points well. He's not as aggressive as Dawkins is or Hitchens was.However, I can't really get behind statements such as:
because of how arrogant they come across. Like yes, the universe is amazing, infinitely so, but as a human, I personally find humans to be more relatable than unconscious celestial bodies, and as such, can see why somebody would be more likely to relate to Christ than a mass of matter millions of light years away.I don't see why hardline atheists need to be so aggressive with their opinions, personally. I find people who are so sure of the lack of a higher power just as obnoxious and arrogant as someone 100% sure of a specific one. Just because the religions on Earth are massively reductive, why do people feel the need to take the binary opposite stance?
Have these people read up about quantum physics? Some of that stuff is just as unbelievable as the idea of a big guy in the sky with magic powers. Or ghosts, for that matter. We've discovered a lot about science that has changed the way we perceive existence. Who is to say we won't discover even more unfathomable things that will change the way we understand life? In the same way that we laugh at people of yore for thinking the Earth was flat, maybe people in the future will laugh at us for not thinking ghosts/spirits or whatever weren't real. Who knows. I like to leave things open, personally.
Okay so he might kind of act like an arrogant dick, but it doesn't mean he's wrong about the science he is talking about.
You're saying you like to stay open to things and that is cool, but the guy is a scientist and he goes by the data, by the studies, by what we know of the universe. Yes, science is also changing and we learn new things. It doesn't mean there aren't things we can be sure about.
I also don't think the fact we "come from the stars" so to speak..means spirits can't exist. I personally believe there is an afterlife. Not a specific heaven/hell afterlife, but a place where consciousness exists nonetheless.
Questions not getting answered?
Lot of that going around.
Surtur never did reply with what he heard that he considered so hateful on the previous page, for instance. I strongly suspect there was no more than the quoting or paraphrasing of a Bible passage that made him type that. Frank talk is not always pleasant to hear.
Another good video:
Originally posted by riv6672My thoughts are rich and deep, and perfectly expressed here:
So no answers, YouTube videos to substitute for independent thought, business as usual.
In my opinion, God is merely anything science cant explain. A world beyond reality that we will never understand as our conscience will never comprehend such an absolute supernatural deity. Its the embodiment of what cannot be explained with a purpose that cannot be understood. Its farcical and unscientific. Therefore, i absolutely do believe there is a god, but he is getting smaller every day.
It was disproven at the very first instance of "a voice from the lord" being rejected as a valid defence.
They make you put your hand on a bible.
You do.
Swear to Goddenbury.
You do.
Testify under God that God Commanded you to commit 'X' act.
These fellow God fearers don't have the faith enough to release you there and then.
Originally posted by bluewaterrider
Questions not getting answered?
Lot of that going around.Surtur never did reply with what he heard that he considered so hateful on the previous page, for instance. I strongly suspect there was no more than the quoting or paraphrasing of a Bible passage that made him type that. Frank talk is not always pleasant to hear.
This is an old thread and I wasn't quite sure what you meant, but then I found this:
Originally posted by bluewaterrider
I'd be interested in knowing what these alarming and hateful comments were. For the Bible is fairly uncompromising on the subject, and if your Brother didn't know you consider yourself gay, the ONLY thing he would need to do is quote Scripture to you in answer to a question and you'd probably find yourself feeling very hurt indeed, not understanding no one can truthfully answer what the Bible has to say about homosexuality if they want to portray homosexuality in an even remotely positive light.
Hmm, you are acting like I'm some closeted gay student who was offended by something a Brother said. No, I'm not gay myself nor do I tend to give a shit if someone is. But if you must know the comments he made, it was about castrating suspected homosexuals.
These comments were made to the entire class, which at that point consisted only of like 13 students.