Some people believe there must be life on other planets and some people don't. Neither side can prove that there is or there isn't life elsewhere in the universe. Some people are engaged in searching for it. Others are not much affected/interested by the question.
People who believe there must be life on other planets are doing no harm ~ unless they start threatening or punishing those who don't. Those who don't believe there is life on other planets are similarly doing no harm ~ unless they start sanctioning those who do.
Doesn't this serve as a simple analogy for theism and atheism ~ for belief and lack of belief?
If so, it makes theistic ideologies based on supposedly revealed instructions, threats and rewards sound very mundane and parochial and not "divine" at all.
@fmf saidIt doesn't even sound like the best mankind could have come up with ~ for matters supposedly so momentous ~ such as 'everlasting life'.
If so, it makes theistic ideologies based on supposedly revealed instructions, threats and rewards sound very mundane and parochial and not "divine" at all.
Ah yes, but religion has always been a driver of culture and a means of maintaining social order.
So, for that purpose, mankind - through countless god figures and religions - may have come up with something that has been effective enough.
Extraterrestrialism
1. There are intelligent lifeforms in the universe aside from human beings.
2. They could visit us as soon as tomorrow; human beings must be ready.
3. They will expect us to know this, to be awaiting them, and to be ready to be subservient to them.
4. They could take harsh action against all human beings if they find there are some who didn't believe they'd visit us.
5. All human beings should therefore believe 1 to 3 are true in case 4 is true.
6. All human beings who don't comply with 5 are irrational and anti-social for endangering everyone.
What other tenets could "Extraterrestrialism" have to make it an interesting prism for creating 'doctrine' [obligations] based on the gap between belief and lack of belief?
@fmf saidLet's talk about reality instead of these disjointed abstractions you seek to employ as analogous to real world experience.
Some people believe there must be life on other planets and some people don't. Neither side can prove that there is or there isn't life elsewhere in the universe. Some people are engaged in searching for it. Others are not much affected/interested by the question.
People who believe there must be life on other planets are doing no harm ~ unless they start threatening or punish ...[text shortened]... revealed instructions, threats and rewards sound very mundane and parochial and not "divine" at all.
Here are a set of verses, if understood correctly, that may shed some light on what I'm saying.
Matthew 11:16-19
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
The proof is in the pudding.
You seek to support an idea by contrasting two opposing beliefs, and infer an analogy to the existence of Devine writ based on the existence of opposing world views.
Your rationale is convoluted and cancels out your analogy because it is based on a supposition.
@fmf said.., but religion has always been a driver of culture and a means of maintaining social order."
It doesn't even sound like the best mankind could have come up with ~ for matters supposedly so momentous ~ such as 'everlasting life'.
Ah yes, but religion has always been a driver of culture and a means of maintaining social order.
So, for that purpose, mankind - through countless god figures and religions - may have come up with something that has been effective enough.
Not entirely true. Whether by the code of Hammurabi or the law of Moses social order is maintained by government.
@fmf saidNot effective enough.
So, for that purpose, mankind - through countless god figures and religions - may have come up with something that has been effective enough.
For all the "countless god figures and religions" mankind "has come up with" he hasn't solved or resolved a single issue plaguing the human race.
Death reigns.
At least it did till Jesus settled the score.
@fmf said1. All one needs is Jesus as savior to resolve his eternal life questions.
Extraterrestrialism
1. There are intelligent lifeforms in the universe aside from human beings.
2. They could visit us as soon as tomorrow; human beings must be ready.
3. They will expect us to know this, to be awaiting them, and to be ready to be subservient to them.
4. They could take harsh action against all human beings if they find there are some who didn't belie ...[text shortened]... ting prism for creating 'doctrine' [obligations] based on the gap between belief and lack of belief?
2. All one needs is Jesus as Lord to resolve his temporal life questions.
No alien beings needed.
@secondson saidIt's true that, for the Extraterrestrialism analogy, the extraterrestrials don't need to actually come to Earth.
No alien beings needed.
@secondson saidYes, there is no divine element in this thought experiment. It's simply about doctrine founded on belief and the lack of belief.
You seek to support an idea by contrasting two opposing beliefs, and infer an analogy to the existence of Devine writ based on the existence of opposing world views.
@fmf said7. All human beings who won't comply with 5 should be burnt at the stake before they endanger everyone.
Extraterrestrialism
1. There are intelligent lifeforms in the universe aside from human beings.
2. They could visit us as soon as tomorrow; human beings must be ready.
3. They will expect us to know this, to be awaiting them, and to be ready to be subservient to them.
4. They could take harsh action against all human beings if they find there are some who didn't belie ...[text shortened]... ting prism for creating 'doctrine' [obligations] based on the gap between belief and lack of belief?
