Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeThe words are "all your heart, soul, mind, and strength"
By strength, do you mean 'actions?' (That we show love for God in the way we act and treat others? )
Our good deeds may earn us rewards in heaven (though there is a litmus test as far as them being actually good or not), but clearly what Christ was talking about involves intangibles, not physical actions.
Originally posted by @tom-wolseyIt's important you read that in context old chap:
The words are "all your heart, soul, mind, and strength"
Our good deeds may earn us rewards in heaven (though there is a litmus test as far as them being actually good or not), but clearly what Christ was talking about involves intangibles, not physical actions.
'Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'
How do you understand the 'like unto it' bit?
Originally posted by @romans1009Good point, except it only shows up in apologetics.
Another false trope of the typical online atheist - that people only believe in God to explain the unexplainable. ...
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeYou understand the connection between God and goodness? That man apart from God is not good? That worshipping God, praying to God and reading the Bible are ways we strengthen God’s influence in our lives and thereby increase the good that we do?
His attributes are actually self-propagating, if we are to bestow upon Him omnipotence and omniscience.
That's the odd thing about the Christian God, a reportedly all-powerful, wise and perfectly loving deity who favors words and worship over basic goodness.
Originally posted by @romans1009People were good and bad before your god showed up for a bit. Where did it go anyway?
You understand the connection between God and goodness? That man apart from God is not good? That worshipping God, praying to God and reading the Bible are ways we strengthen God’s influence in our lives and thereby increase the good that we do?
Originally posted by @apathistGod’s been around forever - a lot longer than human beings have been around. He didn’t just “show up for a bit.” He’s always been here and always will be. What a pity you don’t know that.
People were good and bad before your god showed up for a bit. Where did it go anyway?
Five Causes of Belief in God:
1) A Need for Control
Research by Aaron Kay (now at Duke University) and colleagues suggests that when someone is feeling personal uncertainty, or a lack of personal control, they are more likely to believe that God is in control. The basic idea is that people have a need for control, and when they receive this via secular routes (like cops or the government) they do not have the same need to believe that God possesses control. Evolutionary psychologists have made similar arguments, citing data showing that when economic and health security are high, people tend to be less religious.
2) A Need to Cope with Death
Reminders of death increase people's belief in spirits and the power of prayer. Moreover, having people read that there is life after death (even atheists) reduces people's psychological distress in response to thinking about death.
3) Suffering
Kurt Gray (University of Maryland) has conducted several studies showing that people believe in God more strongly after being exposed to unexplained suffering. For instance, if people read of suffering that can be explained (i.e., a man loses his job) this would not increase belief in God. However, if people read that am unexpected flood had caused a family to die, this would increase belief. Ironically, suffering increases theism.
4) A Need for Justice
When people think that a God that can punish is watching them, they behave more morally. Moreover, they also feel less of a need to punish others. It follows from this research (though the study has not been done) that people should have less belief in God (at least his punishing characteristics) when they are feeling like secular sources of authority are providing ample justice. Somewhat supporting this, religious people have less distrust of atheists after watching a video of police effectiveness. The need to punish others (who have not been punished) is associated with belief in God.
5) Experiential Thinking
There are (at least) two primary modes of thinking and decision making. One is called experiential thinking, in which a person relies primarily on their "gut" or their feelings when making a decision. The other is logical thinking, in which a person makes a decision in a more cold, calculated manner.
Research suggests that belief in God is higher among people who more often think experientially. Moreover, forcing people to think experientially in an experiment heightens their belief in God, compared to people who are forced to think logically.
www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-big-questions/201202/five-causes-belief-in-god
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeWhen a man defines God, God ceases to exist.
'If I were not an atheist, I would believe in a God who would choose to save people on the basis of the totality of their lives and not the pattern of their words. I think he would prefer an honest and righteous atheist to a TV preacher whose every word is God, God, God, and whose every deed is foul, foul, foul.'
Isaac Asimov
Amen brother.
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeThe failure of the imagination begins when one equates understanding with faith in God.
“Whatever we cannot easily understand we call God; this saves much wear and tear on the brain tissues …. Belief in the supernatural reflects a failure of the imagination.”
Edward Abbey (American writer).
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
Originally posted by @secondsonNot literally of course lol
When a man defines God, God ceases to exist.
Originally posted by @secondsonProbably my favorite verse from Proverbs. Used that as a memory verse when I was in the hospital. Very effective.
The failure of the imagination begins when one equates understanding with faith in God.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeMore psychobabble based on the idea that people only believe in God to get something from Him. Is that why children love their earthly father?
Five Causes of Belief in God:
1) A Need for Control
Research by Aaron Kay (now at Duke University) and colleagues suggests that when someone is feeling personal uncertainty, or a lack of personal control, they are more likely to believe that God is in control. The basic idea is that people have a need for control, and when they receive this via ...[text shortened]... gically.
www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-big-questions/201202/five-causes-belief-in-god
Originally posted by @romans1009Exactly.
Not literally of course lol
When a man defines God apart from the revelation of God about Himself he does so based on faulty reasoning, which leads to atheism because that man fails to understand that the knowledge of God comes from God and not from man.
That man then thinks God fails to measure up to his standards of what the nature and attributes of God should be, which creates a void in that man's mind called atheism.
Originally posted by @romans1009Yes sir. It was the first verse I memorized after John 1:1.
Probably my favorite verse from Proverbs. Used that as a memory verse when I was in the hospital. Very effective.
Originally posted by @secondsonSmall correction sir. One is not 'led' to atheism. One 'begins' at atheism. One is (mis)lead to theism by the constructs of other men.
Exactly.
When a man defines God apart from the revelation of God about Himself he does so based on faulty reasoning, which leads to atheism because that man fails to understand that the knowledge of God comes from God and not from man.
That man then thinks God fails to measure up to his standards of what the nature and attributes of God should be, which creates a void in that man's mind called atheism.