Originally posted by Palynka That makes a lot of sense to me. I'm not sure if I understand where you want to go with this, though. We're talking about people who have rejected the notion of a supreme moral being, still calling something "God".
I can believe that some people who have personally rejected the notion of a supreme moral being would pay lip service, because they know the people generally believe in God as a supreme moral being. I am sure that many politicians are like this. OTOH, I have known some people, one being my sister, who think of God as a 'principle' and don't mind using the word in that sense. If some people think God is a living being of some sort, it's OK by them. It's just too bad that the respect isn't always mutual.
Originally posted by Palynka That makes a lot of sense to me. I'm not sure if I understand where you want to go with this, though. We're talking about people who have rejected the notion of a supreme moral being, still calling something "God".
Do you object to pantheists referring to the universe itself as god?
Originally posted by JS357 I can believe that some people who have personally rejected the notion of a supreme moral being would pay lip service, because they know the people generally believe in God as a supreme moral being. I am sure that many politicians are like this. OTOH, I have known some people, one being my sister, who think of God as a 'principle' and don't mind using the word ...[text shortened]... ing of some sort, it's OK by them. It's just too bad that the respect isn't always mutual.
So, in a sense, it is doublespeak. Either that, or personal confusion.
Originally posted by Palynka So, in a sense, it is doublespeak. Either that, or personal confusion.
Probably in most cases, it is one or the other. I know I use language like "God help us" or "God only knows" without believing in a god. Like, today's stock market behavior triggers both thoughts.
Originally posted by JS357 Probably in most cases, it is one or the other. I know I use language like "God help us" or "God only knows" without believing in a god. Like, today's stock market behavior triggers both thoughts.