Originally posted by wolfgang59Thankful to whom? Come now, fess up.
Oh dear it really was too difficult for you wasn't it?
I AM NOT THANKING IMAGINERY BEINGS
I am just being THANKFUL.
Thankful for my family, my food, my house, my health and after
reading your post extremely thankful for my intellect.
And just out of curiosity when did you last read a book?
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Originally posted by wolfgang59This is quite typical, the question is, of what benefit is atheism for its adherents, not how good is atheism in comparison to other religious stances (and before anyone attempts it, let me pre-empt you by stating that i hold atheism to be a matter of faith, considering that its adherents rely on unobserved phenomena) but seeing that you ask, I have an exemplar, the Christ, a set of readily defined moral principles, a sense of higher purpose (being part of a grand universal scheme), hope and comfort from scripture, scriptural examples, a world wide family of brothers and sisters, but of course, the question is, of what benefit is atheism, not how good is it to Christianity by comparison.
Without resorting to your very optimistic after-life theory ...
of what benefit is religion?
What have you in your life that I do not have?
Originally posted by robbie carrobieYou can't 'adopt' it. You have to be convinced of it. Same goes for me and theism. Same goes for pretty much anyone. You can't just pick what you want to believe.
Yes, what benefit does it bestow upon its adherents, if I adopt it, how will I be benefited, how will others be benefited and if its on no benefit then what's the point in adopting it?
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Originally posted by SwissGambitOk sure, lets fine tune it, if i am convinced of atheism, how will I and others be benefited? 😀
You can't 'adopt' it. You have to be convinced of it. Same goes for me and theism. Same goes for pretty much anyone. You can't just pick what you want to believe.
Originally posted by robbie carrobieThere's no guarantee it will benefit you. You may feel a step closer to truth, or you may miss the comforts of the old belief. Different people react in different ways.
Ok sure, lets fine tune it, if i am convinced of atheism, how will I and others be benefited? 😀
Originally posted by robbie carrobieYou can have your whole family praying to the tooth fairy like wolfgang does.
Yes, what benefit does it bestow upon its adherents, if I adopt it, how will I be benefited, how will others be benefited and if its of no benefit then what's the point in adopting it?
Originally posted by robbie carrobieFor starters you'll be able to read those pesky science books without fear that the words contained within might diminish your religious convictions. You'll no longer have to crumble and claim your closed minded and ignorant when discussing science which contradicts your religious beliefs.
There are other problems with atheism, one simply needs to ask the question, of what benefit is it? If I adopt atheism, how will I and others be benefited and the answer is not entirely clear.
For the Christian by way of example can point towards a set of guiding principles, an exemplar, the Christ, a morality, a Christian one which acts like a b ...[text shortened]... ly clear just what benefit atheism bestows upon its standard bearer and why one should adopt it.
Originally posted by robbie carrobieI cannot see benefit in any of these except perhaps "hope and comfort".
I have an exemplar,
1. the Christ,
2. a set of readily defined moral principles,
3. a sense of higher purpose (being part of a grand universal scheme),
4. hope and comfort from scripture, scriptural examples,
5. a world wide family of brothers and sisters,
1. What benefit?
2. I am quite capable of defining my own morals.
3. Shades of megalomania?
4. I concede that some take comfort from their religion.
5. Sounds creapy and to be avoided.
Originally posted by wolfgang59Grateful and thankful are not the same things. Deep down you feel like you are appreciative of a higher being for the life you are living now. No need to fight it. Acknowledge it and move forward my friend. In the meantime do you have the hooked on phonics number?
Don't give up on that Reading Recovery program Joe!
Originally posted by robbie carrobieDo you believe the earth goes around the sun?
Yes, what benefit does it bestow upon its adherents, if I adopt it, how will I be benefited, how will others be benefited and if its of no benefit then what's the point in adopting it?
If so, of what benefit is that knowledge to you?
What is the point of adopting your wild heliocentric belief?