h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Actually I'm a bit shocked what I posted in 18. Yes I do object to a society built on misguided ideas, as I see them. But I could live with it, and beaver away happily on my own in a little room with my microscope and chemistry set.

<> Robyn

Well, they all do, whilst pretending to 'discuss and debate' religion. Nobody is actually open to any opinion other than their own. Which is why I thought a simple list of what people object to might help with at least making that one issue clear and maybe help with understanding what people think. Without getting all caught up in the whys and wherefores.

It seems that some object to Religion and others to the very idea of god(s) existing. I think this simple list of objections is quite interesting.

Oh, and the first person who tries to take this thread off topic is going to be smitten big time.


az

My main objection is that it prevents critical thinking and divorces the adherent from reality. This is not to say that believers are necessarily incapable of critical thinking, but when they do it they are perforce operating in secular mode.

So pretty much what Gif and Dogster said, really.

Noggin

Ha! I was told by someone that this thread wouldn't get beyond the first dot because people weren't allowed to justify their comments.

But don't you think the comments in themselves are interesting? I do.

And I think even more people, apart from the 'usual suspects', might show up here with their opinions if they know they aren't going to be torn to shreds about what they've posted.

I'm really enjoying this and I'm also getting a lot out of it - hope you are too. Thanks guys.

az

>torn to shreds about what they've posted.<

Don't bet on it! hyena

I don't object to gods, I'm just certain there isn't one. Once you reach that conclusion, it all slips into place. Religion is created by man to oppress, control and judge man, with the threat of awfulness beyond human comprehension hanging over that as a stick, and unattainable wondrousness as a carrot. It stops people making here and now a better place by ensuring thought and behaviour conforms with the wishes of those in control.

I don't object to gods - that seems to be a little self-defeating imo.

Religion is just more politics and god knows, we've got enough bloody politics.

<<...and others to the very idea of god(s) existing.>>

I can only really speak for myself, but I think the objection is to the *attributes* of omnipotence and omniscience, which if taken seriously render the universe devoid of rules.

Noggin

Hi az,

'Nobody is actually open to any opinion other than their own.'

I am! But someone would have to make a good case for it. I've changed my mind to arrive at my current position in large part on the basis of all previous discussions I've seen/been involved in... so that case would have to be better than any I have seen before.

Gif

Well, that's great Gif. Glad to hear it. But just for now it's interesting to read only about the objections. Stated as such.



az

Apart from agreeing with many of the objections already voiced, I think that the whole business is a enormous waste of time and resources.

Let's face it: gods are for wimps!

As concisely as possible - it is vacuous enough to be interpreted anyway you like, and at the same time provides justification in the minds of believers for anything at all that they choose to do in support of their own personal interpretations.

Hmm. I kind of object to these 'personal god concepts' too. OK - so I don't know what It means and would appreciate some clarification. But it had better be something in our real world. Other world suggest a lack of critical thinking. But most importantly of all - please, please don't call it 'god'. It muddies the waters by confusing it with something that I hope you don't mean.

to DaveBlackEye, btw.

Where was I?

10) It has a propensity for siding with oppresors against the oppresed - and even worse, for convincing the oppresed that the oppresors have their interests at heart.

11) It takes up valuable time on the school curriculum that could be used for something useful.

12) It tends to divide people on pseudo-tribal lines.

13) It is almost always patriarchal in character. One could be forgiven for thinking that its prime purpose is the oppresion of women.

14) It is aesthetically displeasing. Beauty is truth, truth beauty. That is all ye know on Earth, and all ye need to know.

What's a Grecian Urn? About €10 an hour. (And no prizes for spotting the reference)

A Bonobo on a hobby horse. Don't see a lot of those in Greece.

>>But it had better be something in our real world. Other world suggest a lack of critical thinking<<

That's why 'god-talk' inevitably devolves into futility. Theists blather on about alleged 'real-world' miracles and prayer and how God allegedly does 'real world' stuff like loving us and hating fags etc etc, but suddenly god becomes 'immaterial' and 'incomprehensible' yadda yadda, as soon as the obvious stupidity of the 'real world' allegations are revealed.

btw, I'm enjoying your ever-growing list, Ed

15) Christian Rock!

I think Ed's list is just fine too, Taliesin.

But before this disintegrates into yet another 'let's slag off all religious types' atheist fun-fest, can we please keep to the original question - what is your objection to God and Religion?

Tal, I think you were being a wee bit sneaky in that last post.


az

16) It promotes unnecessary and misanthropic sexual guilt and wrongly treats a normal human activity as a moral issue.

17) It confuses piety with morality.