[extropy-chat] Atheism in Decline

[Dirk Bruere]

Olga Bourlin wrote:

> From: "Mike Lorrey" <mlorrey at yahoo.com>
>
>> Quite so. Does Joseph claim that calling Genesis a metaphor is an
>> atheistic doctrine?
>
>
> ... oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, there are so many creation myths (some 
> much more interesting than Genesis), and so little time.
>
> Such would be calling most of christianity
>
>> atheists. Most christian sects state that you can only know god through
>> metaphor and analogy, because to look it in the face would kill you
>> (whether this means automatic uploading is an open question).
>
>
> Practically speaking, it's not just christians -- but *all religious 
> people are atheists* (because - like it or not - they are "without 
> god(s))". Atheism is not an option.  Believing in a god does not make 
> it so.
>
Theological ignorance on your part.

>> Those believing in the literal word of the bible also tend to buy the
>> Charlton Heston character in the clouds infantile image of god.
>
>
> Unfortunately, many, many people do.  And in a book I read in the 
> 1980s called "Dumbth" (by Steve Allen ... yes, that Steve Allen), it 
> starts out by relating how some of those many adult people used to 
> send Morris the Cat (yes, that Morris the Cat) fan letters. Etcetera.  
> Scary stuff.
>
>> Josephs statements here imply to me another confirmation of what I see
>> so commonly: most atheists suffer from stunted theology and a lack of
>> sophisticated spiritual education, at least under whatever organized
>> religion they were raised in (or lack thereof)
>
>
> If I only knew what you meant by "stunted theology" and "lack of 
> sophisticated spiritual education," I would comment.  But I'm not 
> certain what you mean by those terms.
>
He's referring to your ignorance of theology which leads to to believe 
that 'God' has only one definition or meaning, conditioned by the 
Judeo/Xian/Islamic POV.

I have experience of Gods as interactive archetypes - not 'belief'.
The fact that I define 'Gods' in a manner that is far less restrictive 
than you does not make me an atheist.

You are setting up a straw man by your apparently ignorant assumptions as to what a 'proper' God should be.

-- 
Dirk

The Consensus:-
The political party for the new millenium
http://www.theconsensus.org



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