[ExI] Fw: Re: atheists declare religions as scams.

[spike]

-----Original Message-----
From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org
[mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of Ben Zaiboc
...
> > Stathis I think this is an understatement.  I
> would say *most* theologians, particularly the fundamentalist variety, 
> discount the supernatural.  I might be projecting, but I don't see how 
> they could miss that if they really study the hell out of the bible.
...
>...Wait, what?  If they are fundamentalist theologians, how can they
discount the supernatural??...

Ja, you read correctly and I stand by it.  Reasoning: what if you major in
theology, become a really sharp bible scholar, well respected, scholarships
offered and accepted, now you have your ThD, and they want you to teach.
You have *no* other job skills, you like teaching the bible, so off you go.
But if you read that bible carefully, learn the languages, do everything one
must do to earn the ThD, I claim there is no reasonable way one could still
believe the way the typical fundamentalist pew sitter does.  Consequently,
in schools of theology, the most common complaint is that professors destroy
the students' faith in god.

>...I thought all theologians started with the assumption that a god
exists?  (i.e. the biggest supernatural proposition of all)...

Ben I could be wrong, but I think I am right.  They start out with that
supposition, sure.  But as has been known since the time of Solomon, "In
much learning is great sorrow, in wisdom, suffering."  I think that
describes the process of studying scriptures until you realize these are the
ideas of humans thinking about god, not the thoughts of god.  That
conclusion is completely unescapable.

>...Of course, I don't really see how theologians stay theologians. 
Studying the bible tends to get rid of not just hell, but heaven and god as
well.  Ben Zaiboc

Ja, well said sir.  If anyone can dismiss the notion of 73 virgins, yet take
seriously the christian version of the same thing, floating on clouds and
playing harps, then I do not understand that line of reasoning, I really do
not.

Furthermore, a theologian must at some point study the notion of evolution.
Perhaps I project, but if anyone can really look at nature, just look at the
natural world and miss that notion, I don't understand that person.

spike