God is.....

[rasobasi420]

'God' is the greatest and most perfect thing in existence. If 'God' is the greatest and most perfect thing in existence, then we must accept it's existence, since there must be something that exists that nothing is greater than....
N'est-ce pas?

(note: this is not mine, and I won't claim it. But I will ask your opinions.)

[Snow Crash]

God cheats at poker. You won't believe how many aces he can hide in the baggy sleeves of those robes...

[KIWI]

'God' is the greatest and most perfect thing in existence. If 'God' is the greatest and most perfect thing in existence, then we must accept it's existence, since there must be something that exists that nothing is greater than....
N'est-ce pas?

(note: this is not mine, and I won't claim it. But I will ask your opinions.)

Ras??.....trouble down at Mill ?

[boycotteverything]

'greatest' is an arbitrary construct. the statement is meaningless.

[boycotteverything]

also- i'll just add this. every proof of god is necessarily tautological.

[rasobasi420]

Ras??.....trouble down at Mill ?

No trouble.

BE,
In what way is 'greatest' arbitrary? We can confirm that 5 > 3, and 3 > 1, right?

[pack3tg0st]

'there must be something that exists that nothing is greater than....


Says who?

[boycotteverything]

Ras??.....trouble down at Mill ?

No trouble.

BE,
In what way is 'greatest' arbitrary? We can confirm that 5 > 3, and 3 > 1, right?sure- but in mathematics there's always a higher number. there is no 'highest.'

[boycotteverything]

on the other hand- you could go down the pantheist road and simply define god into existence as 'all possibilities.' but that not very satisfying if you're looking for thunderbolts.

[Foxtrot Oscar]

2nd conditional.

If... Then...

and then they added "Since", but they didn't add a why.

It's the must accept bit that gets me... Why must I?

Where's the tangerfriggingbillity?

If I'm the greatest one in the room, then I must be god. Since no one else here is greater!

If I say that I am god, then it must be true, since no one is here to prove otherwise!

It must be one of the most pointless arguments on the planet. You think there's a god, I don't. Jolly good, carry on.

Fox

[rasobasi420]

Ras??.....trouble down at Mill ?

No trouble.

BE,
In what way is 'greatest' arbitrary? We can confirm that 5 > 3, and 3 > 1, right?sure- but in mathematics there's always a higher number. there is no 'highest.'

There is a mathematical construct that exists as 'highest'.

-(infinity)< 0 < (infinity)

[Alessandra]

God's just an ET playing with test tubes and a bunsen burner.

[rasobasi420]

It's the must accept bit that gets me... Why must I?

It must be one of the most pointless arguments on the planet. You think there's a god, I don't. Jolly good, carry on.

Fox

You must accept if the logic is valid and sound.

I posed a question, and am only looking for reactions and responses. As I said, this isn't my argument, but the responses, I hope, will be interesting.

[boycotteverything]

true. syllogisms don't apply to existence- only to argument. logic can't lead you to god.

[boycotteverything]

and when you speak of infinity you're falling into the pantheist conundrum.

[pack3tg0st]

I'm still waiting to see why there has to be something greater...

You just sited the mathematical representation of infinite...

Suppose everything has something bigger/greater than it... and that model repeats onward toward infinite?

[rasobasi420]

I only spoke of infinity as a mathematical construct to prove the 'greater than' issue.

[rasobasi420]

I'm still waiting to see why there has to be something greater...

You just sited the mathematical representation of infinite...

Suppose everything has something bigger/greater than it... and that model repeats onward toward infinite?

Yeah, then the infinite, by definition, would be god. No?

[WarlordZeroOne]

When people say there is no GOD thats is an opinion, as we all know,and on the other hand NOBODY,but NOBODY knows if there is a GOD. AMEN.

[Foxtrot Oscar]

If there is the ability to create perfection, then why do we have so much imperfection. Or is everything perfect and just how it should be within the bounds of it's own perfectness.

The logic is not sound and I choose to say as much.

I choose.

Even with logic there is choice?

Fox

[boycotteverything]

I'm still waiting to see why there has to be something greater...

You just sited the mathematical representation of infinite...

Suppose everything has something bigger/greater than it... and that model repeats onward toward infinite?

Yeah, then the infinite, by definition, would be god. No?that's what i said- you can 'define' god into existence. i.e. 'god is everything' so? that's the method of pantheism and a tautology. get it?

[pack3tg0st]

LOL BE is right, you're treading some pantheistic lines here man...

perhaps you should give us your definition of "god"...

[rasobasi420]

If there is the ability to create perfection, then why do we have so much imperfection. Or is everything perfect and just how it should be within the bounds of it's own perfectness.


'Perfect' wasn't stated. 'Most perfect' was. 'Greatest' was. I think you're dodging the outlined statement.

[boycotteverything]

ras- you're flashing

[rasobasi420]

LOL BE is right, you're treading some pantheistic lines here man...

perhaps you should give us your definition of "god"...

Nah.
I'm just giving you guys Anselm's ontological proof and seeing how you respond. I'm an observer, you are the observed.

Thanks all!

[Foxtrot Oscar]

Most perfect being the superlative of perfect.

I think you're dodging around your adjective forms.

The form of adjective being classed as an opinion.

The whole statement is just an opinion.

Fox

[boycotteverything]

descartes boiled it all down to this 'logical staement'- cogito ero sum. (i think therefore i am.) but even that simple statement is a logical tautology. all that is necessary in the statement is 'cogito.'

[boycotteverything]

anselm was a fool.

[skunk]

God is... unknowable.

[boycotteverything]

all of his arguments were made in the service of justifying the roman church. he's a non-starter.

[boycotteverything]

God is... unknowable.how the hell do you know that?

[rasobasi420]

He was opposed by other monks stating that he was a fool, and used his own arguments against him. Not a big fan of his, but on the surface, the logic is valid and sound.

Again, just being the observer.

[pack3tg0st]

God is... unknowable.how the hell do you know that?
:lol:

[mojo]

'God' is the greatest and most perfect thing in existence. If 'God' is the greatest and most perfect thing in existence, then we must accept it's existence, since there must be something that exists that nothing is greater than....
N'est-ce pas?



i'd argue that "god" isn't perfect. all i have to judge "god" by is the written statements of who and what god is, written by man. in all of those writings god is vengeful and compassionate, angry and joyous, vain and selfless, hateful and loving, god sounds more like a schizophrenic human than a perfect being.
on the other hand if we accept that the universe is a perfect construct then it is so far beyond our understanding at this moment in time that any perception we have of it's consciousness is bound to be tainted by our perspective.
if "god" is the universe i'd suggest that it is either unaware or disinterested in our existence and that would suggest less than perfection from our pov.

[Cogburn]

There is no part of me that is not a part of the gods.

[skunk]

God is... unknowable.how the hell do you know that?

Jesus told me.

[boycotteverything]

if she's truly 'unknowable' then you can't ascribe her the quality of 'unknowable-ness' can you? because that would insinuate a knowledge of the unknowable which is a logical contradiction. it's a sticky business.

[skunk]

Sorry. Unknowable in its totality. We can only observe and experience the creator through its creation.

[boycotteverything]

He was opposed by other monks stating that he was a fool, and used his own arguments against him. Not a big fan of his, but on the surface, the logic is valid and sound.

Again, just being the observer.no- it's not sound nor is it logic. it's a service to the church and an exercise in bad faith.

[boycotteverything]

Sorry. Unknowable in its totality. We can only observe and experience the creator through its creation.did jesus tell you that too?

[pack3tg0st]

Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of this astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on spiritual fantasy.

[boycotteverything]

lilies of the field?

[boycotteverything]

Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of this astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on spiritual fantasy.sagan was a man with a limited mind. a classic bullshitter.

[rasobasi420]

He was opposed by other monks stating that he was a fool, and used his own arguments against him. Not a big fan of his, but on the surface, the logic is valid and sound.

Again, just being the observer.no- it's not sound nor is it logic. it's a service to the church and an exercise in bad faith.

It is logic, and it is sound, as defined. It's only when the definition is changed that there are problems with the conclusion.

[boycotteverything]

all arguments about god are an exercise in futility

[mojo]

all arguments about god are an exercise in futility

arguments about anything are futile, good healthy discussion however.............

[boycotteverything]

only when the definition is changed that there are problems with the conclusion.those nasty definitions are squishy things. essentially they are posited assumptions. presuppositions. any are as valid as another. that's precisely the problem. the proper place for god is in poetry.

[boycotteverything]

as in this:


...why there is this bicker
on the nature of the god
among the gluons of my hemispheres,
and of the moist heat
upon the knuckles of the hand
that rolled
your
stocking
down.

[pack3tg0st]

the proper place for god is in poetry.

I prefer god to stay in the resonating litany of a woman in the throes of orgasm...

[boycotteverything]

well- read the poem!!! hahahah that's what it's all about.

[Cogburn]

those nasty definitions are squishy things. essentially they are posited assumptions. presuppositions. any are as valid as another. that's precisely the problem. the proper place for god is in poetry.

... and punctuated with one of those nasty little posited assumptions.

Delicious.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[boycotteverything]

any are as valid as another.Get it?

[Snow Crash]

God is.....

Best served cold, with ice.

[rasobasi420]

arguments about anything are futile, good healthy discussion however.............

Arguments have gotten a bad name. all they are are a set of premises leading to a conclusion. It's when they're confused with disagreements, abuse and fighting that they seem to take on a negative light. Don't confuse them and there will be no issue.

[KIWI]

arguments about anything are futile, good healthy discussion however.............

Arguments have gotten a bad name. all they are are a set of premises leading to a conclusion. It's when they're confused with disagreements, abuse and fighting that they seem to take on a negative light. Don't confuse them and there will be no issue.

[attachment=0:1nrh59re]sheep-arguing.gif[/attachment:1nrh59re]

[WarlordZeroOne]

Well i might as well have a stab,going back to when our so called Jesus of Nazareth was crucified,i don't think the word GOD was ever used,it was only later in years the Name GOD cropped up,Now my AmKon friends i am SURE if a m wrong you will all shout at me, but not all at once.lol also AmKonites stop splitting HAIRS, and i don't mean your pubes.lol

[KIWI]

Well i might as well have a stab,going back to when our so called Jesus of Nazareth was crucified,i don't think the word GOD was ever used,it was only later in years the Name GOD cropped up,Now my AmKon friends i am SURE if a m wrong you will all shout at me, but not all at once.lol also AmKonites stop splitting HAIRS, and i don't mean your pubes.lol

you must have seen "Life of Brian" WZ0 ?....I think you will you find peeps have been banging on about god for bloody ever :roll:

and the dyslexic christian? awake all night wondering if there is a dog ?

a]mm2BsjACkuIa]

[boycotteverything]

Learn the art of argument from the masters.

3]RDjCqjzbvJY3]

[lala]

[attachment=0:1mftksco]god%209.jpg[/attachment:1mftksco]

[pack3tg0st]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u3Fr9eBueMI/R6RVczq_BEI/AAAAAAAABdA/iZiPMW-bnF0/s1600/image006.jpg

[boycotteverything]

Imageyeah right. you suck.

[hp]

1-9-1966 - god is dead

Who is the replacement.

[boycotteverything]

my hat's in the ring. now don't be a fuckup or you're gonna die in your sleep.

[skunk]

Packet, the only way I could see the YMCA picture was if I copied/pasted the URL into a new window. Weird.

[mojo]

Packet, the only way I could see the YMCA picture was if I copied/pasted the URL into a new window. Weird.

proof that god is real.

[boycotteverything]

proof that god is real.blah blah blah, wank wank wank... philosophy

[mojo]

God is... unknowable.

god is a construct of mind, a negative process borne of a fear of the unknown.
what's unknowable is the lengths humans will take to perpetrate the scam.

[boycotteverything]

god is a construct of mind, a negative process borne of a fear of the unknown.
what's unknowable is the lengths humans will take to perpetrate the scam.On that, we agree.

[theeindiee]

You Opened my Opinion:

I have been coming the conclusion that Gods are born the moment we learn and accept the FACT that we are everything and everyone, and that the outer world is merely a reflection of the vast inner world. I'll admit that it is a horrifying truth at first. It's horrifying until you realize that it had to be that way eventually, boiled down to the bare bones. Somewhere inside, you've always known.

If you accept the observer bullshit, you accept your own living death. You are going to watch everything die believing that you can never affect any real change.... not realizing that everything is just reflecting off the malleable mirror in your soul.

Rotate your soul mirrors with electric devotion, and maybe you can learn to part your ocean.

God is whatever we want God to be. If WE want to be Gods of our existence, we must learn to use God's remote controller like a big boy/girl/demigod.

I risk saying too much. I'll save the rest for Cog. He's the Zohar master. You Don't Mess With the Zohar.

[boycotteverything]

You Don't Mess With the Zohar.Why not? After all- zohar nothing more than a medieval wet dream. My advice? Study process (Mojo-ist analysis will suffice: "god is a construct of mind, a negative process borne of a fear of the unknown.") rather than fixed bullshit. There are no angels dancing on this pin.

Wise man, Mojo. Listen to him. Reject all those with religelous agendas.

[Lexion]

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa20/Lexion07/MVC-011S-4.jpg

[Foxtrot Oscar]

Somehow we always end up talking about pussy.

Fox

[boycotteverything]

that's the real meaning of it all...

[theeindiee]

angels DO dance where modern men fear to tread.

[hp]

God is a pussy? Thought that was Custer...

[boycotteverything]

angels DO dance where modern men fear to tread.angels and daemons... . i suspect that's your problem. get over it and live a little.

[skunk]

God is... unknowable.

god is a construct of mind, a negative process borne of a fear of the unknown.
what's unknowable is the lengths humans will take to perpetrate the scam.

I think you mean religion.

[boycotteverything]

I think you mean religion.god is an invention of religion.

[Cogburn]

Zohar, Kundalini, Crowley, Gurdjieff... All roads lead to Rome.

The choice is whether or not to go on holiday and leave the house, not which road you take to your destination.

[GhostOfCaptSpaulding]

god is an invention of religion.

...which, in turn, is an invention of man.

[offsite:3l4b5bdz]Dear god,
Hope you got the letter,
And I pray you can make it better down here.
I dont mean a big reduction in the price of beer,
But all the people that you made in your image,
See them starving on their feet,
cause they dont get enough to eat

From god,
I cant believe in you.

Dear god,
Sorry to disturb you,
But I feel that I should be heard loud and clear.
We all need a big reduction in amount of tears,
And all the people that you made in your image,
See them fighting in the street,
cause they cant make opinions meet,
About god,
I cant believe in you.

Did you make disease, and the diamond blue?
Did you make mankind after we made you?
And the devil too!

Dear god,
Dont know if you noticed,
But your name is on a lot of quotes in this book.
Us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look,
And all the people that you made in your image,
Still believing that junk is true.
Well I know it aint and so do you,
Dear god,
I cant believe in,
I dont believe in,

I wont believe in heaven and hell.
No saints, no sinners,
No devil as well.
No pearly gates, no thorny crown.
Youre always letting us humans down.
The wars you bring, the babes you drown.
Those lost at sea and never found,
And its the same the whole world round.
The hurt I see helps to compound,
That the father, son and holy ghost,
Is just somebodys unholy hoax,
And if youre up there youll perceive,
That my hearts here upon my sleeve.
If theres one thing I dont believe in...

Its you,
Dear god.

z]hk41Gbjljfoz][/offsite:3l4b5bdz]

All praise the FSM: http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee162/21b45o13x25c54o34d45e/icons/allhail_fsm.gif

Ramen

[skunk]

I think you mean religion.god is an invention of religion.

Oh really? So why do you bother with your "poems" then?

Cornfused,

skunk

[KIWI]

1-9-1966 - god is dead

Who is the replacement.

HP is correct.......

[attachment=0:3ecyz81v]zrtn369p5240f0btnap5.jpg[/attachment:3ecyz81v]

[GhostOfCaptSpaulding]

1-9-1966 - god is dead

Who is the replacement.

HelloOOOoo!!
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee162/21b45o13x25c54o34d45e/cartoon.gif
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee162/21b45o13x25c54o34d45e/cents.jpg

[mojo]

God is... unknowable.

god is a construct of mind, a negative process borne of a fear of the unknown.
what's unknowable is the lengths humans will take to perpetrate the scam.

I think you mean religion.

they are both mind constructs borne of fear.
god and religion are mutually inclusive in this instance.

[WarlordZeroOne]

From ALL the 84 posts nobody has really said a BAD word about GOD, that is a message from you all, that really deep down inside, you all believe in GOD, just like me, and the man on the throne is GOD :hail: now i'll wait for the Blastpheming.lol louzy speller.

[Cogburn]

they are both mind constructs borne of fear.
god and religion are mutually inclusive in this instance.
Mental constructs born of fear?

Woof.

Born from a lack of understanding and a desire to explain the world in which man found himself, but not from fear.

That doesn't mean that such a spiritual view of the world was any less functional and necessary within the confines of the culture that created it.

Secret signs and tokens, initiations, symbols, angels and demons, warnings and portents.

Is that freemasonry, Romanism, or a description of the culture of the Mastigenka of the Amazon rainforest?

http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/anthro/faculty/johnson/New_ch3.pdf

The "God part of the brain" only explains the effects if you are bound and determined to ignore that the composition of a human being is no more than electrochemical processes.

Once we're able to synthesize biological sentience from molecular components I'll be forced to re-evaluate my position.

For W01: Fuck Jesus. Fuck Jehovah. Fuck Allah. Fuck Buddha. Fuck John Smith. Fuck Shiva. Fuck Brahman. Fuck Karl Marx. Fuck Henry Ford. Fuck JP Morgan. Fuck L. Ron Hubbard. Fuck John Dee. Fuck Quetzalcoatl. Fuck Kaneloa. Fuck Zoroaster. Fuck Confucius.

YMMV

[WarlordZeroOne]

Nice one Cogburn,How come you have not PUT GOD in that Looonnnnggggg List of Yours, now that is confusing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cogburn]

Which god? I think I covered them all.

[WarlordZeroOne]

Cog, You know the one that is SPELT like this, GOD, is that clear Enough for you,or is it you do believe in the GOD spelt like the one i typed last, i have EXPLAINED. Cog i will let you off the rack i am only JOKING,one day i am certain someone will try to get me in a similar situation, i must be careful. lol

[mojo]

Which god? I think I covered them all.

Baal is the one true GOD. :)

Cog, the reason i say that it is a construct borne of fear is because many of the older gods of various pantheons were attributed to various natural occurances which caused fear amongst a curious and supersticious animal that had just been awakened, Homo Sap. Earthquakes, Floods, Drought, Crocodiles, Snakes and so on, and yes there were other gods attributed to more benign natural occurances and animals, these were also attributed in part to a fear of not being able to explain those occurances or animal behaviours.



Warlord, you might find that the GOD you are speaking of is in fact an amalgamation of many of the mesopatamian/middle eastern gods of old, of which Baal was one of the major deities, they have many similarities.

[Cogburn]

Cog, You know the one that is SPELT like this, GOD, is that clear Enough for you,or is it you do believe in the GOD spelt like the one i typed last, i have EXPLAINED. Cog i will let you off the rack i am only JOKING,one day i am certain someone will try to get me in a similar situation, i must be careful. lol
I don't believe that spelling my internet moniker as COGBURN makes it any more prolific or meaningful.

If you're referring to the Judeo-Christian god, that would be Jehovah and I covered him.

Because you equate "GOD" with "Jehovah" doesn't mean that we all do.

I'm sure there were Greeks who were quite adamant that Zeus was Lord.

[Cogburn]

Cog, the reason i say that it is a construct borne of fear is because many of the older gods of various pantheons were attributed to various natural occurances which caused fear amongst a curious and supersticious animal that had just been awakened, Homo Sap. Earthquakes, Floods, Drought, Crocodiles, Snakes and so on, and yes there were other gods attributed to more benign natural occurances and animals, these were also attributed in part to a fear of not being able to explain those occurances or animal behaviours.
I submit that is because of the benefit of perspective provided by your 21st century mind.

The explanations offered are as complete as required for the cultures that utilized them in order to function at a level they judged acceptable.

When the acceptability of the knowledge was no longer sufficient, an explanation more suitable to the "modern" view is then offered.

The only difference between then and now is little more than terminology and level of detail.

[mojo]

http://www.theology.edu/ugarbib.htm

[offsite:76u4n1y2]El was the chief god at Ugarit. Yet El is also the name of God used in many of the Psalms for Yahweh; or at least that has been the presupposition among pious Christians. Yet when one reads these Psalms and the Ugaritic texts one sees that the very attributes for which Yahweh is acclaimed are the same for which El is acclaimed. In fact, these Psalms were most likely originally Ugaritic or Canaanite hymns to El which were simply adopted by Israel, much like the American National Anthem was set to a beer hall tune by Francis Scott Key. El is called the “father of men”, “creator”, and “creator of the creation”. These attributes are also granted Yahweh by the Old Testament.[/offsite:76u4n1y2]

[offsite:76u4n1y2]Other deities worshipped at Ugarit were El Shaddai, El Elyon, and El Berith. All of these names are applied to Yahweh by the writers of the Old Testament. What this means is that the Hebrew theologians adopted the titles of the Canaanite gods and attributed them to Yahweh in an effort to eliminate them. If Yahweh is all of these there is no need for the Canaanite gods to exist! This process is known as assimilation.
Besides the chief god at Ugarit there were also lesser gods, demons, and goddesses. The most important of these lesser gods were Baal (familiar to all readers of the Bible), Asherah (also familiar to readers of the Bible), Yam (the god of the sea) and Mot (the god of death). What is of great interest here is that Yam is the Hebrew word for sea and Mot is the Hebrew word for death! Is this because the Hebrews also adopted these Canaanite ideas as well? Most likely they did.
One of the most interesting of these lesser deities, Asherah, plays a very important role in the Old Testament. There she is called the wife of Baal; but she is also known as the consort of Yahweh! That is, among some Yahwists, Ahserah is Yahweh’s female counterpart! Inscriptions found at Kuntillet ‘Ajrud (dated between 850 and 750 BCE) say:

I bless you through Yahweh of Samaria,
and through his Asherah!
And at ‘El Qom (from the same period) this inscription:
Uriyahu, the king, has written this.
Blessed be Uriyahu through Yahweh,
and his enemies have been conquered
through Yahweh’s Asherah.
That Yahwists worshipped Asherah until the 3rd century before Christ is well known from the Elephantine Papyri. Thus, for many in ancient Israel, Yahweh, like Baal, had a consort. Although condemned by the prophets, this aspect of the popular religion of Israel was difficult to overcome and indeed among many was never overcome.
As had already been mentioned, one of the more important lesser deities at Ugarit was Baal. Baal is described as the “rider on the clouds” in KTU 1.3 II 40. Interestingly enough, this description is also used of Yahweh in Psalm 68:5.
In the Old Testament Baal is named 58 times in the singular and 18 times in the plural. The prophets protested constantly against the love affair the Israelites had with Baal (cf. Hosea 2:19, for example). The reason Israel was so attracted to Baal was that, first of all, some Israelites viewed Yahweh as a God of the desert and so when they arrived in Canaan they thought it only proper to adopt Baal, the god of fertility. As the old saying goes, “whose land, his god”. For these Israelites Yahweh was useful in the desert but not much help in the land.[/offsite:76u4n1y2]

Baal, also known as Hadad. However Hadad was the name that was not to be spoken, sound similar, it should.

http://www.bibleandscience.com/languages/ugaritic.htm

[offsite:76u4n1y2]In Ugaritic Baal is called "Rider of the clouds." This is the same title that Yahweh is called in Psalm:68:4.[/offsite:76u4n1y2]

[offsite:76u4n1y2]In verse two Mount Zion is described as being in the north which presents a geographical problem. The Hebrew word for "north" is sapon which in Ugaritic is the mountain spn of the abode of Baal.[/offsite:76u4n1y2]

http://www.uoregon.edu/~dfalk/courses/bible/myth.htm


What makes this theory even more interesting is the fact that the Israelites in time began to refer to Baal as Baal Ze bub.
If its true that Yahweh is the transformation of the ancient pantheon (mostly Baal and El) into the monotheistic God of Israel, how ironic that Baal is referenced as the Lord of Flies by the Israelites, as it would seem that Baal is actually Yahweh's alter ego.

[mojo]

I submit that is because of the benefit of perspective provided by your 21st century mind.

The explanations offered are as complete as required for the cultures that utilized them in order to function at a level they judged acceptable.

When the acceptability of the knowledge was no longer sufficient, an explanation more suitable to the "modern" view is then offered.

The only difference between then and now is little more than terminology and level of detail.

we'll have to agree to disagree. the Sumerian pantheon was a frightening one, the people were fearful, the babylonian, Akkadian and Ugaritic was not much better, even the monotheistic jewish God was a vengeful frightening son of a bitch.

[Cogburn]

Perhaps... although those religions and attendant beliefs still served the needs of society.

The need for control.

[hp]

Man created in god's image might explain statements such as "You're my kid and I love you but if you do that again I'll going to beat you to a pulp".

IMO, Religion is fear for control.

[cartoon]

I submit that is because of the benefit of perspective provided by your 21st century mind.

The explanations offered are as complete as required for the cultures that utilized them in order to function at a level they judged acceptable.

When the acceptability of the knowledge was no longer sufficient, an explanation more suitable to the "modern" view is then offered.

The only difference between then and now is little more than terminology and level of detail.

we'll have to agree to disagree. the Sumerian pantheon was a frightening one, the people were fearful, the babylonian, Akkadian and Ugaritic was not much better, even the monotheistic jewish God was a vengeful frightening son of a bitch.I agree. The Theistic 'God' is a confabulation of all human fears. The overt or implied threat of vengeance is the method by which societies have been dominated, coerced, ruled and fleeced by religion since the dawning of history. No kindly words can excuse the persecution wrought against the human race in the name of God and religion.


IMO, Religion is fear for control.Yes

[mojo]

Perhaps... although those religions and attendant beliefs still served the needs of society.

The need for control.

oh, there's no doubt control was also a major motivating factor, but imo before the elite realised that religion was a perfect control mechanism, fear was the precursor motivation for those humans living in hunter/gatherer societies before the advent of city states and agriculture.
fear that came about due to our burgeoning awareness of the universe, how that must have overwhelmed our ancestors at the time, and who can blame them.
in a relatively short space of time we stopped "being" animals and "became" humans with all the necessary cognitive abilities to recognise who and what we are.

[Oblivion]

god is........



the all powerful imaginary friend that the weak minded cling to in an effort to convince themselves that their lives arent just as fucked up as everyone elses, because when shit happens its "gods way" and not their own doing.

[boycotteverything]

the all powerful imaginary friend that the weak minded cling to...well- let me coin a phrase that might even become famous some day- 'religion is the opiate of the masses.' that work?

[WarlordZeroOne]

O.K sorry Cog for shouting your name,i will be more careful in the future,and c'mon Cog God is god,i don't give a fuck about peoples beliefs,its a freedom of choice,myself i believe in GOD whatever form he or she takes,and nobody knows 100% if there is a GOD or not, or the Devil for that matter,and on the other hand i and my wife had our two sons Baptised."Why" who am i to say, there is no other place after Death,and if as is known when you are Baptised you will enter this other place,and because i believe in GOD (and i do not go to Church)what my two sons do if they have children is their business and not Grandads, and the end line for me is simple." Don't Take the Risk." :D

[Alessandra]

If god exists, he needs to send my ass to Harvard. So I can discover his mysteries. Isn't that what he wants?

[boycotteverything]

Don't Take the Riskwell- there is that. but- a few incline to this: to live is to live dangerously. and while you're correct that there's no way to prove either case for a god- there's also no necessity to make a choice. all that's required of us to 'consider everything while believing nothing' in my humble opinion. i rather doubt that your charge to the foxhole will guarantee you entry into the kingdom- nor should it. if there's a god who would suffer hedged bets- he isn't much of a god, now is he?

[WarlordZeroOne]

At the end of the day BE freedom of choice for everyone,put it this way, i would not thank my parents if they had ever made me go to church,which they never did,thank fuck, as we have said, in past topics, the church goer's (not all) the majority are fucking Hipocrits, and my head holds no conscience for my past,so if i Die in the morning who gives a fuck what happens,one thing for sure i will not be able to live and tell.lol :smokin:

[mojo]

to live is to live dangerously.

or as is my sole ambition, "to grow old disgracefully".

[boycotteverything]

they go hand in hand

[WarlordZeroOne]

BE thats why i have holes in all my trouser pockets, "Man who have hole in pocket feel cocky all day".lol, old chinese proverb.

[Alessandra]

Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?

So I can sell it and go to fucking college?

[WarlordZeroOne]

Have a collection on AmKon, Jive Turkey may contribute,Mojo,captain,me,BE Cog etc, lol, just thought on i don't have paypal, bank account, plastic, didn't realise i was so poor,what about a collection for me.LOL

[boycotteverything]

ya but, WL- that list of yours read like 'the cheapest bastards in creation.'

[Alessandra]

lol my contribution may be like 10 dollars. Great!

$51,990 to go.

[Cogburn]

lol my contribution may be like 10 dollars. Great!

$51,990 to go.
You don't need admission to Harvard to obtain a Harvard syllabus and use of Amazon.com.

Are you looking for an education or a piece of paper that says "Harvard" on it?

[boycotteverything]

Are you looking for an education or a piece of paper that says "Harvard" on it?I think she's made it clear that she wants both.

[WarlordZeroOne]

BE thats a beautiful answer,i need a pair of Beef Jerky underpants,from the cheapest Bastards in creation. lol

[GhostOfCaptSpaulding]

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee162/21b45o13x25c54o34d45e/ceiling.jpg

[boycotteverything]

If there is a god, she is a mog.

[WarlordZeroOne]

Poossy in the sky with Diamonds. :smokin:

[skunk]

Spirit.

[mojo]

greater than?
depends entirely on the perspective of the entity and the device used to measure surely?

[Ducky]

Can God create a bewb so big that even HE can't lift it?

[Ra187]

now now ducky lol that would just not be good for any of us. even though that would be a great way to die....under the pressure of a gigantic boob....hmmmmmmm lol

[FancyFree]

now now ducky lol that would just not be good for any of us. even though that would be a great way to die....under the pressure of a gigantic boob....hmmmmmmm lol

Death by boobs...i bet a lot of guys wouldn't mind that. lol

[mojo]

Death by boobs...i bet a lot of guys wouldn't mind that. lol


*Raises hand*

[Ducky]

you guys are sick lol

[FancyFree]

*Raises hand*

lmao!

[mojo]

you guys are sick lol

nope, just fucking horny!!