Not only that this is the most reasonable definition of god, the existence of your beloved relatives.
Are we all born an Atheist?
- SimpleGuy
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
- SimpleGuy
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
- SimpleGuy
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
many signs of gods (or ayats) were simply a result of this redefining yourself beeing a relative of somebody else. Hopefully this parasitic way, if it exists, should change somehow in the future.
- ThomasHobbes
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- Newme
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
Yeah, psychological dependence on another is how we all behin life and could be one definition of God, however it isn’t as comprehensive as 3 other definitions, all related.
1) 1John 4:16 says, “God is love.” What is love? Subjective and personal but generally, I consider love as appreciating what is, while striving for what’s best, through trial and error.
2) Luke 17:21 says, “the kingdom (realm/experience) of God is within you.” Where else would you experience God or anything else?
3) Philosopher Paul Tillich defined God like love but as one’s “ultimate concern” - that which you worship or prioritize. So, ie: A religious person who deifies the bible has as his god the bible, not God. And an Atheist who prioritizes his Atheist books, organization and discussions has as his god, Atheism.
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
- SimpleGuy
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
As it is standing in the revelation 5 of the bible:
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.
So you but not me have to be the lion, i do not want to beak the seven seals.
- ThomasHobbes
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
- Sy Borg
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
What changed everything for me was Richard Dawkins's The Selfish Gene. It was the first time that anything made sense to me. There was a deep understanding in the text of what was really going on in the world that I didn't see elsewhere. As a high school dropout I was not much exposed to academic material so that book was the first time I had read a text that was not trying to manipulate the reader, just presenting known facts. I still remember the shock and delight of reading Dawkins presenting opposing views to his own for completeness sake, without a single attempt to disparage, undermine or misrepresent the other scientists' views.
I can't say how refreshing that level of straightforwardness and honesty felt after years of my sister sending me Awake! and Watchtower magazines - the latter was pure polemic and the former manipulative. It would always start with some fascinating natural history snippet and the first half of the articles were good but then there would always be a mystery - why did x happen? Suddenly it's "God dunnit!" and the rest of the article would be peppered with clearly unsupported claims and quotes from Biblical passages. The switch would be quite jarring.
It was the lack of jarring in Dawkins's work that made me a lifelong fan, even if I wish he'd return to EB rather than tangling with theists. Based on observations and my own experience the latter can be addictive *maniacal laughter*
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
- Burning ghost
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
- SimpleGuy
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
- Burning ghost
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
I’m going to LOCK it but before I do give me a sense of what thread should be started up to run on from this?
- Sy Borg
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Re: Are we all born an Atheist?
I don't mind either way with the thread, BG. Unless someone else pipes up it's your call. Thanks for thinking about this aspect of forum maintenance. If left only up to me the forum would ever more resemble my living room, where visible table surfaces can be a rare commodity.
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