A common theme among theists, is the accompanying veiled threat, that if you don't believe in their god as they do, there will be dire consequences. It could be hellfire torment, separation of some kind, or nonexistence. W tinkerbell, it was not the nonbelieving kid that would suffer, but, tinkerbell herself. She could stop existing. I wonder if, ultimately, there is perhaps a similar fear in many theists, that their god might disappear, if belief in him stops? It's similar to one of the symptoms of cognitive dissonance.
S
YHWH and the Tinkerbell Effect
by Satanus 17 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
-
Satanus
-
nvrgnbk
I wonder if, ultimately, there is perhaps a similar fear in many theists, that their god might disappear, if belief in him stops?
I think that's why the mockery frustrates them.
The lack of swift response on the part of the "offended" deity suggests that it's either not interested or not real.
But they confidently promise that there will be a day of reckoning.
They'll be saved.
The non-believers will "rue the day"!
It's only been about 4000 years since the last one, right?
-
RisingEagle
It's an interesting premise. As a theist who would never use threats, coercion or even begging to try and get anyone to think like me, let me put this out there: What happens to Tinkerbell when the cast is rehearsing the play and there are no children in the audience to clap?
-
Caedes
It was this realisation, that god was going to kill all my friends at school at armageddon, that made me realise I didn't want to worship god. My subsequent research led me to atheism.
I think the point is particularly true amongst the more fundamentalist theists who cling to for instance creationism or a literal global flood, however I don't think it is true for more rational theists. But then I generally assume that more moderate theists have a stronger faith than those who pin their faith to some minor point in the bible being literally true.
-
Sad emo
What happens to Tinkerbell when the cast is rehearsing the play and there are no children in the audience to clap?
Honest response from someone who is involved in pantomime?
Anyone else who is around claps/shouts - cast, crew, whoever - because the calling/clapping is usually Tinkerbell's 'cue line'
edit to add: I dunno what my reply will add but...
lol!
-
eclipse
Great post, Satanus, I've never looked at it that way before....
interesting!
-
Satanus
Thanks, eclipse. A little more on cognitive dissonance:
'Social psychologist Leon Festinger first proposed the theory in 1957 after the publication of his book When Prophecy Fails, observing the counterintuitive belief persistence of members of a UFO doomsday cult and their increased proselytization after the leader's prophecy failed. ' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance
It's a great book of a study of a typical cult and how they react to disconfirmation, or failure of predictions. The inability of yhwh to appear in the present could be seen as a disconfirmation.
S -
Satanus
It is implicit in the bible. However, not all theists are like that. Many theists don't feel threatened by the nonbelief of others. Perhaps some have had a mystical experience. Often, those are the quiet ones, who see it as their own, private treasure, which has nothing to do w other people.
S -
R.Crusoe
I have theist blood running through my veins. But it is absent of a judgemental God. I refrain from judging anyone but myself. Vile acts I defer to the God - so maybe some would reason I forego any reponsibility to resolve conflict. However this is a perpetual catch 22 since reverse psychology fuels wars of all kinds. My theism attempts to seek what I feel and be what I feel in a world where there are many varieties of psychology all at differing points of evolution based on their permutation of experiences. Some will have more permutations of choice. Others will have more permutations of forced or conditional influence. Each will become what they become. And it is uncertain as to how each will view the world. My intelligence is unable to resolve it and so I defer to a greater intelligence all the pain and inequality and injustice that I perceive because it is too great a burden for me and futile to attempt to. It is enough for me to become what I am. This is my limit and my suffering!
-
snowbird
Many theists don't feel threatened by the nonbelief of others.
Amen. This is one who doesn't.
Sylvia