by Qcmbr 384 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Atheism is further acceptance of reality as apposed to theism which is further acceptance of human ignorance.
When theism creates religion, perilous trouble usually occurs by the action of connecting that spiritual power on to men.
Don't believe me take a long observable look of the history of religious theistic beliefs as far back as possible in mankind's existence ..
A believer believes in God therefore with God comes the Power of God. So a believer can't rightly say he might be wrong. Because to say God, therefore the power of God might not be real is putting doubt on it. When doubt is added to belief it neutralizes it.
My belief in God comes, admittingly, from a feeling inside. As I walk the planet I can't help but feel I am being watched and possibly judged. When I am eating fast food that's very bad for me I feel like if God's wrath suddenly hit I would cower in fear with BBQ sauce on my face.
-Sab
I guess what I am getting at is, I don't know what you mean by science.
Will strict observance of the scientific method in ones life always lead to atheism or intellectual dishonesty?
-Sab
That might come from your own inner belief in yourself and your subconscious awareness of what you are eating.
I don't think god will judge you on eating that delicious hamburger, you are only human after all.
Today I read some of PZ Myers thoughts on atheism and it put a new spin on the pointlessness of traducing ideas to black and white, there needs to be a story , a prize won through effort rather than simply a label. In short , in his view - which i find quite persuasive - atheism is earned just as is religion. This then leads us to avoid labelling the religious as merely foolish or atheists as merely rational ( or vice versa depending on which side of the church door you stand .) In that spirit I would call myself an atheist but a very new one though my two years of study got me here. I feel happier that i've at least done something to earn the title but now comes the challenge. What follows, is the tag atheist now a less useful definition that has had its day ( and is still necessary when I find myself in a religious context ) and needs to now be supplanted by some more exciting tags ( my wife thinks I've sailed past 'sexy' without stopping lol ) so I can define my philosophy in more positive ways, humanist is definitely a good one, philanthropist.. The scary thing about any new privileged tags is they encourage positive action, it's not possible to be philanthropic and do nothing. It is much easier to be an atheist as it seems potentially very passive.
Very interesting thoughts from both you and Myers. I believe that believers and non believers can find common ground because both had to fight for their belief. I respect all free thinkers, but I question the ones that believe atheism is an ending point in a finite human model.
-Sab
You are young Sab. I think you are. I have had that same foreboding. Be careful! Do not call it GOD. I believe it is our inner self that is cognizant of our own near future. After having "pigged out" on heavy food did you feel sorry later? Did you say to self "why did I do that?". Have you left the house thinking "I'm forgetting something!"? Later you think of what it was. That has happened so many times to me, that is how I have developed my theory of time. Time is not lined up like a sequence of events. Watchtower teaches it that way. It is like water and the events occuring in time are like pebbles dropped in the water. They make waves in all directions. Major events, like the "end of this system of things" make huge waves. That is how the future can affect the past or present. But that Christ came means we can control the waves. Man has chosen not to. Because of fear, maybe.
Will strict observance of the scientific method in ones life always lead to atheism or intellectual dishonesty?
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I don't follow the scientific method as if, it is the "ten commandments" nor am I an atheist, so I could not tell you.
insert: I do not have belief, but I still get the same feelings of awe, however, now it is more raw and intense.
I question the ones that believe atheism is an ending point in a finite human model.
What do you mean by this phrase Sab? Its not very clear.
What do you mean by this phrase Sab? Its not very clear.
The atheists of this board (cofty, bohm, OTWO, EntirelyPossible, Qcmber etc) have always challenge my belief in God. I challenge that their assertion that God IS NOT real is really just an opinion that he may not be real. I continually tell them that my belief in God is strong, but not anyone elses but my own. I have to use logic and fact to support it when asked of me to then they are cut up into peieces in front of me. Then my nose is rubbed in my pee spot and I am asked to think about what I have done. I then have to put my ideas back together which have just been violated and figure out their weaknesses and continue on in my experiments. What gives people motivation to be so rude? It is my hypothesis that this is because of a finite human model created within their own minds based off their own personal experiences.
The atheists have always claimed that my experiments are in vain because I don't have what it takes to complete them. They claim I lack something which implies a theoretical model that I should strive for. That I should not lean on my own understanding, but the understanding of the scientific community (the majority). I have been called gullible, a liar and a misrepresenter of science for my defense of my beliefs, but really all those accusations can be explained by opinionatedness. Whether I am speaking religion, science polticis or whatever I am continuually approached by people who wish to expose my ignorance. What am I ignorant of? Information? Knowledge? How does that make me different than anyone else? Knowledge does not hold the weight of experience this is a strong belief of mine. Experience is not something that always fits perfectly into the scientific method.
-Sab
It is clear. Without renewal which is the mystery atheist don't care for, humans will stop evolving thus "finite". Why? Because the only power they are aware of is tangible. Power will run out. It is well known that it will. Even the sun has a limit, I quess. Model means to emulate, I think.
