Posts by galaxie

233

What is BELIEF ?

by EdenOne in

stemming from the 'absentheism' thread, an old question came to my mind.

what exactly is "belief"?.

is it the same to ask: "do you believe in god?

galaxie

There are mountains, trees and people...they exist I need no belief that this is so.

There are no unicorns, fairies or supernatural gods...I need no belief that this is so.. they quite simply don't exist now or ever.

The idea formed in the human brain that unicorns,fairies or supernatural gods exist is a belief held by individuals for reasons best known to themselves.

If someone tried to convince you of the reality of the existence of unicorns,fairies or supernatural gods...which would you dismiss as fantasy?

44

Are Jehovah's Witnesses Happy?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i know of the local congregation's issues, per an elder i know quite well.

he has said that nearly everyone in the congregation is suffering emotionally and mentally.

he said he has never seen so many witnesses with so many problems.

I think it's a pretence of happiness ie a delusion or veneer of happiness,meanwhile a cauldron of turmoil lurks beneath that...yes THAT smile. In my personal experience most friends I had who. are now or were JWs were not happy, this evident by subsequent events which became apparent.

284

I'm an ABSENTHEIST. Are you also?

by EdenOne in

it just dawned on me.

the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.

so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.

galaxie

Hi eden I'm sure you must realise that the scenario you have set up about scanning the whole universe before we can conclude about the evidence or lack of for god could be applied to a million and one crazy notions conjured by mans mind for whatever reason they chose to proffer. Pardon the pun...but god help us!!

284

I'm an ABSENTHEIST. Are you also?

by EdenOne in

it just dawned on me.

the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.

so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.

galaxie

Hi eden , surely if there is no evidence either now or ever of a theistic god existing in reality, as opposed to the one as conjured in the brain then lack of presence is non applicable. Another way to convey lack of presence would simply be' there is no evidence of said being ever to have existed'.

Best wishes.

284

I'm an ABSENTHEIST. Are you also?

by EdenOne in

it just dawned on me.

the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.

so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.

galaxie

The word absence when referring to the theistic god surely must be married with ' as exists in the mind ' this then would distinguish the notion of an actual being existing to that of the existance of the belief in god which is derived from the brain.

Although the definition of the word absence may include ' non existance ' it could and imo mean not existing in the given scenario but either has or does exist in reality outwith the subject of discussion. I feel that the use of the word absence in referring to god ie ' god is absent ' is counter productive and leans toward belief that indeed god exists. Therefore if you truly feel god does not exist through lack of evidence or otherwise I feel the use of absent in that context is misused.

284

I'm an ABSENTHEIST. Are you also?

by EdenOne in

it just dawned on me.

the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.

so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.

galaxie

For me the real issue is not whether theistic or deist gods exist or that they may possess supernatural influence...it's whether the person who holds such a belief if challenged can justify their position given that their belief stems from within themselves, begging the question..why the need?

The claims of theists or deists re the workings of their gods,influence and requirement of obeisance or you will suffer by punishment of death or that your crops will fail are imo reasons to confront and demand evidence for such given that many people past and present have been killed,punished,ostracized made to feel unworthy because they are seen to have failed to meet whatever the human brain conceived gods standard is.

The absence of such a god ( as in non existant in a particular scenario) is really irrelevant. To call oneself an absentheist is as relevant as saying..im an absentoxygenist because oxygen is absent in an experiment with certain gases. The oxygen may not be present in the experiment but proof can be provided that it does exist outwith,whereas to say god is absent but still not be able to provide proof that said being exists outwith the subject which prompts the condition of its absence is surely a misuse of the word and is irrelevant in a discussion of the existence of god or gods (outwith mans perceptions of themselves as gods or physical forms of gods or idols )which are supernatural and of which there is zero proof

284

I'm an ABSENTHEIST. Are you also?

by EdenOne in

it just dawned on me.

the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.

so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.

galaxie

Wouldn't an 'absentheist ' by your reasoning ,be someone who believes that the god of creation..is absent , therefore must have at one time been ' present '.

Reminds me of the ' god is dead ' claims of a few decades ago ie god once existed . It seems to me that people who once believed in god who have come to realise through critical thinking now doubt god exists still have a fear of absolutely concluding that the theistic god is a man made concept, and come up with the type of op which you have presented. It really is circular and says nothing of substance. The fact that you resort to trying to give the example of a sun god which does not relate to being an absentheist as you see it , bears this out imo.

36

Calling all lovers of Jehovahs and His Christ

by vinman in

i must say that i have always loved jehovah and his son jesus christ.

i have a 12 inch diameter telescope.

i would go outside and listen to the psalms that praised to my god.

galaxie

Hi vinman..you say your ' soul ' craves a relationship with jehovah and jesus. Are you able to define what your soul is ?

Do you agree that your perception of your soul is as a result of your brain function?

Do you accept the workings of the human brain can include delusion?

Do you accept that you may strongly disagree or judge as deluded people who crave relationships with other deities opposed to jehovah?

Can you consider the possibility that the same brain processes ( although differing conclusions ) can result in irrational belief. The precedents set in human history bear out the absurdity in supernatural belief despite the fact that

all would have believed with all their heart and soul.

My advice would be seek evidence and understanding for the things that bring you wonder and awe and appreciate it without the help of supernatural myth and superstition.

Best wishes.

20

I admit it, I believe in evolution.

by Louise in

jw
friends

after leaving the dub religion behind, i read everything that i could get my hands on, be it about other religions, beliefs, gods, occult, evolution - you name it - i read it.

i did this to 'catch up' and to educate myself, so that when i can to a decision it would be an intellectual / educational one.

not just because some book or person told me to believe it.. i have over time and with reading aids come to totally believe and accept evolution.

galaxie

Hi louise...you set a good example of how to benefit from sound evidence as opposed to the crutch of superstition under the guise of blind faith... well done !!

17

Supernatural Tony......the 3rd

by snare&racket in

jw
friends

i realised something today.... we all happily accepted something really ridiculous.....something that if worded how i will word it now, we would have rejected as ridiculous, but after a moments thought, would have to concede.. we once followed the governing body because we believed they had supernatural powers.

how ridiculous you may say, no we didn't!

of or relating to things that cannot be explained according to natural laws.

galaxie

If any jw thinks that the gb aka fds parable snatchers come up with nooo light by just having a pow wow they are even more easily duped than I thought, is it not because they claim ' spirit guidance' that they buy into it..? Otherwise it's all just the interpretation and mere words of men.. which is exactly what it is !!! Why would they put their trust in these charlatans without believing they have the supernatural sanction from God's influence ?