Originally Posted By: 243kimber The 19 hijackers of 9/11 believed in heaven. And they were educated, PhD graduates, - and people of faith. Devout. Very devout in fact. It is this kind of hoping and wishing type of thinking, just because it feels good, to believe in an afterlife, when there is absolutely no evidence for it, is what is holding back the advancement of mankind today.
Just look at history. The non-ending lists of religions that have come and gone. Look at the wars, past and present. Look at to what degree religions play a part in them. Somehow, someway, we must find the courage to face the facts of realty, and make clear and educated decisions on how to live in a peaceful and productive world. Concentrating on an afterlife in this life, that does not exist, screws this life up for everyone, big time. There is a much better and much more rewarding way to live in the here and now. Peace my PM brothers and sisters.
'The End of Faith' by Sam Harris. Youtube and podcast.
Just because radical Islam kills in the name of religion, does not erase the existence of God. And I fail to see how religion is holding back our advancement. Mankind is advancing at a rate never seen before and if you look back at just the last 100 years, the concept that religion is holding us back does not hold water. Look at our technology, weapons of war, modern medicine and the information super highway you are reading this on. Our advancements are allowing us to do ourselves in at an accelerated rate, without any consideration of God.
Life itself has a primordial instinct to kill for self-preservation. Coyotes will kill the pups of others in defense of their food sources, territory and the thrill of the kill. Coyotes do not believe in any God, nor could they process the “concept of God”. Our world is not a liberal, snowflake safe zone. Natural selection and population control cannot be blamed on belief in Gods. Nature is cruel and hard core while simultaneously giving life to the fuzzy, cute animals melting the hearts of our left wing tree huggers. Mosquitoes have killed more people than men during all wars. And our most recent and significant wars where not fought over religion; Revolutionary War, Civil War, WW1 and WW11 all come to mind. Yet, assess the “holy” wars and factor in the number of conscripts killing for something they don’t believe in, let alone understand. You really want to see what mankind is capable of doing to each other, shut off the power grid, cut off access to food and water sources, starvation is something everyone understands and believes in.
Originally Posted By: 243kimberWhy only Jesus? Why not The Elephant Headed God Ganesh? What do you mean you don't have elephants in your back yard? Sounds like someone is in for a damnation. Or what about the Monkey Headed God Hanuman? What do you mean you don't have monkeys in your backyard? Well there's another reason to go to [beeep]. Now, times this times 10,000 other Gods that are out there you get my drift. They all make unjustifiable claims about how world really is without any evidence. It's time for a stall grow up.
I don’t know how worshiping elephant heads, goat heads, statues or monkey skulls proves anything, other than there are some messed up people out there. What real evidence is there that proves God does not exist? I firmly believe that one cannot graft a new idea onto a closed mind, so I am ready to hear evidence that debunks my faith. Therefore?
In the meantime I will sit here and wallow in sorrow, contemplating how any God could allow these mosquitoes to keep killings through the ages