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God of the gaps. God's domain keeps shrinking with time.

Yes and no. As is it most of human endeavor isn't necessarily rational in the categorical imperative sense, and religion is only accountable for some of that. In practice, much of what we do is rationally self-interested instead, and religion is but one tool to help rationalize this behavior.

I think there's a general misconception that since we have science now everything else somehow becomes empirically objective.
 
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Yes and no. As is it most of human endeavor isn't necessarily rational in the categorical imperative sense, and religion is only accountable for some of that.

I think there's a general misconception that since we have science now everything else somehow becomes empirically objective.

There are plenty of things that are outside the realm of science such as culture, literature, philosophy, art, social constructs, and many facets of governance. Those are the "rational" displacers of religion.
 
There are plenty of things that are outside the realm of science such as culture, literature, philosophy, art, social constructs, and many facets of governance. Those are the "rational" displacers of religion.

I don't see how those are really replacements for religion. I suppose back in the day, literature included more religious tropes but that's because people were more religious then. If they're more of a package deal of alternative cultural hobbies I don't see how it's necessarily superior to the cultural aspect of religion.
 
Ugh. Just the poster behind him is enough to make me vehemently denounce this whole idea.
 
I'm disgusted when I read through this thread. Disgusted that religious interests have been attempting to discredit science for so long. This has literally been going on for hundreds and hundreds of years. Fortunately, you never win in the long term. Truth always prevails, good over evil, etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo#Timeline

I'm sure the folks who banned Galileo's books felt they were doing the world a service?

As far as I'm concerned this is terrorism. Intellectual terrorism. And it's still happening today, exactly 400 years after the Catholic Church placed De revolutionibus orbium coelestium on the list of banned books.

Unfuckingbelievable.
Actually this is a fantastic thread, it shows us not only that we have the right to question religion, but the fact we can do it without fear or being called racist, bigot, or some sort of phobe etc.
 
Actually this is a fantastic thread, it shows us not only that we have the right to question religion, but the fact we can do it without fear or being called racist, bigot, or some sort of phobe etc.

We are anonymous here. We can say them here without consequence. There are many closet atheists in America today. What they can say here they could never say to their friends and family.
 
Genocide and Incest Park FTW!

Isn't it lovely that they pick the most disgusting immoral tale in the whole of human history and celebrate it? Celebrating God killing every god damn living thing he ever created? What in the hell is there to celebrate in that?

We should create a park right next to this park that demonstrates what life was like for the living things that were murdered by God. Stack up road kill animals a mile high and leave it there to rot. Give people the SMELL and SIGHT and REALITY of the flood. You want to celebrate an orgy of blood, here is your fucking orgy of blood!
 

Heh, I wasn't even aware Kentucky had kicked in tax money to fund this thing. I guess they hope to pick up some sales tax from visitors, got me.

It makes Florida even look more sane, it's not like the state would kick in tax money to fund some religious based tourist attractions in Orlando that are there all ready.

I guess Scientology gets a tax break, and they claim to go back "76 trillion years"

🙄

At least there hasn't been a state funded Sea Org/Xenu theme park built.
 
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Kinda depressing when you realize that much of your country is so fucked up that even Australia kicked out a nutter too crazy for them who then found comfort and community within your neighborhood.
 
You know the worst part about this "exhibit" is that they tried to get public money to help them build it which is absolutely ludicrous. It kind of reminds me of these tv evangelists who all have private multimillion dollar jets to get around in. If they really cared about people they'd have used the money to help people in need instead of lining their own pockets with "Gods" money. Modern bible beaters are the worst group of holier than thou people that have ever lived.
 
I don't see how those are really replacements for religion. I suppose back in the day, literature included more religious tropes but that's because people were more religious then. If they're more of a package deal of alternative cultural hobbies I don't see how it's necessarily superior to the cultural aspect of religion.

All those things replace religion without the dogma. Stories of virtue and hope are relayed through literature. Values of social norms and behaviors are guided by governance and social constructs. Creativity and progress are promoted by art. Fellowship and camaraderie are found within local communities. The intersection and greater understanding of all these are studied within philosophy.

We don't need to be under the delusion of a greater power for society to find purpose, productivity, comfort, and relative peace. Let go of the dogma and it enables one to change their perspective as they experience new things instead of trying to reconcile those experiences with their unmoving view of the world. The dogmatic lens of religion creates guilt, hate, and consternation when viewing anything outside itself.
 
Subyman I agree with you that religion has a tendency to polarize people into narrow mindsets and conditions them to reject anything outside of their accepted norms. Most religious people exhibit some form of classical conditioning that prevents them from accepting any evidence that is contrary to their chosen belief system. Religion is responsible for enormous strife over the ages leading to intolerance between different groups. The widely held belief that group A is right and everyone else is wrong seems to be the religious social norm and it sickens me every time I have to deal with their rigid mental sets.
 
Kinda depressing when you realize that much of your country is so fucked up that even Australia kicked out a nutter too crazy for them who then found comfort and community within your neighborhood.

Not too out of line with a country originally established by religious extremists.


All those things replace religion without the dogma. Stories of virtue and hope are relayed through literature. Values of social norms and behaviors are guided by governance and social constructs. Creativity and progress are promoted by art. Fellowship and camaraderie are found within local communities. The intersection and greater understanding of all these are studied within philosophy.

We don't need to be under the delusion of a greater power for society to find purpose, productivity, comfort, and relative peace. Let go of the dogma and it enables one to change their perspective as they experience new things instead of trying to reconcile those experiences with their unmoving view of the world. The dogmatic lens of religion creates guilt, hate, and consternation when viewing anything outside itself.

Yet in reality we see religious culture commonly practiced in europe these days without the ridiculous dogma.

The issue with focusing exclusively on religion is that it ignores the problematic common framework which continues to power nation states, large corps and so on. As social groups competing for mindshare, they're been gradually squeezing out religion and committing many of the same fouls. Eg. the secular wars of our times aren't any less brutal/destructive than previously religious ones.
 
We are told by the left that theres no such thing as Muslim terrorists, so theres no way people can be upset by this 'ark'

See, your belief that "the left" has claimed that there is no such thing as Muslim terrorists is a ridiculously false belief. Ridiculously false beliefs are pretty easy to spot.
 
You just stated it above and now you won't own it? You do know that your prior posts are still right up for the reading, don't you?

Umm, whatever medication your on, you might want to check with your doc if they are working.

But I'll give you a shot, where did I say I BELIVE that "the left" has claimed that there is no such thing as Muslim terrorists".

I thought I was being clear, that's a statement of fact.


You made the claim I hold a 'belief'.

In fact, I backed up my claim.

In my article, the current USA leader of the left makes the claim himself.

President Obama’s claim on Wednesday night that the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) “is not Islamic,”


heres another bleeding heart article telling us how we shouldn't link Islam to terrorists.

http://time.com/3273873/stop-isis-islam/

Or how about what could be/is the leader of the American left said about the issue

Let’s be clear: Islam is not our adversary. Muslims are peaceful and tolerant people and have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism."


http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guyben...hing-whatsoever-to-do-with-terrorism-n2082980


I can go on and on and on and on.
 
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