This question is open to anyone and everyone who'd like to share(rant/rave/etc) in the comment area:
Do you think that becoming an atheist is better than simply stating that you have lost your faith in your current religion?
Do you think atheism could be a stepping stone toward gnosis?
Do you feel that atheists are a shorter distance from gnosis than those in a literalist interpretative faith BECAUSE at least they are using their reasoning and logic to state: "I don't see a reason to believe in God because there is no proof."
Consider this: If a person has only been exposed to literalist interpretation and faith religions then they can only see what Jehovah has done, not Pleroma. They cannot quantify what Jehovah does compared to what He cannot do. If they have no knowledge of the distinction between the two entities then they are metaphorical infants.
The following is a video posted by Steve from TrueBlueHealer.com concerning the atheist of all atheists, Richard Dawkins, essentially bowing out of the argument of theism. Coincidentally(??) I just picked up Dawkin's book The God Delusion the other day at the library and was about to begin reading it. My heart really isn't in it now that I know what a cop-out it is.
6 comments:
I don't think anyone who is not approaching atheism from a scientific perspective will appreciate Dawkins; I know I never did.
I have spent a great deal of time considering Gnosticism. I readily admit I find it more likely, more meaningful, and more useful than any Abrahamic faith. However, Gnosticism is only attractive for the same reason smaller faiths like Buddhism are so widely acceptable among skeptics: it has no power, and therefore has not abused power. It is also small, and has not been perverted by a large number of fools extrapolating prejudice from it.
From my perspective, Gnosticism is little more than a fringe branch of dualistic monotheism which lacks a violent history. I don't know that leaving one's faith is an indicator that oen will join another faith, because I think it is an individual's lack of a divine personal experience that causes most people to be atheists. Those who have unexplained events that are meaningful and are attributed to God are the true believers, and I imagine that will always be the case.
GOD 1 - atheists 0
Atheists,
you are ENEMIES OF GOD AND ARE GOING TO BE ANNIHILATED...
Repent and turn to God or be destroyed...
YOU HAVE NO CHOICE...
my interpretation of the STATUE FIRE... it symbolizes the SPIRITUAL DEATH of atheism...
http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/topofthetimes/national/la-naw-0616-jesus-statue-lightning-20100616,0,4295974.story
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/6/16/1276680110544/The-King-of-Kings-statue--005.jpg
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2010-06/54332292.jpg
http://friendlyatheist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/butterjesus-1.jpg
PRINCESS DI IS WEARING A NEW DRESS!
http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speechesandarticles/a_speech_by_hrh_the_prince_of_wales_titled_islam_and_the_env_252516346.html
______________________________
http://skepticblog.org/2010/04/06/would-i-ever-pray-for-a-miracle/
Shermer, I WANT TO SEE YOU BEG FOR A MIRACLE...
___________________
we do like your music Lady Gaga, but...
The B**BQUAKE - 911
Let me show you the FATE OF TRAITORS...
http://www.loiterink.com/photos/products/182_3424_500x500.jpg
they are incapable of telling the difference between SCIENTIFIC *FACT* AND RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL *TRUTH*... FATAL ERROR!
they also preach a *VALUE FREE SCIENCE* called *POSITIVISM* that ignores the inequalities of wealth and power in capitalist civilization...
for a sample taste of PZ Myers' GARBAGE...
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/06/sunday_sacrilege_imagine_no_he.php
HIJACKING IN PROGRESS!!!
http://hawaiiwebgroup.com/maui-design/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/website-hijacking.jpg
HIJACKING IN PROGRESS!!!
how can these HEADLESS IDIOTS BET AGAINST GOD!!!
________________________________________
what happens when you LOSE Pascal's Wager...
http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics/pascals-wager.htm
_____________
you FIGHT PAPER MONSTERS...
the blood and bodies of the atheist movement...
you mofos killed MICKEY MOUSE!!!!
this has more TRUTH then what Dawkins, Randi, Harris, Myers, and Shermer
combined have said in their entire lives...
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=5R2wE8Sduhs&playnext_from=TL&videos=hht1U_19anc&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh%2Bdiv-1r-3-HM
they tried to BULLDOZE the entire METAPHYSICAL DIMENSION...
they LOST THE WAR......
you have FORFEIT YOUR SOUL, shermer... you have become an object in the
material world, as you WISHED...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUB4j0n2UDU
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/7/11792994_ffaaee87fa.jpg
we're gonna smash that TV...
They had become ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE AND OF GOD...
you pushed too much and *CROSSED THE LINE*
degenerates (PZ) or children (HEMANT) - ATHEISTS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRRg2tWGDSY
do you have anything to say, you STUPID LITTLE F*CKER?
how about I tell you, Mr. Shermer, EVERYTHING YOU THINK ABOUT THE WORLD is
*WRONG*
THE BOOBQUAKE - 911!
http://dissidentphilosophy.lifediscussion.net/philosophy-f1/the-boobquake-911-t1310.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx7XNb3Q9Ek
RUN, ATHEISTS, RUN!!!
-------------------
http://www.4degreez.com/misc/dante-inferno-information.html
the 9th and FINAL RING of Dante's Inferno is designed for little blaspheming traitors like you...
"This is the deepest level of hell, where the fallen angel Satan himself resides. His wings flap eternally, producing chilling cold winds that freeze the thick ice found in Cocytus..."
but at least FREE AIR CONDITIONING is included!
DM, I'm putting a ration on your brand of ignorant psychotic behavior. I know that you regularly spam blogs who write articles on religion you do not agree with. These are friends of mine and people who do not deserve your abuse. I don't either, however I must say that I am pleased you have found my humble little corner of the blogosphere.
Psychos are only allowed ONE comment per blog article. That's it.
I'm more than willing to post comments to this blog if they do not agree with my perspective. I love dialogue. But psychos are on a short leash.
If you would like to continue displaying to the public just how much you need to be in a straight jacket then by all means, continue sending me your gibberish comments. I'll post them. One per article.
Blessings to you, and I hope you get the help you deserve.
~Angel
Ginx, now that I have dealt with our new resident psycho I can give you my undivided attention.
I have become quite adept at following atheists' science based logic but I have to say that I find Dawkin's surrender ... odd.
There is a book I just got done with last evening which deals with the very theme you're speaking of: violence in theism. I am posting a review of it very soon. It's called "Is Religion Killing Us?"
The only reason why gnosticism hasn't been perverted was because followers were willing to die to maintain its purity. If they'd budged- even once- I think history would have been written differently.
Unless a religion has the (violent)power to coerce and control the public then it is of no use to a society's leaders.
Doubt can enter a person's heart at any point in time regarding God. Letting go of faith you had with a religion can open the door to this. I think what I was trying to get across with the post was that when I read or listen to an atheist's comments concerning God I can ALWAYS say, "You're talking about Jehovah, not Pleroma." This indicates a lack of information.
Then again, those who have "eyes to see and ears to hear" will always have a softer and more open heart. I think that atheists use the logic area of their brain instead of committing to blind faith. This gives them an edge when talking intelligently about theism. You're never going to have a conversation with an atheist that ends with circular logic like, "because this book says so."
The blog article topic is still 'cooking' in my mind so thanks, Ginx for your perspective and opinion! The buzzer may never go off indicating it's Done but that's no worry. It's all evolution.
I don't think religions are causing the violence; I think people are. I think if a large number of people became gnostics, some of them would take it to extremes. I believe that is why smaller, fringe faiths are able to more believably don the image religion craves to portray: humble and victimized, with accents of nobility.
Right. "Guns don't kill people, people kill people."
But -- nearly the entire south of France was Cathar. This is by no means a small population or area. And yet, the reason why they were vilified and consequentially murdered? Because their piety made Roman Catholics look bad. The Pope was upset that a bunch of gnostics were more civilized than the angry mob he presided over.
Gnostics may have been victimized through the ages but this hasn't stopped people from practicing. Only made them more circumspect.
And even with gnosticism being a fringe faith, sympathy and pity doesn't win converts.
We'll just have to agree to disagree, I suppose, about population creating the necessary spark to ignite religious violence. And that's fine.
Cathars were a bit puritanical by other gnostic sects standards. And yet there were gnostic sects which swung the other way as well, to the opposite side of the spectrum.
Now I've got to go work on that review. It's not going to write itself! lol
Blessings to you, Ginx. And thank you for sharing your opinion!
Angel
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