Can you be religious yet rational?

[.oldschool]

 

[Mac-7]

Its odd that the gods on mt olympus didnt move this thread to the badlands where it belongs

 

[surada]

Its odd that the gods on mt olympus didnt move this thread to the badlands where it belongs

What is it that you find objectionable?

 

[Mac-7]

What is it that you find objectionable?

Its just a platform for godless libs to bash Christians

 

[surada]

Its just a platform for godless libs to bash Christians

Fundamentalism took off about 1917 as a reaction to science and modernity.. around the same time as the Scofield heresy. Not all Christians are like you. Mac.

 

[Mac-7]

Fundamentalism took off about 1917 as a reaction to science and modernity.. around the same time as the Scofield heresy. Not all Christians are like you. Mac.

Are you harping on Scofield again?

he is widely followed because he was right when mushy of-this-world Christians and atheists were wrong

God promised Jews a homeland in palestine and it happened just as Scofield said

and all he had to do was study the Bible to know that

 

[SweetSue92]

There are many things about religions I like, such as their goal of encouraging good behavior, spirituality and so on ... but I'm somewhat annoyed when people hold obviously irrational religious beliefs. Lately, I kind of angered a friend when I involuntarily made fun of him claiming he believes in demons "because the Bible says they exist". I felt kind of sorry about that.

I know Christians who practize their faith in a very rational manner, but they don't take every word of the Bible literally. "Don't confuse the Bible with a history book, it's not about historical or scientific accuracy, but about moral and spiritual truths", they say. "It's not God's word, it's a collection of stories written by humans who explain their experiences with God." Fair deal.

Nevertheless, many Christians see it differently and often get in fights with atheists, who turn it into a battle of "science vs. religion". Atheists make fun of Christians who irrationally believe in supernatural phenomena like miracles, angles, spirits, demons and so on -- or a personified, anthropomorphic God. They point to beliefs that obviously contradict scientific evidence, such as creationism.

So, is it possible? Can you truly be rational, respect science, yet be a true believer?

What do you think?

Take a look at science right now.

Does this seem even remotely "rational" to you? Remember when science said to bloodlet and use leeches?

We're there.

 

[buckeye45_73]

There are many things about religions I like, such as their goal of encouraging good behavior, spirituality and so on ... but I'm somewhat annoyed when people hold obviously irrational religious beliefs. Lately, I kind of angered a friend when I involuntarily made fun of him claiming he believes in demons "because the Bible says they exist". I felt kind of sorry about that.

I know Christians who practize their faith in a very rational manner, but they don't take every word of the Bible literally. "Don't confuse the Bible with a history book, it's not about historical or scientific accuracy, but about moral and spiritual truths", they say. "It's not God's word, it's a collection of stories written by humans who explain their experiences with God." Fair deal.

Nevertheless, many Christians see it differently and often get in fights with atheists, who turn it into a battle of "science vs. religion". Atheists make fun of Christians who irrationally believe in supernatural phenomena like miracles, angles, spirits, demons and so on -- or a personified, anthropomorphic God. They point to beliefs that obviously contradict scientific evidence, such as creationism.

So, is it possible? Can you truly be rational, respect science, yet be a true believer?

What do you think?

Yeah, it's very possible....and you can believe in the Bible and be rational. I believe in the Bible and science......its not hard. Fo example The Bible talks about males and females, science still shows only 2 genders

 

[Iamartiewhitefox]

There are many things about religions I like, such as their goal of encouraging good behavior, spirituality and so on ... but I'm somewhat annoyed when people hold obviously irrational religious beliefs. Lately, I kind of angered a friend when I involuntarily made fun of him claiming he believes in demons "because the Bible says they exist". I felt kind of sorry about that.

I know Christians who practize their faith in a very rational manner, but they don't take every word of the Bible literally. "Don't confuse the Bible with a history book, it's not about historical or scientific accuracy, but about moral and spiritual truths", they say. "It's not God's word, it's a collection of stories written by humans who explain their experiences with God." Fair deal.

Nevertheless, many Christians see it differently and often get in fights with atheists, who turn it into a battle of "science vs. religion". Atheists make fun of Christians who irrationally believe in supernatural phenomena like miracles, angles, spirits, demons and so on -- or a personified, anthropomorphic God. They point to beliefs that obviously contradict scientific evidence, such as creationism.

So, is it possible? Can you truly be rational, respect science, yet be a true believer?

What do you think?

Good behaviour is: I see a zoosexual, doing zoosexual things, saying, arrest them, giving death threats? Good behaviour is: I see an older man touching a young person sexually, or sucking them, or the other way around, saying the same thing? That is weird good behaviour.

 

[Iamartiewhitefox]

I can. It is the reflection of the ocean and refraction of the sun. The sky has no colour.

God is a myth.

We make what is finite, on a finite planet. God who is eternal made what this planet is in. God wants his character in us, before he is seen as he is. They that are like him will survive. They that are not like him will perish. Jesus showed to us what God is like. Evil people hated him.

 

[Dr Grump]

We make what is finite, on a finite planet. God who is eternal made what this planet is in. God wants his character in us, before he is seen as he is. They that are like him will survive. They that are not like him will perish. Jesus showed to us what God is like. Evil people hated him.

Meh. Jesus probably existed. Seems like a reasonable enough guy. Son of god? Nope. Never.
You go live in your fantasy land, but remember this. If you were born in Saudi Arabia, you'd be a Muslim. If you were born in Thailand you'd be a Buddhist. If you were born in Japan you would be into Shintoism. If you were born in Israel you'd be a Jew. Unless you have converted from one religion to the other, the only reason you believe Jesus was the son of a god is that you were born into it. 90+ % of peoples' religious affiliation is due to where they were born and whom they were born to. That in itself is reason enough not to believe.

I won't even go into the overwhelming evidence that shows a lot of the allegories from the Bible (the virgin birth being just one) are rehashes of religious dogma attached to religions that were previous to Christianity appearing. You can thank Constantine converting to Christianity just before he died as giving that religion a foothold it has on the world today. Without him, Christianity would be a peripheral religion discussed by scholars specialising in theology in the back rooms of 2nd tier universities.

There is absolutely no evidence - empirical or otherwise - of Jesus actually existing, let alone being the son of a god.

 

[surada]

There are many things about religions I like, such as their goal of encouraging good behavior, spirituality and so on ... but I'm somewhat annoyed when people hold obviously irrational religious beliefs. Lately, I kind of angered a friend when I involuntarily made fun of him claiming he believes in demons "because the Bible says they exist". I felt kind of sorry about that.

I know Christians who practize their faith in a very rational manner, but they don't take every word of the Bible literally. "Don't confuse the Bible with a history book, it's not about historical or scientific accuracy, but about moral and spiritual truths", they say. "It's not God's word, it's a collection of stories written by humans who explain their experiences with God." Fair deal.

Nevertheless, many Christians see it differently and often get in fights with atheists, who turn it into a battle of "science vs. religion". Atheists make fun of Christians who irrationally believe in supernatural phenomena like miracles, angles, spirits, demons and so on -- or a personified, anthropomorphic God. They point to beliefs that obviously contradict scientific evidence, such as creationism.

So, is it possible? Can you truly be rational, respect science, yet be a true believer?

What do you think?

Great post. I don't think God intended we park our brains at the church door.

 

[Meriweather]

Unless you have converted from one religion to the other, the only reason you believe Jesus was the son of a god is that you were born into it. 90+ % of peoples' religious affiliation is due to where they were born and whom they were born to. That in itself is reason enough not to believe.

Actually, it is the best reason for believing, no matter what your faith because religion is much more than believing Jesus walked on water, Moses parted the Red Sea, etc. Religious beliefs are founded on a solid way of living this life, the foundation for both family and community living.
So you cannot believe in the virgin birth. Can you believe in, "Love one another as I have loved you"? Or, "Your sins are forgiven"? "Forgive seventy times seven"?

When we get right down to the nitty gritty to a faith teaching of a higher power and points to an ideal way of living this life, then one understands that if one were born into Shinto, Judaism, Islam, etc. it still reaches deep into one's heart and soul and inspires us to become the best version of oneself. That is religion, that is faith. Those who criticize the virgin birth, the parting of the Red Sea, etc., are clueless about what a faith actually teaches.

Show me that person and I'll show you a person who doesn't want to be bothered putting in the effort to live a better life, become a better person. (And no, I am not speaking of atheists who cannot believe in the higher power of God, because so many of them do believe in the higher power of goodness. I am speaking of those who turn away from faith because they can't believe Jesus walked on water or that Jonah was swallowed by a big fish.)

 

[surada]

Actually, it is the best reason for believing, no matter what your faith because religion is much more than believing Jesus walked on water, Moses parted the Red Sea, etc. Religious beliefs are founded on a solid way of living this life, the foundation for both family and community living.
So you cannot believe in the virgin birth. Can you believe in, "Love one another as I have loved you"? Or, "Your sins are forgiven"? "Forgive seventy times seven"?

When we get right down to the nitty gritty to a faith teaching of a higher power and points to an ideal way of living this life, then one understands that if one were born into Shinto, Judaism, Islam, etc. it still reaches deep into one's heart and soul and inspires us to become the best version of oneself. That is religion, that is faith. Those who criticize the virgin birth, the parting of the Red Sea, etc., are clueless about what a faith actually teaches.

Show me that person and I'll show you a person who doesn't want to be bothered putting in the effort to live a better life, become a better person. (And no, I am not speaking of atheists who cannot believe in the higher power of God, because so many of them do believe in the higher power of goodness.

I am speaking of those who turn away from faith because they can't believe Jesus walked on water or that Jonah was swallowed by a big fish.)

Great post. Thanks.

 

[ding]

There are many things about religions I like, such as their goal of encouraging good behavior, spirituality and so on ... but I'm somewhat annoyed when people hold obviously irrational religious beliefs. Lately, I kind of angered a friend when I involuntarily made fun of him claiming he believes in demons "because the Bible says they exist". I felt kind of sorry about that.

I know Christians who practize their faith in a very rational manner, but they don't take every word of the Bible literally. "Don't confuse the Bible with a history book, it's not about historical or scientific accuracy, but about moral and spiritual truths", they say. "It's not God's word, it's a collection of stories written by humans who explain their experiences with God." Fair deal.

Nevertheless, many Christians see it differently and often get in fights with atheists, who turn it into a battle of "science vs. religion". Atheists make fun of Christians who irrationally believe in supernatural phenomena like miracles, angles, spirits, demons and so on -- or a personified, anthropomorphic God. They point to beliefs that obviously contradict scientific evidence, such as creationism.

So, is it possible? Can you truly be rational, respect science, yet be a true believer?

What do you think?

All the time.

 

[Iamartiewhitefox]

Great post. Thanks.

\

The centurion and Thomas had no matter what your faith? When the unseen is finally seen, is no matter what your faith? Why need faith when what is unseen is finally seen. The church perverts words all over the place. Encouraging good behaviour is, arrest people who do what you do? We are naked. We engage in sex. The Bible is a recording of what people said and did. The things that did not happen are the parables that Jesus taught to people, who would ague with him had he say it like it is. Evil spirits exist. They said: use money. Money will make people to be bad to each other, and the enter planet. God is not anthropomorphic. God looks like us. No one would have needed to have a person to betray Jesus. It would have been easy to identify him, had Jesus be anthropomorphic.

 

[surada]

\

You sure screwed up the quote function.

 

[Stryder50]

Great post. I don't think God intended we park our brains at the church door.

Or Goddess at the Temple entrance ...

 

[frigidweirdo]

There are many things about religions I like, such as their goal of encouraging good behavior, spirituality and so on ... but I'm somewhat annoyed when people hold obviously irrational religious beliefs. Lately, I kind of angered a friend when I involuntarily made fun of him claiming he believes in demons "because the Bible says they exist". I felt kind of sorry about that.

I know Christians who practize their faith in a very rational manner, but they don't take every word of the Bible literally. "Don't confuse the Bible with a history book, it's not about historical or scientific accuracy, but about moral and spiritual truths", they say. "It's not God's word, it's a collection of stories written by humans who explain their experiences with God." Fair deal.

Nevertheless, many Christians see it differently and often get in fights with atheists, who turn it into a battle of "science vs. religion". Atheists make fun of Christians who irrationally believe in supernatural phenomena like miracles, angles, spirits, demons and so on -- or a personified, anthropomorphic God. They point to beliefs that obviously contradict scientific evidence, such as creationism.

So, is it possible? Can you truly be rational, respect science, yet be a true believer?

What do you think?

Religious and rational? Yes.

It depends what religion.

Christianity is less logical, but some Christians see the moral messages in the Bible without believing in all the other stuff, the supposed miracles and the like.

Then again, most people aren't rational and religion takes advantage of that.

 

[surada]

Five Things Christian Fundamentalists Just Don't Get

Jesus, as all great reformers have, sided with the oppressed. This new kind of skewed fundamentalism is radically new and far removed from true Christianity. True Christianity offers us a far superior doctrine -- one of social justice, love and equality.

www.huffpost.com