"...but there are better reasons to help the poor, feed the hungry and defend the weak than the belief that an Imaginary Friend wants you to do it. Compassion is deeper than religion. As is ecstasy. It is time that we acknowledge that human beings can be profoundly ethical “ and even spiritual “ without pretending to know things they do not know.
Let us hope that Stark's candor inspires others in our government to admit their doubts about God. Indeed, it is time we broke this spell en masse. Every one of the world's "great" religions trivializes the immensity and beauty of the cosmos. Books like the Bible and the Quran get almost every significant fact about us and our world wrong. Every scientific domain -“from cosmology to psychology to economics “ has superseded and surpassed the wisdom of Scripture.
Everything of value that people get from religion can be had more honestly, without presuming anything on insufficient evidence. The rest is self-deception, set to music." Sam Harris
2007-03-20 03:33:37 · 17 answers · asked by CHEESUS GROYST 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Oh my ! it's the attack of the attack whiners already!
2007-03-20 03:40:13 · update #1
I've heard it argued by christians that the virtues are god given. This translates into christians have no innate virtues of their own. I would certainly be more able to trust in the virtues of an atheist far more readily than those professed by a theist, since the atheist has come by their virtues from within, not without, and therefore are far more ingrained.
But while there may be better reasons for helping people, the outcome is really what counts. It doesn't matter for instance that McDonalds charity support is done partly for the free advertising or that churches help people partly in order to preach to them, the most important thing is that they are helped.
As far as Stark goes, he is almost certainly NOT the first atheist in this position, just the first to ADMIT it. If he is made a totem against atheist politicians it will be grossly unfair.
2007-03-20 03:43:38 · answer #1 · answered by Dharma Nature 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Civil unions exist already and a good form of get carry of the financial advantages of marriage so because it is an occasion of marriage not being a non secular element. even although, if a pair needs a non secular marriage that's a distinctive ballgame. the two you're area of the non secular club or not, and by using this club they don't consistently marry you if their club regulations do not enable it. If a pair do not in basic terms like the club regulations their are consistently different suggestions like looking a sparkling club or transforming into one in all their very own.
2016-11-27 00:35:36 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Books like the Bible ...get almost every significant fact about us and our world wrong, according to Sam Harris?
So what does he know about wisdom?
Kindly ask him if he has wisdom, the reason why he had thoughts, compassion and conscience? And who does he think have thought the universal stuffs? Who was responsible for science?
For your question, "Many religious people do good things don't they? " my response is this: many and most of them do for the eyes of men only.
2007-03-20 03:45:37 · answer #3 · answered by TruthCaster.Com 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course they do. Many ateists do good deeds too.
You don't need to believe in God to realise the importance of helping those less fortunate and trying to leave the world a better place than the one you came into.
There are great people from all backgrounds in this world, from different idealogical backgrounds and races.
We all have the capacity for great deeds.
2007-03-20 03:42:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I only read your question, so discounting the rest: OF COURSE! These institutions have been creating good deeds and community service that pale to the crimes against humanity that these institutions are guilty of over the past 40 centuries.
It is like saying, "Hitler was a good man because he turned a wartorn,, financially destitute, debt burdened, depression ridden Country around to a super power in less than four years...but don't worry about the crimes against humanity he is responsible for."
2007-03-20 03:45:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, but they are instrumental in causing the very problems they aid.
Is an auto mechanic that sneaks around deflating tires in the mall parking lot, virtuous if he then sells them new tires the next day?
Promoting a faith based philosophy causes death by starvation. Everytime. Just look at history itself.
2007-03-20 03:41:56 · answer #6 · answered by Real Friend 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK but if my compassion for others is intertwined with my religion that should be OK too. I think it would be good if all compassionate people of all ideologies worked together to achieve the goals that we all know are good and stop worrying about why we think good things are in fact good things. Peace be with you.
2007-03-20 03:40:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No there is no better reason that Jesus asks us to help with the poor, feed the hungry and defend the weak. You can't force me to change me not to believe anymore than I could change your mind. God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit are the only ones with the power to convict people and get them to change their beliefs.
2007-03-20 03:40:26 · answer #8 · answered by Jan P 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sure they do. As a matter of fact, not all christians are nice people, but they are saved. Back to the question. I do think that those who go out into the poorest countries, serving others and not ever looking out for their own self, are christians.
2007-03-20 03:39:14 · answer #9 · answered by VW 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My facts come from the Bible....not science....science cannot explain alot of things that the Bible has.
Everyone has questions about their religion, that doesn't mean we doubt God's existence.
I don't really see a question here? Is this just an anti-religion soapbox?
2007-03-20 03:40:03 · answer #10 · answered by debrenee211 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋