Is it possible, JUST for a blessed moment...?

Question

To let go of who or what you believe created the earth... or didn't, to let go of your beliefs and realize that what any great humanitarian would want is for us all to be helpful and good to one another. No, this is not a "Kumbaya" moment. I believe in science when it's proved. I believe in the 'theory' of evolution because of the research and proven facts of the findings. And you believe in God, or aren't sure, or believe there's more to it than either evolution or creationism can define - but does it matter? Really? Shouldn't we all get out there and make the world a better place to live in, start being kind rather than proselytizing to one another. Woudn't your God want that more than anything? Once you ascribe human characteristics (jealousy, narcisssism) to a god you take away the "god-like" qualities he/she/it has. Would any god threaten people with eternal hell for not believing in him when they've tried always to do the compassionate thing and help out in the world?

I am not saying what god SHOULD be like. I am simply describing how god-like is defined. This from the dictionary: "divine; hence, preeminently good. Heavenly. Magnanimous. Noble. Pure in heart."

I was, as an atheist, trying to be respectful to the theism of others and it's annoying to find that by being respectful of your belief in god I am somehow "destroying the credibility" of my question. I don't believe in any gods. I do, however, believe that many human beings have some "god-like" qualities (as defined in the dictionary) and can find that divinity and compassion within themselves and others.

REGARDLESS of their religious affiliations.

Answer 1

*Giving the Cookie person a standing ovation*. There you go folks. An Atheist is now being MORE Christian than some of the Bible quopuers in here are.

I think that there is a HIDDEN Religion at play here. NOT the aitheists. It's the Christians, There are TWO camps. Those who actually LIVE the commandment to LOVE. And then there are those who worship the Bible, They seem to KNOW every single passage in it and can whip out any passage they need to "prove a point", yet they don't seem to know the TRUE meaning of what that great book says. Perhaps it's time for the Christians to recognize those atostates in their midst and give them a NAME. I recomend "Biblians", for THAT is their God and NOT the God of Love, forgiveness and compassion, that the REAL Christians worship. Biblians should NOT be confused with Pharisees, who are JEWS who know the Torah just as thoroughly and yet fail to understand what IT means. Biblians have several characteristics the seem to be universal throughout their "sect". They are Luddites, who see the Bible as the ONLY Book that they should read and go about with the idea that "everything I need to know is in the Bible". To them the Earth is still flat, has 4 corners, is the center of the universe, is only about 10,000 years old. They believe that everything was created in just 6 days, including Humans. They believe in a universal, world wide flood that destroyed some 6,000 years ago, every single living thing on the entire planet with the exception of a few humans and two of each kind of animal that was chosen by those humans for survival. They aslo believe that the God that is depicted in that Bible is an angry vengeful and jealous God. That God has the Earth targeted for total destruction at some undetermined piont in time (which seems to always be "right around the corner" yet NEVER actually arrives. They live their WHOLE lives with THAT idea in the fore-front of their minds and assume that THEY and THEY alone will come through that disasterous end intact. They feel that because of this, that they and they alone have the right to actually hate and despise EVERYONE else who does not share their narrow view of existence. They believe that they can do anythng that will SPEED up the diasterous end of the World, because they have NO trust in God to do it in his OWN time and on his OWN terms. They believe that ALL parts of the Bible are a set of laws that are MANDATORY for everyone, however, those same parts are optional for THEM. They are easily confused with the REAL Christians because they PROFESS to believe in God, Jesus, good and evil, and all the other things the REAL Christians believe in.

Now, REAL Christians, on the other hand, actually LIVE their lives each and every day. They know and accept people of other Faiths and recognize them for being fellow humans on the Planet. They practice the vague concept of LOVE for their fellow hamans, not just of their OWN Faith but those of ALL Faiths.

As a Human on the Earth, AND as a Wiccan, I am pleased and proud to include the REAL Christians among my many friends. The Biblians, on the other hand, I view as Devils in human form, to be despised and shunned in their entirety Christians LOVE and Biblians HATE. Let's hear it for the Christians !!!

Brightest Blessings to the Christians,
And to everyone else, Except the Biblians,
Raji the Green Witch.

Answer 2

A christian's view: There are very few commands found in the new testament. The greatest is to love God, love your neighbour.

Everything we do must flow from that. Anything that does not, is not following God.

Evolution/creation is as irrelevant to this as is the internal church debate of "the timing of the rapture". Like non-christians, we get so bogged down in the details, we forget the commandment - love God, love your fellow man.

There will come a time when many who thought they were following Jesus' teaching will discover they were not. There will also be those who did not realize they were doing what was directed.

It is not our place to measure the works of others. It is our place to love our neighbour as ourselves.

Answer 3

We 'should' be concerned about the betterment of the world and the progress of our civilization. That is the whole purpose of our existence.

But a dichotomy has happened in the evolution of our civilization.
Science and technology have taken us to high levels of material advancement and progress, but our morals and religious beliefs have not advanced in harmony with this enormous progress.
Mankind has entered the age of reason and maturity but his religious beliefs are still those of his infancy.
.

Answer 4

Lots of good points and food for thought. I don't believe God is ever completely comprehendible by humanity, and I don't believe a compassionate, merciful, God would punish anyone for eternity.

Answer 5

ok... first off. That question took a long time to read....

But I agree with you, poeple should just be nice to eachother, who cares what faith they have. I don't know of one religon that preaches to hate. So why don't we just follow our rules of faith and be nice. I'm not saying go out and give the murderer a hug, or to give away all your money. Just don't hate poeple that are different.


and on a side note.... How are you Mom?

Answer 6

something middle east families face everyday. It is the same thing we are doing to the innocent people of Iraq, and now Lebanon. There should never have been support of Israel, which caused hate of America, which caused senseless death on all sides.

Answer 7

You sound like a prime candidate for the Ethical Society.

Answer 8

Such an amazing point. Why would "god" ever punish someone to eternal damnation if he loves them or whatever? Hopefully what waits for us when we die would be able to see the good we did in our lives, rather than punish us for "not believing". Thanks for that something to ponder.

Answer 9

WOW- well said buddy......wish i had half the brain to put that in words.....but i can definitely say i know exactly what you mean and do i ever agree

Answer 10

I frequently become "apatheistic" ... I don't care if there is a god or not... it's good to just live well... for ourselves and for others.