It seem to me that the whole point of using the term "higher power" is to avoid offending and alienating people who do not believe in god(s). It is a compromise so that believers and non-believers can participate without feeling pressured.
Some of the members of these group are not religious and do consider "higher power" to mean their own better nature, their government, justice, law, whatever.
If you are offended (or even just uncomfortable) by the idea of joining a group that uses "higher power" as part of its tenets what compromise would you suggest?
2007-09-12 05:17:08 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Here is an article about the term "higher power" being considered a problem to non-believers as it applies to SC&C http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/08/BA99S1AKQ.DTL
2007-09-12 05:41:27 · update #1
ADD: I am NOT a Christian.
I am religious but I do not think that has anything to do with the question or me wanting to learn more.
2007-09-12 05:44:10 · update #2
The term "higher power" is broad enough to be considered everything from the Judeo-Christian-Islamic God to the collective wisdom of the group, consequently the only people who are offended by it are those who are looking for a reason to be offended.
2007-09-12 05:24:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is no compromise.
The thinking is at polar opposites. Atheists, in general, do not accept the concept that any higher power - call it what you will - has control or the right to control their destiny. Sure, there are things that are tough to fight - government being an example - and random occurrences outside of our control, but for better or worse we make our own choices and do not surrender our lives to so-called higher powers.
Believers relish surrendering their lives to their chosen "higher power," even if that power is all in their minds. It's a lack of personal responsibility that atheists find sad, if not offensive.
The euphemism is unimportant; it's the philosophy that matters. That's why nonbelievers seek out groups like SOS and RR instead of AA.
2007-09-12 05:31:10 · answer #2 · answered by Brent Y 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It does not matter what you call it a god is a god. Calling it a 'higher power', Jehovah, Allah, whatever makes no difference. You are claiming something that there is no real evidence for.
You are also absolving your responsibility for the world to this higher power, or at least part of it. This, in my opinion is cowardly and dangerous.
The only point I can see in using the words 'higher power' is it combines all the theists together. Muslims, Hindus, Jews and Christians all agree that there is a higher power, they just disagree over it's form/capabilities/name. (To the point where some are willing to kill each other over it.). It lets them gang together to be unified against the atheists.
Atheist say that if you want to claim that there is a higher power, then provide some evidence. Otherwise what we can see is us in the universe, our better nature, our forms of government, our laws and justice. No higher power needed.
2007-09-12 05:29:22 · answer #3 · answered by Simon T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, saying higher power is still telling someone there is a "GOD" without saying the word. But i dont believe in god but do think something caused us besides the big bang. Good and bad, forever and never, are proof that either god exist or the universe has always existed. I believe the universe is the only higher power and no i wont get offended saying that. The universe has a mind of its own and can create and take life as it wishes. extra terrestrial human beings exist also in there own galaxies as we do. they might have their own responce to that question. so just live life and dont woory what others think of your beliefs. have agood day
2007-09-12 05:32:28 · answer #4 · answered by hightimes907 the 420 Atheist 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's only offensive if the person using the term claims to have a special knowledge of the higher power or claims to know it's plan for mankind which I have to say I think is ridiculous.
Nature may be a Higher Power, I don't pretend to have any special knowledge of it that others do not.
2007-09-12 05:34:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Believer becomes understood as experiencial, and the compromise is one understands that spirit, a non bound force is capable of connecting with and through us, even the most profoundly abusive if we are willing and doing the practices that create structure for such force to reside, the conditions that can begin the process of unconditional love of self and a program for giving what is freely recieved, once the fog of substance abuse or dysfunctional programing of any sort is resolved, via relationship with higher power, or any word that one comprehends as beyond the body of physical but not excluding the need for the physical to "obey" basic rightlivlihood responsibilities. The feeling of pressure is not in the use of word for God, but the feeling of pain associated with not having a relationship with a loving one. And that must be replicated in you, it can't be where it is not invited, hence image and similitude will be matched. 2nd coming, you make ready and invite , belief comes after experience , that's all i got for now.
2007-09-12 05:50:30 · answer #6 · answered by buffalo 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was actually considering joining AA for a while but the whole higher power thing turned me off. Even if they would ultimately be accepting, the thought of having people try to convince me I'm an alcoholic because I don't love Jesus was a big turn off.
I have also turned down Veterans of Foreign Wars membership because you have to sign a statement that includes the phrase 'I believe in God' to join.
2007-09-12 05:31:40 · answer #7 · answered by Jim 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not offensive just confusing. The sun is a higher power in the daytime at least. At night it becomes a lower power. Are these meetings held at night or in the day time?
2007-09-12 05:24:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do not have a problem with "higher power". But then it takes alot of offend me. I'm stronger then that. Too many people are too easily offended and thin skinned. They believe that any deviation is a slap in the face to them. They take everything way too personal and serious.
2007-09-12 05:24:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I really don't care what you call it, whether God, Allah, Yahweh, FSM, or a giant hamster in the sky. I really don't care what you say, but in my opinion the only higher power in this world is Nature, because no matter how powerful we as a people or a single person becomes, we'll always be subject to Natures whims, no? The only way I would get offended or uncomfortable is when they start preaching it to me, like if they say that it happened this way and no other way...or something similar to it..otherwise you can call your god God or whatever...don't matter to me.
-EDIT- Like what some people are saying, I don't usually like the term of "Non-believer" because I believe in a lot of things, I just don't believe that god did it or anything, I don't believe in God, so how 'bout "Believers" Change it around to, "God non-belivers" or something....
2007-09-12 05:25:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋