muso wrote on Sep 29^th, 2010 at 11:01am:


Having been raised in a religious family, I disagree. The knowledge and soul feed the belief.

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On what do you base this? Good knowledge found in the religious texts not only show people how to behave morally, but also in the face of adversity. It allows the religious to identify with those who came before them and use that knowledge to act. It also allows them to reflect in meditation on what it means to be religious. The list goes on... but really, a person that is engaged in bible study on a regular basis, is nearer to god and his design for humanity.

Compassion for those outside of the religion is not necessarily a religious concept. Compassion for those within the religion is not always required of the faith base. In essence: Faith does not equal compassion. Why you think it does is beyond me.

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Can an atheist or agnostic have an understanding of gods without believing in gods? Yes... but you must be studied in that which you seek.

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If the religious were bothered with their faith, then they too would have a deeper understanding of what that faith means for them and their kind. That they do not bother themselves with their religious text, but rather move with the humanist and political flow of things is a sad indictment upon them. Quite frankly, a religious view can in many instances be preferable to the humanist view. For one thing, it clearly defines persons' responsibilities to the 'other', which humanism nor politics does not.

Clarity would be appreciated.

- darkhall67

Clarity exists within context. Have another go!

And what does that mean?

- Darkhall67

It means exactly what it says it means. Ok?

Religious knowledge has very little to do with personal religious belief, and even less to do with spirituality.

- Muso

Having been raised in a religious family, I disagree. The knowledge and soul feed the belief.

- Sapho

Well this discussion is now getting interesting.

I too have been raised within a religious family/extended family environment .. and I've seen how religious knowledge can be helpful in some instances .. but not in all.

Why are you deleting my posts?


Making you the mod of a board doesnt make you the god of the board.



Dont do it.

gizmo_2655 wrote on Sep 29^th, 2010 at 2:26pm:


I'd argue that unless you experience God in some way, you can't understand a religion. I never did, but some people do.

I'm not making any statement about the nature or even existence of God here (and it really doesn't matter from my perspective) - just the experience.

Most people who are active followers of some religions talk of God working through them or some kind of personal relationship with God.  To them, it's more than just a dry framework of rules.

As an analogy, try to understand about dogs and you'll understand about God (no disrespect intended). From your perspective dogs serve no real purpose. They consume food and it costs money to maintain a dog properly. They defecate over your front lawn and they die after a relatively short period. So why bother with a dog? Many people do. Many people just can't see the attraction of having a creature that is slightly removed from a wild predator in their homes.

Unless you have had a dog, then you will never  understand dogs.

A question for you - Do dogs exist in the way that dog owners believe them to?

A question for you - Do dogs exist in the way that dog owners believe them to?

- Muse

Now the topic's gone to the dogs! Ah well .. it was bound to happen lol