tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13519403.post112671021512869420..comments2023-09-08T10:15:41.426-04:00Comments on God Entranced: We Need Some Old Time ReligionDan Waughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13239327568868739040noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13519403.post-71241678778842807842009-02-09T09:44:00.000-05:002009-02-09T09:44:00.000-05:00RT, Thanks for your thoughts. I can sympathize wi...RT,<BR/> Thanks for your thoughts. I can sympathize with your position. In a world where religious fanatics are a constant threat to peace and security, the simple answer is to wish religion would go the way of the dodo bird. I don't want to minimize the pain religion has caused, even the pain that has been caused in the name of Christ. On the other hand, I don't want to minimize the good that Christianity has done in the world either. From the early Christians who rescued abandoned infants left in the streets to die to the more recent efforts of groups like World Vision and others, it can't be denied the Christianity has been a wonderful source of good in our world also. Pick up "What Has Christianity ever Done for Us" by Jonathan Hill sometime. <BR/> The real trouble I see in your comment is that if I really concentrate on living in this world I will live only for self and self pleasure and will live with little or no regard for others. Altruism is inconsistent with such a mindset. Granted there are many irreligious people who are amazingly altruistic. Many put Christians to shame with their self sacrifice. However, it is inconsistent with nonreligious/atheistic (or even pantheistic) beliefs. Why be compassionate to other? Why love? In fact, what is love? Apart from God these things loose their meaning and we loose all motivation to be other focused. <BR/> RT, I don't think you mean to suggest that invisible = imaginary do you. If so, then you would have to conclude that a lot of things, like magnetism, love, beauty, heat, etc. are imaginary. They are invisible, as is God, but being invisible doesn't mean they are any less real than what we see with our eyes. <BR/> Thanks again for making me think on a Monday morning.Dan Waughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13239327568868739040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13519403.post-1164018635017076482009-02-09T03:26:00.000-05:002009-02-09T03:26:00.000-05:00The world will be far better off if religion dies,...The world will be far better off if religion dies, then people can concentrate on living in the world, rather than having imaginary conversations with invisible entities.The Rambling Taoisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04730292897416827840noreply@blogger.com