I am, however, consistently puzzled by the resistance, whether it's among my friends and neighbors or the Sam Harrises of the world, to any consideration of the notion that religious experience might be like most other widespread human experiences - which is to say, a response to something that's actually out there.
I think 95 percent of it can be easily explained: people don't really want to think that God might exist, because if He does, then He might expect something of them. To get right to the point, it might mean that they can't conduct their sex lives exactly as they wish.
For me, when I got to the point of finally accepting religious faith, I could no longer avoid the fact that all my vaporous philosophizing and high-falutin' doubt was almost completely dishonest, and in fact an elaborate rationalization for the fact that I didn't want to believe God existed, because I didn't want any limits placed on my sexual freedom.
I don't think this is true for some people, but I believe -- though I can't prove it -- that it explains the vehemency of most who want to quash any sense of wonder or speculation about religious experiences. They just don't want to hear it, because it troubles their sleep. If God exists, and we aren't Him, well then...
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Rod, your ignorance of atheism is as profound as your need to justify your belief in Christianity. I don't need a God to justify my behavior. I behave as I do because it is part of the best standards of behavior we have evolved as humanity. And, those same principles are valid, irrespective of whether one believes in a God, or a Flying Spaghetti Monster...or no supernatural being at all. Comfort yourself--and those who need that same reassurance you do--with the belief that you are not enough within yourself, so you need a supernatural Daddy to approve of you. I'm already comfortable in my belief in myself and in those who believe I am valuable to them. It leads to happpiness, I can assure you. And, I get all the sex I need and want, with not one whit of remorse.
--Carol Anne>
I would argue that those who DO believe in God do so because it makes them feel so extra-special and superior to all of those evil bastards who are going to hell.
That's your idea of an "argument?"
I'd call it an entirely ignorant rant.>
I once had a xian tell me I did not believe in god so I would have no constraints whatsoever. I asked if he was certain there was no god would that lead him to rape and murder? He said, "Yes.">
Yeah Simon and then you'd be called wrong and I can't help but notice that you have no rebuttal to everyone else who made pretty much the same point.
Being an atheist means I don't believe in magic not in morality, rule of law and all the other rather self-evident stuff.
Do you ever wonder how societies came up with laws against murder without the Jewish sky-god's help?>
Just because you were (are? blogging but painfully short "articles") shallow before turning to god doesn't mean all people who don't believe in gods are.
I don't believe in gods because any attempt to pin down what exactly a particular god is eventually leads to Pantheism in the believers explanation. And an all knowing, all seeing, universal god is the same as saying that existence is god. But existence is not conscience in any way relevant to our lives.
It just turns out that for a lot of people believing something bigger cares about them and ignoring how nature destroys groups of people all of the time with little regard makes them feel better.
Certainly that's not a legitimate excuse to evangelize.>
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