Religion

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)

62. Yes, many religious leaders did.

Tue Feb 26, 2019, 06:04 PM

Feb 2019

And for their own reasons.

But monarchs, and dictators, and all leaders use what works in their respective cultures to attain power and to keep power.

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You may be reading the Bible wrong. Pete Enns says the Bible itself shows a better way [View all] guillaumeb Feb 2019 OP

So maybe the "wisdom" we are supposed to arrive at is.... Major Nikon Feb 2019 #1

You might arrive at that conclusion. eom guillaumeb Feb 2019 #2

As good of a "metaphor" as any Major Nikon Feb 2019 #4

Anyone might deduce that. Bretton Garcia Feb 2019 #8

After Jesus died and he was about to pack it up for the second to last time, gtar100 Feb 2019 #3

Imagine no religion Major Nikon Feb 2019 #5

Imagine religion that brings peace, harmony and understanding. gtar100 Feb 2019 #6

Pretty hard to do Major Nikon Feb 2019 #7

That is a problem but I don't think it's insurmountable. gtar100 Feb 2019 #9

I do think many people need religion. marylandblue Feb 2019 #10

No. They're just too lazy to think. MineralMan Feb 2019 #16

I don't think that's it at all. marylandblue Feb 2019 #17

We look at it differently. MineralMan Feb 2019 #18

I agree with your last sentence. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #22

Complete non-sequitur... MineralMan Feb 2019 #23

Complete avoidance. eom guillaumeb Feb 2019 #24

Has to be more than a regular hoax because it has such staying power. marylandblue Feb 2019 #25

That is an amazing reply. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #21

Thanks marylandblue Feb 2019 #29

Well, howdy. "What can 'Brown' do for us." 😉 sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #27

I think he's closer to the mark, actually. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2019 #41

Theology can be very complicated, so I don't think it's a cognitive miser issue marylandblue Feb 2019 #43

Theology is only complicated for intellectuals Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #46

I find that most people are victims of rote behavior and platitudes. marylandblue Feb 2019 #48

I don't disagree. Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #57

Yeah, that's the only place we're gonna find one. trotsky Feb 2019 #36

Don't knock imagination as fake. It's where all ideas begin. gtar100 Feb 2019 #39

Who said we need to "get rid of religion"? trotsky Feb 2019 #40

Well said. gtar100 Feb 2019 #42

Being "picky" just involves using our reason and intellect to evaluate moral claims. trotsky Feb 2019 #45

Excellent points. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #19

Yes. eom sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #28

It's been put forth as a premise that if all the words Jesus the Christ sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #26

Oh look edhopper Feb 2019 #11

So, the core message is, "Go figure it out for yourselves." MineralMan Feb 2019 #12

A useful theology for atheists though? Bretton Garcia Feb 2019 #13

Nah. It's just silliness. MineralMan Feb 2019 #15

Or he could be wrong Lordquinton Feb 2019 #14

The word "may" is important. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #20

Most atheists don't want any kind of theology Bretton Garcia Feb 2019 #32

Well said, and I understand your position, even as I do not share it. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #35

Some of us have long ago understood PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2019 #30

What ever works for you. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #33

"My view is that actions count. And respecting others." trotsky Feb 2019 #37

Interesting justification for paying attention to a 2000-yr-old book. bitterross Feb 2019 #31

We must learn and grow. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #34

And for billions of others, it doesn't. trotsky Feb 2019 #38

So why, exactly, are we still... NeoGreen Feb 2019 #44

... Act_of_Reparation Feb 2019 #47

There is fact, and there is faith. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #49

If fact is what actually helps us make progress... NeoGreen Feb 2019 #50

Fact is what can be proven. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #51

Faith is a belief in the unprovable... NeoGreen Feb 2019 #52

I can only answer for myself. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #53

Deism such as your does not provide a narrative or moral structure marylandblue Feb 2019 #54

I would argue that Maxist-Leninists... NeoGreen Feb 2019 #56

You can call them anti-religionists if you want marylandblue Feb 2019 #58

There are limits to that freedom of conscience. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #60

I'm not sure how this responds to my comment. marylandblue Feb 2019 #61

Yes, many religious leaders did. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #62

What makes seeking power bad? marylandblue Feb 2019 #63

If it is used to divide in order to exploit, guillaumeb Feb 2019 #64

Well that's just your opinion, which the power-seekers freely ignore marylandblue Feb 2019 #65

I must admit that the Pope has never asked for my advice. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #69

So, basically faith is worthless in any practical sense? marylandblue Feb 2019 #70

For you personally? guillaumeb Feb 2019 #71

No, for you. You said it provides you with a moral narrative. marylandblue Feb 2019 #72

And that is your own narrative. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #73

Is faith necessary... NeoGreen Feb 2019 #55

I think some kind faith is necessary for communities, not necessarily religious though. marylandblue Feb 2019 #59

A better word would be Trust... NeoGreen Feb 2019 #66

I agree with you, but marylandblue Feb 2019 #68

I have not lost faith in the rule of law edhopper Feb 2019 #67