“God created atheists to teach us the most important lesson of them all – the lesson of true compassion. You see, when an atheist performs an act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone who is in need, and cares for the world, he is not doing so because of some..(cont)
2) “…religious teaching. He does not believe that god commanded him to perform this act. In fact, he does not believe in God at all, so his acts are based on an inner sense of morality. And look at the kindness he can bestow upon others simply because he feels it to be right.” (Cont)
3) “This means” the Rabbi continued “that when someone reaches out to you for help, you should never say ‘I pray that god will help you.’ instead for the moment, you should become an atheist, imagine that there is no god who can help, and say ‘I will help you.'” End ❤️
It’s a quote from “Tales Of Hasidim” by Martin Buber. A rabbi is asked by a student, “Why did God create atheists?” And that was the rabbi’s response. My parents were both lapsed Catholics and I grew up to be a spiritual agnostic, but good stuff is good stuff! 😊
Yes, for a neurotypical person. For others who can not think logically, or who's logic does not include empathy, many things that are evil could be justified.
I didn't say that. To be more clear: NT people have no neurological reason NOT to be ABLE to think logically. I'm looking at this from the standpoint of the OP who said, "none of us has to believe in a god to be a good person." If you're not ABLE to think logically, then some other mechanism is req.
Excuse me. Spouse, partner, and all 4 of our kids are neurospicy. We *absolutely* think logically, because we are not ruled by our emotions. Compassion and empathy make sense, as understanding another person's actions begins with understanding their motivations. Ethics is not just for NTs.
But can you say that for EVERY non-NT person out there? I think we should be careful about sweeping generalities. They have a tendency to bite us in the butt.
It would be impossible to honestly say that about every non-NT person, just like it should have been impossible to say about every NT person. There are good and bad actors in every group. Take individuals where they are and allow them to tell you who they are by their words and actions.
You are precisely right in your statement. We should all be taken as individuals and judged on our actions.
The OP said, "none of us has to believe in god" to do the right thing. However, I would argue that some of us might if logic fails.
I never said they weren't. Psychopaths are capable of murder - which is not logical. A "normal" person would not come to that conclusion by definition. That's the basis of my thesis - and it isn't ableist or weird; it is factual. Calling me "weird" is an ad hominem attack - a logical fallacy, btw.
Then why use the word neurotypical? Psycopathology isn't a neurodivergent disorder. My degrees are in psychology. Your 'thesis' makes no sense as written.
I stand corrected. The terminology in psychology is not as self-evident as I thought. I probably should have said:
"For a typical person. For others who can not think logically, or who's logic does not include empathy, many things that are evil could be justified."
My apologies for offending anyone.
This may also be the case for other religions the entire world over; as all religions are one, and by practicing only *one* is practicing something incomplete, atheism being a by product of stoicism; choosing just to exist, which indeed is very admirable
Religion is a Nurture kind of thing. You have to have known existence of Religion/exposure to it, to 'choose to' be product of Stoicism. It's a Philosophical label.
Atheism, is simply an absence in belief of a God. Nothing else. Religious precepts don't need to have existed beforehand.
In hermeticism it’s possible to place a temple and liturgy within the mind, The first atheist was more then likely a hermetic, that was chastised by zealots, which is also the case for most or all atheists; true Christianity isn’t being practiced properly because it is missing key parts (1/2)
Good morality is not exclusive to religions. In fact, it could be argued that the transactional nature of some religions (i.e. be good or you won’t get into heaven) cheapens the morality espoused by them.
I get where you're coming from. Sometimes people can really surprise you with their actions. It’s all about finding the good ones who truly live by their values, right? What do you think makes a person genuinely good?
Now, how’s about ya focus that fire & brimstone toward the bad Christian’s. They call themselves good Christian’s but they are anything but… and they’re dragging your name thru the mud.
Those who believe in whichever "god" don't do the right thing because they feel threatened.
They do the right thing because they WANT to do what they believe to be the right thing.
Let me clarify: Not all atheists behave well without fear of God. Some of them, like communists in USSR, China and other places, have killed 100mln people. Fear of God is not always a bad thing. It is the idea that there will always be justice for crimes.
The Russian Orthodox church is heavily involved in that government and has been for a very long time. Fear of God is called coercive control and it's abuse. It's always a bad thing. It's designed to manipulate and control populations.
Not true, as written by Thomas Aquinas. If you live the good life, you won't go to Hell. In Catholicism and Orthodoxy, we secretly believe Hell is empty. Just don't talk much about it.
I know I won't go to hell. I shall be in exactly the same place I was for the billions of years before I was born.
Your reply made me smile though, so thanks for that
i know. i remember the day you said you were going to turn me into a pillar of salt. then i said “i don’t believe in you”. we both had a good chuckle and went our separate ways.
I like the Wiccan Rede - If it harms none, do what you may. Applies in past, present, and future. Too many people don't care how they are treated, so they treat others crappy.
Sometimes, I wonder how I manage to not be a complete jagdork to others without believing in a magical being in the sky. So many seem to swear by dogma.
You’re welcome. My PaPaw was a xian Minister. He taught me to do what’s right & what’s kind, simply because I have the ability & willingness to do it. That’s it. No other reason. Because I can. We obviously walked different paths, but he never told me to do something because Jesus would do it.
In my experience/ observation the right are exactly like the Pharisees during the time of Jesus who He really had a problem with. They thought they were righteous just like the religious right does today. According to my Bible God says “there is none righteous no not one.” The Pharisees & /
religious right of today are the same. They also believe they are righteous just as the religious right of Jesus day. There isn’t anyone or ever will be. Only Jesus. God still allows everyone to decide for ourselves our own lives including whether we want to believe in Him or not. That’s what/
So tell me Chris. Did God give Adam & Eve the freedom & the right to decide for themselves their own lives because He was being conservative or because He was liberal enough to allow them to decide for themselves their own lives? You probably hate God for that because that’s what us Democrats do.
I find myself an Agnostic replying to God and it leaves me with a bit of a paradox. I suspect that if we don't do the right thing in the here and now, the fire and brimstone would be manifesting on this plane eventually anyway.
Let's try to leave the world a little better than we found it.
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I use a form of this against my "Christian" neighbors. When they start speaking shit about people, I just ask "and how does that attract new people to come find God and follow Jesus? Is your church attendance rising or disappearing? Is the pews full or empty?"
Usually with deer in headlights looks. Or they say some variation of, "several, you should, too."
My next response is "Jesus told me to love my neighbor, that's the only reason we are on speaking terms. I don't go to unchristian spaces. I don't want to be tempted."
But that's how holler Christian politics work. Ignore their bigotry, and tell them you don't want to go to their church, cause God or Jesus told you not to. It puts them on a different foot and that's when you slap them with be a good neighbor or don't judge others.
I often wonder if religious folks would start the raping and pillaging immediately if the Church suddenly decided it wasn’t a sin. Seems unlikely. As an atheist, it’s not laws that keep me from randomly killing folks and helping myself to their stuff. Don’t really want to honestly. I like kindness.
You’re very welcome. No need for you to breathe down my neck. I don’t need you. It’s what makes all good relationships, we want to be together rather than needing each other. We can leave each other at any time. No coercive control.
Supposedly only 4% of Americans are atheists, so a whole bunch of people did not get the memo (though I suspect there are many closeted atheists…). As we’re about to enter the Christo fascist part of our program, my hope is that our little band of misfits grows.
I talk about that on my show sometimes. I hear people say they are going to donate to get into Heaven and the fear of God and I am like, why not do it because you want to. Why do so many give only to get rewarded, billionaires donate for tax breaks, churches for image etc and I and I did not say all
Hey God, I have a very serious question. If Satan encourages people to act badly, why would he then punish them for all eternity in Hell for doing what he wanted them to do? The very concept of compliance to Judeo-Christian morality seems to be horribly flawed.
Who told you that Satan encourages people to act badly?
Genesis does not say that the snake was Satan. Book of Job does not involve Satan saying anything to Job, let alone encouraging him to act badly. Cite your source, please!
Matthew 4:1-11, the temptations of Jesus; 1 John 3:8, "the one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning...;" 1 Corinthians 7:5, "...so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."
Shall I continue, cause there's more?
Thank you for a direct, honest answer with properly sourced citations! I wish more people did that more often! Next question: who says that Satan (or in Greek, diabolos, "accuser") punishes anyone in afterlife? As I read the Gospels, he is punished, not the punisher (nor The Punisher).
Debatable, but apart from the identity of God, they are very different religions. For example, the idea of an individual named "Satan" being in charge of a hell where sinners are tortured is a Christian one. It doesn't exist in Judaism.
I might be wrong about this, but... when someone gives in to the temptations and, you know, the fun stuff, god is the one who sends them to hell. Satan's just the gatekeeper... and activities director, come to think of it...
Comments
“God created atheists to teach us the most important lesson of them all – the lesson of true compassion. You see, when an atheist performs an act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone who is in need, and cares for the world, he is not doing so because of some..(cont)
#fuckelon
But none of us has to believe in any god to be a good person.
Doing the right thing is just logical.
The OP said, "none of us has to believe in god" to do the right thing. However, I would argue that some of us might if logic fails.
"For a typical person. For others who can not think logically, or who's logic does not include empathy, many things that are evil could be justified."
My apologies for offending anyone.
Atheism, is simply an absence in belief of a God. Nothing else. Religious precepts don't need to have existed beforehand.
Hope you're being nice these days. 😏
They are nothing but selfish people who have selfish motivations
Now, how’s about ya focus that fire & brimstone toward the bad Christian’s. They call themselves good Christian’s but they are anything but… and they’re dragging your name thru the mud.
They do the right thing because they WANT to do what they believe to be the right thing.
Blessed is the Forgiving Eagle 🙏🏻
🚮
Your reply made me smile though, so thanks for that
good times, god buddy.
We're cool about that whole you not existing thing right? Not that it matters to me of course.
(Im being genuine here)
Quack...
Religions are fairy tales
Let's try to leave the world a little better than we found it.
We don’t do it for you. 😉
I WILL BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF THIS ORANGE EFFIGY....
My next response is "Jesus told me to love my neighbor, that's the only reason we are on speaking terms. I don't go to unchristian spaces. I don't want to be tempted."
Or will the coming great flood be a sign from you?
I presume a lot of the 96% are "Christian" by birth but non practicing.
What we call the Christmas & Easter brigade.
But it's the Christo- fascists as you say who are stirring up the bigotry already there.
Genesis does not say that the snake was Satan. Book of Job does not involve Satan saying anything to Job, let alone encouraging him to act badly. Cite your source, please!
Shall I continue, cause there's more?