The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

[Return of Too Many Daves]

But has nothing to do with God.

Incidentally BM I always find it ironic when the religious imply that atheists are closed of mind. It is those with unshakable faith who believe one thing absolutely who are not open minded. I don't have a problem with that, but it is a little hipocritical.

I think we are a bit too sensitive. No one said that you were close minded. (sorry, I couldn't resist that one).

[Karen-Annie]

Really and truly,I think there is something,some factor in the human make-up,that makes us either a believer in some kind of Supreme Being or not.That core belief or non-belief can both be seen as logical.Us believers think there is as much chance of eventually "proving" God as atheists believe science will eventually have all the answers based on the physical laws.Us believers think that God is the one who set such "whys" in place while atheists believe they just "are". Us believers don't see how somebody can look at all that universal complexity and beauty and NOT believe in a Creator while atheists don't see how we can believe in a Creator.

As I have moved through my life,I have moved away from believing in much of the absolutes of <u>religion</u> but NOTHING I have seen, heard, read or experienced has made me question or shaken my belief in God.If anything,my core belief in a Creator has been reinforced....and to me it is logical.

[Soundbear]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Return of Too Many Daves</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But has nothing to do with God.

Incidentally BM I always find it ironic when the religious imply that atheists are closed of mind. It is those with unshakable faith who believe one thing absolutely who are not open minded. I don't have a problem with that, but it is a little hipocritical. </div></div>

Yes I think atheists are closed minded. Sorry about that.

Do I have "unshakable faith who believe one thing absolutely"??? Yes I do, 100 percent.

That one thing I believe 100 percent is that I don't know everything.

And since God is, by definition "everything", then the atheist has a closed mind.

Is that hypocritical?? I don't really care. As soon as I'm perfect, by God's grace, I'll stop!!!!

[dancingqueen]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Barry Morris</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Is that hypocritical?? I don't really care. As soon as I'm perfect, by God's grace, I'll stop!!!! </div></div>

by this statement alone you are showing your closed mindedness as well. I would agree with both that belivers and aithiests are quite prone to be closed-minded both have a belief in something (or lack there of) that is unshakeable (of course the closed mindedness depends on the level of one's conviction)
Barry I would expect to be perfect by God's grace hypocrocy (sp) ould be something you would not want to be a part of, so either you do care if you are being hypocrytical or you do not care if you are perfect by God's grace...

"And since God is, by definition "everything"..."

??????????????
God is everything? Yer not making sense now. Can Baptists be pantheists?

[Soundbear]

Col. 1:17 "...and by Him all things consist"

Pantheist? Not quite.

Would we exist if He did not?? No.

Would anything? No.

As I understand it, the power of God holds everything together. By definition. And, by faith, the reality.

Yes, I agree. But that is different than saying, God IS everything.
That's pantheism.

In everything, or IS everything, small word, vast difference in meaning.

[Soundbear]

A neat definition, I'm sure. One might ask, Is God one thing and His power something else??

Yes, absolutely.
Otherwise you would end up worshipping the storm, like an animist; or an earthquake, or the mighty Niagara Falls.

We "tell of His might,
we sing of his grace
Whose robe is the light
Whose canopy space"

But we need to worship Him, not His effects..

[Soundbear]

I don't see it. The storm is not His power, it is the EVIDENCE of His power.

Okay, it all depends on definitions.

Still, you cannot say (if you want to be biblically precise) that God IS everything. That would be a big mistake.

[Soundbear]

OK, thanks.
You say biblically imprecise. Can we discuss the characteristics of God from that viewpoint?

No, I said biblically precise.
I don't understand what you are asking.

Are you asking if we can discuss the attributes of God, from a biblical viewpoint?

[Soundbear]

Yes.

[mokitapupita]

delusion is good

[Soundbear]

Only someone mentally ill will be able to hold onto that forever.

One day you die.