Ask your difficult questions about religion here

Maybe you need to text God more, LOL

 

I prefer my direct line.

 

No I didn’t.

No. I correctly pointed out there is no difference between his god killing an innocent, and another human killing said innocent.

 

Ask why it is wrong for humans to kill innocent life and you may find your answers.

(Although don't think about this too deeply or you may become like those Shiva death cults)

 

The answer has been given. There is no difference.

Why would I become like a shiva death cult? How are they more intriguing than your cult?

 

This is yet missing my point. I'm asking about if God does not exist, then what are the useful learnings from religion.

 

@kazenatsu any particular reason you are avoiding my question?

 

Is there any useful information in the Bible? If so, what is it?

 

Since useful would be a subjective value, would you even accept any answer that didn't fall in line with what you already believed?

 

I would say that all the benefits related to easing the pain of death, providing direction, establishing ethical standards, encouraging group support, advocating the benefits of forgiveness, devaluing the seven deadly sins (such as pride, gluttony, and the rest), respecting life itself, etc. are real regardless of whether there is actually a supernatural.

I don't see anything that religion provides (or COULD provide) that would be absent if there is no supernatural.

 

How about help to avoid ethical sins?

 

That help doesn't have to come from a supernatural source. It can be a matter of education.

We see cases of individuals remembering their roots (what their parents said, what their minister/priest said) and basing answers on that even after many years of "wandering". And, the serious contemplation during prayer is certainly an opportunity for those lessons to be remembered, to be found applicable.

I don't mean to be assaulting your religious beliefs I'm perfectly fine with you holding a very different view concerning the supernatural and questions of why we exist.

But, just as an academic exercise I would claim that religious belief and training has equivalent value even if there is no supernatural.

Consider what that means.

If I (an atheist) find that someone has chosen your religion, I just can't be very upset! After all, there are solid and highly honorable principles involved. Of course I would encourage continued recognition of science as the tool for exploring that which is not supernatural.

 

So what your question actually meant is whether religion has any benefit if none of the supernatural aspects were true?

 

Did you know that demons cause sickness and diseases?

Were you aware that snakes and donkeys can have long, detailed conversations in human language?

Angels have different numbers of wings. Some have two, others have four, and special ones have six wings.

Did you know that you if drink a certain guy's blood and eat his flesh like you are a starving zombie that you could live forever? The only thing is that he is nowhere to be found. You will die and rot away, never to live again in any form.

 

Will you admit that numerous points in your argument are disingenuous?

You don't seem interested in having a genuine discussion.

 

You're more likely to "become like those Shiva death cults" if you think that ethics is dictated by God. Divine Command Theory is a morally and rationally bankrupt approach.

 

Do you prefer infallible human command theory, where benevolent human leaders in government know best?

Didn't work out so well in the Soviet Union.

 

They are roughly identical theories, but your dichotomy is a false one.

 

Where should ethics and morality come from then?

 

Personally I prefer "tecoyah theory" as it is benevolent and enlightening.

 

Reason and compassion are a nice start, though now you are starting to hint at an appeal to an argument from ignorance.

 

Yes, if only you were the Supreme Moral Ayatollah, the entire world would be just peachy.

 

I AM, as all morality is derived from individual beliefs and perception. Your "Morality" is as well as I guarantee you do not agree with your Bible in every respect. Chances are you are wearing cloth of different materials and also eat animals of cloven hoof or lobster. I also doubt you would sell your daughter into slavery.

 

Gee, what could possibly go wrong with that view?

 

Where does the Bible say you should, or that it's ok, to sell your daughter into slavery??

I suspect you're being disingenuous again.