"Attention: Lunatic Atheists & their Lawyers"

God is an American?, originally uploaded by dust....

Today's FlickrFind.

I was going to save this for the next Sunday Sermonette, but I couldn't wait.

Comments

[Roy]

I'm an agnostic, I believe in god, but I have no interest in telling you what to do or trying to convert you to anything or even discussing it, really.

I'm sorry, but can you clarify what you mean by "agnostic," because I think we must be using it in very different ways. As I understand and use the term, an agnostic neither believes nor disbelieves in a god/God. I consider myself an agnostic- I have no idea whether there's a deity or not. I'm aware that different people use "agnostic" in different ways, though.

[Fitz]

Maybe the good Reverend is just more forthright than the typical leftist?
Plenty of people are aware of the obvious philosophical divide that continues to grow in this country. They are not ignorant to the fact that the commanding heights of culture are greatly influenced by their opposition. They are also aware of the ramifications of the logical extension of its main axioms.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23382402-details/Rise+in+adopted+children+living+with+gay+couples/article.do

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-britain-catholics-adoption.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Its not a culture skirmish now, is it?

[Loren Michael]

Lovegodsway & the Evening Service song is brilliant satirical social commentary.

[Loren Michael]

With respect to:

We don't get in your face, is the difference. I'm an agnostic, I believe in god, but I have no interest in telling you what to do or trying to convert you to anything or even discussing it, really.

You believe what you want, I believe what I want, everybody's free.

(leaving your odd definition of agnostic alone for the time)

The problem that I see with this is that you act as a sort of an enabler for ultimately destructive ideologies and social habits. It's not dissimilar to how drug addicts and other problems people have rely on certain people in their lives who aid them (or who look the other way) with respect to their maladaptive solutions.

As an aside, I'm very libertarian with respect to drugs- I honestly feel that they should all be legalized, every single one, but I also feel that there should be significant social cost to using them, if there's even an inkling of caring for our fellow human beings.

The "hands off" approach that you advocate simply leaves people to make poor life choices and to, similar to the way some people use and abuse drugs and alcohol, lean on poor beliefs about reality and morality that, while perhaps useful in the short term for grieving or going through hard times, are maladaptive as a way of life or to understanding an objective reality.

[Anthony Damiani]

The "hands off" approach that you advocate simply leaves people to make poor life choices and to, similar to the way some people use and abuse drugs and alcohol, lean on poor beliefs about reality and morality that, while perhaps useful in the short term for grieving or going through hard times, are maladaptive as a way of life or to understanding an objective reality.

I think you're rather blithe in your dismissal of any long term utile value to theism; for many of us, the alternative would be a crushing nihilism. I've never found existentialist alternatives particularly viable. I choose to believe, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that life has meaning in an absolute sense, in relation to the infinite.

I believe in God because it helps me not put a bullet through my brain.

[twig]

I think the computer ate my post. So here's the short, short version.

I'm sorry, but can you clarify what you mean by "agnostic," because I think we must be using it in very different ways.

Probably. Agnostic is the closest thing I can find to my official position of "I believe so but beyond that, meh." I'm not an athiest - I believe in some form of spiritual 'thing', but beyond that I don't bother much trying to clarify.

Trying to come up with a new label just for that seems kind of ridiculous. I suppose I could go with 'lazy' if pressed.

The "hands off" approach that you advocate simply leaves people to make poor life choices

Yup. It sucks sometimes, and I can offer advice and knowledge and make suggestions, but I can't force people to do what I think is best.

I don't want anyone to have the deciding vote on how I live my life, not the guy on that crazy sign that started this post, but also not someone who thinks my spiritual life is 'silly'.

[Loren Michael]

I believe in God because it helps me not put a bullet through my brain.

I don't mean this to be funny or harsh, but you just admitted that you're fooling yourself.

It sucks sometimes, and I can offer advice and knowledge and make suggestions

The problem is, that's exactly what you're not doing. No one's suggesting you should take anyone's political freedom away, only that you speak up.

[Anthony Damiani]

I believe in God because it helps me not put a bullet through my brain.

I don't mean this to be funny or harsh, but you just admitted that you're fooling yourself.

I admit that I have no ontological reason to believe this position. Yet, by the very nature of the claim, it is impossible to disprove. In the absence of contravening evidence, do I not free to maintain the right to hold any position with a higher use-value?

It may help to think of this as something akin to Pascal's wager that doesn't rely on the faulty math of multiplying-by-infinity. If I'm right, then I gain a better, more meaningful life. If I'm wrong, then it never really mattered anyhow.

[Njorl]

Agnosticism precludes neither atheism nor practice of most religions. It is an acknowledgement that one is incapable of possessing knowledge of matters of a divine nature.

An agnostic can practice every aspect of a faith, including ardent prayer to a God he or she is not sure exists. Religions which require acceptance of divine revelation as knowledge are probably inconsistent with agnosticism though.

Atheism does not require that someone accept that they are an atheist. If they live every aspect of their lives as if there is no God, they are atheists whether they admit or not. Many (but not all) agnostics who claim that they are agnostic, not atheist, are, in fact, atheists as well.

[andrew]

Well I knew this guy was full of sh*t and now it is confirmed: Everett Francis Briggs died from an exploded colon in Santa Barbara's Memorial Nursing Home, in Monongah and lies in St. Bernard’s Cemetery, Fitchburg.(from Wikipedia article) To paraphrase Mark Twain: He is now underground inspiring the cabbages because he was worthless above it.