Comments on: The Illusion of Religion: Illusion, Entertainment and Religion http://www.the-atheist.com/the-illusion-of-religion-illusion-entertainment-and-religion/ Just another WordPress site Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:49:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Vir Narain http://www.the-atheist.com/the-illusion-of-religion-illusion-entertainment-and-religion/#comment-404 Vir Narain Sun, 08 Mar 2009 03:49:30 +0000 http://www.the-atheist.com/?p=55#comment-404 Re. "“One of the key differences between Atheists and Non-Atheists is that Atheists almost always have a critical sceptic hat on.”" This description perhaps better fits agnostics. Scepticsim must also at times turn inwards, but Atheists are too cocksure of their position. Re. ““One of the key differences between Atheists and Non-Atheists is that Atheists almost always have a critical sceptic hat on.”” This description perhaps better fits agnostics. Scepticsim must also at times turn inwards, but Atheists are too cocksure of their position.

]]> By: Jonathan Baker http://www.the-atheist.com/the-illusion-of-religion-illusion-entertainment-and-religion/#comment-403 Jonathan Baker Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:38:22 +0000 http://www.the-atheist.com/?p=55#comment-403 "One of the key differences between Atheists and Non-Atheists is that Atheists almost always have a critical sceptic hat on." Yes, that's the basic problem. It's one thing to have one's eyes open and not just fall for the first trick in town, but quite another to be a sceptic through and through. It is quite inhuman. I don't read the Bible that much, and regret it. However when I do, I certainly don't take it at "face value." I am aware that there are many literary devices throughout the text, and that, for example, in just describing something, the author is not necessarily condoning it. But then nor do I read the Bible as if the writer is trying to trick me and con me into something that I would normally never buy into. If you can't read the Gospels and see there a simple story told by someone certainly who believed it, but also someone who was being quite sincere and honest, you are being <i>too</i> sceptical. There is no attempt to "smooth over" difficulties or misunderstandings - quite the contrary, these are highlighted! Religion is part of everyone's search to understand why there is something and not nothing. Why is there meaning in the universe? Is there life after death? Is there a God? Does he love us, or why else would he have created us...? etc...etc... Most people become believers from the testimony of lives that have touched them deeply. I'll save you some time: of course Churches are designed with art and so on to offer insights into the ultimate questions. (In fact the reason there's very little good art around today is because these questions themselves are being stifled by a noisy society that is desperate to block them out and can't). “One of the key differences between Atheists and Non-Atheists is that Atheists almost always have a critical sceptic hat on.”

Yes, that’s the basic problem. It’s one thing to have one’s eyes open and not just fall for the first trick in town, but quite another to be a sceptic through and through. It is quite inhuman.

I don’t read the Bible that much, and regret it. However when I do, I certainly don’t take it at “face value.” I am aware that there are many literary devices throughout the text, and that, for example, in just describing something, the author is not necessarily condoning it. But then nor do I read the Bible as if the writer is trying to trick me and con me into something that I would normally never buy into. If you can’t read the Gospels and see there a simple story told by someone certainly who believed it, but also someone who was being quite sincere and honest, you are being too sceptical. There is no attempt to “smooth over” difficulties or misunderstandings – quite the contrary, these are highlighted!

Religion is part of everyone’s search to understand why there is something and not nothing. Why is there meaning in the universe? Is there life after death? Is there a God? Does he love us, or why else would he have created us…? etc…etc…

Most people become believers from the testimony of lives that have touched them deeply. I’ll save you some time: of course Churches are designed with art and so on to offer insights into the ultimate questions. (In fact the reason there’s very little good art around today is because these questions themselves are being stifled by a noisy society that is desperate to block them out and can’t).

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