I'm an atheist and I'm really enjoying this series. I grew up with a combination but the primary one was anti-science God. I spoke with my former pastor a few months ago and he still believes in a young earth. Anti-science God appears to be alive and healthy.
I have been fighting to stop believing in the "Guilt God" for years. I think I'm getting there, and the God who loves me as I am but loves me too much to leave me as I am is Amazing!
22:40 "Don't you hope that science can cure every disease?" 24:10 "You're for that when it comes to medicine." How relevant in light of the current rampage of Covid-19...
To summarise: - God is one of hundreds of historical Gods, - Is misunderstood by His followers, - Does not show favour to good or bad people, - Does not intervene, - Is not detectable or able to be felt, - Is fine with your sexual urges, - Is fine with scientific advancement, - Is not responsible for the unexplainable. If this is a map for a maturing faith, then "nones" might be on the right track. With God so hidden, what is left to be explained or experienced?
Secularism is not a religion, but to answer your question, no, I don't think so. The "non-existent" gods Andy is depicting are ones that are active, and he says many people walk away from they expect to see activity and don't see it (the bodyguard god doesn't protect people, the boyfriend god doesn't make his presence felt at all times, the on-demand god doesn't perform miraculous tricks on command, etc.). But secularism doesn't posit an active being or force that does anything, so these pictures don't apply. Perhaps you were getting at the first two things he said (the somebody-told-you God and the Bible-told-me-so God), in which case maybe you mean atheists can fall victim to the same thing--believing in something (for example, evolution) because somebody told them, or some book said so, rather than as a result of a concerted investigation. But I don't think this applies in the way he used it. It seems clear he was talking about very cursory hand-waving explanations of God that don't later hold up to scrutiny. But that does not describe a naturalists confidence in science to answer questions. For example, I don't believe in evolution because somebody-told-me, I believe in it because somebody told me *and told me where I could go look at the evidence*. That is the difference. I _would_ say there are "growing-up atheists" and "grown-up atheists," and unfortunately what we find on the Internet are usually the former more often than the latter. It's very easy to attack the beliefs of fundamentalist, literal-Bible, young-earth creationists, and many atheists go after this low-hanging fruit. But to be fair, these are often the most vocal Christians on the Internet, so I don't think it's fair to criticize atheists for going after actual bad arguments that they see. I look forward to Mr. Stanley presenting a god that is beyond this non-existent one he has presented so far.
Non Credenti I’m a 22 year old and I’ve lived my life through school where the church is mocked constantly. I’m not sure your age but the culture isn’t the same if you’re older.
He right beief is not a choice, youre either or you're not. What if you never believed? What if you were made to go to church as a child with your parents but you never believed thw claims of the religion.
This is a great question, @Snipes. If you want to share more of your story, we're at info@yourmove.is. Thanks for the comment. - Anne from the Your Move team
I'm an atheist and I'm really enjoying this series. I grew up with a combination but the primary one was anti-science God. I spoke with my former pastor a few months ago and he still believes in a young earth. Anti-science God appears to be alive and healthy.
I have been fighting to stop believing in the "Guilt God" for years. I think I'm getting there, and the God who loves me as I am but loves me too much to leave me as I am is Amazing!
This has strengthened my faith.
Thats really sad to read, AJ.
super fresh perspective, much appreciation!!!
This series is helping me to think through a lot of things that I'm questioning, so thank you.
The greatest trick the devil played, was making the world believe he doesn’t exist. (Truth)
22:40 "Don't you hope that science can cure every disease?"
24:10 "You're for that when it comes to medicine."
How relevant in light of the current rampage of Covid-19...
These are the lies theists( mostly parents) tell people to get them to start believing in a God.
To summarise:
- God is one of hundreds of historical Gods,
- Is misunderstood by His followers,
- Does not show favour to good or bad people,
- Does not intervene,
- Is not detectable or able to be felt,
- Is fine with your sexual urges,
- Is fine with scientific advancement,
- Is not responsible for the unexplainable.
If this is a map for a maturing faith, then "nones" might be on the right track. With God so hidden, what is left to be explained or experienced?
@Ryan Lock - we would love to hear more and hope you'll follow up with us at info@yourmove.is. Thanks for posting - the Your Move team
Cannot al these things be said of the great religion 'secularism?'
Secularism is not a religion, but to answer your question, no, I don't think so. The "non-existent" gods Andy is depicting are ones that are active, and he says many people walk away from they expect to see activity and don't see it (the bodyguard god doesn't protect people, the boyfriend god doesn't make his presence felt at all times, the on-demand god doesn't perform miraculous tricks on command, etc.). But secularism doesn't posit an active being or force that does anything, so these pictures don't apply.
Perhaps you were getting at the first two things he said (the somebody-told-you God and the Bible-told-me-so God), in which case maybe you mean atheists can fall victim to the same thing--believing in something (for example, evolution) because somebody told them, or some book said so, rather than as a result of a concerted investigation. But I don't think this applies in the way he used it. It seems clear he was talking about very cursory hand-waving explanations of God that don't later hold up to scrutiny. But that does not describe a naturalists confidence in science to answer questions. For example, I don't believe in evolution because somebody-told-me, I believe in it because somebody told me *and told me where I could go look at the evidence*. That is the difference.
I _would_ say there are "growing-up atheists" and "grown-up atheists," and unfortunately what we find on the Internet are usually the former more often than the latter. It's very easy to attack the beliefs of fundamentalist, literal-Bible, young-earth creationists, and many atheists go after this low-hanging fruit. But to be fair, these are often the most vocal Christians on the Internet, so I don't think it's fair to criticize atheists for going after actual bad arguments that they see.
I look forward to Mr. Stanley presenting a god that is beyond this non-existent one he has presented so far.
Non Credenti I’m a 22 year old and I’ve lived my life through school where the church is mocked constantly. I’m not sure your age but the culture isn’t the same if you’re older.
He right beief is not a choice, youre either or you're not.
What if you never believed? What if you were made to go to church as a child with your parents but you never believed thw claims of the religion.
This is a great question, @Snipes. If you want to share more of your story, we're at info@yourmove.is. Thanks for the comment. - Anne from the Your Move team