Religion a Figment of Human Imagination...........

[nhboy]

"Humans alone practice religion because they're the only creatures to have evolved imagination.

That's the argument of anthropologist Maurice Bloch of the London School of Economics. Bloch challenges the popular notion that religion evolved and spread because it promoted social bonding, as has been argued by some anthropologists.

Instead, he argues that first, we had to evolve the necessary brain architecture to imagine things and beings that don't physically exist, and the possibility that people somehow live on after they've died."

ABC News: Religion: A Figment of the Imagination?

 

[libby]

"Humans alone practice religion because they're the only creatures to have evolved imagination.

That's the argument of anthropologist Maurice Bloch of the London School of Economics. Bloch challenges the popular notion that religion evolved and spread because it promoted social bonding, as has been argued by some anthropologists.

Instead, he argues that first, we had to evolve the necessary brain architecture to imagine things and beings that don't physically exist, and the possibility that people somehow live on after they've died."

ABC News: Religion: A Figment of the Imagination?

How sad that this man does not have the hope that is offered by faith in God. But, even without a belief in eternal life, living for God first, others second and self last is the surest path to earthly happiness, too. New Age philosophies like Oprah's, as well as the generally accepted knowledge that "it is in giving that we receive" is not a "new age" theology that has been stumbled upon. We have been designed that way, and God cannot be outdone in generosity. He gives back to us a hundred fold for every effort of ours toward His other children.
The poor man in this article has no hope, and in all sincerity, I do not know how he can stand it.

 

[itsbob]

How sad that this man does not have the hope

Have you ever been told in church it's a bad thing to be close minded??

Or is it only bad to be close minded about church?


Are you implying this man is going to be served up in hell for all time and eternity for what he does or doesn't believe?

That if your God exists he won't be given another chance when he meets God upon his death to take him in his heart and to join him in heaven? Is your God that unloving, hateful and spiteful that he won't give a mere mortal man a chance for redemption or saving after he leaves this life??

If that's the case, I'll chose another God thank you very much.

 

[toppick08]

Have you ever been told in church it's a bad thing to be close minded??

Or is it only bad to be close minded about church?


Are you implying this man is going to be served up in hell for all time and eternity for what he does or doesn't believe?

That if your God exists he won't be given another chance when he meets God upon his death to take him in his heart and to join him in heaven? Is your God that unloving, hateful and spiteful that he won't give a mere mortal man a chance for redemption or saving after he leaves this life??

If that's the case, I'll chose another God thank you very much.

BMW..........

 

[itsbob]

BMW..........

Notice how the engine closely resmbles the crucifix.. accident? I think Not!!

 

[toppick08]

Notice how the engine closely resmbles the crucifix.. accident? I think Not!!

 

[libby]

Have you ever been told in church it's a bad thing to be close minded??

Or is it only bad to be close minded about church?


Are you implying this man is going to be served up in hell for all time and eternity for what he does or doesn't believe?

That if your God exists he won't be given another chance when he meets God upon his death to take him in his heart and to join him in heaven? Is your God that unloving, hateful and spiteful that he won't give a mere mortal man a chance for redemption or saving after he leaves this life??

If that's the case, I'll chose another God thank you very much.

I said nothing of the man's motives, or the salvation or damnation of his soul. My commets were restricted to the consequent hopelessness that must follow if there is no life after death, and no greater purpose in this life.
I just cannot imagine, for instance, how people bear the loss of a loved one if there is no God.
Give a shot at assuming the best of someone's comments, instead of the worst.

 

[PsyOps]

"Humans alone practice religion because they're the only creatures to have evolved imagination.

That's the argument of anthropologist Maurice Bloch of the London School of Economics. Bloch challenges the popular notion that religion evolved and spread because it promoted social bonding, as has been argued by some anthropologists.

Instead, he argues that first, we had to evolve the necessary brain architecture to imagine things and beings that don't physically exist, and the possibility that people somehow live on after they've died."

ABC News: Religion: A Figment of the Imagination?

Funny this "anthropologist" never considered the imagination that goes into a bird building a nest (a very complex process if you really think about it), or honey bees building their hive, or how those bees work as a team to bring food home (how many humans do you know can cooperate at such a level?), or a squirrel's imagination that compels it to bury their food to safe-keeping when it starts to get cold and they need to eat when there is none.

And not having the ability to truly communicate with the animal world on any tangible scale, how do we know they don’t hold some sort of belief system? Typically man shows their arrogance and close-mindedness in thinking they are the only ones capable of thinking or imagining.

 

[itsbob]

I said nothing of the man's motives, or the salvation or damnation of his soul. My commets were restricted to the consequent hopelessness that must follow if there is no life after death, and no greater purpose in this life.
I just cannot imagine, for instance, how people bear the loss of a loved one if there is no God.
Give a shot at assuming the best of someone's comments, instead of the worst.

You are right.







That is the entire reason for man to make up religion.

 

[PsyOps]

You are right.







That is the entire reason for man to make up religion.

Well, at least it give us hope. What do you have?

If believers are wrong what have we lost? Nothing. But if we are right what have you lost?

 

[Penn]

Are you implying this man is going to be served up in hell for all time and eternity for what he does or doesn't believe?

I don't see where that thought was mentioned in Libby's response. :shrug:

First, it's not our call as human beings on this earth. It's God's choice - who He accepts - into His Kingdom of Heaven.

Secondly, we are not going to find out where we're headed next until after our demise.

So, what's the beef?

 

[tommyjones]

Well, at least if give us hope. What do you have?

If believers are wrong what have we lost? Nothing. But if we are right what have you lost?

how about a lifetime worth of enjoying the precious few moments we have. an understanding that this is all we got and all we are going to get makes a person very humble. In an instant, for absolutely no reason it can all be gone. if you are a believer its like the end of the sopranos, an unfulfilling totality, everything goes to black and you dont even get a last glimpse of love, life, or happiness, just blackness.
if you are not wrapped up in the afterlife you have lived life fully with the understanding this is all you got and when it ends its ok for it to be over. there isn't a need for an explanation or answers as none will come.

besides, if you are right and there is a 'god' who passes judgment on us at the end, i would think he is pretty understanding.

 

[forever jewel]

how about a lifetime worth of enjoying the precious few moments we have. an understanding that this is all we got and all we are going to get makes a person very humble. In an instant, for absolutely no reason it can all be gone. if you are a believer its like the end of the sopranos, an unfulfilling totality, everything goes to black and you dont even get a last glimpse of love, life, or happiness, just blackness.
if you are not wrapped up in the afterlife you have lived life fully with the understanding this is all you got and when it ends its ok for it to be over. there isn't a need for an explanation or answers as none will come.

besides, if you are right and there is a 'god' who passes judgment on us at the end, i would think he is pretty understanding.

Living our lives on earth in anticipation of the afterlife does not limit life here on earth. It is another stage in our spiritual life. As a believer, you don't look for explanations, logic or answers; you anticipate joining God after death. But until then, all we can do is fully enjoy God's gift of life on earth. In my opinion, after death, non-believers will be humbled when they receive the explanation and grace of God they never found on earth.

 

[itsbob]

But if we are right what have you lost?

If God is the understanding, loving being that understands humans fallibility, then nothing.

You really think your God would sentence someone to an eternity in Hell because I didn't believe in him during my time on Earth? That would pretty petty, hateful and egotistical wouldn't it?


I'll have my casket lined with $100 bills, so I can pay my owed entrance fee when I get there. He'd probably let me in with a considerable discount seeing there would be no middle men scraping their's off of the top.

 

[libby]

how about a lifetime worth of enjoying the precious few moments we have. an understanding that this is all we got and all we are going to get makes a person very humble. In an instant, for absolutely no reason it can all be gone. if you are a believer its like the end of the sopranos, an unfulfilling totality, everything goes to black and you dont even get a last glimpse of love, life, or happiness, just blackness.
if you are not wrapped up in the afterlife you have lived life fully with the understanding this is all you got and when it ends its ok for it to be over. there isn't a need for an explanation or answers as none will come.

besides, if you are right and there is a 'god' who passes judgment on us at the end, i would think he is pretty understanding.

Hope in eternal life, and loving this life are not mutually exclusive. It is a great joy to live for the God we believe in, and humility?? Well, I can't think of anything more humbling than the recognition that the joys and loves of this life have been given to us by a Loving Father, just as is true for children in an earthly family. Y'know, if kids only knew what we do for them sorta thing.
So, out of curiosity...if you've lost a loved one, do you never "talk" to them or visit them at the cemetary? I talk to my Dad a lot, and I would be so sad if there was just "blackness" in response.

 

[tommyjones]

Hope in eternal life, and loving this life are not mutually exclusive. It is a great joy to live for the God we believe in, and humility?? Well, I can't think of anything more humbling than the recognition that the joys and loves of this life have been given to us by a Loving Father, just as is true for children in an earthly family. Y'know, if kids only knew what we do for them sorta thing.
So, out of curiosity...if you've lost a loved one, do you never "talk" to them or visit them at the cemetary? I talk to my Dad a lot, and I would be so sad if there was just "blackness" in response.

but there is just "blackness" in response, isn't there?

I have lost people close to me, and their is something there that remains; my memories and emotions. I dont feel the need to 'talk' to them because they are gone FOREVER and i have accepted that, but i think about them often.

so does your dad ever 'talk back'?

 

[forever jewel]

but there is just "blackness" in response, isn't there?

I have lost people close to me, and their is something there that remains; my memories and emotions. I dont feel the need to 'talk' to them because they are gone FOREVER and i have accepted that, but i think about them often.

so does your dad ever 'talk back'?

I don't expect to hold a human conversation with lost loved ones; physically, they are gone forever. Yet, their spirit remains alive. Through prayer, I can communicate with them, without the expectation a verbal response. Sensing their presence is more than enough.

 

[tommyjones]

I don't expect to hold a human conversation with lost loved ones; physically, they are gone forever. Yet, their spirit remains alive. Through prayer, I can communicate with them, without the expectation a verbal response. Sensing their presence is more than enough.

i think we are talking about the same thing just from different perspectives

 

[This_person]

If God is the understanding, loving being that understands humans fallibility, then nothing.

You really think your God would sentence someone to an eternity in Hell because I didn't believe in him during my time on Earth? That would pretty petty, hateful and egotistical wouldn't it?

Being saved means a lot more than saying you believe in Him. As for me, yes, I believe there are consequences to actions and beliefs.

I'll have my casket lined with $100 bills, so I can pay my owed entrance fee when I get there. He'd probably let me in with a considerable discount seeing there would be no middle men scraping their's off of the top.

You often bring the discussion to money. You realize that God has no need for your money, but churches do, right? $100 bills would mean nothing, except the loss to your offspring for what they could have done with it helping themselves and others - maybe through a church donation!

 

[wxtornado]

If believers are wrong what have we lost? Nothing. But if we are right what have you lost?

Pascal's wager, yet again.