if you are a one of the following and are open to discussing your faith and to my questions about it please contact me...
muslim
jew
jehovah's witness
morman
hindu
i will not try to convert you, i just have questions for a teaching series we are doing
james@mosaiccrestview.com
3 comments:
Outstanding!
You can email me at HumanistFamilies@hotmail.com
I would thoroughly enjoy participating in this educational endeavor.
Steve Schlicht
I will be on the road tomorrow with my family on our way to Gatlinburg, but if y'all are really interested in some views from an atheist please check out msatheists.org
Here is a direct link to a couple of my blogs you may find of value:
http://www.msatheists.org/2009/02/introducing-mississippi-atheists-newest.html
and
http://www.msatheists.org/2009/03/no-godsesses-required.html
Take care and have a great time learning and growing!
Hi Everyone!
We had a wonderful time exploring the natural beauty of Tennessee and the LeConte Mountain Range and are just as pleased being back in the loving warmth of our home and family routine!
Was there any input from an *actual* atheist at this last event at Mosaic entitled "Why you should be an atheist"?
James and I have been discussing social and political issues with regards to religion and morality via email, however, I listened to his sermon and found that it didn't really address the issue "Why you should be an atheist".
In fact, I was very disappointed in that the approach was novel, but the sermon was the same one I've been hearing from Protestant evangelicals for many, many years.
In fact, the conclusion (complete with emerging muzak) asking for a monetary "offering" was just classic.
James, a theist, presented some fairly tired "straw man" arguments that he easily burned in the public square which does not seem entirely fair or constructive given the bait and switch of this entire endeavor.
My view is that everyone should review all of the assorted religious claims deeply and sincerely and critically examine the alleged empirical evidence (if any) for them to determine if there is any for the existence of any of the purported God(s)ess(es) and come to their own conclusions.
I'm sure many Mosaic church members have concluded that they are not Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, Mormons or Zoroastrians based upon *some* methodology that examines the claims and finds them lacking in evidence to support their belief.
Atheists merely include Christianity into that set.
In my opinion, we certainly should not rely on "interpreters" to tell us the views of others, especially if the speaker is from the "home team" resulting in simple confirmation bias.
Atheists don't "avoid religion".
As an atheist, I immerse myself in comparative religious study and found them to be rather interesting mythology depicting a wonderful cultural psychology which tries to fill the gaps in our knowledge.
Humans are curious and fearful of the unknown so they will fill these gaps with the gods.
This is an observable fact.
I am fearful of many unknowns and, as a criminal investigator specializing in violent crimes, truly love a mystery!!
No God(s)ess(es) required.
That said, just because something cannot be known or is not yet known doesn't mean we should accept *any* of the religious claims as possible or even probable until it *is* known.
That is why it is reasonable and practical to reject the claim that a talking snake beguiled two human creations into disobeying a deity thereby causing the illness of "sin" into every newborn child.
It is also reasonable to fully reject the illogical notion that a burning bush that did not burn spoke divine messages to Moses for humans to obey.
I also find that it is equally reasonable to reject the notion that the angel Gabriel provided new divine messages to the prophet Mohammed for humans to obey.
It is also equally reasonable to reject the notion that the angel Moroni provided even newer divine messages to the prophet Joseph Smith on golden plates for humans to obey.
One doesn't have to "believe in disbelief" to come to a conclusion beyond a reasonable doubt until actual evidence is presented.
Atheism is a conclusion based upon a critical analysis of the respective religious claims. It isn't a "belief" in "disbelief".
Does anyone reading this *ever* deny the possibility of anything someone claims to be true, but is unproven/unprovable?
If so, what would that claim be and what methodology did you use to assert the denial?
Now, if you want to know *any other* facet of the life, morality, ethics, artful passions, cravings, hopes and philosophical musings of an atheist...y'all really need to ask each one you come across!
Thoughtfully yours,
Steve Schlicht
Biloxi MS
PS Evolution does not assert "randomness". Please go out and study it for yourselves.
PPS If complexity always requires a "creator" then, by default, such a being would require an ever more complex "creator", ad infinitum.
PPS I think you are wrong in return, James, and on the basis of sound reasons stated both here and in our wonderful email discussions!
;0)
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