So im the owner of the ExMormon Facebook group. A recent posting series from a member has prompted me to want to post the exchange here. The group is public so all can see whats going on but i have changed the names to protect those that might not want to be identified. I figured you guys might find it amusing/interesting.
I realize not all here are atheist/agnostic, but for those who may be interested or questioning, this is a fascinating series. So far, there are 3 videos done (of a 9 part series). The author/creator is Psychologist and former fundamentalist Valerie Tarico.
In her series, she explores the intersection between belief and psychology with candor and compassion. She is the author of Trusting Doubt: A Former Evangelical Looks at Old Beliefs in a New Light, a resource for recovering Evangelicals who seek to clear their minds of old dogmas.
Raised in a staunch fundamentalist family, Tarico attended Wheaton College of Billy Graham fame. She completed her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Iowa and postdoctoral studies at the University of Washington.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIBKfJTw ... e=youtu.be
Kevan in my opion the Bible is so human because it was written by humans..and since I believe that a deity worth worshipping would speak to us in our own language.. and i would disagree that Jesus teachings being human.. love they enemy is not a human value
Kevan and sarcasm is not gunna sell atheism.. in fact i know a particular brand of people who are very sarcastic.... they know on peoples doors as well lol
Antonio Nice video. It all goes along with our biological leash. How we are able to reflect human emotion on to other things. Man creates gods suppose to their gods creating them.
Kevan again seems atheism have to mock like children when they attack something they don't believe.. its seriously harms the arguement
Kevan if we wanna hear children arguements we would go back to elementary
Mephitus Kevan...play nice and be polite. Like most people that start to post like that im going to ask that you either post a particular argument or discussion topic to assert your particular claims or to not be rude.
Kevan Silva i am responding to a posted video.. it is not my place to defend a position it is my place to contest or affirm what has been posted
Mephitus If you want to read a good book on evolutionary altruism, you should read "The selfish gene" I highly recomend it for you Kevan. It might put a few things in perspective
Kevan evolution has nothing to do with theology.. and we have to rememer.. its still a theory..
Kevan this video has nothing to do with evolution it is a mocking examination of a historical and theological text
Roland This video is not mocking in any way. The lady who makes this series is a highly-trained psychologist (and former christian) who has done a lot of research into why our minds create and believe in superstitions, including beings that are imaginary...and she explains why these beings always end up with human characteristics (and quite rightly so, since they are merely a product of the human imagination).
Mephitus *sigh* i just find it annoying and a little aggrivating when theists say things like what you posted and never really put forth real information on why they feel that way. To be honest i tend to find that its due to lack of a logical reasoning for why they think that way, so it tends to be pulled apart pretty quickly. I mean nothing on that as a personal dig, merely my experience.
Kevan so please give me an example of a deity that self sacrifices itself out of love for those who hate it.. please i would love to see this laundry list
Kevan and you can sigh all you want.. Mormons do as well when you try and present them with material... not a personal dig.. just from experience with them ;)
Mephitus That germs make people sick is theory, that gravity exists is theory, the components that make your car operate are based on theory, the components of your computer are theory, that electricity exists is theory. yet these are all areas that are considered essential understandings of science. If you where to look up anything on the book i listed you would see fully why its applicable to this discussion.
Kevan too bad all atheist have it theories to base there life on.. i rather have hope
Roland Kevan, you don't understand the definition of theory as it pertains to science. A theory is much different from a hypothesis. Creationism is a hypothesis, a mere speculation backed by conjecture and no evidence. Evolution is a theory because it supported by fact and solid evidence...mountains of it actually and more is being acquired constantly
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Kevan theory are educated guesses... one was made that Hitler wanted to improve germany and europe.... nice theory eh?
Mpephitus You want a deity that self-sacrifices? how about Odin? Or osirus? Or Mythra? Greenman? Go through most religions that came before the judiac ones and you find tons.
Kevan Silva lol chris you funny.. none of those deitys had the power to create... and none SELF SACRIFED lol
Kevan and mythra was post judeo faith... 600BC in persia lol
Kevan before you go slapping names out i would research them..
Mephitus Eugenics? Another theist trys to pull the catholic Hitler into things as if he is a good example of atheism.... Before we go into that route, can you honestly explain to me why so many people try to use him as an example? Im honestly curious. Even a tiny bit of research and its quite clear his beliefs.
Kevan futhermore i would love to see the evidence that jews in 1st century judea had any access or knowlegde of such deity
Kevan because Hitler is the standard of evil in this world as Jesus is the standard of good.. don't understand how you have not see that before
Roland
Kevan,
The onus of proof is on you.
1. What is your best evidence that the supernatural can or has ever existed, and why do you think it would be reasonable for me to believe your evidence?
2. After proving # 1, provide evidence that some form of god could exist.
3. Ater proving #2, define what you say god is and then provide proof that your definition also disproves every other faith that claims a god which cannot coexist with your own.
4. Lastly, provide proof as to why I should believe that your defined god had some hand in writing your particular religious texts.
Unless/until you can to this, I reject the notion that your god is anything but imaginary.
Kevan another atheist names deitys off a list without any knowledge of them HOPING there is a connection to Jesus lol
Kevan the problem with ME providing evidence it that i stand with the majority of people in theism.. so the burden is apon you to prove the majority wrong.. all i see is comparing Jesus to other deitys that were worshipped at one time.. in another location.. with no real connection.. that's all you got?
Kevan theories? and comparing deitys which you don't even believe in? that's your arguement?
Kevan that's sounds SOO much better then hope.. goodness whatever was I thinking
Kevan not to mention that the majoriy of scientist in the world claim theism.. you have faith in no deity i have faith in a deity.. we both have the same amount of evidence.. please tell me the difference
Kevan not to mention my deity is a historical firgure... when you have answers to any of this come back.. till then i got to take a nap.. ttyl good chat
Antonio What is hope by definition is believing by not knowing. So based on that you believe based on the most shallow of reasons. We don't base our lives and belief on "theories", well least I don't. I base on the knowledge I currently have.
Roland Standing with a majority doesn't prove anything. For centuries "the majority" was convinced the earth was flat. We know how that turned out.
One nice thing is, ze game of love is never called on account of darkness - Pepe Le Pew