Study finds Red States more charitable

[Mom49of4]

So much for being tolerant of others regularguy.

[regularguy]

So much for being tolerant of others regularguy.

How is it intolerant to be surprised that so many people believe in mythology? I'm not saying they can't or shouldn't do it... just that I can't understand why they do.

Would you express surprise if an otherwise-intelligent person believed that there's an array of gods and goddesses living atop Mount Olympus?

[Mom49of4]

I would not question their intelligence if they did.

[Calamari]

You should.

[regularguy]

I would not question their intelligence if they did.

You're very tolerant.

How about 40-year-old who sincerely believes in the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy?

[Mom49of4]

Hey I believe in Santa Claus.

[veritas]

You should.

Yes, of course. No people who have ever believed in God have accomplished anything. Why, they're all just superstitious clods baying at the moon.


Really, squid, I'm trying to decide which part of your post is the greater; its ignorance or its arrogance.

[veritas]

How is it intolerant to be surprised that so many people believe in mythology? I'm not saying they can't or shouldn't do it... just that I can't understand why they do.

Would you express surprise if an otherwise-intelligent person believed that there's an array of gods and goddesses living atop Mount Olympus?

Jesus Christ is not a myth so comparing Christians to people believing in the Easter Bunny or Zeus is a complete straw man. Nobody has ever seen them.

[regularguy]

Hey I believe in Santa Claus.

I believe there was a 5th century bishop in Asian Minor named Nicholas.

I would have "raised eyebrows" as to an adult who thinks that there's actually a jolly fat guy who lives with Mrs. Claus and a bunch of elves, and brings gifts down the chimney on Christmas eve.

So Mom; should I be raising my eyebrows in your direction?

[Smokey 1]

How is it intolerant to be surprised that so many people believe in mythology? I'm not saying they can't or shouldn't do it... just that I can't understand why they do.

Would you express surprise if an otherwise-intelligent person believed that there's an array of gods and goddesses living atop Mount Olympus?

Maybe it is because they don't believe the way you think they do.

[regularguy]

Jesus Christ is not a myth so comparing Christians to people believing in the Easter Bunny or Zeus is a complete straw man. Nobody has ever seen them.

There isn't much evidence that there was a historical Jesus, but I can accept the probability that the stories are based on an actual person. (Same with the Buddha and Mohammad.) I was referring to belief in a god (or gods)... which nobody has ever seen.

[Mom49of4]

I believe there was a 5th century bishop in Asian Minor named Nicholas.

I would have "raised eyebrows" as to an adult who thinks that there's actually a jolly fat guy who lives with Mrs. Claus and a bunch of elves, and brings gifts down the chimney on Christmas eve.

So Mom; should I be raising my eyebrows in your direction?

No, my children do because I still Christmas gifts to them from Santa Claus.

[sigmalady]

No. they do not.

Some churches do require titheing as a condition of being a member in good standing.

[regularguy]

Maybe it is because they don't believe the way you think they do.

That's certainly possible.

I was referring to people who believe that there's an omnipotent supreme being that takes an interest in each human and responds to prayers. The idea that the non-physical essence of each human will go to a heaven or to a hell upon death is another belief held by obviously-intelligent people that causes me to raise my eyebrows.

[Smokey 1]

That's certainly possible.

I was referring to people who believe that there's an omnipotent supreme being that takes an interest in each human and responds to prayers. The idea that the non-physical essence of each human will go to a heaven or to a hell upon death is another belief held by obviously-intelligent people that causes me to raise my eyebrows.

Do you think you know everything? Do you think there may be some things that are beyond your comprehension?

Do you believe that anyone who believes things that you don't is not intelligent?

[regularguy]

Do you think you know everything?

Nope.

Do you think there may be some things that are beyond your comprehension?

Yep.

Do you believe that anyone who believes things that you don't is not intelligent?

Nope.

But I am surprised when intelligent people believe in ancient mythology that seems to have zero basis in scientific reality.

[Smokey 1]

Nope. Yep.

Nope.

But I am surprised when intelligent people believe in ancient mythology that seems to have zero basis in scientific reality.

Science can explain about the physical world but I believe there is more to existence than just the physical realm. I don't buy all the religious ideas either, some of them are ridiculous but I don't throw out the baby with the bath water either. I try to keep my mind open to other possibilities.

[veritas]

There isn't much evidence that there was a historical Jesus, but I can accept the probability that the stories are based on an actual person. (Same with the Buddha and Mohammad.) I was referring to belief in a god (or gods)... which nobody has ever seen.

Believing in Christ as a good man who had a ministry, preached love, fell afoul of the Romans and got crucified, will avail us nothing. Without the resurrection, there is no reason to think of Christ as anything other than another preacher. That is what the Romans considered him, although they also saw him as a political incendiary. The Sanhedrin saw him as a blasphemous nuisance. That is why there is little contemporary history of Jesus. It would be like us writing up an extensive history of some homeless man walking around preaching. At the time, these types of people were quite frequent in Judea. The only difference, as far as the Romans were concerned, was the following he generated.