I think I will. Religion is subjugation. Everything about the religious world view turns believers into sheeple.
In atheist spiritualty, we are all equals.
But as a spiritual atheist, you don't believe everyone is equal. The sentence before that demonstrates that.
Religion teaches you are an unworthy subject who must appease your masters.
You're generalizing a few sects of Abrahamic religion to all of religion.
Your masters are terrestrial! make no mistake about that. And they don't give a damn about what you think about your station in life! You can tell because they also teach you this world is suppose to suck. It's not supposed to get better. You're supposed to die, only then can your true whateverthefuck can come to fruition. Oh, and if you do wish to complain, whisper quietly to a phantasm about your woes. Dot go discussing it among yourselves... And sure as fuck don't go out to the world and try to do something about it... That certainly isnt your place. You have rulers.
Again...this is not what all religion, or all religious believers think.
The whole bottom half of the initial post explains religion is subjugation! I already have explained this and it stands irrefutable!There is causality there. That is a direct relationship! Press me on it and we can write it all out. I'll submit it as my doctoral thesis in psychology. I might get a degree after all. World view places definitive restrictions on our realm of possibilities. You can only work within what you know! Carefully consider my above paragraph as THE realm of possibilities. What type of world do you suppose we'd create out of that? The fucked up one we got now is the right answer.
Your post is your opinion. Just because you believe in your opinion fully, does not mean it's irrefutable- nor does it induce causality. Causality is extremely difficult to determine in topics like this. In physical sciences, you can control external variables- eliminating confounding factors - to test a x to y relationship. Anything involving humans and social constructs, is exceptionally difficult to understand - as there is almost an unlimited number of factors that influence an individual's perception, choices, and actions. To say that religion is the cause of a certain action, is an extremely naive and under informed opinion and understanding of how our social world is constructed. Moreover, just because you say your opinion is irrefutable, doesn't mean it is. You haven't provided anything to substantiate what you're saying. Opinion, while interesting, creative, potentially correct, and profound - is still opinion. Nothing these days occurs because of an individual's opinion. Movements happen by generating evidence and proof that opinions are valid. In fact, the idea that Christianity is based on the Bible, which some believe is the opinions of man, is what you're essentially doing. I only make this connection to help show you that the credibility of what you're saying would be far greater if you provided more than just your opinion.
Atheist spirituality: you're the coolest thing in the universe: alive, smart, you're an awesome creature. You've been given a gift, a place of honor, use it wisely. Make yourself worthy of the honor you've been given by treating all life, your kin, with dignity and respect. Laugh, play, dance, explore... Enjoy this life, it is precious. Give it your all, it's the only one you got. Grow and learn, you are young, born of the stars, fulfill your destiny with your technology and frolic with them once again. I believe spirituality is the key to saving the world because of these types of teachings. Atheist spirituality teaches the kinship of all species, not just humanity. Its underlying teachings include humanity is gifted and beautiful. That we are capable. That our destiny is bright and our time here is precious. That this is our only home and we should take care of it. That all forms of life have value. That a healthy and happy humanity requires healthy and happy world/ecosystems... Spirituality is the strongest force on this planet. It can, has and does define the past, present and future of our being and domain. No other manifestation can make such an impact on our world because nothing else can inspire us like it can. If you do not believe atheist spirituality is the key to saving the world then I got some 'splain'n to do because it is a fact reality.
I actually find this very similar to Christianity in that humans are above all other living things. And much of what you say in the rest of the paragraph could be taken from papers on Christianity and ecology. I have read this in them. I think you refuse to see that a lot of what you are saying, has been said before, and are actually being practiced in religions. That's not to say they are exclusive to them, but you speak as if they don't exist within religion- when in fact, they do.
Teach humanity who we are and what we are capable of and making a better world will be a natural byproduct of our identity. Sadly, humanity is taught to abandon their true selves. Atheist spirituality has another lesson for them. Once they learn that lesson we'll reformat governance and corporations to better suit our being.
It saddens me that you can't see that what you're suggesting people do, is the same thing you dislike in religion. You want everyone to drop what they believe, and jump on your bandwagon. What if someone's natural identity is to believe in God? Why is that wrong? This person can still hold the values you suggest, while believing in a higher power. To say they can't, is to impose the same restrictions that you condemn religion for.
For the purposes of this discussion, definition of universe is pretty consistent. -no? Force people to accept their true identity? lol It's self evident. Every one except the religiously broken can see what I claim about humanity above is absolute truth. Forcing the voice of subjugation to STU is not a bad thing. You think in a religious fashion. Only contrived subjugation forces belief. Truth is offered and accepted by its merit alone. The next generation of spiritual seekers will eat this up like candy! Force it? I might not be left alone about it. Theists are a dying breed.
The definition of the universe is not consistent- but you want everyone to believe in your definition. Yes, there are a lot of people out there that do...but there are a lot of people out there that hold other ideas of what the universe is, and what it means to them.
This is where the issue is. You want people to abide by your definition of spirituality, yet you want people to accept their true identity...in fact, you're forcing your identity on them. If your goal is for people to be free and find themselves, then you can't limit or condemn them from doing that within religion. You're contradicting yourself.
I also think you refuse to believe that people who don't believe in religion might have a different opinion of it...you also feel that anyone that has a different opinion of you is wrong. I actually spent time finding you resources to help expand your understanding of religion and offer a different perspective- but you refuse to education yourself on something that might be in opposition of your claims. If you truly believe you had the ability to attain a doctorate, you would recognize that the first true lesson in this journey is that you know very little about a very small subject...and that there are many opposing arguments and theories that deserve your respect and time. Coming at anything with a singular and narrow perspective is not creating a well educated and formed argument.
You're telling us all that the sky is red, and it's refutable...yet you show us no evidence, and are unwilling to hear other opinions which can provide you with legitimate information that the sky isn't red.
The next generation of spiritual seekers will eat this up like candy!
I feel like you're going down the path of "The next generation of spiritual seekers will [drink] this up like [purple koolaid]"
You mean religious propaganda. I'm not gonna check the links. I've had enough with what humanity has done to spirituality and subsequently us. They will read my work if they want to keep up to date on what's happening in the wolrd.
It's not religious propaganda. Considering everything that suggest an alternative view to yours as propaganda is absolutely ludacrus. Honestly...if you gave enough respect and time to check them out, you would see that there is a lot of information out there, from non-religious individuals, that suggest there are benefits to religion. You want people to read your work, yet you won't give others the time of day? What makes your work so special? Why are you the sayer of all in the world and what will happen? Why should someone take the time to hear you, when you won't listen to people who spent their lives researching, learning, and understanding religion? We're not your mom, we won't have this innate bias towards your work, and love it.
What you don't understand is there is no redeeming qualities to religion what so ever. none! You've been duped! You will not be able to successfully refute this assertion. Try if you like, but I consider you a friend, and I'm telling ya, I'll break any attempt to make abrahamic seem worthy in ANY fashion. Whatever you can gain from that is a dismal comparison to what atheist spirituality can provide. religion has nothing, absolutely fucking nothing over atheist spirituality.
You always want me to be frank with you, and I am. I honestly feel bad, but I am approaching this how I would if I were at a defense for a student. You are not able to refute anything, and haven't so far, because you are not willing to consider or even read the evidence. I have provided you with a variety of redeeming qualities of religion, and all your response has been is "I'm not going to look at them." "I'll refute them". If you want to have a serious conversation, where knowledge and growth is exchanged, then you must reach out from your opinion and listen to others. Listening does not mean agreeing. But in order to further your claims, you have to listen to others and learn something.
I am more than willing to have this conversation with you, but I don't think you truly want that. I think you want people to just agree with you and support you- and that's fine...but it'll do nothing to help you further your own understanding of spiritual atheism.
