Is religion a mental disorder?

Biblical Christianity is logical as long as you don't lack the imagination to imagine a world in which that particular God existed. Can we say the same for Hinduism or the Olympians or Any other religion? No, because if those God's existed the world and universe wouldn't look and function as it does. Example, the earth isn't on the back of Atlas or on the Shell of a turtle...

ServantOfTheLamb
Biblical Christianity is logical as long as you don't lack the imagination to imagine a world in which that particular God existed. Can we say the same for Hinduism or the Olympians or Any other religion? No, because if those God's existed the world and universe wouldn't look and function as it does. Example, the earth isn't on the back of Atlas or on the Shell of a turtle...

...and neither has anyone thrown real pearls before real swine...all cosmologies contain metaphor (in case you hadn't noticed)...

Å99

reply to post by ServantOfTheLamb


Neither can people walk on water or rise from the dead after three days. Those ideas are just as ridiculous as the world sitting on the back of a turtle or Atlas because neither apply to reality as we know it.

Mythical paganism is logical as long as you don't lack the imagination to imagine a world where those particular gods existed. The Greek and Roman myths were pretty complex and imaginative don't you think? So what makes you think Christianity and the concepts it promotes couldn't have been made up like said myths?

Homer created entire stories surrounding these made up gods, demigods, and titans. Why is it so hard to believe the same could have been done with biblical Christianity? Even The Odyssey and Iliad have archaeological evidence to back up some of their stories.

3NL1GHT3N3D1
reply to post by ServantOfTheLamb

 

Neither can people walk on water or rise from the dead after three days. Those ideas are just as ridiculous as the world sitting on the back of a turtle or Atlas because neither apply to reality as we know it.

Mythical paganism is logical as long as you don't lack the imagination to imagine a world where those particular gods existed. The Greek and Roman myths were pretty complex and imaginative don't you think? So what makes you think Christianity and the concepts it promotes couldn't have been made up like said myths?

Homer created entire stories surrounding these made up gods, demigods, and titans. Why is it so hard to believe the same could have been done with biblical Christianity? Even The Odyssey and Iliad have archaeological evidence to back up some of their stories.

edit on 16-11-2013 by 3NL1GHT3N3D1 because: (no reason given)

Well first and for most manuscript evidence makes a pretty strong case for the Bible being pretty accurate to its original. If you argue with my first statement then you cannot believe you know anything of the Greek or Roman myths seeing as how the manuscript evidence for at least the NT I think they were imaginative, but they don't fit what we know of the world today. Jesus wasn't a person, but I would agree people cannot do any of those things. Did I say the ideas of a turtle or Atlas were ridiculous? No. I said they don't fit the description of the physical world we see.

reply to post by ServantOfTheLamb


A man walking on water and rising from the dead doesn't fit with the physical world either. The laws of physics dictate those things being impossible.

And of course Jesus was a person, he was human wasn't he?

3NL1GHT3N3D1
reply to post by ServantOfTheLamb

 

A man walking on water and rising from the dead doesn't fit with the physical world either. The laws of physics dictate those things being impossible.

And of course Jesus was a person, he was human wasn't he?

God in Human Form. The argument above is an argument from incredulity.

. If a state of affairs is impossible to imagine, it doesn't follow that it is false; it may only mean that imagination is limited. Moreover, if no one has yet managed to imagine how a state of affairs is possible, it doesn't follow that no one will ever be able to.

Argument from Incredulity

reply to post by ServantOfTheLamb


So he was a person because he was fully human.

I can imagine how a man could walk on water and rise from the dead, I used to believe it. The thing is though, the evidence points toward those two things as being impossible, just as evidence shows it is impossible for the Earth to be on the back of Atlas or a turtle.

But then again, I guess your argument that the world can't be on the back of Atlas or a turtle is an argument of incredulity as well.

3NL1GHT3N3D1
reply to post by ServantOfTheLamb

 

So he was a person because he was fully human.

I can imagine how a man could walk on water and rise from the dead, I used to believe it. The thing is though, the evidence points toward those two things as being impossible, just as evidence shows it is impossible for the Earth to be on the back of Atlas or a turtle.

But then again, I guess your argument that the world can't be on the back of Atlas or a turtle is an argument of incredulity as well.

edit on 16-11-2013 by 3NL1GHT3N3D1 because: (no reason given)

Not at all. Again you called him a man. That is incorrect. He was God in a man's form. If God existed in human form could he walk on water or rise from the dead? Yes. If Hinduism is correct I would imagine Earth to be on the back of a turtle that is on an elephant. I can see that isn't the case. This isn't an argument from incredulity. I can imagine the scenario, however, it has been proven false. Same for Atlas scenario.

We keep going in a circle because you want to place Biblical theology in a category that it does not fit. " The thing is though, the evidence points toward those two things as being impossible," there is no evidence against these claims, because they were made about God in human form not a man which is a major error in your reasoning. I do not deny that claim must be taken on faith, but you cannot disprove it like you can the turtle/atlas scenario.

reply to post by ServantOfTheLamb


I think that would be considered believing in something you do not understand, a.k.a. blind faith.

Matthew 15
14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.

The world has fallen into a pit, and not for lack of believing in and following Christianity.

3NL1GHT3N3D1
reply to post by ServantOfTheLamb

 

I think that would be considered believing in something you do not understand, a.k.a. blind faith.

Matthew 15
14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.

The world has fallen into a pit, and not for lack of believing in and following Jesus.

If that verse is taken in proper context is referring to the Pharisees. He tells them

7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’[

Jesus is mad at them, because they do not understand the Truth. That works are nothing without the savior. It doesn't matter how great a person you are or how well you keep the commandments you are always going to fall short. The Pharisees did not understand this, and this is why Jesus called them blind. They were blinded to the truth of the Gospel. The Truth Will Set You Free.

reply to post by beatbox


Define "mental disorder".

Religious tendencies are definitely a majority behavior. Numerically, the norm.

Perhaps humanity is a "mental disorder"?

reply to post by beatbox


"You are deluded" is a catch all defence against the unknown. It is Richard Dawkins' favourite. People use this last card against religion to fight against anything that upsets their world view or does not fit in with it. It is used against the existence of ufos and against God with equal abandon. It is a base, knee jerk reaction without any real foundation. When Strassman researched the 'spirit molecule' he came to the conclusion that the experiences induced were experiences of real things, so even drug induced experiences can have an element of reality.

reply to post by ServantOfTheLamb


Today's preachers are no different than the Pharisees back then, they are the blind leading the blind. Jesus' teachings have been corrupted by humans just as the OT was corrupted by humans. Preachers and pastors teach this corrupted message at any church you go to.

So no matter how well you keep the commandments it won't save you? Jesus says otherwise.

John 15
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.

Matthew 19
16And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" 17And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."

Jesus says to remain in his love and to gain eternal life you must keep his commands, which are to love God and love others as yourself. So yes, you can be saved by keeping the commandments.

intrptr
reply to post by beatbox

 

Religion is a simple solution for people with complex problems. In Modern western churchian terms it says, "Just believe, be forgiven, and go on your way."

That way people can find the excuses to continue to be their screwed up selves.Theres no need for self examination or improvement. I'm not saying everyone is screwed up, but the screwed up ones are the ones making life miserable for everyone else. They start wars (or fight in them), they promote greed, enslave others, and struggle for control of everyone and everything by making rules that force us all to comply with their screwed up vision of right and wrong.

All in the name of their God.

Wars are not usually caused by religion. WW1 was caused by a secret society called The Black Hand. They organised the assassination of Ferdinand. WW2 was caused by you know who, grabbing land. Other secular wars include Vietnam Nam, civil war in China 1937, war of independence, Korean War etc.

reply to post by beatbox


is the belief in extraterrestrial life?

3NL1GHT3N3D1
reply to post by ServantOfTheLamb

 

Today's preachers are no different than the Pharisees back then, they are the blind leading the blind. Jesus' teachings have been corrupted by humans just as the OT was corrupted by humans. Preachers and pastors teach this corrupted message at any church you go to.

So no matter how well you keep the commandments it won't save you? Jesus says otherwise.

John 15
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.

Matthew 19
16And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" 17And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."

Jesus says to remain in his love and to gain eternal life you must keep his commands, which are to love God and love others as yourself. So yes, you can be saved by keeping the commandments.

edit on 16-11-2013 by 3NL1GHT3N3D1 because: (no reason given)

You seem to think I am a fan of church. I am not. Many are mislead, but there are a select few that still teach the Bible. Please show me evidence the Bible has been corrupted. The manuscript evidence for the Bible is much more compelling than any other ancient document; the only one even remotely close is Homer's Illiad at around 700 or 800, which is a few thousand behind the Bible.

reply to post by ServantOfTheLamb


The earliest surviving copy of any NT manuscript is dated to the 4th century, around the time of the Council of Nicaea being held. That's not a coincidence.

Look at Rome's long history of religious and cultural diffusion to see that it was corrupted. They were famous for taking others ideas and turning them into their own through manipulation.

Look at Rome killing anyone who refused to convert to their newly appointed state religion to see that it was corrupt from its inception. Rome was corrupt to the core at the time of them legalizing Christianity. It makes absolutely no sense that they would kill all the Christians then turn around and throw all their hard work away by legalizing it in the end. It makes no sense for them to start telling the truth after getting so far with lies and deception.

All it takes is a little common sense and objectivity.

3NL1GHT3N3D1
reply to post by ServantOfTheLamb

 

The earliest surviving copy of any NT manuscript is dated to the 4th century, around the time of the Council of Nicaea being held. That's not a coincidence.

Look at Rome's long history of religious and cultural diffusion to see that it was corrupted. They were famous for taking others ideas and turning them into their own through manipulation.

Look at Rome killing anyone who refused to convert to their newly appointed state religion to see that it was corrupt from its inception. Rome was corrupt to the core at the time of them legalizing Christianity. It makes absolutely no sense that they would kill all the Christians then turn around and throw all their hard work away by legalizing it in the end. It makes no sense for them to start telling the truth after getting so far with lies and deception.

All it takes is a little common sense and objectivity.

carm.org...

Go to the website above, and compare the manuscript evidence on the chart. Read the commentary if you want some insight. If you have a problem with the Council of Nicea then give me the reference to the particular problem in the original documents.

Here ya Go

A Timeline of Catastrophe
Darkness Descends on the Greco-Roman World


Caius Galerius, a shepherd who became a soldier, rose through the ranks of the army to become the penultimate pagan emperor of Rome. Appointed caesar by Diocletian in March 293, Galerius became augustus following his patron's abdication in May 305. Two years earlier Galerius had urged upon Diocletian a persecution of the Orthodox Church, the so-called "Great persecution". This ineffectual policy Galerius himself abandoned, issuing in his own name and that of his co-emperors Licinius and Constantine an Edict of Toleration, shortly before his death in May 311. The legalisation of the Church was reaffirmed by Constantine in the more celebrated Edict of Milan of 313. For the now legalized Church it was the beginning of payback time.

314 Immediately after its full legalisation, the Christian Church attacks non-Christians. The Council of Ancyra denounces the worship of goddess Artemis.


324 In Didyma, Minor Asia, The emperor Constantine sacks the Oracle of the god Apollo and tortures the pagan priests to death. He also evicts all non-Christian peoples from Mount Athos and destroys all the local Hellenic temples.

325 Council of Nicea.

The godman gets a promotion: 'Christ is Divine'.

Do you really think it all began with a sanctimonious Jewish wonder-worker, strolling about 1st century Palestine?

reply to post by ServantOfTheLamb


In a world full of lies and deception, the NT is the most well-preserved and numerous document in history? Sounds about right to me. They'd definitely keep the biggest lies around for as long as possible.

In a world where we can't get the truth on anything, THE truth has been thoroughly preserved by those in power. Yeah..... no.