Having initially placed this posting then removing it upon seeing Tony's admonishment to cease and desist any activity on the thread I've decided to place it back claiming a right to do so ... as the post was essentially prepared prior to Tony's "Notice" ... simply not placed in the thread ...
A Previous Forum Member wrote: I have some questions:
1). Do you think atheism is primarily caused by disillusionment with religion, and that the average atheist throws the baby out with the bathwater? If you do not agree, can you provide examples of how an atheist might justify their position without citing perceived inconsistencies in scripture?
2). Do you recognise a difference between a belief in God, and being religious, or being religious and being spiritual? If so, (or if not), please explain your reasoning.
An interesting set of notes about a topic such as Atheism and your "theory" about a potential cause of such.
In any case, your OP question 1a reads:
"Do you think atheism is primarily caused by disillusionment with religion, and that the average atheist throws the baby out with the bathwater?"
My reply is that atheist and non-athesit alike are welcome on the Forum, i.e., to discuss Tony's theories and relate potential personal experiences in regards to such, etc., at least so I understand; in which case, any potential cause for atheism, or non-athesim for that matter, would seem to be irrelevant here on this particular Forum.
Your OP question 1b reads:
"If you do not agree, can you provide examples of how an atheist might justify their position without citing perceived inconsistencies in scripture?"
My reply here, once again, is much the same. How, or even whether or not, "I" might be able to provide some such examples, i.e., of how an atheist, or a non-atheist for that matter, might justify their position in such regard, would again be irrelevant on this Forum ... thank goodness.
Your OP question 2 reads:
"Do you recognise a difference between a belief in God, and being religious, or being religious and being spiritual? If so, (or if not), please explain your reasoning."
There are a couple of questions in there, i.e., choose either question a or b ... and a rather large request to "please explain your reasoning" ... in either case.
Yikes ! Thank goodness these questions are tainted by the first questions and thus can easily be discarded, as a result, at least for the moment.
Sorry, but I for one can offer little in the way of further commentary, otherwise, i.e., in regards to your apparent angst ... perhaps concern ... or, in any case, your "theory" ... about a potential cause of Atheism.
All the best, though, grappling with the topic.
Cam
