geokker Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 Some parents tell their young children about an old, fat man in a colourful costume and fluffy white beard who magically delivers presents late evening, December 24th - if they've been good (and not to frighten them). Children love their parents and trust them. Children also have corroborating information readily available in the form of the media. Young children are intellectually vulnerable. Santa Claus is a fact in their world. It is a lie. To my mind, God is Santa Claus. God is a lie that has been maintained throughout centuries to control those weak, fearful or vulnerable enough to have their will bent by others. Everything everyone knows about God has been related by Man. No one has any first hand evidence of the existence of God. This fact itself has been cleverly built-in to the systems of faith cradling the lie. I think the lie of God is becoming increasingly counter-productive for society in general. It no longer provides as much comfort as it once did e.g. one might choose to pray in the event of a fatal illness of a loved one. Now, technology has allowed us to understand the mechanism behind most illnesses and in some cases, offer a path to recovery. If death ensues however, one can let go of their loved one without pointless animosity to a God figure, rather an acceptance of the reality of a corporeal existence. It no longer assures the ruling classes (i.e. plutocrats) of a failsafe control mechanism to yoke the majority and lessen the probability of bloody revolution. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, the belief in God over a long duration throughout the dispersal of Man has lead to the institutionalization of religion which by its very definition is exclusionary. Segregation leads to conflict. Technology is shrinking the world to emphasize fundamental religious disagreement. So, my point is - and I started out 'thinking' I had a point - is the belief in God purely the folly of the weak minded? (If you disagree with me on any point, I will of course consider you to be weak minded.) :singer: Having said that, I'd like to be convinced otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boerseun Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 Hi Geoekker I'm not going to respond to your post - I agree with what you're saying, by the way - but in order to minimise the duplication of threads etc., go and check out the thread Who/What is God?. Maybe you should continue there. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geokker Posted September 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 I think this post would be off topic there. The only question it might address is the the very broad: '8. do you have any other important comments on God?'. In fact, I'm not commenting on God really, I'm asking the question: Is the belief in a God indicative of mental weakness? Should I still move it? I don't want to dilute the thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boerseun Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 No - I suppose not. But they are pretty close, nonetheless. So - just so summarize: The thread Who/What is God? is about the nature of your chosen deity, and this thread is about the mental nature of the believer. Yep. Seems like two threads, all right. Sorry! :singer: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infamous Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 No one has any first hand evidence of the existence of God. Actually geokker, I have had my own first hand experience that proves, for me at least, the existence of God. (If you disagree with me on any point, I will of course consider you to be weak minded.) You have the right to consider anyone that doesn't agree with you to be weak minded, but don't forget, we also have the same right. :singer: Having said that, I'd like to be convinced otherwise. Sooooo, you would also like join the ranks of the weak minded, but seriously, I'll be praying for you geokker. I truly desire that God would give you the evidence your looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geokker Posted September 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 My point is that Santa Claus is a lie that is exposed (and becomes unsustainable) with the increasing sophistication of a duped child's mind. The lesson learnt could well be 'don't believe as gospel what you hear - even from those you implicitly trust'. So, faith in God (a learned concept) could be distantly related with a child-like innocence and vulnerability i.e. weak-mindedness. No one can dispute the possibility of the existence of a God - how can we know? However, people who fail to discount the possibility that God may not exist are simply illogically faithful and worse - faithful to an idea which germinated during an age when rainfall was 'magic'. Are they wanting in a neurological sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geokker Posted September 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 'The Origin of Species' is a book containing information on the nature of life which I currently subscribe to. It may well be filled with errors and consequently be utterly wrong. I will publically acknowledge that this may be the case as far as I'm concerned. If I countered claims that the book is bogus with "no, you're wrong, the author is right. I will not entertain the possibility that there are fundamental flaws in his argument. The book will never, ever be wrong in any way. Ever." Then I would suspect chemicals in the water dulling my mind and immediately assume common attitudes applied to other aspects of my life like thinking there is a monster under my bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffy Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 It is a lie. To my mind, God is Santa Claus.Excuse me. You have this backwards: Santa is God. And he's a good one too. He's pushed hard to make 25 December a non-denominational celebration of kindness, family, love, giving and oneness. Just like any religion, he gets hijacked by the greedy and the power-hungry, but like South likes to say, you've got to ignore those idiots: they're not true believers. And the Eater Bunny, too. And you'll notice no smilies here, so get off your high horse and deal with it. Santa and the Bunny are the only gods worth worshiping.So, my point is - and I started out 'thinking' I had a point - is the belief in God purely the folly of the weak minded? (If you disagree with me on any point, I will of course consider you to be weak minded.) :hihi:Who you callin' weak minded? Belief in Santa is the *only* logical belief there is, that is fully consistent with the current understanding of cosmology, evolution, and special relativity. You want to be intelligent? Are you hip to Santa?Having said that, I'd like to be convinced otherwise.Name even *one* other deity who not only makes appearances to mortal humans, but hangs out at the shopping mall for 18 hours a day for 3 months of the year. Do you know *anybody* who has *not* met Santa? Don't tell me you haven't! You prolly sat on his lap! And you don't *believe* he exists? Have you completely lost your grip on reality? Rudolf the red-nose reindeer,Buffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geokker Posted September 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 Fat, bearded, middle-aged, child-friendly get-up, cute pets, gives children presents, careful not to leave tracks, befriends parents, vague address, sham marriage, travels by night. He adheres tightly to a certain stereotype... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffy Posted September 11, 2005 Report Share Posted September 11, 2005 Fat, bearded, middle-aged, child-friendly get-up, cute pets, gives children presents, careful not to leave tracks, befriends parents, vague address, sham marriage, travels by night. He adheres tightly to a certain stereotype...Bah! Commie propaganda! Its the fat that's a dead giveaway, those molesters are all *skinny*! And Santa gives presents to *everyone*--not just the kiddies--and only takes the milk and cookies! Test-of-Faith,Aunt Buffy :hihi: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tormod Posted September 14, 2005 Report Share Posted September 14, 2005 And Santa gives presents to *everyone* Bah. He doesn't give to the BAD kids. And he didn't bring me that plasma screen I wanted. :eek2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffy Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 Bah. He doesn't give to the BAD kids. And he didn't bring me that plasma screen I wanted. :eek2:Of course he gives stuff to bad kids! They get lumps of coal or underwear or ugly ties! Heck he prolly has as much fun with the bad list as the good! So, we know you're gonna be *extra* good this year to get that plasma screen TV, right? Oh gosh! Its mid September already! Only 30 days until Xmas shopping season starts! HoHoHo,Buffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Mind Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 Wait....Just KIDDING!Santa's not real?... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffy Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 Wait....Just KIDDING!Santa's not real?......and don't let anyone get away with saying he ain't real! I see him all the time and so do you! Jingle Bells,Buffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geokker Posted September 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 I see him all the time and so do you! Santa is God not Elvis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UncleAl Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 Santa Clause: A Natal Cuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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