Lost Atheisms: Does atheism have to be anti-religious ?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Except that the Silmarillion is not the same literary genre as the Bible as it doesn't seek to provide the answers the later does.

What answers does the Bible seek to provide?  How can we tell its answers are right?  Is there any reason why works of definite fiction can't give answers to questions?  For example, I would claim that the plays of Shakespeare explore the human condition in more depth and with more coherence than the Bible.

Yes, works of fiction can give answers to questions but judging by the knuckledragger comments frequently appearing on this forum

Yes they are a problem, but we can't stop you posting.

it is the antitheists who are having trouble seeing that and indeed who display a disdain of fiction and myth.

In terms of Shakespeare, how do you deduce that he explores the human condition in more depth?
Firstly he just contrasts being with oblivion rather than eternal life versus eternal condemnation.
Secondly, he only seems to be writing about royalty or aristocracy with anybody lower inevitably cast as grotesque.

I look forward to your justification of Shakespeare as the observer of human nature pas excellence.

I did not say that Shakespeare is the observer of human nature pas[sic] excellence, I just said he did it better than your Bible. 

Now, please answer the questions I asked: what answers does the Bible seek to provide?  How can we tell its answers are right?

Yes but then next Jeremy you will be claiming that Nick Hornby is a better observer of human nature than the bible and then you'll doubtless indulge in a bit of reduction ad absurdum and say Topsy and Tim.

You still have to say why Shakespeare is a better observer of Human Nature than the Bible though taking into account my accusation that he writes merely from a royal or well healed point of view.
Isn't Shakespeare morally neutral on a lot of things? How does that square with Human experience?

[jeremyp]

Yes but then next Jeremy you will be claiming that Nick Hornby is a better observer of human nature than the bible and then you'll doubtless indulge in a bit of reduction ad absurdum and say Topsy and Tim.

Please answer my questions.

You still have to say why Shakespeare is a better observer of Human Nature than the Bible though taking into account my accusation that he writes merely from a royal or well healed point of view.

No I don't.  Not before somebody has answered my questions.

I asked direct questions about the Bible and here you are doing everything you can to deflect attention away from the fact that you do not know the answers. 

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Yes but then next Jeremy you will be claiming that Nick Hornby is a better observer of human nature than the bible and then you'll doubtless indulge in a bit of reduction ad absurdum and say Topsy and Tim.

Please answer my questions.

You still have to say why Shakespeare is a better observer of Human Nature than the Bible though taking into account my accusation that he writes merely from a royal or well healed point of view.

No I don't.  Not before somebody has answered my questions.

I asked direct questions about the Bible and here you are doing everything you can to deflect attention away from the fact that you do not know the answers.

The Bible and the New testament in particular introduce the idea of complexity of people.....that they are more than what they do for religious or other ruling authorities. It postulates internal struggles, self examination and moral responsibility.

Shakespeare follows I think the ''good bloke hypothesis'' and therefore has a shallower anthropology always with half an eye on the entertainment factor which must involve inevitably putting the audience in general at ease........

If you think I'm wrong break the habit of a lifetime and respond.

[jeremyp]

The Bible and the New testament in particular introduce the idea of complexity of people.....that they are more than what they do for religious or other ruling authorities. It postulates internal struggles, self examination and moral responsibility.

Yes, but what questions does the Bible answer and how do you know the answers are correct?

If you think I'm wrong break the habit of a lifetime and respond.

How can I break the habit of your lifetime?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

The Bible and the New testament in particular introduce the idea of complexity of people.....that they are more than what they do for religious or other ruling authorities. It postulates internal struggles, self examination and moral responsibility.

Yes, but what questions does the Bible answer and how do you know the answers are correct?

Great......Jeremy P.....Life as pub quiz.

[jeremyp]

The Bible and the New testament in particular introduce the idea of complexity of people.....that they are more than what they do for religious or other ruling authorities. It postulates internal struggles, self examination and moral responsibility.

Yes, but what questions does the Bible answer and how do you know the answers are correct?

Great......Jeremy P.....Life as pub quiz.

So from that, we deduce that you do not know what questions the Bible answers.  I'm not surprised.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

The Bible and the New testament in particular introduce the idea of complexity of people.....that they are more than what they do for religious or other ruling authorities. It postulates internal struggles, self examination and moral responsibility.

Yes, but what questions does the Bible answer and how do you know the answers are correct?

Great......Jeremy P.....Life as pub quiz.

So from that, we deduce that you do not know what questions the Bible answers.  I'm not surprised.

The purpose of existence.

[Shaker]

People make up their own minds about that - or can do if they put the effort in.

[jeremyp]

The purpose of existence.

At last.

OK, so what is the Bible's answer and how can we test if the Bible is correct?

[Outrider]

The purpose of existence.

That's a question the Bible begs, not one it answers...

O.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Outrider,

To Worship God.

Mathew 22:35-40.

The important word is "like".

Gonnagle.

[ippy]

The Bible and the New testament in particular introduce the idea of complexity of people.....that they are more than what they do for religious or other ruling authorities. It postulates internal struggles, self examination and moral responsibility.

Yes, but what questions does the Bible answer and how do you know the answers are correct?

Great......Jeremy P.....Life as pub quiz.

So from that, we deduce that you do not know what questions the Bible answers.  I'm not surprised.

The purpose of existence.

There isn't any purpose in the way you are implying that you think, we're here because of chance happenings that's all there is to it, unfortunately for you there's no evidence to the contrary, disappointing enit.

ippy 

[Walt Zingmatilder]

The Bible and the New testament in particular introduce the idea of complexity of people.....that they are more than what they do for religious or other ruling authorities. It postulates internal struggles, self examination and moral responsibility.

Yes, but what questions does the Bible answer and how do you know the answers are correct?

Great......Jeremy P.....Life as pub quiz.

So from that, we deduce that you do not know what questions the Bible answers.  I'm not surprised.

The purpose of existence.

There isn't any purpose in the way you are implying that you think, we're here because of chance happenings that's all there is to it, unfortunately for you there's no evidence to the contrary, disappointing enit.

ippy

I thought we were here because of stuff and the rules which govern it.....know what i'm saying?

[ippy]

The Bible and the New testament in particular introduce the idea of complexity of people.....that they are more than what they do for religious or other ruling authorities. It postulates internal struggles, self examination and moral responsibility.

Yes, but what questions does the Bible answer and how do you know the answers are correct?

Great......Jeremy P.....Life as pub quiz.

So from that, we deduce that you do not know what questions the Bible answers.  I'm not surprised.

The purpose of existence.

There isn't any purpose in the way you are implying that you think, we're here because of chance happenings that's all there is to it, unfortunately for you there's no evidence to the contrary, disappointing enit.

ippy

I thought we were here because of stuff and the rules which govern it.....know what i'm saying?

Unfortunately for you there isn't any particular reason why, sorry and the because is that there is no credible evidence that indicates otherwise.

ippy