Visions From The Tunnel
Visions From The Tunnel
( Why Pick On Cherries)?
After the millionth ( or more ) time listening to a theist pick certain things from the bible and ignoring the rest ( can we say cognitive disconnect? Amen brothers ), I decided to ponder and reflect upon this. So, I’ve been doing a little reading, video watching, thinking, and guzzling Dr. Peppers.
The current position of most Christians I’ve talked to is that the bible is the inspired, inerrant word of god. Ooookay. Leaving aside that it is an ancient collection of laws, letters, proverbs, philosophy, etc. that span multi-generational, multi-cultural genres from various peoples/tribes that have been gathered over thousands of years from cultures either extinct or extremely different from ours, and did not start taking the form it is currently in until app. 300 yrs AFTER the death/resurrection of a messiah, what is the relevance? To me, or for that matter, anyone.
Short answer, none. Even to the theist. That is why I believe they have tunnel vision, cherry picking as necessary. But, so do we. Yep. To cherry pick is human. Most Christians I know personally either go to church infrequently, or not at all. Lip service only, but they say they still believe. But not in slavery, or polygamy, or rape marriage, or stoning people for working on Sunday, or eating certain foods, divorce, etc. Cherry picking.
Maybe the question should be why do we pick and choose the way we do, not so much that we do. This is something all humans do, atheists as well as theists. Why we emphasize some things, and kinda let other things have a pass. Probably, hell more than likely, there are multiple reasons that feed into this picking and choosing. Too many to get into here. We can all trot out our favorites, and all are right, for us. What we need to come to is a way to have something to agree on that will elevate the conversation so that we are not using beliefs ( or none ) as a blunt weapon, but as a point for dialogue.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Tony Carroll on -
I agree with you, Kalliope. And it doesn't hurt that preachers only, or mostly, only preach the 'good' parts. Or the acceptable parts. And when they do get controversial, it is in line (mostly) with the prevailing attitudes of their flock and society at large. So that is what is mostly taught.
As for social acceptance, it is completely important. It defines us. We can't function alone. We are one of the most social animals on earth, and our mental health is dependent on this. Even the most solitary of us still interact. So, most of us 'go along to get along'. Again, picking and choosing. Thanks for the response, my friend. I really appreciate it.
-
Permalink Reply by Steph S. on -
That was beautiful to read Tony! I get your meaning and thanks for writing that. I've been trying to put across that we should try to have solidarity here - instead of picking at the differences.
-
Permalink Reply by Tony Carroll on
-
Thanks, Steph. Always wonderful to hear from you. Thank you for the kind words. And I view solidarity as a goal, something to strive for. Is it achievable? Sometimes. Not always necessary. Sometimes, not even desirable. But I always try to understand where someone is coming from, as they are a precious commodity in this world. Not talking about extremists here, but your common, everyday person. For we do have more in common than we have in our differences. Trying to understand why we place more emphasis on one part of our lives than another, to me, is paramount to trying to understand the person. Anyway, thanks again. Will talk with you later.
-
Permalink Reply by Sarsippious Jackson on -
I am confused. Please provide some examples that an overwhelming percentage of atheists use (to become an atheist and force their unexamined, unchallenged, "objective" beliefs on others to control society) that involve cherry picking. If you say that you can shoot gold coins out of your anus at will, my act of challenging you on it is not a blunt weapon. I do not feel obligated to be conciliatory or passive when you are shooting dung out of your anus and into my face while calling it gold.
-
Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on -
I wouldn't put it quite the same way, but I too want to know about atheist cherry picking. I didn't think we had an agreed upon set of beliefs. One of my problems with athesim is that it's reactive, merely rejecting theism. That's why I prefer secular humanism.
If we don't herd any more than cats do, how can we cherry pick about shared commonality?
-
Permalink Reply by Tony Carroll on
-
Hey Ruth. Sorry if I confused anyone. My problem for poorly wording it. I was trying to point out that we, as humans, not necessarily atheists , but all humans, cherry pick our way through life. Some of us less so than others. How what we hold dear, and what we dismiss, as people, is informed by many things. When, where we are born. Life experiences, our social status, monetary status, sex, you get the drift.
Just that this line of thought was started by an overheard conversation by two people at lunch, talking about religion, and even they couldn't agree.
Again, sorry for any confusion. My fault for not making myself clearer.
-
Permalink Reply by Grinning Cat on -
In The Meme Machine, Susan Blackmore posits that one of the reasons the Bible has survived for almost two millennia is precisely because it is self-contradictory, so it can be used to support just about any position. (For war? Against war? For slavery? Against slavery? And so on....)
-
Permalink Reply by Michael R on -
Morality is like the matrix, a consensual hallucination that binds and blinds. So says Jonathan Haidt. And our reasoning is often just post-hoc arguments made up to defend emotionally-derived positions, hence they don't always make much sense:
http://video.tvguide.com/Colbert+Report/Jonathan+Haidt/9966729
Once you understand this psychology you can step outside the matrix, to at least understand why people are so tribal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs41JrnGaxc
Atheists can step outside the matrix and lead the culture in a better direction by arguing that Culture A provides more happiness than Culture B. But Christians are stuck trying to make sense of their imaginary gods and books thereof.
Members
-
Tony Carroll Online
-
Dan Meadows Online
-
violet cleonstar Online
-
Joshua 'flobi' Hatfield Online
-
EJN Online
-
Joan Denoo Online
-
-
Napoleon Bonaparte Online
-
Loren Miller Online
Blog Posts
Featured review on Effective Secrets Of hair.
Posted by Dan Meadows on May 21, 2013 at 8:50am 0 Comments 0 Likes
If you want to search more elegant and trendy with out to commit lots of cash in your appearance, then you have no alternative but to utilize hair extensions. That does not matter whether you're merely a commoner or a celebrity; you're liberated to use the extension to ensure that you may enhance your looks. The hair enhancements won't only give that pure look to you but it will also take advantage of utilizing… Continue
Death of a family member
Posted by Larry Taylor on May 20, 2013 at 8:15pm 5 Comments 1 Like
OK. I am venting. My mother died two weeks ago. She was a “god fearing christian.” Before her death she refused all medical treatment. She wanted to be left alone. She even refused to speak with my brother who is a methodist minister. He is a pip, let me tell you! I suspect she did not believe, but a woman born in her time could not and did not state her actual beliefs. This is the opening salvo to all christians; FUCK YOU! I had so many people come and tell…
Continue
Unbelievable!!!!!!!!
Posted by Christy Stewart on May 20, 2013 at 2:17pm 6 Comments 0 Likes
This probably should not have shocked me as much as it did (especially since I am in Texas). I actually thought my coworkers were playing a joke on me because they know I am an atheist. Sadly, this was no joke. This actually happened.
I work in a psychiatric hospital. The doctors who admit patients are general MDs. (Psychiatrists see patients after admission) Yesterday evening we received several calls from irate parents. A new doctor who was doing admissions yesterday actually…
Continue anti-atheist rant from an Orthodox Mormon part 2
Posted by Debra Stevenson on May 20, 2013 at 1:09pm 1 Comment 0 Likes
What do you think of this,
Nathan Young,
No Jason Torpy it is you that should be banned for promoting atheism, a belief that has no foundation in reality and zero proof behind it. The letter was a mockery of your atheist beliefs. I request to the board here that they remove Jason for his unverifiable beliefs in atheism for which he has no proof other than his arrogance. The letter was a mockery of atheism. Atheism is stupid and it should be mocked and it…
ContinueEvents
© 2013 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: Richard Haynes.
