The Seven Types of Atheism

[RJM]

Angelical beings perhaps not, but minds are all around us. Man was not first here and time existed many times before us here and they have been here since that time. Man is only one of billions of lifeforms that have existed here, but men are minds that can figure things out and this I think interests them if you can find time with them.

I describe supernatural minds out there as shadows, minds with time and ones that are trapped here. The shadows as I call them are your gods, your devils and your jinn if you believe in these things. We give them time we gave them their power over us as we would find time inside of them.

There's a lot of deception out there too, imo. And no way of knowing, without trusted guidance.

Just simple faith.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths."
Proverbs 3

All wisdom is there, imo.

 

[dfnj2019]

There's a lot of deception out there too, imo. And no way of knowing, without trusted guidance.

Just simple faith.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths."
Proverbs 3

All wisdom is there, imo.

I am a terrible person because I've always had problem with the word "Lord" when referring to God. To me, the word Lord comes from a form of government based on monarchy. You cannot have a Lord unless you have slaves. You can't have "up" have any meaning without "down" having any meaning. It seems to me God is absolute perfection, complete, not having any needs or desires. So it seems to me God would be slightly more egalitarian than authoritarian. It just seems to me a religion based on "obedience" is missing something important. It just seems to me a God of unconditional love would not have conditions like the title of being "Lord". Titles come with monarchy as a form of government. For me, God is beyond the need of government.

In King James essay, "The True Lawe of Free Monarchies" he argues for the divine rights of the king. In King James way of thinking the king is directly speaking for God. So the way the Bible is written, the words chosen for translation, for me at least, it seems to me it is written to legitimize monarchy as a divine form of government.

When I hear "Lord" this is what I think the Bible is teaching us to do, that is, bend a knew to power and authority:

Sorry, my faith is in an omnipotent God of unconditional love who isn't promoting monarchy. Maybe I'm wrong or maybe my faith is just stronger than yours.

 

[Arif Ghamiq]

dfnj - I suppose you feel the same way about the words Master and King ?

 

[RJM]

I am a terrible person because I've always had problem with the word "Lord" when referring to God. To me, the word Lord comes from a form of government based on monarchy. You cannot have a Lord unless you have slaves.

I used the King James version because I like the poetic translation of the passage.

Maybe I'm wrong or maybe my faith is just stronger than yours.

In other translations you will find the word YAWEH which means I AM. It was Old Testament tradition not to write or speak the name, so it was rendered as 'Lord'.

 

[wil]

Imagine a poetic translation of the Magna Carts, or a physics chapter, or car owners manual.

 

[RJM]

Sorry, my faith is in an omnipotent God of unconditional love who isn't promoting monarchy.

But monarchy is a fact of life. There have always been rulers and subjects. Lions have always hunted zebras. That's reality?

 

[Ahanu]

Lions have always hunted zebras. That's reality?

See the history of the Earth. For a long period of time our planet looked like hell with fire ruling most of its subjects, and it is estimated this period lasted for over 500 million years. Like the Hadean Eon, I doubt lions hunting zebras is a permanent fact of life. Who knows when a more peaceful order will emerge? However, some believe chaos only begets more chaos with no progress whatsoever. Some atheists (and even theists) fall into this camp, and I find it hard to believe. I also think such a belief denies the existence of God.

 

[RJM]

See the history of the Earth. For a long period of time our planet looked like hell with fire ruling most of its subjects, and it is estimated this period lasted for over 500 million years. Like the Hadean Eon, I doubt lions hunting zebras is a permanent fact of life. Who knows when a more peaceful order will emerge? However, some believe chaos only begets more chaos with no progress whatsoever. Some atheists (and even theists) fall into this camp, and I find it hard to believe. I also think such a belief denies the existence of God.

To me nature is nature and spirit is spirit. For some reason we are incarnate as natural beings, limited by natural senses and natural bodies. We do not know why. We like to speculate.

It's where I have a problem with some modern religions suggesting that natural existence is part of a progress towards a perfect planet Earth, etc.

Imo: nature is like a room within a greater house of Spirit; it surrounds and contains and permeates nature at every level. Time and space limit the boundary of nature. But there is an infinity of states beyond. My Father's house has many mansions.

'The greater wheel of Spirit turns the lesser wheel of nature, but is not turned by it.'

Perhaps one of the purposes of our natural existence is to lead us to the realisation that the answers aren't to be found in nature? That there never will be a perfect world? Or even much of a better one?

Something like that, lol?

King James essay, "The True Lawe of Free Monarchies" he argues for the divine rights of the king. In King James way of thinking the king is directly speaking for God. So the way the Bible is written, the words chosen for translation, for me at least, it seems to me it is written to legitimize monarchy as a divine form of government.

So is the problem with King James, or with the Old Testament as a whole?

@dfnj2019

Tell that to Churchill and a million others ...

(edited...)

 

[RJM]

@Ahanu

It's where I have a problem with some modern religions suggesting that natural existence is part of a progress towards a perfect planet Earth, etc.

Ok, the eventual perfection of nature may be part of God's plan. Of course I do not know. But I do not see the goal of 'religion' as trying to make a perfect world.

Religions will do what they can to help the poor and sick and try make people's lives better, it is a large part of what they do, but the central issue of religion is to give people a way to find peace and a means of handling the often awful facts of natural existence? It is an inner thing.

Hence the first commandment, to love God, comes even before the second: to love your neighbour as yourself?

Spiritual laws and truths often seem contradictory to natural ones, imo.

 

[RJM]

Well, that's enough. I'm really starting to sound like the know-it-all around here ...

 

[dfnj2019]

dfnj - I suppose you feel the same way about the words Master and King ?

Master is not a form of government. I'm not into sadomasochism so I don't quite get the master idea anyway. Obviously I think slavery is immoral. It's kind of hard to imagine how the Bible got slavery wrong.

King is a different word altogether. There are many types of kings. Some good and some bad. There are some kings who share power in a round table of fellowship. And this are some kings who believe man's nature state is on his knees as in the Loki video.

There are many ways to be. If you prefer subjugation more power...uh...less power to you.

 

[dfnj2019]

@Ahanu
Hence the first commandment, to love God, comes even before the second: to love your neighbour as yourself?

For me, I try to have a very simple definition for the word love. I define love as simple acts of kindness for someone with no expectations for anything in return. What does it mean to love God? You can revere God. But how does one love God?

 

[RJM]

For me, I try to have a very simple definition for the word love. I define love as simple acts of kindness for someone with no expectations for anything in return. What does it mean to love God? You can revere God. But how does one love God?

Love is the glue that holds everything together. As time is the boundary of nature, love is the boundary of spirit. Love isn't just being nice to people.

What does it mean to love God?

Perhaps that is something we all need to work out for ourselves.

 

[A Cup Of Tea]

For me, I try to have a very simple definition for the word love. I define love as simple acts of kindness for someone with no expectations for anything in return. What does it mean to love God? You can revere God. But how does one love God?

To you love is limited to the act and expectation? You don't mention the experience.

 

[dfnj2019]

To you love is limited to the act and expectation? You don't mention the experience.

I'm just trying to keep it real by not having a definition of love that is too ambiguous or nebulous. Love first and foremost is a relationship between two people.

 

[Cino]

definition of love

Yes well. Pesky thing, the heart, so unwieldy in the realm of ideals. Love under will, as someone put it once.

Sorry, could not resist.

I like what you say about love, and I also think there is a lot more to love than that.

 

[wil]

Love first and foremost is a relationship between two people.

I don't limit it to people, or two.

 

[dfnj2019]

I don't limit it to people, or two.

I'm not saying sex with two chicks is not heaven. I agree there's probably more to the definition of love than my simple definition. The idea God is love is very strange to me. Based on human experiments there is no amount of evil God will not tolerate in order to preserve our free-will. It seems to me God is indifferent to mankind. I think if we crap in our own beds God will just sit back and watch. And if we live in our own crap God will sit back also. It us up to us to clean up all our own crap.

I think God is love if you think of love as acceptance of something with equal value. If you believe God is love then I would argue that would have implications. I would argue a God of unconditional love would allow everyone to enter through the gates of Heaven to experience eternally Heavenly bliss regardless of our Earthly sins or how we practiced, or not practiced, our religion. But many people are full of hate and really do not like the idea everyone is saved just by showing up for some reason. I think people like to think other people will suffer for all eternity or that there is some kind of justice on the cosmic level which does not exist in the Earthly realm. I think God is indifferent to our sins. But we shall see. My faith is strong.

 

[dfnj2019]

Maybe just like Atheism there are 7 types of love.

 

[Thomas]

I don't limit it to people, or two.

Haha! That could be read so-o-o-o many ways!