Protestantism

» pink101 - So Many Worlds of Pretense

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Our brains--in those formative years of early childhood--are programmed to pretend a wide variety of realities into existence.
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It is a phenomenon of formidable proportions and it cannot be denied.
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Santa Clause, Easter Bunny, spooky stories of Haloween, playing house, playing cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, now space aliens, dolls, Simon Sez, play toy soldiers and war, and just about everything else one can imagine including doctor.
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Patterns for thinking are created solidly in our brains to be put to use in our adult experiences.
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I think that is what makes religious phantasizing so popular in our civilizations--both Eastern and Western; Judaism, Christianity, Islam--we imagine them to the point that they constitute our reality. Grown men and women who are otherwise intelligent, divest themselves of reason and join in on the games. It is so emotionally rewarding to believe in Santa Clause even during those final childhood days when the reality is beginning to set it--when we know Santa is really a clown of make believe; but, oh, such joy of anticipation on Christmas Eve. It makes the child's heart flutter. What kind of a meanie would want to take that away from an innocent little child. It does no harm and probably does a lot of good. And, it is fun, isn't it?
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The popular ideas that tell us about the justification of war? They are all make believe. That's why we have to depend on ideologies rather than the truth. Truth? What's truth? Is it in the Bible? And, to bring it out in the open and to put it on the table is the no-no of all no-nos. How dare I bring such a fact up and put it on the table. "This idea and this thread has to be ignored--it might be a slippery slope where we will catch some sinful disease of disbelief. Can any true believer imagine the idea of giving credance to such questioning? There IS as Santa Clause, I saw his sleigh and reindeers last night flying across the sky on their way to the homes of good little boys and girls everywhere."
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"It is real!!" I hear the screams of minds steeped deep in the Worlds of Pretense. "It is real!! It is real!! You just and wait and see. You'll be sorry for even saying that it isn't! And you're going to Hell for saying it. You'll see."
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uh huh, yah, sure. Okay. Yup.
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:~)
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Ho ho ho ho, Meeerrrryyy Christmas to everyone and to everyone a good night.
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yum, yum, sugar plums.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brian Tubbs - So Many Worlds of Pretense

In response to So Many Worlds of Pretense posted by pink101:

Pink, you are correct on your general point that people often jettison reason to live in fantasies. This happens all the time in many different ways - not just religion (I hope you'll acknowledge).

However, you're going too far to presume that all religion is fantasy. Or that all religions are equally credible or equally incredible.

Moreover, you make a lot of assumptions and offer many assertions yourself. There are good, solid, LOGICAL reasons to believe in God. Even your hero Thomas Paine (Mr. Enlightenment Deist himself) believed in God - while rejecting organized religion.

There are also solid, historical reasons to believe in Jesus - and to believe that he was rather unique and extraordinary.

I could go on. The point is that you set up a false choice here. You reduce all religion to the level of a fairy tale. Oliver no doubt cheers you - as do Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris. But the overwhelming majority of the world's population understands that there is SOMETHING to religion - something of value, something of merit, something REAL!!! We may not all agree on the particulars, but we recognize that there's something there.

» Migisi - So Many Worlds of Pretense

In response to So Many Worlds of Pretense posted by pink101:
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People love to pretend. Ever been to a Renaissance or Medieval fair - folks dressed in period clothes, speaking old English, jousting, minstreling, and dueling? How about a war re-enactment - soldiers in uniforms touting flint and muskets, yelling battle cries, attacking, and falling dead? Or visit a museum which hosts 'early life on the praire' events with candle making, butter churning, metal smithing, and spinning wheels? These anacronists know their period and accurately represent it down to the finest detail. For the visitor or audience, we can be swept back in our mind to a time in history. But we know the future - from that period forward to the present.
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I wonder if there are Bible anacronists - folks who prefer to live in a period in ancient history when people believed in myths, fables, and legends. Hey, why not? Sure beats reality.

-- posted by Migisi

» Brian Tubbs - So Many Worlds of Pretense

In response to So Many Worlds of Pretense posted by Migisi:

Setting aside the implication that Bible-believers are akin to make-believe pretenders....

I personally am glad that there are people who have enough enthusiasm for history to bring it alive for people of today. I enjoy reenactments, festivals, and the like. I've never participated in one. Don't have the time or money, but I enjoy going to them. It's great to watch history come alive!

One of the biggest problems I have with our shallow, consumerist, self-absorbed culture of today is that we've lost our appreciation for history.

» pink101 - So Many Worlds of Pretense

In response to So Many Worlds of Pretense posted by BrianTubbs:
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I'm still here.
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We might have a good basis for a thread on American History regarding the movements leading up to our Declaration of Independences from the Tyrant.
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I'm doing some more reading.
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-- posted by pink101