
LilithsThrall |
CourtFool wrote:I was never really christian on the inside, so it won't bring me back. However, assuming this becomes the norm, it will go a long way to changing my very negative views on the religion as a whole.Quote:Deep faith may resonate in our position, but it is the ethic of love that forces us to prayerfully reexamine our position.Talk like this could bring me back to Christianity.
It already is the norm among mainline Protestant clergy according to a recent poll the majority of mainline Protestant clergy mirror this position and, incidentally, support gay adoption as well.
But, please, don't get confused. Their Christian, so they MUST be hate mongers! Ignore everything they say and do, it must be a ploy!

Tiny Coffee Golem |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:CourtFool wrote:I was never really christian on the inside, so it won't bring me back. However, assuming this becomes the norm, it will go a long way to changing my very negative views on the religion as a whole.Quote:Deep faith may resonate in our position, but it is the ethic of love that forces us to prayerfully reexamine our position.Talk like this could bring me back to Christianity.
It already is the norm among mainline Protestant clergy according to a recent poll the majority of mainline Protestant clergy mirror this position and, incidentally, support gay adoption as well.
But, please, don't get confused. Their Christian, so they MUST be hate mongers! Ignore everything they say and do, it must be a ploy!
Do you have a source you could link? As I mentioned I'm skeptical.
Edit: Also, I never said all christians were hate mongers. I just said the hate mongers were the loudest.

thejeff |
Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:CourtFool wrote:I was never really christian on the inside, so it won't bring me back. However, assuming this becomes the norm, it will go a long way to changing my very negative views on the religion as a whole.Quote:Deep faith may resonate in our position, but it is the ethic of love that forces us to prayerfully reexamine our position.Talk like this could bring me back to Christianity.
It already is the norm among mainline Protestant clergy according to a recent poll the majority of mainline Protestant clergy mirror this position and, incidentally, support gay adoption as well.
But, please, don't get confused. Their Christian, so they MUST be hate mongers! Ignore everything they say and do, it must be a ploy!
I'm willing to accept this, though as the Tiny Coffee Golem says, I'd like to see the source.
But mainline may be misleading. Mainline sounds like mainstream which sounds like it means most, but:
today, they are a minority among American Protestants, claiming approximately 15 percent of American adults among their adherents.[8]And of course, you push the strawman again
Their Christian, so they MUST be hate mongers! Ignore everything they say and do, it must be a ploy!

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I know a lot of christians who SAY that they don't mind same-sex couples or that they don't care what gays do in the privacy of their own bedroom, yet when it came time to back up their words, they voted to keep it illegal (side note: the very law they voted for, as written, also makes their relationship illegal). Actions. Words.
I also know a much smaller percentage that said the same thing and when it came time to vote, they voted to make it legal. Again, actions and words.
Not all christians are hate mongers, just anti-gay. To equate hate-monger with anti-gay is disingenious.

thejeff |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Does this no longer hold:I am sure there are a small group who may but they hold no power within the this group. And do not speak for the Espispocal Church as a whole just like there are going to be contrians everywhere.
The facts do not stand against me. The facts are that the Epispocal Church stands with and supports same sex marriage that is a fact.
In July 2009, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America adopted a resolution allowing individual bishops to choose whether or not to allow the blessing of same-sex unions within their bishoprics. The resolution was seen as a compromise between those who call for an official rite for the blessing of same-sex unions, and those who oppose any recognition of such unions. However, the resolution also left the door open for the creation of such an official rite in the future, calling on bishops to "collect and develop theological and liturgical resources" for possible use for such a purpose at the 2012 General Convention.
Today although many dioceses permit the blessing of same-sex unions, nevertheless the Episcopal Church rejected at its 2006 General Convention a resolution allowing the solemnization of same-sex marriages in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage is recognized by civil law.
What you call a small group that holds no power includes bishops in New York according to the New York Times.
In the state, with six Episcopal dioceses, the bishops are split: two have given the green light for priests to officiate at same-sex marriages, one has said absolutely not, two are undecided and one has staked out a middle ground, allowing priests to bless, but not officiate at, weddings of gay men and lesbians.
Again, I'm quite happy with the Episcopal Church for it's stance. I fully expect them to move even further in coming years. I just can't agree with what you imply is unequivocal support since 1976.

thejeff |
I know a lot of christians who SAY that they don't mind same-sex couples or that they don't care what gays do in the privacy of their own bedroom, yet when it came time to back up their words, they voted to keep it illegal (side note: the very law they voted for, as written, also makes their relationship illegal). Actions. Words.
I also know a much smaller percentage that said the same thing and when it came time to vote, they voted to make it legal. Again, actions and words.
Not all christians are hate mongers, just anti-gay. To equate hate-monger with anti-gay is disingenious.
Not all Christians are anti-gay, either. Though it is unfortunately common.

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Sanakht Inaros wrote:Not all Christians are anti-gay, either. Though it is unfortunately common.I know a lot of christians who SAY that they don't mind same-sex couples or that they don't care what gays do in the privacy of their own bedroom, yet when it came time to back up their words, they voted to keep it illegal (side note: the very law they voted for, as written, also makes their relationship illegal). Actions. Words.
I also know a much smaller percentage that said the same thing and when it came time to vote, they voted to make it legal. Again, actions and words.
Not all christians are hate mongers, just anti-gay. To equate hate-monger with anti-gay is disingenious.
D'uh!!!! I meant to say that. Though I think the example I gave says as much.

littlehewy |

And of course, you push the strawman again"LillithsThrall wrote:Their Christian, so they MUST be hate mongers! Ignore everything they say and do, it must be a ploy!
What's with that? It's a very tiresome approach. No one has suggested anything like that, LillithsThrall.
Relax. People are far more likely to listen to what you have to say if you don't say it like that.
Shadowborn |

Um, Athiests aren't saying that christians are anti-gay. Christians are doing that all by themselves. They're really quite loud about it.
The problem is that most people usually judge a group by its loudest members, which are usually those in a small fringe group. I know all atheists aren't Christian-bashing intellectual snobs who think anyone with faith is either stupid or crazy, but those are usually the ones you encounter.

Tiny Coffee Golem |

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:The problem is that most people usually judge a group by its loudest members, which are usually those in a small fringe group. I know all atheists aren't Christian-bashing intellectual snobs who think anyone with faith is either stupid or crazy, but those are usually the ones you encounter.
Um, Athiests aren't saying that christians are anti-gay. Christians are doing that all by themselves. They're really quite loud about it.
I, like many athiests, have an issue with blind faith. It's not a concept I respect. Unfortunately all religions are based on blind faith.
That being said I can respect specific religious people, but that respect is based on their behavior. Assuming behavior is f both parties are willing to not talk about religion we get along just fine. This is the relationship I have with my brother and it's quite good.

CourtFool |

CourtFool wrote:Yes, they can. But as long as we're judging groups by their loudest members, all atheists must be Christ-haters.Since we are playing the No True Scotsman game here, one can be an atheist without being a Christ-hater.
Just sayin'.
Well he does still owe me twenty bucks.

Tiny Coffee Golem |

CourtFool wrote:Yes, they can. But as long as we're judging groups by their loudest members, all atheists must be Christ-haters.Since we are playing the No True Scotsman game here, one can be an atheist without being a Christ-hater.
Just sayin'.
Again, that's incorrect. Athiests believe that blind faith is a bad thing. i could use harsher and more accurate terms, but I'm trying to be polite.
Athiests don't like religion. Christianity isn't special in that regard.

meatrace |

CourtFool wrote:Yes, they can. But as long as we're judging groups by their loudest members, all atheists must be Christ-haters.Since we are playing the No True Scotsman game here, one can be an atheist without being a Christ-hater.
Just sayin'.
I do hate most religions roughly equally. Though I doubt I'm particularly loud about it.

LilithsThrall |
In 2011, majorities of most religious groups favored allowing gay and lesbian couple to marry legally, illustrating that the old narrative of battle lines between secular supporters and religious opponents no longer serves as an accurate characterization of the landscape of the same-sex marriage debate. In the general population, 2011 was also the first year on record in which supporting same-sex marriage was not a minority position. In May, several surveys (all asking slightly different versions of the same question) found that a majority of the public supported allowing gay and lesbian couples to legally marry. PRRI’s May survey found that 51% of Americans were in favor, and 43% were opposed.
Five religious groups favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally, compared to three groups who are opposed.
http://publicreligion.org/research/2012/01/research-note-beyond-secular-vs- religious-religious-divides-in-support-for-same-sex-marriage/
Source: Public Religion Research Institute, Combined datasets from Millennials, Religion, and Gay & Lesbian Issues Survey (July 14-30, 2011) and Pluralism, Immigration, Civic Integration Survey (August 1-14, 2011), Total Sample = 5,450.

Tiny Coffee Golem |

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Christianity isn't special in that regard.I didn't say that it was.
How do you consider Taoism, for example, or Pantheism, as another example, to be based on blind faith?
They're all based on principles that can't be proven. "Magical thinking" as it were.

Shadowborn |

Shadowborn wrote:Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:The problem is that most people usually judge a group by its loudest members, which are usually those in a small fringe group. I know all atheists aren't Christian-bashing intellectual snobs who think anyone with faith is either stupid or crazy, but those are usually the ones you encounter.
Um, Athiests aren't saying that christians are anti-gay. Christians are doing that all by themselves. They're really quite loud about it.
I, like many athiests, have an issue with blind faith. It's not a concept I respect. Unfortunately all religions are based on blind faith.
That being said I can respect specific religious people, but that respect is based on their behavior. Assuming behavior is f both parties are willing to not talk about religion we get along just fine. This is the relationship I have with my brother and it's quite good.
Pfft. Most of human life is based on blind faith. And I know many religious folks whose faith isn't as blind as you'd like to think. Again, you're making assumptions based on a few.
Having an issue and making an issue are two separate things. I think a lot of the problem is people on both sides of the issue walking around with chips on their shoulders waiting for the other side to say the wrong thing. The internet was made for those kinds of people.

LilithsThrall |
LilithsThrall wrote:They're all based on principles that can't be proven. "Magical thinking" as it were.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Christianity isn't special in that regard.I didn't say that it was.
How do you consider Taoism, for example, or Pantheism, as another example, to be based on blind faith?
What are those principles in Pantheism and Taoism? Surely, you're able to identify them for us since you claimed that you hate them as religions for having these principles.

Tiny Coffee Golem |

In 2011, majorities of most religious groups favored allowing gay and lesbian couple to marry legally, illustrating that the old narrative of battle lines between secular supporters and religious opponents no longer serves as an accurate characterization of the landscape of the same-sex marriage debate. In the general population, 2011 was also the first year on record in which supporting same-sex marriage was not a minority position. In May, several surveys (all asking slightly different versions of the same question) found that a majority of the public supported allowing gay and lesbian couples to legally marry. PRRI’s May survey found that 51% of Americans were in favor, and 43% were opposed.
Five religious groups favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally, compared to three groups who are opposed.
http://publicreligion.org/research/2012/01/research-note-beyond-secular-vs- religious-religious-divides-in-support-for-same-sex-marriage/
Source: Public Religion Research Institute, Combined datasets from Millennials, Religion, and Gay & Lesbian Issues Survey (July 14-30, 2011) and Pluralism, Immigration, Civic Integration Survey (August 1-14, 2011), Total Sample = 5,450.
Link doesnt work. Please try again.

Tiny Coffee Golem |

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:What are those principles?LilithsThrall wrote:They're all based on principles that can't be proven. "Magical thinking" as it were.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Christianity isn't special in that regard.I didn't say that it was.
How do you consider Taoism, for example, or Pantheism, as another example, to be based on blind faith?
Google can answer that for you.

thejeff |
CourtFool wrote:Yes, they can. But as long as we're judging groups by their loudest members, all atheists must be Christ-haters.Since we are playing the No True Scotsman game here, one can be an atheist without being a Christ-hater.
Just sayin'.
I would say loudest is probably a bad description, though it's a good shorthand. Effect on the political debate is far more important.
Admitting support for gay marriage is a death knell to any Republican politician on a national level or in many states. Until very recently, it's been extremely risky among Democratic politicians as well.
The religious groups that are anti-gay are loud, united, influential and focused on this issue. Those that are not are quiet, often divided and generally focused on other things. That's fine, but it definitely skews the national debate.
Atheists on the other hand have essentially no political influence and aren't likely to bother anyone anywhere other than internet political debates.

Tiny Coffee Golem |

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Shadowborn wrote:Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:The problem is that most people usually judge a group by its loudest members, which are usually those in a small fringe group. I know all atheists aren't Christian-bashing intellectual snobs who think anyone with faith is either stupid or crazy, but those are usually the ones you encounter.
Um, Athiests aren't saying that christians are anti-gay. Christians are doing that all by themselves. They're really quite loud about it.
I, like many athiests, have an issue with blind faith. It's not a concept I respect. Unfortunately all religions are based on blind faith.
That being said I can respect specific religious people, but that respect is based on their behavior. Assuming behavior is f both parties are willing to not talk about religion we get along just fine. This is the relationship I have with my brother and it's quite good.
Pfft. Most of human life is based on blind faith. And I know many religious folks whose faith isn't as blind as you'd like to think. Again, you're making assumptions based on a few.
Having an issue and making an issue are two separate things. I think a lot of the problem is people on both sides of the issue walking around with chips on their shoulders waiting for the other side to say the wrong thing. The internet was made for those kinds of people.
Blind faith is not the same as educated guesses based on past or present observation.
"I've seen fire burn things before. If I see fire again I am relatively certain it will burn me if I touch it. " VS "The garden is beautiful so there must be fairies living under it."

LilithsThrall |
LilithsThrall wrote:Google can answer that for you.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:What are those principles?LilithsThrall wrote:They're all based on principles that can't be proven. "Magical thinking" as it were.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Christianity isn't special in that regard.I didn't say that it was.
How do you consider Taoism, for example, or Pantheism, as another example, to be based on blind faith?
Yes, it can. The answer is "none".

thejeff |
thejeff wrote:And of course, you push the strawman again"LillithsThrall wrote:Their Christian, so they MUST be hate mongers! Ignore everything they say and do, it must be a ploy!What's with that? It's a very tiresome approach. No one has suggested anything like that, LillithsThrall.
Relax. People are far more likely to listen to what you have to say if you don't say it like that.
But the whole purpose of saying this type of thing is to help create the impression that atheists are just haters who persecute Christians so you can just ignore anything they say.
Disrupt the argument, cast your opposition as unreasonable and ignore their actual statements. You can usually find some example to point to that justifies it, you just have to imply that it's more common.
It's actually a very effective technique.

LilithsThrall |
LilithsThrall wrote:Link doesnt work. Please try again.In 2011, majorities of most religious groups favored allowing gay and lesbian couple to marry legally, illustrating that the old narrative of battle lines between secular supporters and religious opponents no longer serves as an accurate characterization of the landscape of the same-sex marriage debate. In the general population, 2011 was also the first year on record in which supporting same-sex marriage was not a minority position. In May, several surveys (all asking slightly different versions of the same question) found that a majority of the public supported allowing gay and lesbian couples to legally marry. PRRI’s May survey found that 51% of Americans were in favor, and 43% were opposed.
Five religious groups favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally, compared to three groups who are opposed.
http://publicreligion.org/research/2012/01/research-note-beyond-secular-vs- religious-religious-divides-in-support-for-same-sex-marriage/
Source: Public Religion Research Institute, Combined datasets from Millennials, Religion, and Gay & Lesbian Issues Survey (July 14-30, 2011) and Pluralism, Immigration, Civic Integration Survey (August 1-14, 2011), Total Sample = 5,450.
Try this
http://tinyurl.com/83e40my
Tiny Coffee Golem |

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Yes, it can. The answer is "none".LilithsThrall wrote:Google can answer that for you.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:What are those principles?LilithsThrall wrote:They're all based on principles that can't be proven. "Magical thinking" as it were.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Christianity isn't special in that regard.I didn't say that it was.
How do you consider Taoism, for example, or Pantheism, as another example, to be based on blind faith?
You're wrong, but it's not my job to educate you. Best of luck.
*puts troll food away*

LilithsThrall |
littlehewy wrote:thejeff wrote:And of course, you push the strawman again"LillithsThrall wrote:Their Christian, so they MUST be hate mongers! Ignore everything they say and do, it must be a ploy!What's with that? It's a very tiresome approach. No one has suggested anything like that, LillithsThrall.
Relax. People are far more likely to listen to what you have to say if you don't say it like that.But the whole purpose of saying this type of thing is to help create the impression that atheists are just haters who persecute Christians so you can just ignore anything they say.
Disrupt the argument, cast your opposition as unreasonable and ignore their actual statements. You can usually find some example to point to that justifies it, you just have to imply that it's more common.
It's actually a very effective technique.
I've got no problem with non-religious atheists (ie. the people who claim that they take the position of 'no god' on faith because they can't prove it, they've chosen to take that position on faith because they believe that it leads to a better society or, at least, makes themselves better people in their own personal life). Similarly, I've got no problem with honest atheists who acknowledge that atheism is a religion that they've chosen to take.
As with all religions, its the fanatic atheists who believe that their way is the one true path to enlightenment and the only rational choice that scare the hell out of me.
Tiny Coffee Golem |

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:LilithsThrall wrote:Link doesnt work. Please try again.In 2011, majorities of most religious groups favored allowing gay and lesbian couple to marry legally, illustrating that the old narrative of battle lines between secular supporters and religious opponents no longer serves as an accurate characterization of the landscape of the same-sex marriage debate. In the general population, 2011 was also the first year on record in which supporting same-sex marriage was not a minority position. In May, several surveys (all asking slightly different versions of the same question) found that a majority of the public supported allowing gay and lesbian couples to legally marry. PRRI’s May survey found that 51% of Americans were in favor, and 43% were opposed.
Five religious groups favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally, compared to three groups who are opposed.
http://publicreligion.org/research/2012/01/research-note-beyond-secular-vs- religious-religious-divides-in-support-for-same-sex-marriage/
Source: Public Religion Research Institute, Combined datasets from Millennials, Religion, and Gay & Lesbian Issues Survey (July 14-30, 2011) and Pluralism, Immigration, Civic Integration Survey (August 1-14, 2011), Total Sample = 5,450.
Try this
http://tinyurl.com/83e40my
Much better. It could be accurate, but it's a very small sample size given the population they're trying to represent.
If it is true good for them for not being needlessly hateful. It shows social development.

LilithsThrall |
LilithsThrall wrote:Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Yes, it can. The answer is "none".LilithsThrall wrote:Google can answer that for you.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:What are those principles?LilithsThrall wrote:They're all based on principles that can't be proven. "Magical thinking" as it were.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Christianity isn't special in that regard.I didn't say that it was.
How do you consider Taoism, for example, or Pantheism, as another example, to be based on blind faith?
You're wrong, but it's not my job to educate you. Best of luck.
*puts troll food away*
Absolutely no difference between your reply and the assertion by other fanatics that "Jesus is obviously the won twu wai".

meatrace |

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Yes, it can. The answer is "none".LilithsThrall wrote:Google can answer that for you.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:What are those principles?LilithsThrall wrote:They're all based on principles that can't be proven. "Magical thinking" as it were.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Christianity isn't special in that regard.I didn't say that it was.
How do you consider Taoism, for example, or Pantheism, as another example, to be based on blind faith?
Well Pantheism isn't a religion, though it could be described as A school of religious thought. It often ascribes a level of "cosmic consciousness" to the universe itself, an unprovable statement. Daoism historically has included ancestor worship, and the belief that the spirits of one's ancestors can be contacted.
You're welcome.

Tiny Coffee Golem |

I've got no problem with non-religious atheists (ie. the people who claim that they take the position of 'no god' on faith because they can't prove it, they've chosen to take that position on faith because they believe that it leads to a better society or, at least, makes themselves better people in their own personal life). Similarly, I've got no problem with honest atheists who acknowledge that atheism is a religion that they've chosen to take.
As with all religions, its the fanatic atheists who believe that their way is the one true path to enlightenment and the only rational choice that scare the hell out of me.
FYI: This statement shows that you don't have a firm grasp on the base concepts.

Tiny Coffee Golem |

LilithsThrall wrote:Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Yes, it can. The answer is "none".LilithsThrall wrote:Google can answer that for you.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:What are those principles?LilithsThrall wrote:They're all based on principles that can't be proven. "Magical thinking" as it were.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Christianity isn't special in that regard.I didn't say that it was.
How do you consider Taoism, for example, or Pantheism, as another example, to be based on blind faith?
Well Pantheism isn't a religion, though it could be described as A school of religious thought. It often ascribes a level of "cosmic consciousness" to the universe itself, an unprovable statement. Daoism historically has included ancestor worship, and the belief that the spirits of one's ancestors can be contacted.
You're welcome.
Cosmic consciousness = magical thinking
Spirits = magical thinkingThank you for proving my point for me.
Edit: Thanks Meatrace

LilithsThrall |
Well Pantheism isn't a religion, though it could be described as A school of religious thought. It often ascribes a level of "cosmic consciousness" to the universe itself, an unprovable statement. Daoism historically has included ancestor worship, and the belief that the spirits of one's ancestors can be contacted.
You're welcome.
Pantheism doesn't intrinsically have a belief in a "cosmic consciousness". Daoism does not intrinsically have a belief in ancestor worship. Your argument is like saying that since many Christians are Republican, "Republicanism" is a part of being Christian.

Tiny Coffee Golem |

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Absolutely no difference between your reply and the assertion by other fanatics that "Jesus is obviously the won twu wai".LilithsThrall wrote:Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Yes, it can. The answer is "none".LilithsThrall wrote:Google can answer that for you.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:What are those principles?LilithsThrall wrote:They're all based on principles that can't be proven. "Magical thinking" as it were.Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:Christianity isn't special in that regard.I didn't say that it was.
How do you consider Taoism, for example, or Pantheism, as another example, to be based on blind faith?
You're wrong, but it's not my job to educate you. Best of luck.
*puts troll food away*
Sarcasm?

Tiny Coffee Golem |

meatrace wrote:Well Pantheism isn't a religion, though it could be described as A school of religious thought. It often ascribes a level of "cosmic consciousness" to the universe itself, an unprovable statement. Daoism historically has included ancestor worship, and the belief that the spirits of one's ancestors can be contacted.
You're welcome.
Pantheism doesn't intrinsically have a belief in a "cosmic consciousness". Daoism does not intrinsically have a belief in ancestor worship. Your argument is like saying that since many Christians are Republican, "Republicanism" is a part of being Christian.
You're embarasing yourself.

meatrace |

Try this
http://tinyurl.com/83e40my
Ahh yes. There are some serious problems with the survey itself as well as your representation of it.
Of the 'religious' groups represented, the most pro-gay are Jewish (of which there are about 5 million in the US or 2.1%), non-christian and unaffiliated. You're trying to use the fact that secular Jews, non-christians, and the irreligious are largely pro gay marriage as proof that "most religions" are.

meatrace |

meatrace wrote:Well Pantheism isn't a religion, though it could be described as A school of religious thought. It often ascribes a level of "cosmic consciousness" to the universe itself, an unprovable statement. Daoism historically has included ancestor worship, and the belief that the spirits of one's ancestors can be contacted.
You're welcome.
Pantheism doesn't intrinsically have a belief in a "cosmic consciousness". Daoism does not intrinsically have a belief in ancestor worship. Your argument is like saying that since many Christians are Republican, "Republicanism" is a part of being Christian.
No, it's not. It's like saying that all christians believe in god. It's true that some don't, wacky enough, but it's part of the teachings.
Pantheism isn't a religion, as I've previously said, so whatever we say about it makes no difference to the conversation.
Daoism is, intrinsically, a belief that the universe is a balance of mystical forces. It is, definitionally, a belief in the supernatural.
Though many people, including myself, don't really consider Daoism a religion either. Modern Daoism in the US is very different than Daoism in rural China where, continuing the ancient traditions of various Chinese emperors, it does include ancestor veneration.

thejeff |
LilithsThrall wrote:Try this
http://tinyurl.com/83e40myAhh yes. There are some serious problems with the survey itself as well as your representation of it.
Of the 'religious' groups represented, the most pro-gay are Jewish (of which there are about 5 million in the US or 2.1%), non-christian and unaffiliated. You're trying to use the fact that secular Jews, non-christians, and the irreligious are largely pro gay marriage as proof that "most religions" are.
I take the 5 religious groups there to be Jewish, non-Christian religious, White Catholic, Hispanic Catholic, and white mainline. The 3 opposed would be black Protestant, Mormon and White Evangelical.
It's interesting to note that the three largest of the pro groups are only marginally in favor 52-56% while even the least opposed group is 63% opposed.
It's also worth pointing out that while both White and Hispanic Catholics are slightly in favor of gay marriage, the official stance of the Church itself (and thus much of it's political influence) is strongly against it. That is, those Catholics in favor may be so in spite of their religion not because of it.
The same may apply to churches in the other categories.
I'm not quite sure why they broke up the groups the way they did. Different divisions would have led to different numbers of groups for and against.

Bruunwald |

The United Church of Christ is a very liberal denomination and as such these comments come as no surprise. It is simply a political agenda dressed up in bad theology.
+
Really? Looked like incredibly sound reasoning and judgment to me. Looked like a means to living well and getting along in a functioning Democracy without what would otherwise be inevitable for a Democracy to work: the end of religion as a whole.
Think a minute on the opposite of what this guy says. Are you really ready to promote chaotic theocracy in the US with hate, segregation, and religious law as the accepted status quo? Because that is what we have in a more mild form already, and it's not working. And Sharia law is pretty much the outcome when a majority choose to arbitrarily and ignorantly dismiss the sort of thing this guy is saying outright.
Did it not occur to you to consider that this man meant what he was saying, honestly? Because his comments reflect my entire position. And there's nothing political about how I feel. It's just human.

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I've got no problem with non-religious atheists (ie. the people who claim that they take the position of 'no god' on faith because they can't prove it, they've chosen to take that position on faith because they believe that it leads to a better society or, at least, makes themselves better people in their own personal life). Similarly, I've got no problem with honest atheists who acknowledge that atheism is a religion that they've chosen to take.
As with all religions, its the fanatic atheists who believe that their way is the one true path to enlightenment and the only rational choice that scare the hell out of me.
Lack of religious belief = religious belief. Logic fail.

Jean-Paul Sartre, Intrnet Troll |

Hitdice |
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LilithsThrall wrote:Lack of religious belief = religious belief. Logic fail.I've got no problem with non-religious atheists (ie. the people who claim that they take the position of 'no god' on faith because they can't prove it, they've chosen to take that position on faith because they believe that it leads to a better society or, at least, makes themselves better people in their own personal life). Similarly, I've got no problem with honest atheists who acknowledge that atheism is a religion that they've chosen to take.
As with all religions, its the fanatic atheists who believe that their way is the one true path to enlightenment and the only rational choice that scare the hell out of me.
Dude, we had a whole thread about it; at this point I'm keeping quiet cause I got tired of banging my head against that particular wall.

Jean-Paul Sartre, Intrnet Troll |

Jean-Paul Sartre, Intrnet Troll wrote:My apologies, CJ, but I didn't want, even for a second, to be associated as: a) anti-gay marriage (just anti-marriage, thank you!); or b) accusing him of "pandering".So what does that make me? And answer in another thread, this one is icky ;)
Again, my apologies, CJ. Perhaps I should've redacted your name.
In this post quoted here, I am not trying to indicate anything about you-- the a) and b) were about the exchange on the first page.

Lord Dice |

It turns out that we are descended from the stars, not Yahweh. And not to spoiler anything, but it turns out our creator hates us all, gay and straight alike.
In space, no one can hear you pray.
Everyone in the goblin kennels prays in their own language. At least, that's what Dicey tells me, so far as i'm concerned they're just babbling.
(Seriously Doodle, that thing nearly killed my brain the first time you linked it.)

LilithsThrall |
No, it's not. It's like saying that all christians believe in god. It's true that some don't, wacky enough, but it's part of the teachings.
Which scripture in Taoism says that ancestor worship is an intrinsic part of the religion?
HINT: You can't name any because there are none.
Pantheism isn't a religion, as I've previously said, so whatever we say about it makes no difference to the conversation.
Begs the question of what your definition of 'religion' is. My, watch you dance!
Daoism is, intrinsically, a belief that the universe is a balance of mystical forces. It is, definitionally, a belief in the supernatural.
'Mystical' means 'not apparent to the senses'. Yet, if you ever bothered to read the Daodejing, you'd learn that the book stresses how the Yin and Yang are apparent to the senses. These are not mystical forces. They are not easy to understand, but that's not the same as saying that they are mystical. In the same way that the truth behind science isn't easy to understand, yet science is not mystical.
Modern Daoism in the US is very different than Daoism in rural China where, continuing the ancient traditions of various Chinese emperors, it does include ancestor veneration.
Which is that I said. Ancestor worship is not an intrinsic component of the religion.
So, what magical thinking is an intrinsic component of pantheism or taoism? You've still not answered that question.