Theology of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

[Anonymous]

What you call "dogma", or more respectfully the "tenets" of most religions, is different.

NP. Dogma is a term with a very specific meaning in religion. It is commonly used and no one who actually understands the term as it applies to religion would consider it disrespectful.

What you call the tenets of a religion are more commonly referred to as doctrine. The difference between doctrine and dogma is that, in general, doctrine is all church teaching in matters of faith and morals, while dogma is more narrowly defined as that part of doctrine which has been divinely revealed and which the church has formally defined and declared to be believed as revealed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What was not respectful of religion that's been said in the last few posts?

Also, I don't see the leap of faith required to believe that justice includes gay marriage. It seems like an opinion to me.

And I don't think you've pinpointed the leap of faith in religion -- is it the supernatural aspect, believing stories, dogma?

16:24 here. That was my point exactly - justice including gay marriage is an opinion, not a belief.

The leap of faith in religion is in believing in a higher power and, depending on your religion, in prophets and miracles. Faith is essential, because most people have not had direct experience with miracles or signs. What you call "dogma", or more respectfully the "tenets" of most religions, is different.

So are you saying that only religion can have "beliefs" (other beliefs are opinions) and that they require leaps of faith? I'm really trying to understand

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What you call "dogma", or more respectfully the "tenets" of most religions, is different.

NP. Dogma is a term with a very specific meaning in religion. It is commonly used and no one who actually understands the term as it applies to religion would consider it disrespectful.

What you call the tenets of a religion are more commonly referred to as doctrine. The difference between doctrine and dogma is that, in general, doctrine is all church teaching in matters of faith and morals, while dogma is more narrowly defined as that part of doctrine which has been divinely revealed and which the church has formally defined and declared to be believed as revealed.

Agree - dogma has taken on a negative meaning, as in being dogmatic -- i.e, stubborn or unreasonable, but it has a specific meaning in religion that I was referring to.

So, getting back to my original question -- do your religious beliefs that require a leap of faith involve supernaturalism?

[Anonymous]

So, getting back to my original question -- do your religious beliefs that require a leap of faith involve supernaturalism?

Isn't that a tautology?

[Anonymous]

Agree - dogma has taken on a negative meaning, as in being dogmatic -- i.e, stubborn or unreasonable, but it has a specific meaning in religion that I was referring to.

Understood. I was actually providing the definition for the religious person who thinks using the term for the divinely revealed portions of his/her "tenets" is disrespectful.

[Anonymous]

Yuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So, getting back to my original question -- do your religious beliefs that require a leap of faith involve supernaturalism?

Isn't that a tautology?

I could be, depending on how the previous poster understands leap of faith and supernaturalism. I notice that she has avoided using or acknowledging the term "supernatural" so I'm not sure she understands its meaning to be beyond nature - something that can't happen in the natural world, like walking on water, or returning to life after several days of being dead. Or perhaps she considers it to be disrespectful, like the term dogma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So, getting back to my original question -- do your religious beliefs that require a leap of faith involve supernaturalism?

Isn't that a tautology?

I could be, depending on how the previous poster understands leap of faith and supernaturalism. I notice that she has avoided using or acknowledging the term "supernatural" so I'm not sure she understands its meaning to be beyond nature - something that can't happen in the natural world, like walking on water, or returning to life after several days of being dead. Or perhaps she considers it to be disrespectful, like the term dogma.

Ya know, guys, there's a way to say these things without being so patronizing and implying other posters are idiots. No wonder she seems to have left.

[Anonymous]

what exactly seems patronizing? Seriously I'd like to know. It seems to me to be a serious, thoughtful exchange.