Do Atheists believe in the bad angels or demons?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP & atheist.

I don't understand this. OP wants Atheists' POV on religion. When pointed out that (most) Atheists don't really see the Bible and God (or any other religious texts and its Gods) as any different than any other book and heroes/superheroes contained therein, goes on to argue that the equivalence just can't be made. But doesn't really explain why the hell not.

So, PP who is arguing about this: why can an equivalence not be made between one set of books written by man, and another? Because you (and others such as yourself) believe it to be special?

Because the world in general accepts the Bible as a religious text and the Harry Potter series, spider man, etc, as works of fiction. A visit to any library or bookstore will show you that. They aren’t in the same section.

Q: Why are these books of tales, all written by men, really any different?

A: Dewey Decimal System

🤓

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP & atheist.

I don't understand this. OP wants Atheists' POV on religion. When pointed out that (most) Atheists don't really see the Bible and God (or any other religious texts and its Gods) as any different than any other book and heroes/superheroes contained therein, goes on to argue that the equivalence just can't be made. But doesn't really explain why the hell not.

So, PP who is arguing about this: why can an equivalence not be made between one set of books written by man, and another? Because you (and others such as yourself) believe it to be special?

Because the world in general accepts the Bible as a religious text and the Harry Potter series, spider man, etc, as works of fiction. A visit to any library or bookstore will show you that. They aren’t in the same section.

DP. The world in general accepts that the Christian Bible is believed to be a religious text by many people, some of whom are amazing human beings who try to live by the best of its tenets, and some of whom use it as justification for glorifying violence, manipulation, abuse, and yielding to some of the worst impulses of humanity.

That doesn't mean non-believers don't believe it is a work of fiction, or that they actually take it seriously. It means non-believers have to cope with the fact that some really pretty horrid people take it seriously. There's a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP & atheist.

I don't understand this. OP wants Atheists' POV on religion. When pointed out that (most) Atheists don't really see the Bible and God (or any other religious texts and its Gods) as any different than any other book and heroes/superheroes contained therein, goes on to argue that the equivalence just can't be made. But doesn't really explain why the hell not.

So, PP who is arguing about this: why can an equivalence not be made between one set of books written by man, and another? Because you (and others such as yourself) believe it to be special?

Because the world in general accepts the Bible as a religious text and the Harry Potter series, spider man, etc, as works of fiction. A visit to any library or bookstore will show you that. They aren’t in the same section.

DP. The world in general accepts that the Christian Bible is believed to be a religious text by many people, some of whom are amazing human beings who try to live by the best of its tenets, and some of whom use it as justification for glorifying violence, manipulation, abuse, and yielding to some of the worst impulses of humanity.

That doesn't mean non-believers don't believe it is a work of fiction, or that they actually take it seriously. It means non-believers have to cope with the fact that some really pretty horrid people take it seriously. There's a difference.

Exactly -- there's nothing wrong with picking out the good parts of the Bible (or any book) and being inspired by them. But watch out for the people who believe its the word of god, then twist it to serve their evil means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP & atheist.

I don't understand this. OP wants Atheists' POV on religion. When pointed out that (most) Atheists don't really see the Bible and God (or any other religious texts and its Gods) as any different than any other book and heroes/superheroes contained therein, goes on to argue that the equivalence just can't be made. But doesn't really explain why the hell not.

So, PP who is arguing about this: why can an equivalence not be made between one set of books written by man, and another? Because you (and others such as yourself) believe it to be special?

Because the world in general accepts the Bible as a religious text and the Harry Potter series, spider man, etc, as works of fiction. A visit to any library or bookstore will show you that. They aren’t in the same section.

That is a man made distinction, and not one that atheists buy into.

Heck, way back in the 90s, my *literature* class at the university studied The Bible, the Gita, and other "religious" texts as... works of literature.

[Anonymous]

In elementary school I became interested in reading Greek and Roman myths, Iroquois myths, etc. and especially creation myths. At this time I also had to go to what was called religious instruction (Catholic). A light bulb went off and I've been an atheist ever since.

There is wisdom to be found in whatever religious doctrine, I just don't believe it's fact.

[Anonymous]

Why would I try to summon something I don't believe exists?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP & atheist.

I don't understand this. OP wants Atheists' POV on religion. When pointed out that (most) Atheists don't really see the Bible and God (or any other religious texts and its Gods) as any different than any other book and heroes/superheroes contained therein, goes on to argue that the equivalence just can't be made. But doesn't really explain why the hell not.

So, PP who is arguing about this: why can an equivalence not be made between one set of books written by man, and another? Because you (and others such as yourself) believe it to be special?

Because the world in general accepts the Bible as a religious text and the Harry Potter series, spider man, etc, as works of fiction. A visit to any library or bookstore will show you that. They aren’t in the same section.

Curious. Do you think all religious traditions fall into this category? Like the Gita in Hinduism which are also written by man but was supposedly divinely presented? How about a more modern belief system like Scientology? The Book of Mormon? Do any of those fall into the same category as leprechauns?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In elementary school I became interested in reading Greek and Roman myths, Iroquois myths, etc. and especially creation myths. At this time I also had to go to what was called religious instruction (Catholic). A light bulb went off and I've been an atheist ever since.

There is wisdom to be found in whatever religious doctrine, I just don't believe it's fact.

Lucky you -- my lightbulb didn't go off until I was an adult, despite a childhood with interests in Greek and Roman mythology and experience with Catholic religious instruction.

I often wonder why I didn't make the connection.

Perhaps because of the influence of adults' interpretations. Perhaps because of the idea of eternal life (available to good people, like me)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP & atheist.

I don't understand this. OP wants Atheists' POV on religion. When pointed out that (most) Atheists don't really see the Bible and God (or any other religious texts and its Gods) as any different than any other book and heroes/superheroes contained therein, goes on to argue that the equivalence just can't be made. But doesn't really explain why the hell not.

So, PP who is arguing about this: why can an equivalence not be made between one set of books written by man, and another? Because you (and others such as yourself) believe it to be special?

Because the world in general accepts the Bible as a religious text and the Harry Potter series, spider man, etc, as works of fiction. A visit to any library or bookstore will show you that. They aren’t in the same section.

Curious. Do you think all religious traditions fall into this category? Like the Gita in Hinduism which are also written by man but was supposedly divinely presented? How about a more modern belief system like Scientology? The Book of Mormon? Do any of those fall into the same category as leprechauns?

DP - yes, in that they are all made up.