Do poly atheists know the Bible?

[Kidlicious]

In this case the "forest" (eg. God's will) it's an intangible, unknowable thing. So missing it is only natural. What is tangible though is that the source telling us to believe in this intangible, unknowable thing is displaying certain types of ignorance (complete disregard for anyone who isn't a rich male) that makes me very much less inclined to view them as authorities on morality. It's like listening to Rush Limbaugh tell you to trust him about what's moral, even though he's clearly in the wrong about women, minorities and many other things.

I here things like "women are treated like doormats" etc a lot. Really? Or is that just a perspective because I don't see it. They simply did not feel the need to avoid offending women at all costs back then. I don't see any reason why that should have anything to do with the truth of the message.

[Kidlicious]

In this case the "forest" (eg. God's will) it's an intangible, unknowable thing. So missing it is only natural. What is tangible though is that the source telling us to believe in this intangible, unknowable thing is displaying certain types of ignorance (complete disregard for anyone who isn't a rich male) that makes me very much less inclined to view them as authorities on morality. It's like listening to Rush Limbaugh tell you to trust him about what's moral, even though he's clearly in the wrong about women, minorities and many other things.

I hear things like "women are treated like doormats" etc a lot. Really? Or is that just a perspective because I don't see it. They simply did not feel the need to avoid offending women at all costs back then. I don't see any reason why that should have anything to do with the truth of the message.

[Ban Kenobi]

So you assume these things but you understand that there has to be a reason for them, right? Or not?

A reason the universe exists? No.

You believe they even knew what Stockholm Syndrom was back then? How can the author talk about something he didn't know about?

No, I offered it as a blindingly obvious example of how someone can be bullied by someone else and not even realize or acknowledge it. And there is no reason to assume the author realized his attitude toward his god is similar.

[Kidlicious]

A reason the universe exists? No.

More specifically that reason exists outside of the human mind. Why would it just exist in the human mind? Why didn't it exist bdfore we got here? Will it be forever gone after we stop existing?

No, I offered it as a blindingly obvious example of how someone can be bullied by someone else and not even realize or acknowledge it. And there is no reason to assume the author realized his attitude toward his god is similar.

It certainly matters if the author intended you to believe that Job had Stockholm Syndrome or not. Follow the ball here. We are talking about the intended meaning of the work and wether or not you understand it. So far you don't.

[Ban Kenobi]

More specifically that reason exists outside of the human mind. Why would it just exist in the human mind? Why didn't it exist bdfore we got here? Will it be forever gone after we stop existing?

It could exist in the minds of aliens, if they exist at all. Reason requires the capacity to think, so before anything that could think existed, the capacity to use reason did not exist either.

It certainly matters if the author intended you to believe that Job had Stockholm Syndrome or not. Follow the ball here. We are talking about the intended meaning of the work and wether or not you understand it. So far you don't.

I am claiming the author's attitudes are analogous to Stockholm Syndrome. As for the intended meaning of the work, that is certainly a matter of opinion, since we don't even know who wrote it.

[Kidlicious]

It could exist in the minds of aliens, if they exist at all. Reason requires the capacity to think, so before anything that could think existed, the capacity to use reason did not exist either.

So reason is just thinking? I thought it was clear that I was talking about something else. Indeed thinking exists.

I am claiming the author's attitudes are analogous to Stockholm Syndrome. As for the intended meaning of the work, that is certainly a matter of opinion, since we don't even know who wrote it.

Well believing that the author intended to say that God is a bully should be the wrong answer on a quiz and you should know that you don't have a good understanding of the Bible

[Ban Kenobi]

So reason is just thinking? I thought it was clear that I was talking about something else. Indeed thinking exists.

Of course it is. That's the definition you'll find in the dictionary.

rea·son [ree-zuhn]

noun 1. a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc.: the reason for declaring war.
2. a statement presented in justification or explanation of a belief or action.
3. the mental powers concerned with forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences.
4. sound judgment; good sense.
5. normal or sound powers of mind; sanity.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/reason

How the heck is it clear that you were talking about something other than thinking?

Well believing that the author intended to say that God is a bully should be the wrong answer on a quiz and you should know that you don't have a good understanding of the Bible

It's very unlikely that the author intended that. Where did I say he did? I offered my assessment of the facts laid out in the story. You asked for an "informed interpretation", not "the author's intended interpretation". It's clear from the story that the god the author worships is a bully whether he admits it or not.

[Kidlicious]

Opinions are like *******s, everyone has one.

Are triangles real or just idea? How can a triangle just be the result of thinking yet they don't exist in the physical world?

[Ban Kenobi]

How can Harry Potter be the result of thinking without existing in the physical world?

[Kidlicious]

How can Harry Potter be the result of thinking without existing in the physical world?

Clearly Harry Potter only exists if we imagine him. Aliens in some other universe wouldn't think of him but they would think about triangles so there is a difference. Triangles are a truth.

[Ban Kenobi]

Good luck proving triangles are real and not just a concept people came up with.

[Kidlicious]

Good luck proving triangles are real and not just a concept people came up with.

I don't need to prove it. It's as obvious as anything else is.

[Ban Kenobi]

Triangles aren't real. They're just a mental abstraction.

[Kidlicious]

If human beings became extinct and another species evolved to our level they would know about triangles. Triangles never stop ecisting because they are not part of the physical world, yet they exist.

[Ban Kenobi]

Even if another species did have polygons with the same definitions as ours it wouldn't demonstrate that they weren't simply coming up with the same mental abstractions.