Curtis, as jr. says, you guys say there is no God. Its not like it is ambiguous. I like what Edg had to say about it - God equals awareness. I'd go along with that definition, completely. So, can you say you have no awareness, or is this a big bluster, of being an atheist, against the bankrupt cultural God we all dismissed in 4th grade, or so, the old guy with the beard who sits in judgment - That guy. Forget about him - what do you say about Edg's simple association, that God is awareness?
That is my God too, 24x7. As for assumptions, I don't make them about God - it is more like a reporting of instantaneous experience. The nervous system changes, as enlightenment progresses. There are no longer previous deep and unknown impressions, to fuel the "subconscious", as it is known in waking state. Everything is as fresh as a daisy, rejuvenating itself, moment by moment. There is no need for undue doubt or speculation, or fantasy, or imagination, regarding God. Nothing to hold onto, at all - In fact what could be more absurd than trying to hold onto God?? I give prayers for thanks, when necessary, or seek comfort directly, or am struck with awe, at the wonder of God's creation, but, I don't think about God abstractly, much at all. It just doesn't come up. PS Here's a picture of God. Just caught her in the yard, as the sun was setting. :-) ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <curtisdeltablues@...> wrote : --In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <fleetwood_macncheese@...> wrote : I don't believe in the God, that the atheists don't believe in, either. Who the fuck would want to? Theirs is a cultural God, or philosophical God, or logical God. The atheists must define, that which they do not believe in, and I agree, I do not believe in any of the Gods or gods, that they do not believe in, too. The God I know, is unknown to them, they cannot define the God I know, and wouldn't have a clue where to begin. Now, THAT'S funny. M: That seems a bit assumptive. How could you know if the God you claim to experience is unknown to them. Perhaps they had similar experiences and have come to different conclusions about the meaning of them? You are perhaps giving your subjective experience undue epistemological weight, a condition that some cognitive psychologists would argue is one of our most glaring cognitive gaps. Atheists do not have to define what they do not believe in. They take the definitions from the believers and find them wanting. Yours included, to the degree that you have spelled out what it is. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <steve.sundur@...> wrote : As it is with most of us Ann. Even when there is a scientific explanation behind it. And there is a sliding scale among everyone here of the belief in God. Barry, of course believes in most of the tenants of theism, but just doesn't use the word "God" He prefers the word "Intelligence" so he can get a card that states, "I am a Atheist" He treasures that card, because it goes along with his self proclaimed label as, "rebel". But scratch beneath the surface, and he'd have some explaining to do. But don't expect him to be pressed by anyone in his clique. Oh, gawd, no. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <awoelflebater@...> wrote : Everything is a mystery. What people think and why they think it is mysterious. How I can put one foot in front of the other is a mystery, even if someone thinks they can explain the mechanics of it there remain at least 50 mysteries within that act alone. The biggest mystery being what is motivating the desire to put one foot in front of the other. My life is nothing but mystery, I have enough mystery to keep me busy for 1000 lifetimes so don't start claiming that those who have opinions about something lack the capacity to embrace mystery because to do so is to fall into the very trap you are claiming others are already floundering in. I mean, you're the guy who requires the rigid scientific methods to strip down every mystery. You're the one who can't seem to abide something if it isn't clearly documented and disassembled right down to the boring nitty gritty. So don't talk to me about "mystery".
