Quote:
Originally Posted by Claeren
You are arguing for people (at the head of churches) to rationally change/evolve their moral stand on issues as the times and our understanding of those issues changes/evolves with the times.
THAT is atheism. Atheists still ave morality, it is just based on logic and reason instead of doctrine, 'faith', and superstition.
IF the church changed over time then only one generation could be correct in their faith and all others would have believed the wrong thing (and thus be banished to hell or not have their souls saved or whatever). So in this case, if in 600AD or 1200AD or 1800AD the 9yr old was at fault and the father-rapist was not at fault than that is how it has to be today. NO EXCEPTIONS. It is either the word of god or it is not. You fdon't get to change it just because it becomes uncomfortable and antiquated. Luckily a lot of us have realized the one rational thing to do is get out of it all together and just be a rationally thinking individual (atheist).
Claeren.
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Good points.
However, the Bible itself is full of contradictions, and if you will, signs of change in mentality. God is wrathful, vengeful, petty (look at the story of Job) and very rule based, essentially, very human, in the old testament. Then, in the New Testament, its all about love, tolerance, forgiveness, self-sacrifice. He sacrifices his own son for the sake of humanity. Jesus replaces the Ten Commandments with one overriding rule, love thy neighbor. Does that not constitute a serious dogmatic change? God changed over time, why can't the church?
By strict definition, that isn't atheism though, what I am arguing is more agnostic theism. Atheism is by definition the absence of faith. It says there's no god, and all belief systems are wrong. Agnostic theism is the belief that the existing religions can and may likely be horribly misguided, because there is too much uncertainty. Thus, a degree of rational thought is required to bridge faith and reality. Nothing says there isn't a God, simply that we know too little to be sure, and if there is a God, such hypocrisy, contradiction and hatred that has been demonstrated by some of these churches must be wrong.