Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
I think it's important to clarify my position here.
My position in this thread has always been that those people who use their own religious existentialism to unduly or unjustly influence the lives of others are nuts. Not people who talk to god in the trees, or see love in the world or who, like Rathji said, say prayers and 'hear' answers...My position and comments are still in relation to zealots.
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I get that, but I take issue with the equation of all "gnostic theists" with "zealots". This is really where this part of the discussion began, and my contributions have been meant to illustrate
how people quite naturally develop a certainty in the existence of God that absolutely does not require some form of "mental deficiency" (to use your words). There are many gnostic theists, and most of them are not psychologically unbalanced; most of them are not zealots.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
Yes, Textcritic, without having met your mother in law, speaking to her or knowing any more than what you've said, I would conclude that she was nutty. I wouldn't conclude that she was a bad person, malicious in intent or a pariah in her community, and it wouldn't prevent me from engaging in social activities with her. I'd still think she was nutty, though.
Why these two statements can't be accepted as any other kind of value judgement I would make about her, I don't understand. Like I said previously, if I was talking to the moon and getting advice from Jupiter, you'd probably think I was a bit nutty, but it wouldn't prevent me from being a genuinely good person.
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Is "nutty" the same as being "mentally deficient"? I also think my mother-in-law is nutty, but its more in line with being eccentric.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
If I interpret Leviticus 19:28 to be literal and take it upon myself to punish those violating the will of God, I would be a zealot and should be treated as such.
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Agreed. But most people whom I would classify as gnostic theists do not fit this description. Most people who interpret Lev 19:28 literally do not take it upon themselves to punish anyone for violating God's law. Gnostic theists are not all zealots, according to your definition.