These two statements directly contradict eachother. Either you think of Reality as a god, or you do not. If you don’t think reality is a god, then you don’t think “he” is a god (wow, the tautology was weird to type).
Also, there are many examples of religious people who don’t think reality is a god. Deists, for example, believe that god showed up, made the universe, and left. Under that belief system, the deist god and the universe it created are two entirely separate things.
There’s also pantheons, where gods exist within their own higher reality with their own set of rules, limitations and powers that interact with our reality. Reality (either ours or the supernatural plane in these belief systems) are clearly separate from the gods operating under these rules.
People are perfectly capable of worshipping, praying to, and generally being religious towards someone they refuse to believe is a god.
What’s your opinion on people who do neither? That don’t believe in a god and don’t pray to anything either?
I said this to them above- I honestly cannot think of a way to define ‘reality’ as a god. The universe? Fine, that’s pantheism. But reality is an aspect of the universe, it isn’t the universe itself. Reality is just what we think is true. Truth is a god?
There are plenty of new age wuwu types that do define reality as a god. If I thought they had any legitimacy I wouldn’t be an atheist, but the core idea is that we essentially exist as constructs within the imagination of this god.
If we put what we think is true up on a pedestal, and say it cannot be challenged, and all must have faith in it under threat of violence, is that not exactly the way we treat gods?
These two statements directly contradict eachother. Either you think of Reality as a god, or you do not. If you don’t think reality is a god, then you don’t think “he” is a god (wow, the tautology was weird to type).
Also, there are many examples of religious people who don’t think reality is a god. Deists, for example, believe that god showed up, made the universe, and left. Under that belief system, the deist god and the universe it created are two entirely separate things.
There’s also pantheons, where gods exist within their own higher reality with their own set of rules, limitations and powers that interact with our reality. Reality (either ours or the supernatural plane in these belief systems) are clearly separate from the gods operating under these rules.
What’s your opinion on people who do neither? That don’t believe in a god and don’t pray to anything either?
I said this to them above- I honestly cannot think of a way to define ‘reality’ as a god. The universe? Fine, that’s pantheism. But reality is an aspect of the universe, it isn’t the universe itself. Reality is just what we think is true. Truth is a god?
There are plenty of new age wuwu types that do define reality as a god. If I thought they had any legitimacy I wouldn’t be an atheist, but the core idea is that we essentially exist as constructs within the imagination of this god.
So basically simulation theory without the computer. Or I guess solipsism, but you’re not the one who exists.
If we put what we think is true up on a pedestal, and say it cannot be challenged, and all must have faith in it under threat of violence, is that not exactly the way we treat gods?
I treat all my garbage the same. That doesn’t mean I think a banana peel is a piece of junk mail.
Also-
Dude, crazy people wander the streets without being touched.
They don’t contradict. There’s a subtle difference, which is whether it’s conscious.
Take Donald Trump worshippers, for example. They think he’s a god, but they won’t admit it, even to themselves.
Sorry, I edited in the stuff about deists and pantheons as you were responding. What’s your opinion on that?