Flame — HabitableZone

Flame » in reply to re: Atheist

The problem - atheist or agnostic.
Bowser — (archived)

When I say I'm a "Believer", I could also say I'm an atheist in re the Old Testament "God".

The issue, it seems to me, is what is "God"? Paul Tillich, in "The Courage to Be" wrote that to understand "God" one had to forget the word. By the time one was 21 it had been so junked up by preachers, politicians and others saying "God bless you", and the teachings to children, people praying for parking spaces, and so on that one couldn't get through the linguistic nonsense to get to the idea of the Higher Power.

One has to ask if it's the Sky God, or "Santa Claus", keeping a list of who's right and wrong, doling out goodies to those He loves, or the First Creator, or exactly what one believes in.

While I classify myself as a "Believer", and I am, I do not believe in the First Testament God. Even a little bit. I do believe Jesus was in touch with that Higher Power, and was an absolutely great person who had "the answer".

I believe that Buddhists seek that Higher Power. And it seems to be the opposite of ego, at least absence of ego, along with it's accoutrements.

And I agree with Tillich - the work "God" leads to false expectations and beliefs.

Arf

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