Comments on: The God Delusion http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/01/the-god-delusion/ Personal Development for Polymaths Wed, 16 May 2012 19:19:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Online Gratitude Journal January 2010 Edition #37 | Real Life Spirituality http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/01/the-god-delusion/comment-page-1/#comment-42385 Online Gratitude Journal January 2010 Edition #37 | Real Life Spirituality Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:12:55 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1829#comment-42385 [...] sure to check the book review of the controversial The God Delusion, by my friend Hunter Nuttall. I think the discussion in the comment section is very interesting, [...] [...] sure to check the book review of the controversial The God Delusion, by my friend Hunter Nuttall. I think the discussion in the comment section is very interesting, [...]

]]> By: The God Delusion - a discussion http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/01/the-god-delusion/comment-page-1/#comment-39237 The God Delusion - a discussion Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:39:16 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1829#comment-39237 [...] God Delusion - a discussion I wrote this comment on a blog discussing Dawkin's "The God Delusion". I thought these were some interesting thoughts on atheism as a context I could share. Enjoy and [...] [...] God Delusion – a discussion I wrote this comment on a blog discussing Dawkin's "The God Delusion". I thought these were some interesting thoughts on atheism as a context I could share. Enjoy and [...]

]]> By: Andrew http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/01/the-god-delusion/comment-page-1/#comment-39233 Andrew Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:33:18 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1829#comment-39233 Hi, I found you through Akemi's blog :D I used to be an atheist, and I think atheism is a great mindset. I think most people who believe in God could do with questioning their cultural conditioning more, perhaps. Most atheists I've known have seemed to me to be more conscious than the mainstream, if only for their slightly marginalised status which helps them seperate themselves from the collective insanity. (Minority groups are often more interesting to me, for that reason. The challenge of being different in a world that demonises difference is a great way of waking up and putting some soul in a person). However, I believe in God now - and actually, the evidence I've been shown I could consider "scientific". But I wouldn't want to argue about it, because I think this is a very touchy point, and if someone is really interested they should come with humble curiosity rather than the attitude of needing to defend their viewpoints or automatically assuming that a believer is the same as this idea of believer they have in their head. I intend to write a blog post detailing my view on God one of these days, though :) I feel that Dawkins is a warrior and maybe he could do with chilling out. But it was interesting to read how you thought this book was constructive. I flipped through it once but it didn't catch my interest. I don't need to debate this stuff. If I get into a debate, it's "me vs. you" and no-one really exchanges ideas or information, they just work out better and better ways of defending and attacking based on the viewpoint they are predisposed to having. BEFORE debating, perhaps, they've been open to real exchange of ideas and information. But while they are doing it? Brick wall. Well, thanks for getting me to think. I like all this stuff I wrote and I'll post it in the Steve Pavlina forums to get some more juice out of it, if you don't mind :) Warm regards - I'll be following you with RSS Andrew Hi, I found you through Akemi’s blog :D

I used to be an atheist, and I think atheism is a great mindset. I think most people who believe in God could do with questioning their cultural conditioning more, perhaps. Most atheists I’ve known have seemed to me to be more conscious than the mainstream, if only for their slightly marginalised status which helps them seperate themselves from the collective insanity. (Minority groups are often more interesting to me, for that reason. The challenge of being different in a world that demonises difference is a great way of waking up and putting some soul in a person).

However, I believe in God now – and actually, the evidence I’ve been shown I could consider “scientific”. But I wouldn’t want to argue about it, because I think this is a very touchy point, and if someone is really interested they should come with humble curiosity rather than the attitude of needing to defend their viewpoints or automatically assuming that a believer is the same as this idea of believer they have in their head.

I intend to write a blog post detailing my view on God one of these days, though :)

I feel that Dawkins is a warrior and maybe he could do with chilling out. But it was interesting to read how you thought this book was constructive. I flipped through it once but it didn’t catch my interest. I don’t need to debate this stuff. If I get into a debate, it’s “me vs. you” and no-one really exchanges ideas or information, they just work out better and better ways of defending and attacking based on the viewpoint they are predisposed to having. BEFORE debating, perhaps, they’ve been open to real exchange of ideas and information. But while they are doing it? Brick wall.

Well, thanks for getting me to think. I like all this stuff I wrote and I’ll post it in the Steve Pavlina forums to get some more juice out of it, if you don’t mind :)

Warm regards – I’ll be following you with RSS

Andrew

]]> By: Online Gratitude Journal January 2010 Edition #37 | Yes to Me http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/01/the-god-delusion/comment-page-1/#comment-39028 Online Gratitude Journal January 2010 Edition #37 | Yes to Me Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:02:51 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1829#comment-39028 [...] sure to check the book review of the controversial The God Delusion, by my friend Hunter Nuttall. I think the discussion in the comment section is very interesting, [...] [...] sure to check the book review of the controversial The God Delusion, by my friend Hunter Nuttall. I think the discussion in the comment section is very interesting, [...]

]]> By: Nick http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/01/the-god-delusion/comment-page-1/#comment-38336 Nick Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:32:02 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1829#comment-38336 "Respect those who seek the truth, fear those who have found it". Dawkins and others are right to point out the destructive consequences of rigid religious beliefs. What they fail to mention, and what the history of the last century has clearly taught us, is that when atheism is elevated to an official dogma, it becomes just as destructive, as it did in the Soviet Union under Stalin, or Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge, or North Korea to this day. Honest questioning of religious assumptions is healthy, but total rejection of all belief only leads to other forms of extremism. “Respect those who seek the truth, fear those who have found it”. Dawkins and others are right to point out the destructive consequences of rigid religious beliefs. What they fail to mention, and what the history of the last century has clearly taught us, is that when atheism is elevated to an official dogma, it becomes just as destructive, as it did in the Soviet Union under Stalin, or Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge, or North Korea to this day. Honest questioning of religious assumptions is healthy, but total rejection of all belief only leads to other forms of extremism.

]]> By: Brian James Price http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/01/the-god-delusion/comment-page-1/#comment-38071 Brian James Price Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:07:30 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1829#comment-38071 First I must separate my spiritual experience from religion. Religion is always a groups interpretation at a period of time. Spirituality is my one on one experience with my Creator. I like the simple approach. Ask the obvious. I knew I was on the right track when any instructor in any course told me I asked to many questions, the chink in their armor. When in religion class I asked why all the leaders wore robes and didn't dress like us? They said "Because it is how Jesus dressed." Like an idiot I responded "Yeah but everybody wore robes back then." I wasn't invited back. So, here's how I see it. I don't understand my Creator but my creator knows His creation and LOVES it just as any inventor, designer, songwriter, engineer, artist, chef, parent loves their creation. Imagine creating something (Man) that is allowed to make a "Choice" to love you (the creator) freely. My Creator desires me, to show me what I am capable of and all I have to do is ask Him to show me and He has. A computer with access to it's developer and able ask "Why do I feel, do or want these things?" and an answer comes. The other area of conflict for me has been miracles outside of me? Evil removed from an environment that shook many people. Unexplainable phenomenon! First I must separate my spiritual experience from religion. Religion is always a groups interpretation at a period of time. Spirituality is my one on one experience with my Creator.
I like the simple approach. Ask the obvious. I knew I was on the right track when any instructor in any course told me I asked to many questions, the chink in their armor. When in religion class I asked why all the leaders wore robes and didn’t dress like us? They said “Because it is how Jesus dressed.” Like an idiot I responded “Yeah but everybody wore robes back then.” I wasn’t invited back.
So, here’s how I see it. I don’t understand my Creator but my creator knows His creation and LOVES it just as any inventor, designer, songwriter, engineer, artist, chef, parent loves their creation. Imagine creating something (Man) that is allowed to make a “Choice” to love you (the creator) freely. My Creator desires me, to show me what I am capable of and all I have to do is ask Him to show me and He has. A computer with access to it’s developer and able ask “Why do I feel, do or want these things?” and an answer comes.
The other area of conflict for me has been miracles outside of me? Evil removed from an environment that shook many people. Unexplainable phenomenon!

]]> By: Chad @ sentient money http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/01/the-god-delusion/comment-page-1/#comment-37882 Chad @ sentient money Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:33:50 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1829#comment-37882 Jennifer, what you describe is why I dislike all organized religion, but is by no means why I don't believe in a god. Jennifer, what you describe is why I dislike all organized religion, but is by no means why I don’t believe in a god.

]]> By: Andrew http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/01/the-god-delusion/comment-page-1/#comment-37784 Andrew Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:51:05 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1829#comment-37784 Lowell, that's very true, an atheist who decides there cannot be any evidence is clearly in the wrong, just as a believer who refuses to accept the flaws in evidence and sees everything that happens as further evidence. I think most of the prominent atheists, Dawkins, Hitchens, et. al. are interested in truth more than in atheism itself. Lowell, that’s very true, an atheist who decides there cannot be any evidence is clearly in the wrong, just as a believer who refuses to accept the flaws in evidence and sees everything that happens as further evidence. I think most of the prominent atheists, Dawkins, Hitchens, et. al. are interested in truth more than in atheism itself.

]]> By: Jennifer http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/01/the-god-delusion/comment-page-1/#comment-37782 Jennifer Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:01:26 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1829#comment-37782 I think it is sad that so many people blame "God" for the actions and definitions laid out by the people who claim to follow and represent "God". I can no longer define myself as a "Christian" because I don't agree with much of the doctrine however I attend a Christian church because I love what my church stands for and the work that we do (this is an open and affirming church). As a volunteer escort at an abortion clinic I stand before "Christians" all of the time who threaten my life and go against everything I stand for as a spiritual being. However, I would never equate them with God and transfer that anger to my creator. I believe for many people these kinds of Christians end up as the representation of "God/The Source/The Divine etc. I am just as frustrated as my Atheist friends and despise all of the same things about Christianity as they do but I do not translate this to being a good reason to hate God. Not to mention the religions mentioned are all the same God. Judaism/Christianity/Islam are all referring to the God of the Torrah. This book would only be reviewing God in this form. I don't believe that faith is necessary in a persons life in order for them to be a good and moral person. All of my Atheist friends inhabit all of these wonderful characteristics and I love them dearly. However, I find that there is a little something extra from having alignment in your mind, body and spirit. A little something wonderful that makes life so amazing. It is almost indescribable. I do not say that a person is wrong to not want to have a spiritual life, but I do believe that if they find this alignment that they will find the proof that they are looking for. Yet I would never fault or criticize them for not doing so in this lifetime. I think it is sad that so many people blame “God” for the actions and definitions laid out by the people who claim to follow and represent “God”. I can no longer define myself as a “Christian” because I don’t agree with much of the doctrine however I attend a Christian church because I love what my church stands for and the work that we do (this is an open and affirming church). As a volunteer escort at an abortion clinic I stand before “Christians” all of the time who threaten my life and go against everything I stand for as a spiritual being. However, I would never equate them with God and transfer that anger to my creator.

I believe for many people these kinds of Christians end up as the representation of “God/The Source/The Divine etc. I am just as frustrated as my Atheist friends and despise all of the same things about Christianity as they do but I do not translate this to being a good reason to hate God. Not to mention the religions mentioned are all the same God. Judaism/Christianity/Islam are all referring to the God of the Torrah. This book would only be reviewing God in this form.

I don’t believe that faith is necessary in a persons life in order for them to be a good and moral person. All of my Atheist friends inhabit all of these wonderful characteristics and I love them dearly. However, I find that there is a little something extra from having alignment in your mind, body and spirit. A little something wonderful that makes life so amazing. It is almost indescribable. I do not say that a person is wrong to not want to have a spiritual life, but I do believe that if they find this alignment that they will find the proof that they are looking for. Yet I would never fault or criticize them for not doing so in this lifetime.

]]> By: Lowell http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/01/the-god-delusion/comment-page-1/#comment-37737 Lowell Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:28:10 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1829#comment-37737 For someone who doesn't want to believe in God, there is no proof that ever could possibly convince him or her that God is real (the same, of course, can be said for someone who wants to believe there is a God.) We believe what we want to believe, regardless of evidence. For someone who doesn’t want to believe in God, there is no proof that ever could possibly convince him or her that God is real (the same, of course, can be said for someone who wants to believe there is a God.) We believe what we want to believe, regardless of evidence.

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