My chicken is baking and I felt like writing this stuff out I am very mentally active this morning
I am comfortable making the positive claim that no gods I have ever heard or read about exist. This includes but is not limited to: the abrahamic, hindu, norse, greek, egyptian, Polynesian, native, and other assorted deities.
Reality doesn't line up with what we would expect if any of these gods existed.
I am not making any more of a leap saying gods don't exist than I am by saying vampires don't exist...though they're actually more likely to be real than gods. Their lore is more consistent. Same thing with mermaids and aliens.
There's also a point to be made about how the very definition of a god is up for debate. For example, some people worship nature gods. I would say anything that can be harmed or affected by human actions is not a god at all.
There's a whole debate to be had with the new age religious folk that's rarely talked about because everyone is too busy trying disprove the abrahamic deity. IMHO yhwh is child's play. The only reason it sticks so strongly is childhood indoctrination and predation on the desperate and lonely.
The way to combat theism of all types IMHO is to embrace community and offer a space to be together in a similar way to Christian fellowship meetings. As we focus on meeting the needs of people in our communities and building those networks, people will naturally abandon religion. Look at places where this has already happened and you'll see what I mean.
I think this is why the American political system loves war and fear and division and why as those things get worse we are being driven to theocracy. It's like I'm watching a similar dystopia as V for Vendetta or the Handmaids Tale unfold right before my eyes.
So be nice to people.
Reality doesn't line up with what we would expect if any of these gods existed.
I am not making any more of a leap saying gods don't exist than I am by saying vampires don't exist...though they're actually more likely to be real than gods. Their lore is more consistent. Same thing with mermaids and aliens.
There's also a point to be made about how the very definition of a god is up for debate. For example, some people worship nature gods. I would say anything that can be harmed or affected by human actions is not a god at all.
There's a whole debate to be had with the new age religious folk that's rarely talked about because everyone is too busy trying disprove the abrahamic deity. IMHO yhwh is child's play. The only reason it sticks so strongly is childhood indoctrination and predation on the desperate and lonely.
The way to combat theism of all types IMHO is to embrace community and offer a space to be together in a similar way to Christian fellowship meetings. As we focus on meeting the needs of people in our communities and building those networks, people will naturally abandon religion. Look at places where this has already happened and you'll see what I mean.
I think this is why the American political system loves war and fear and division and why as those things get worse we are being driven to theocracy. It's like I'm watching a similar dystopia as V for Vendetta or the Handmaids Tale unfold right before my eyes.
So be nice to people.