Originally posted by FMF
It is you who makes extraordinary and specific claims about immortality and supposed instructions from "God", not me. The onus regarding evidence for things such as these is therefore on you, not me. And it is - of course - your right to just cop out over and over again ~ as you did with your claim that torture for eternity for thoughtcrimes was "perfect justice" ~ by offering variations on the theme of because-sonship-thinks-so, as is the case now with this.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, you quote this specific claim:
"I am a snake, not an apple. What does that mean? Well, our civilization - the Judeo-Christian - in its founding myth portrayed the deliverer of knowledge as the source of evil - the devil - and the loss of innocence as a catastrophe. This probably had less to do with religion than with the standard desire of those in authority to control those who are not." ~ John Ralston Saul 'The Unconscious Civilization'.
If you agree with John Ralston Saul, then some burden falls on you according to your own criteria.
The claim may not be about "immortality and supposed instructions ... etc." but they are your claims. That is unless you want to say all the burden conveniently falls on John Ralston Saul.
... the controlling and withholding of knowledge creates power for some, and the gaining of 'proscribed' knowledge can create danger for others.
Absolutely no burden on you ? All burden falls on me ?
That's strangely jury rigged to protect you from responsibility from anything except to assert your opinion.
More specific claims:
While followers of the Abrahamic religions may have incorporated the metaphor into their traditions and given it a supernatural edge, surely the knowledge-authority thing is in fact merely an inevitable upshot of the human condition and of the relationships and interactions between people?
Just nod "Yes, whatever you say FMF" ?
So I make a somewhat peripheral comment, which I probably shouldn't have addressed to you personally and suddenly all burden is on me:
It is you who makes extraordinary and specific claims about immortality and supposed instructions from "God", not me.
No onus regarding evidence need be provided by you. I suppose you could hide behind telling me to go off and read John Paul Ralston's book.
And it is - of course - your right to just cop out over and over again ~ as you did with your claim that torture for eternity for thoughtcrimes was "perfect justice"
I don't recall opting out of such a discussion. I recall having the right not to argue perpetually with someone. Some people regard it as significant that a argument not be indefinitely held with no final word from one side. I am not sure exactly what it is suppose to prove that one guy writes the last post and another decides enough time has been spent.
As I am recalling the four of five threads (or more) concerning God's eternal judgment I don't recall feeling the need to speak further. If that comes over as "opting out" to you, that's ok with me.
~ by offering variations on the theme of because-sonship-thinks-so, as is the case now with this.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think more than once I said "It is my opinion". And I still would say it. I don't think human wisdom alone is responsible for the writing of the book of
Genesis. And I presented one item of evidence.
Evidence is not persuasion.
Might not the snake & apple metaphor have been the product of minds seeking to consolidate earthly power and might not the religious trappings have merely been a means of ensuring that the exercise of that power was perceived with deadly seriousness and - most importantly - conformity and obedience?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think so. But suspicion really knows no end if one if overly paranoid about the Bible.
Snakes/Apples
09 Aug '15 20:411 edit
Back to Top