Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

[Lucin]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

If you love someone, is that driven by ideology? Is there anything greater than love in life?

True.

My argument is a rational argument against rationalism. It has no further pretention, precisely because one does not change his/her overall attitude towards life based on an intellectual argument but rather after a spiritual shock induced by hard experience. A spiritual shock may arise from a discussion only if one stops reasoning from the outside but accepts to engage himself in it fully ("existentially"). Most often, this does not happen. The "atheist" sticks to the conceptual/intellectual plane where he sees his counterpart as a "theist", ie a proponent of an opposing "theory" (we have an illustration a bit above)

Maybe we should define 'life' in the first place as it is a quite vast concept. I'm not talking necessarily about 'changing' your attitude towards life but the one you hold currently, isn't it (at least part of it) inspired by your version of ideology?

Islam is neither racist nor can it in any way be confused with narcissism while todays zionists are unquestionably both...

I am not attributing those characteristics to Muslum individuals but the nature of Islam in general and its teachings, that is if you've read some Islamic texts and are familiar with the Law.

As for your dislike of Christianity, I must say Christianity is inherently attached to the Armenian soul, culture and being. It is being felt everywhere in Armenia and it's beautiful. Haven't you noticed that?

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

...this is about your inner self.

Luke 17:20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;
Luke 17:21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

"the kingdom of God is within you", potentially, that is, for the gate is "narrow".

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

If it's not a matter of choice then by your claim not everyone is capable of giving or receiving it.

It depends on the degree of maturity of the individual.

Not everyone is fortunate to be born into a loving environment

Maturity comes from experience and hardship. A loving environment is not always best suited for that.

that doesn't mean that they are incapable of learning

It is possible that we agree but I am not at ease with the wording. The way I understand "learning" is "acquiring knowledge". So in my view, it has to do with the intellect. But this is not about knowledge (information), this is about your inner self.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

You haven't read/understood my message so I'm not going to insist.
You don't understand Christ.

I will just add one last thing regarding love.

Maybe you do not love anyone. Maybe you do not love your parents (rather, you choose to "love" them) Yet if you do, the day they will pass away, you will understand that love is not a matter of "choice" as you put it.

Siggie has this interesting quote by Philip K. Dick in her signature:
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away."

If it's not a matter of choice then by your claim not everyone is capable of giving or receiving it. Not everyone is fortunate to be born into a loving environment, that doesn't mean that they are incapable of learning.

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

Christ taught how to love and be loved...

You haven't read/understood my message so I'm not going to insist.
You don't understand Christ.

I will just add one last thing regarding love.

Maybe you do not love anyone. Maybe you do not love your parents (rather, you choose to "love" them) Yet if you do, the day they will pass away, you will understand that love is not a matter of "choice" as you put it.

Siggie has this interesting quote by Philip K. Dick in her signature:
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away."

[KanadaHye]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

Then you don't believe in Christ. For if you were to believe in Christ, you would believe in love. For Christ is the perfect embodiment of love, the cross being its ultimate expression (self-sacrifice).

Christ taught how to love and be loved. There is no phenomenon known as "love" i.e. Cupid's arrow. In fact, the act of love entails so many actions and devotions that it simply cannot be described by a single word. Self-sacrifice begins with being unselfish and learning by making sacrifices for others so that their lives are filled with meaning.

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

I don't believe in "love"

Then you don't believe in Christ. For if you were to believe in Christ, you would believe in love. For Christ is the perfect embodiment of love, the cross being its ultimate expression (self-sacrifice).

Unselfishness is the foundation of Christianity in my opinion

Unselfishness could be supported by any philosophy/doctrine/teaching.
The moment you start thinking in terms of "christianism", religion, teachings..., you lose sight of Christ himself.

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

If you love someone, is that driven by ideology? Is there anything greater than love in life?

I don't believe in "love".... I believe you can choose to love or choose not to love, and allow yourself to be loved or not to be loved. Most selfish people choose to love themselves and live only for their own benefit. Unselfishness is the foundation of Christianity in my opinion. This involves everything from the decisions you make involving life right down to money matters.

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

how can our life not be driven by ideology

If you love someone, is that driven by ideology? Is there anything greater than love in life?

Even your talking about 'ideology' in here is ideological

My argument is a rational argument against rationalism. It has no further pretention, precisely because one does not change his/her overall attitude towards life based on an intellectual argument but rather after a spiritual shock induced by hard experience. A spiritual shock may arise from a discussion only if one stops reasoning from the outside but accepts to engage himself in it fully ("existentially"). Most often, this does not happen. The "atheist" sticks to the conceptual/intellectual plane where he sees his counterpart as a "theist", ie a proponent of an opposing "theory" (we have an illustration a bit above)

As to religions... I don't want delve into that debate now

I will just say this
A man of God is a man of God, be He jewish, christian, muslim, buddhist, "atheist"...

[Haykakan]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

Islam is neither racist nor can it in any way be confused with narcissism while todays zionists are unquestionably both. Islam can be accused of forcing itself down peoples throats but then again so is chrystianity. The three religions have a lot in common. People always fear something new and different thus they will claim that the spread of atheism, agnostocs or anything else different will doom the armenians but in reality such conclusions are simply a joke. Armenia existed and prospered long before chrystianity, as a matter of fact our best days as a nation happened while we were pegans not christians. Christianity did not make Armenia but one could argue that Armenia made christyanity by being the first nation to adopt it officialy. Religions thrive on taking credit for things they had nothing to do with and this is no different. Armenia existed and willl continue to exist regardless of christianity.