Finally! a 'definition' of god that I understand.

I like Bags' science posts, too. I think she should stick to science. And 'the God particle' doesn't imply God is a particle, while 'He's an inert gas-bag' sounds quite derogatory.

"Finally there's a definition of God that I understand. He's an inert gas bag"

And you really can't see that that is offensive to believers?



I don't believe you!

I think Bags needs to broaden her reading material.

A Humanist, yes, but I see absolutely no point in trying to persuade believers to abandon their convictions. I'm content to state my position and leave it at that. Why bother to bait people who are contented with their illusions beliefs?

Nelliemoser* Actually, it's journalists, not physicists who use the term "god particle". Apparently, the latter rather dislike it because it's a silly term.

Re petallus last post, I guess if the god idea is not a "cherished being" but something else much less easily defined, then it is difficult if not impossible to insult. In which case, I agree.

Re jings pokey post (aren't they all? ), I understand that you say it is offensive which means, presumably, that you think it offensive or think others will find it so. I don't agree that it is in the least bit offensive. It's just an unusual way of thinking about something. To me it was a very useful way of thinking about something. As I said later in the thread, I found a certain calm in it.

I'm sorry that you or anyone found it offensive but that really has nothing to do with me. The being offended is to do with your interpretation, not mine. It occurred to me that it wouldn't have the same appeal to everyone, but what does? Does anything?

Once again, the fact that someone might find something offensive is not a reason for not saying it.

anno, quite. And suggesting that 'complainers' are 'whingeing' and/or being 'po-faced' sounds rather defensive. It seems that no objections to the OP are acceptable unless they express appreciation of the 'inert gasbag' concept and accept the possibility that their beliefs are 'illusions'. Which some are quite understandably not about to do...

Just to be annoying (why else? [sarc]), I'm going to start another thread with quotes from atheists.

I'm going to put it in the religion and spirituality forum because atheism is inextricably linked with religion and because there isn't an atheism forum.

Anyone who dislikes atheist thoughts can leave it alone or join in as they see fit, but they shouldn't be surprised if there is stuff in it they don't like, just as atheists aren't surprised when they come across religious stuff they don't like.

Wrong, ana. I have only objected to the posts which say the OP is offensive and that it shouldn't have been said. And yes, you can call that defensive – of free speech.

lily, I didn't say your god (or any god) was an inert gasbag. I said that god as an inert gasbag was a definition of god that I understood.

Told you some people didn't get it.

People have taken an idea personally. If they'd just looked at the idea and thought huh! daft! instead of thinking it referred to their "cherished being", they wouldn't be offended, just as I'm not offended by the cherished beings. I just think huh! daft!

Im short, it's not personal. Why make it so?

Why are you so cross that they don't? Why not just leave this thread if it's not gone the way you wanted it to?

I,m not in the least bit cross. I'm enjoying myself.

Intellectual exercise.

Logical argument for its own sake.

Oh well, that's all right then.

Yawn...

"And you really can't see that that is offensive to believers?"

That's up to them... nobody has a right not to be offended - and
it takes two to tango; there is no offense until someone decides to take offence...

Yawn back, ana. Have you said anything interesting that I missed?

I have just looked again at the quote referred to in the original post.

Nowhere is there any mention of any God. The language is reminiscent of that used in sermons or religious tracts, but also of that used in those inspirational talks given in hotel conference rooms by successful business men.

Anyone who inserted their own God into it did so out of their own minds. Someone was talking in a previous thread about setting up straw men to knock down. This is another invented cause for a fight.

Now I'm off to watch Lewis.

Sleep well.

Oh Bags, you're so patronising witty...

I , as a Christian, am not in least bit offended.
Taken objectively, it is in fact a very witty definition!
Keep it up Bags.i for one enjoy your posts.

Thanks, galen. I value your opinion, and that of all the other interesting posters on this and other threads.

The snipers come with the territory, I guess. Hey ho.

It's good to be challenged though. I enjoy that.

Elegranit is true that the quote does not mention God but Bags does in the OP.

Anyway, doesn't the quote refer to Allah as it comes from Pakistani Atheists?

And the phrase 'inert gasbag' was from a poster who commented further down.

Incidentally I thought the poem was quite beautiful, the inert gasbag remark funny but also disrespectful to believers in Allah.