*"1. weak atheism: an absence of belief regarding gods and goddesses (as among most Buddhists)."*
*"7. weak theism: a position which accepts the intervention of one or more gods or goddesses, but which does not require theistic explanations of everything, e.g., biological origins. This view is probably closest to my own. Thus, I accept evolution, not theistic evolution.*" That seems to describe my current understanding of how the universe works. I've been getting out of the habit of praying for something supernatural to intervene in my life and other human affairs, and just be glad for the good things that happen and try to cope with the bad things that happen, and work to change things for the better. If those efforts are rewarded by positive results, then that is fantastic. But if they are not, then at least I can say I tried. I won't have to fight the urge to be angry at some god for not fulfilling my life's mission, nor will I have to feel as if it is time to get religious because someone threw me a bone. I do, however, accept the proposition that sometimes supernatural occurrences do happen. But I don't chalk it up to a theory in which a deity is on the particular 'side' of any one group of people, and is working 'through' them for Its success in this world. I guess my current way of viewing spirituality is one in which it is possible for people to 'align' themselves to be in 'harmony' with the universe, and that gives people a possibility (not a definite 'yes') to attract what they want and need into their lives. It is apathetic toward which 'god' is 'the right god', because every group of people thinks when they pray to their god, their prayers are answered. So, how is only one 'god' true, when all people claim their prayers are being answered by separate and conflicting ideologies? That is why I now think that it has nothing to do with believing in the 'right god', but about aligning one's self into harmony with the universe....Or it's just a coincidence and the atheists are right. :-) On Sat, Aug 2, 2008 at 7:34 PM, Mark A. Foster <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dean Betts wrote: > >> Do you think a Baha'i could hold any one of these views? >> >> > > Hi, Dean: > > I think that a Baha'i could, from different standpoints, hold to several of > those views. For instance, as a social scientist, I adopt the position of > strong agnosticism. If the existence of God is extended to include His > kingdom (all things under His dominion), I could also see a type of > panentheism being compatible with certain Baha'i texts. Then, mineral, > vegetable, and animal spirits could perhaps be conceived as a kind of > animism. Generally speaking, I think that, at least to me, weak theism is > the position most compatible with certain explanations given in the Baha'i > texts. > > Didn't you leave out montheism? >> >> > > Theism is basically a synonym for monotheism (unless monotheism is being > contrasted with polytheism, ditheism, etc.). > > -- > Regards, Mark A. Foster, Ph.D. * http://www.markfoster.net > "... the modern challenge is how to live with uncertainty. The > basic fault lines today are not between people with different > beliefs but between people who hold these beliefs with an > element of uncertainty and people who hold these beliefs with > a pretense of certitude." — Peter L. Berger, sociologist > > > > > -- > Regards, Mark A. Foster, Ph.D. * http://www.markfoster.net > "... the modern challenge is how to live with uncertainty. The > basic fault lines today are not between people with different > beliefs but between people who hold these beliefs with an > element of uncertainty and people who hold these beliefs with > a pretense of certitude." — Peter L. Berger, sociologist > > > > > The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments thereto > ("e-mail") is sent by the Johnson County Community College ("JCCC") and is > intended to be confidential and for the use of only the individual or entity > named above. The information may be protected by federal and state privacy > and disclosures acts or other legal rules. If the reader of this message is > not the intended recipient, you are notified that retention, dissemination, > distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have > received this e-mail in error please immediately notify JCCC by email reply > and immediately and permanently delete this e-mail message and any > attachments thereto. 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