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Originally Posted by GX  ....If your an atheist that practices feng shui or you plant your garden according to the zodiac etc., you do not have a naturalistic worldview and are not a bright. |
But it is possible to practice feng shui, play tarrot, or go to an acupuncturist, knowing that the theory is not scientific. You can do these things just for fun. But whether you just practice, or whether really believe, are slightly different things, right?
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Originally Posted by GX ....Actually, I think its a good idea that atheists wish to reinvent themselves primarily by what they believe in instead of by that which they do not believe. If agnostics wish to join in, thats fine too. But for to_hobbes to come on and say that that you can be a deist and be a bright is just plain deceptive. The only other thing that seems deceptive is the use of the term "naturalist". It seems like a group of environmentalists or an offshoot of the sierra club or audobon society until you dig deeper into the website.... |
In my own defense I will say that I was not trying to deceive anyone. I really think "Deist" is
not contradictory to the term "Bright". I don't know any deists that practice feng shui, though certainly there may be such people.
I simply mentioned deism as an example of how it is possible to believe that God exists and also have a naturalistic worldview. This is because believing as deists do that God does not influence the universe, and assuming you believe no other mystical forces influence the universe, then this fits the definition a naturalistic worldview, as I understand it.
Perhaps a better topic of discussion would be this:
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Can you reject all notions of supernatural or mystical powers in the universe and still be a Christian.
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-- notice I said, "and still be a Christian" not "and still believe in God". This is because how one practices religion and what one believes about God are different things. Indeed, belief and practice are interrelated, but need not always agree. You can question a definition of God and still go to church every sunday.
(PS: I took no offense from you, GX. I acknowledge your skepticism
)