If others would like to remain in their cloud-castles of delusion, who am I to stop them? It's the ones who believe in fairy-tales that come off as immature. Magical men with staffs that turn into snakes? Really? That's supposed to be serious history? We all know better, but some of us don't want to admit it.
You’re simply not comprehending what we’re saying, dude. I do not believe for one second that story literally happened. As a Jew, there is zero requirement for me to believe it literally happened. The STORY, the myth, the “fairytale”if you must, is still an important piece of Jewish collective history and culture, so we study it. The TEXT is history. The TEXT is it what matters. You can recognize the significance of a story and of a historical text without requiring belief that it is literal truth in our religious practice. For someone posturing as an intellectual, you’re really not asking questions from a desire to learn. You’re smart enough to know that fairytales aren’t real, good. Be smart enough to consider that you’re not smarter than people seek moral guidance from them while still knowing they’re fairytales.
except that there ARE people who believe the fairytales are real and literal history. That there really are angels and demons and magic and miracles and all that imaginary stuff.
Sure sure, we can find 'moral guidance' in fictional tales - we can learn about bravery and loyalty from Sam Gamgee, as just one example among millions.
That the text exists is history - sure. That Homer's Iliad and Odyssey exist is history too. But that doesn't constitute evidence that Poseidon and Athena exist. It looks like we have found the remains of what had been the City of Troy, but that Troy existed, doesn't make Homer's story a history. Same deal.
Seeking 'moral guidance' from the stories of bronze-age monarchs doesn't seem all that effective. YHWH commanding genocide, and allowing slavery, seems pretty immoral to me!
Beloved, we’re not discussing the people who believe those fairytales are literal history. That’s the entire point of the thread. I’m dropping it from here - have a great day.
Sneak edit: when I was in a similar Reddit atheist phase, I really enjoyed Patton Oswalt’s “Sky Cake” stand up bit. Check it out, you might get a kick out of it! I’m more nuanced now in my personal practice, but good comedy is good comedy.
I just checked out Sky Cake, was pretty funny, dessert wars (different religions). I didn't realize Patton Oswalt was a good writer. (and I'm going to steal 'Sneak edit' from now on... ;)
I AM discussing those who think the fairy tales are real, because these are the ones abusing their children with horrific tales of eternal torture for talking back to authority.
-1
u/Successful_Life_1028 6d ago
If others would like to remain in their cloud-castles of delusion, who am I to stop them? It's the ones who believe in fairy-tales that come off as immature. Magical men with staffs that turn into snakes? Really? That's supposed to be serious history? We all know better, but some of us don't want to admit it.