Was Michaelangelo an...atheist?!?

[_Notoriuswun]

But are you sure that it IS his view of the Creation? Was the piece commissioned by Rome? With whose approval was it released publicly? We don't know these things. Or at least I don't. Do you?

Jersey Girl

No, like I said earlier...intent is in the eye of the beholder. There is no handbook for dissecting art, and with good reason. Everyone takes something different away - even in the most simplistic pieces.

Historically speaking, it was commissioned by the Pope, and some believe Mikey didn't really want to do it. (many documents support this theory).

[_Jersey Girl]

We can't know for certain, no. Unless you are Richard Dawkins ; )

I personally believe that religion is most certainly a creation of man...mostly to instill a sense of morality. There could be no society without religion, as man had no basis for good and evil before this. The first structures created were Pagan temples, while man lived in caves. It would seem he felt guilty, as sacrifice (animal) was very common. Perhaps the real question isn't one of morality then, but one of guilt...why did man feel guilty?

As far as the second part, I think that some people are pre-disposed to believing in God...but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Mankind needs purpose, and (for some) purpose involves God.

Mankind (both on an individual level, and as a society) much reach his own conclusions if any progress is to be made.

With all due respect, I don't see that the creation of religion is the same as man creating God. We could say that the development of morals and moral thinking is simply a product of sociological cause/effect learning (my gosh, who gave me permission to use my brain on this board?). And again, if certain people are "pre-disposed" to believing in God...how does that explain the believer who becomes atheistic and the atheist who comes to believe?

My understanding is that females are more "predisposed" to God belief in far greater numbers than males. Why is that? Could it be that women are on the whole more perceptive than males and thus more able to tune into God?

I have no answers here.

Jersey Girl

[_Jersey Girl]

Did guilt produce the animal sacrifices or was it fear of thunder?

I'm serious.

Jersey Girl

[Guest]

With all due respect, I don't see that the creation of religion is the same as man creating God. We could say that the development of morals and moral thinking is simply a product of sociological cause/effect learning (my gosh, who gave me permission to use my brain on this board?). And again, if certain people are "pre-disposed" to believing in God...how does that explain the believer who becomes atheistic and the atheist who comes to believe?

My understanding is that females are more "predisposed" to God belief in far greater numbers than males. Why is that? Could it be that women are on the whole more perceptive than males and thus more able to tune into God?

I have no answers here.

Jersey Girl

*takes a deep breath*

Okay, first off, God, or monotheism, wasn't really a concept until Socrates - or at the very least his writings (in particular The Republic) made the concept more widestream. But there was no "real" morality (as we know it) when mankind was in his infancy. They were mostly Pagans, and as such had many gods - to include fertility (probably the most common initially), war (ironic, yes), and weather related Gods.

Second, your second question is more of a personal question. Every man (and woman), must reach this conclusion on their own terms.

Third, I haven't heard that women are more predisposed to believing in God, perhaps you could enlighten me with a study. This could be that woman are more emotional (rather than rational) than men. Again, I would say it is more of an individual question than one that is relegated to the sexes.

[_Jersey Girl]

No, like I said earlier...intent is in the eye of the beholder. There is no handbook for dissecting art, and with good reason. Everyone takes something different away - even in the most simplistic pieces.

Historically speaking, it was commissioned by the Pope, and some believe Mikey didn't really want to do it. (many documents support this theory).

Some believe that Mikey was also homosexual. How do we know the piece isn't a form of homoerotica?

I apologize for my posts on this thread, I had no plans of ever making public displays of active thought patterns on this board. I will try to dumb myself down to the expected level.

Jersey Girl
;-)

[_Notoriuswun]

Some believe that Mikey was also homosexual. How do we know the piece isn't a form of homoerotica?

I apologize for my posts on this thread, I had no plans of ever making public displays of active thought patterns on this board. I will try to dumb myself down to the expected level.

Jersey Girl
;-)

Now you are just being coy. Want to play chess?

[_Gazelam]

Charlton Heston as Michelangelo and Rex Harrison as Pope Julius II. This is a really great movie about the painting of the Chapel. I enjoyed it alot.

Hers a link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058886/

[_Jersey Girl]

Now you are just being coy. Want to play chess?

What makes you think I know how?

Jersey Girl
;-)

[_Notoriuswun]

What makes you think I know how?

Jersey Girl
;-)

Something about the way...you look tonite.

ps - Charleton Heston is hardly a good Michaelangelo, I was thinking (modern) maybe a Brad Pitt...or at the very least Jake Gyllenhall.

pps Does Heston end up shooting the Pope?

[_Jersey Girl]

*takes a deep breath*

Okay, first off, God, or monotheism, wasn't really a concept until Socrates - or at the very least his writings (in particular The Republic) made the concept more widestream. But there was no "real" morality (as we know it) when mankind was in his infancy. They were mostly Pagans, and as such had many gods - to include fertility (probably the most common initially), war (ironic, yes), and weather related Gods.

Second, your second question is more of a personal question. Every man (and woman), must reach this conclusion on their own terms.

Third, I haven't heard that women are more predisposed to believing in God, perhaps you could enlighten me with a study. This could be that woman are more emotional (rather than rational) than men. Again, I would say it is more of an individual question than one that is relegated to the sexes.

Based on my over developed powers of perception, I can safely say that Notoriuswun is male. We (the royal we) know about the Sky God and such.

What I want to know is if some people are neurologically predisposed to God belief, how does that explain the atheist turned believe, the believer turned atheist?

Don't blame me. You brought up the brain, I'm just trying to use it.

Jersey Girl