And, just to point out, I do respect many theists, especially those that do not apologise for their belief being in conflict with science without diminishing science. Kierkegaard is a grand example. This guy is also: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheRebShlomo He reads the text in context, and takes what it says as the message that was intended. The modern, fuzzy, peachy, and totally unfounded face of christianity and judaism is not supported by any text, this man shows and preaches what the words are and mean without pretending that many aspects of the faith don't exist or that aspects are true that are never stated in the "holy" book.
On Feb 7, 11:03 am, fiddler <[email protected]> wrote: > The measure constantly changes in regards to mocking. What you need to > realise is that many people do not see a difference between gods and > fairies. And many people have weighed the positive and negative > aspects of religion and found the negative to be far greater than the > positive. I personally have never said that there are no positive > aspects, simply that the negative are active and powerful aspects > while the positive are passive and easily dismissed by the negative. > If you make an assertion -like god is real- you must expect there to > be opposition. Every concept has detractors. > > I find your complaint about atheists stating their belief at every > opportunity to be hilarious. You are guilty of an identical action. > Often, your complaint and the complaint of religion not being treated > nicely are interchangeable, especially among evangelical believers. It > generally comes down to them having the right to talk, promote, > discuss, and even go door to door harassing people, but complain > loudly whenever anyone points out that there is no evidence of their > belief or that specific points of belief had been disproved centuries > past. > > On Feb 7, 10:05 am, 1CellOfMany <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Fiddler, I fear that you have misunderstood what I was saying. There > > are many people who do not believe in God, and are willing to discuss > > what they do believe about the way the world works. They are also > > willing to share their reasons for nor believing in God. But there > > are others who not only do not believe in God, but they DO believe > > that anyone who DOES believe in God is a fool, and they state this > > belief repeatedly. They also tend to belittle belief in God by > > comparing it to belief in fairies or some other silly thing. They > > also seem to believe that the effect of religion on the world has been > > mostly negative, and while they can supply examples of negative > > effects, they seem to be blind t the many positive effects that > > religion has had. > > > Now, I really don't care whether they believe these things or not, but > > some of these particular atheists make it a point to state their > > beliefs at every opportunity. It is as though they were on a crusade > > to stamp out religion. Now, this is a forum for discussion of ideas > > and beliefs. I share my thoughts and beliefs, and I try to be > > respectful of the thoughts and beliefs of others. When my beliefs are > > mocked and ridiculed in a forum like this, it is a sign that the other > > person is not willing to listen and to discuss things rationally. > > This is irritating to many of us, but it also reflects poorly on the > > character of the person who is doing the mocking. I am merely asking > > that you show as much respect for my ideas, whether you agree with > > them or not, as you would like me to show for your ideas. > > > On Feb 7, 12:38 am, fiddler <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > And you are demonstrating that one word may have two intended uses. A > > > belief in god is not the same as a belief in the sun rising. Yes, > > > everyone believes something. Some of us believe in testable reality > > > and some of us in untestable -and often proven wrong- religions. > > > Though the word is the same, the use is not. Your rant had no true > > > point, it was only that... a rant. > > > > On Feb 6, 9:29 pm, 1CellOfMany <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > So, OZ, if I understand what you are saying, you *believe* that, "The > > > > common failure of "believers" is their inability to understand a > > > > simple concept: ---- Lack of belief, is not, itself, belief --- " > > > > > (If you don't believe that statement, then why would you make it!) > > > > > I find that the common failure of those who snipe at "believers" in > > > > the cause of atheism is their tendency to stereo-type and talk trash > > > > about believers. So, by your own words, you have demonstrated the > > > > point of my rant. > > > > > On Feb 6, 12:11 pm, MajorOz <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > The common failure of "believers" is their inability to understand a > > > > > simple concept: > > > > > > ---- Lack of belief, is not, itself, belief --- > > > > > > cheers > > > > > > oz, learner, not believer -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/minds-eye?hl=en.
