DMB, Ron, Agree, great post again DMB. However Ron, we must have "changing peoples minds" as the point of our discussions - what other point is there - if neither our mnd nor theirs is changed ?
So in the example - We must not expect to totally reverse a "theist" point of view into an "atheist" one (at least not very often), but the point is to get the theist to incorporate an athesist understanding of morality into their own (therefore modified) position. An anecdotal aside. My wife (a UK expat, athesist, like myself) works in the local hospital here in Alabam, and all of her immediate colleagues are local bible-belters. All human life is here - adultery, affairs, divorces, illegitimate pregnancies, absentee fathers (and worse) you name it. What the work mates cannot comprehend is how she, an atheist, takes a far clearer moral stance than any of them do, on any of these day to day reality issues - they keep asking - but if you don't read the bible, where do you get your morals from ? At least they seem genuinely concerned by the question. Every little helps. Ian On 1/22/08, Ron Kulp <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dmb: > People sort of light up when the discussion turns to these questions. > I've do not recall a single negative experience but I've been thanked > for it a few times. It's not because they were persuaded to abandon any > beliefs. Its more like they were charged up about some relatively latent > belief they already had. > > Ron: > DmB, Excellent post. I did not intend to give the impression that > discussion > Of these topics was useless, only that expecting to change peoples minds > > By rationally challenging their faith is A little unrealistic. I agree > With your approach and I do likewise when I feel the climate is right. > Inspiring discussion is the first step, I quite agree. Initiating active > inquiry may very well plant the seed. > > Moq_Discuss mailing list > Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > Archives: > http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/ > Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
