Gentlemen, :) Wait~~ don't get me into this discussion, as it is now "I" who has lost the thread. I was merely trying to point out to DP that debating on-line with people who attack him or hurt his feelings seems pointless to me, and making a different choice to disengage and move on might be more productive. I see now that it was a waste of my time as he has brought the issue to this forum. I will take my own advice and move on. I have no problem accepting both atheists and those who practice faith-based religions. I don't think atheists are ignorant of faith. That was not my point. My point was-- and is-- perhaps people of faith are guided by something other than "facts", whereas atheists can, and often do debate religion from an analytical or logic perspective. You can't prove or dis-prove faith, so why try? I'm of the boring "Can't we all just along" school" Silly me.. Kristy
--- On Mon, 10/4/10, mike brown <[email protected]> wrote: From: mike brown <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Don't pray in my school and I won't think in your church. To: [email protected] Date: Monday, October 4, 2010, 10:18 AM DP, Just because you're paranoid it doesn't mean they're not out to get you, huh. Let me spell it out for you one more time. To paraphrase Kristy - she said that atheists are ignorant of faith and so don't understand the religious perspective. I pointed out that 1) lots of atheists were once upon a time believers who have now 'seen the light' and so do have such experience but rejected it. 2) I may be ignorant of the beliefs of other groups but still can deduce that they are harmful. NOT that religious folks are the same as neo-nazis but the harm that can be DONE is the same. Clear? Mike From: DP <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, 5 October, 2010 1:03:36 Subject: [Zen] Re: Don't pray in my school and I won't think in your church. My god, that is disingenuous... Kristy specifically said that the people who are arguing probably don't have an experience of faith and that this means I can't explain it to them. You essentially said "I don't have to be a Neo-Nazi to understand that it's bad." It doesn't take a paranoid person to see a comparison being made. You are using your own personal definition of religion to attack. This is not my experience of religion, and it never will be. --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusub...@...> wrote: > > DP, > > I wrote: "Moreover, I am ignorant of what it is to be a neo-nazis, but have > no > trouble rejecting their beliefs as not just harmful, but wrong." > > You wrote: "You were essentially implying that religious belief was no > different > from being a "neo-nazi." I'm sorry, but I do find that offensive." > > That wasn't my intention in the above sentence. I could just as easily have > said > I am ignorant of being a racist/Republican/terrorist/bigot/child-molester etc > to > make the point. If you see the connection with those and religion, well... > > Mike >
