Why we need extreme atheism

[jack_ryder]

for dfordoom

(because it supports his case)

Comments

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of disorganised religion. A religion that moves with the times, changes when needed, and doesn't expect non-believers to conform.

I don't have a propblem with people being religious. I only have a problem when they try to force their religion on me, by making laws that reflect their beliefs, not the greater good. If you want to wear a headscarf, a crucifix, abstain from certain foods or drink, not have an abortion, etc etc that's fine. But don't restrict my right to do those things because your god told they were bad. MOst relgious people are fine, it's the small percentage of nutters that are causing the trouble. And the nutters are in power in a big way at the moment.

By the way, I find the militant aethesists as annoying as the religious crazies ( I mean Falwell, Bin Ladan, etc, not the normal people who believe).

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

I find anyone who wants the entire world to conform to their personal reality annoying, and that includes certain relatives of mine. Belief or lack thereof is an important personal right IMO.

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

I said that last bit really, really badly. It's a terribly dificult subject to find the right words for, isn't it?

[jack-ryder.livejournal.com]

Wow - isn't it great the trouble a simple cartoon can cause?

I'm planning a fuller and better expression of my real thoughts on this issue (kind of boils down to - tolerance good, intolerance bad ) but I want to see if my own thoughts stand up to semi-public scrutiny.

And, I must admit, I do find the unspoken assumption "I respect your right to be mentally ill" rather patronising.

(stirs pot more)

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

What made it press all my buttons is that it's the exact attitude I usually get over being Jewish and similar to the one that many women get over not having children or going through menopause and that anyone with chronic illness faces. I have friends who get it over the colour of their skin or their sexual preferences. It's a new prejudice, but it takes on the language and attitudes of a bunch of old ones.

It really saddens me that people respect my right to be deficient in so many ways before they do studies to find out if any of those things actually cause any kind of deficiency.

[dfordoom.livejournal.com]

kind of boils down to - tolerance good, intolerance bad

If there's one thing I just can't tolerate it's intolerant people. ;-)

Devil's Advocate

[ashamel.livejournal.com]

That's all well and good, but if you believe that (to pick a controversial example) abortion is murder, and leads to damnation, why wouldn't you want to make a law against it? All laws are made to reflect someone's belief in what is wrong.

Re: Devil's Advocate

[jack-ryder.livejournal.com]

dependent on that someone believing that society shared (or should share) their views.

Laws (for the most part) are made by people representing sectors of society - that's why they can be so hard to get through government.

(and now the conversation becomes something else...)