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Originally Posted by shakran
SOMEtimes? You're being too kind. I got the distinct impression from his book that he thinks religion is stupid and anyone who even thinks about believing in it is a moron.
That argument suggests some quite nasty things about god doesn't it. Let's review:
1) The earth is really 6,000 years old.
2) we're supposed to have faith in what God tells us.
3) God purposely makes all evidence point to the idea that the earth is a lot older in an attempt to trick us.
Well, to be honest, if a supreme being is out to trick me all the time, I'm really not interested in hanging out in his house after I die.
This argument also lends some interesting philosophical thoughts on god vs. the devil. I thought it was Satan that was supposed to be the dishonest trickster, not God.
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The point about Dawkins (somehow I knew that quoting him would start an argument) in interesting. After The God Delusion came out, a firestorm of essays were written basically asking why he couldn't play nice and have some respect. But why should he if he honestly thinks that belief in a higher being is unfounded, dangerous and blatantly stupid? Yet from the other side of the coin, the heads of big name churches will publicly condemn non-believing "sinners" without rebuke, so is there a double standard? We all walk on eggshells in our respect for religion, but what warrants that? Why do religions reap benefits that atheists do not?
I'm confused by your 3 questions, shakran. All 3 are curious, but number 2 in particular strikes me. Aren't believers supposed to take God at his word? Isn't that was it's all about?