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Old 06-01-2007, 07:34 AM   #30 (permalink)
Jinn
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Quote:
That's interesting because I get the opposite; that atheists look to bash or more aptly, "trash" religions much in the manner of Jinn Kai. To me, he is more of the norm.
While I appreciate your agreement, I never said that I (nor anyone else) seek to bash or "trash" religion(s). I only questioned Will's out-of-thin-air statistic about "most" atheists. I'm a skeptic more than an atheist, so I always question sweeping generalizations, even if they're positive towards my world view.

I've nothing against religion, nor do I necessarily disagree with the live-and-let-live philosophy, so you're quite mistaken.


Quote:
[...] It's very similar to the twelve steps program used by people who are addicts (though I won't conclusively say religion is addictive, I think most people can recognize similar characteristics). The first step is that one is powerless against god, and that is a bad thing. This step is often the longest and has a great effect on the person's understanding of both faith and the faithful. The disillusionment often leads to anger and resentment, which is more anger at self for being manipulated than anger at others for accidentally or purposefully manipulating. [...] And it's true, a great many atheists can get stuck in the first step for a long time or even indefinitely.
And will, you might reconsider your view of those with a strong distaste for religion as being in a "lesser" phase than yourself, because it's quite a slippery slope. You imply that vehement disagreement with religion and not obeying the "live and let live" doctrine is lesser by numbering your states, implying that one must follow the next. For all you know, being 'live and let live' is only a preliminary stage before really becoming actualized, where you move in a more aggressive manner against religion.

They're in a different state, with a different point of view, but that does not imply progression from theirs to yours, unless you truly believe yourself to be the ideal that all atheists should strive towards. Otherwise, you come off negatively towards anyone who despises religion yet still maintains healthy relationships - you're telling them that they're not fully "matured" yet, and it's nothing short of holier-than-thou condescension.
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"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

Last edited by Jinn; 06-01-2007 at 07:38 AM..
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