Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on January 6, 2013 at 11:41am

I guess I'm an "incomplete person" too - I was born without a gullibility gene --

Permalink Reply by Marc on January 6, 2013 at 11:52am

Haven't we been down this road before. Atheists are such because of some mental defect that we have? Or was it the other way around for theists?

Permalink Reply by Pope OoO (Out of Order) on January 6, 2013 at 2:50pm

I think it's more accurate to say that theism is a communicable disease (or meme, if you will), and it weakens clear thinking. We're all born vulnerable to various diseases. But I wouldn't try to convince theists of that, in those words. The cure comes down to improving one's critical thinking.

Permalink Reply by Gregg R Thomas on January 6, 2013 at 5:56pm

Thanks for the reply Patrick and welcome to the group, how's the weather in Romania?

I'll respond later I have to go to dinner with some non-theists right now.

Permalink Reply by Tom Sarbeck on January 7, 2013 at 1:12am

Patrick, that is one long metaphor! I reckon you saw a glazed look in the eyes of a few xians.

Do you have any faith in whether readers here have the patience to fathom it?

Permalink Reply by jared manley on January 6, 2013 at 9:47am

@pat the "A" in Atheism means with out.

"The main danger of atheism is the likelihood of its becoming a religion in its own right,..."

I've heard it said "Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby". It's true. Atheism notes what we don't believe not what we do believe.

"how can it remain fundamentally non-religious,..."

Not hard at all: Don't be religious or have a belief in god.

"...as is the very idea at its core, when, alas, it has all the data, and all the traits common to, and characteristic of,..."

I think the word "all" is a bit strong here. Obviously the belief in god is non existent. Among others. Just because religions have borrowed from certain philosophies doesn't make those philosophies inherently religious. Any tool can be a weapon depending on how you use it.

"For atheism is, no matter how they might understand it, an anti-philosophy, a meta-philosophy, but a philosophy nevertheless."

  Again "philosophy" isn't synonymous with religion. It is simply a lack of belief. Assuming you don't believe in pixies would you call this your philosophy on pixies? Do you believe in "magolotonicatronicon"? You shouldn't. I just made it up. You've never had to consider that before. Would you say that because you don't it is you philosophy or that your non belief has all the trappings of a religion?

 No matter how you might understand it, not posting isn't the same as posting.

 

Permalink Reply by SteveInCO on January 6, 2013 at 10:09am

magolotonicatronicon!!

You only THINK you just made it up, I've been worshipping it and sacrificing ground squirrels to it for years!  Clearly this is a sign!!

Permalink Reply by jared manley on January 6, 2013 at 10:10am

Are the ground squirrels virgins?

Permalink Reply by SteveInCO on January 6, 2013 at 10:34am

Damfino.  magolotonicatronicon never specified to me that they had to be.

Permalink Reply by jared manley on January 6, 2013 at 10:46am

You might experiment a bit to see where you get better results. Have fun checking those mean little fuckers though.

Permalink Reply by SteveInCO on January 6, 2013 at 11:00am

I suspect it's really a trick to get us to make human blood sacrifices without realizing it.

Permalink Reply by jared manley on January 6, 2013 at 11:07am

Good looking out. The bigger problem is that any ground squirrel one can easily catch is most likely sick with disease or parasites. The transfer of these make me wonder if that is not the true identity of magolotonicatronicon.

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