Go to The Reverend Kooka Speaks About Religious Bulls#!t
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Re: Point on, Rev. Well, actually, 10 points on. And kudos to the LA Times
3) Atheism is dogmatic.
Jews, Christians and Muslims claim that their scriptures are so prescient of humanity's needs that they could only have been written under the direction of an omniscient deity. An atheist is simply a person who has considered this claim, read the books and found the claim to be ridiculous. One doesn't have to take anything on faith, or be otherwise dogmatic, to reject unjustified religious beliefs. As the historian Stephen Henry Roberts (1901-71) once said: "I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
Saul, here is the statement of which you were most fond. I am always amazed at how readily any argument, belief or statement can be destroyed with logic. Logic is a powerful tool. I agree with you, far too many people claiming to be believers point at some book written by a bunch of men and apply the authorship of God to it, then bash people on the head with what they allege the book contains. I often wonder if Christians read anything more than their pastors tell them to read. They'd be shocked at what lies in their pages, particularly the Old Testament.
I would, however, caution you, saul_realative, to not lump all religions or believers together. Many do not think quite the way you've indicated (specifically regarding judgement and hell), myself included. A true believer would understand that they are forbidden to judge.
posted by
FineYoungSinger
on September 25, 2007 at 6:44 AM
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Point on, Rev. Well, actually, 10 points on. And kudos to the LA Times
for having the balls to print this. #3 is my favorite. It is an argument I always use when asking a Christian (who is worried about my soul) if I'm a moral and good person, how could god condemn me to hell for not believing in him/her? Why is the Christian/Judaic/Muslim god so jealous if he's the only one? Why give us free will at all? And how can you be so sure that you're right and in the same breath condemn other religions without any proof at all?
Great post.
posted by
saul_relative
on September 23, 2007 at 11:25 PM
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This is a good post;
There are a couple of generalizations made about Christians/Believers in the article, but nothing to really get all up in arms about. It's good for everyone in this forum to read a piece like this. If we are to find common ground, it's important that we see an alternate point of view. Thanks for posting this!
posted by
FineYoungSinger
on September 22, 2007 at 10:56 AM
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