Comments on: A Difference of Opinion http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/2009/10/a-difference-of-opinion/ Musings on Christianity Fri, 10 Sep 2010 04:02:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: spiritualtramp http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/2009/10/a-difference-of-opinion/comment-page-1/#comment-2932 spiritualtramp Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:19:31 +0000 http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/?p=940#comment-2932 I haven't seen that. I'll see if I can check it out on Hulu or somewhere. I think that some of those atheists either a) mean well since they see religion as a crutch/disease/etc and don't understand that people can benefit or b) are somewhat bitter themselves thanks to some bad experiences and want to, as you say, share the pain. I'm sure there are other options.<br><br>I like that bumper sticker and to a degree, agree with it. I'm agnostic when it comes to a number of things. I haven't seen that. I'll see if I can check it out on Hulu or somewhere. I think that some of those atheists either a) mean well since they see religion as a crutch/disease/etc and don't understand that people can benefit or b) are somewhat bitter themselves thanks to some bad experiences and want to, as you say, share the pain. I'm sure there are other options.

I like that bumper sticker and to a degree, agree with it. I'm agnostic when it comes to a number of things.

]]> By: Krispy http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/2009/10/a-difference-of-opinion/comment-page-1/#comment-2931 Krispy Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:46:36 +0000 http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/?p=940#comment-2931 You mentioned atheism as a religion ... have you seen the South Park episode that parodies Richard Dawkins? It's a hoot if you dont' mind the usual South Park brand of course humor:<br><br><a href="http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/1012" rel="nofollow">http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/1012</a><br><br>What I'll never understand is people who prosalityze for atheism. I've sort of ended up there by default, you might even say in defeat. It is, I suppose, sort of a relief to no longer try to compel myself to search for answers I'll never find. But it's nothing to celebrate. It might be as close as I'll ever come to knowing what it's like to get used to life after losing a limb. So why do some atheists want to go around "chopping people's legs off?" Why would I want to destroy the religious faith of the people I know who genuinely benefit from and are well served by from their beliefs? <br><br>However, on the flip side, I once saw a bumper sticker that made me laugh for a good, long time. It said "Militant Agnostic: I don't know and you don't, either!" You mentioned atheism as a religion … have you seen the South Park episode that parodies Richard Dawkins? It's a hoot if you dont' mind the usual South Park brand of course humor:

http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/1012

What I'll never understand is people who prosalityze for atheism. I've sort of ended up there by default, you might even say in defeat. It is, I suppose, sort of a relief to no longer try to compel myself to search for answers I'll never find. But it's nothing to celebrate. It might be as close as I'll ever come to knowing what it's like to get used to life after losing a limb. So why do some atheists want to go around “chopping people's legs off?” Why would I want to destroy the religious faith of the people I know who genuinely benefit from and are well served by from their beliefs?

However, on the flip side, I once saw a bumper sticker that made me laugh for a good, long time. It said “Militant Agnostic: I don't know and you don't, either!”

]]> By: spiritualtramp http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/2009/10/a-difference-of-opinion/comment-page-1/#comment-2929 spiritualtramp Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:58:12 +0000 http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/?p=940#comment-2929 Heh, yeah. Heh, yeah.

]]> By: spiritualtramp http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/2009/10/a-difference-of-opinion/comment-page-1/#comment-2930 spiritualtramp Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:57:54 +0000 http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/?p=940#comment-2930 Yeah mixing politics and religion can be bad. But it's difficult to avoid mixing two things that are so informed by and that so inform your worldview. Yeah mixing politics and religion can be bad. But it's difficult to avoid mixing two things that are so informed by and that so inform your worldview.

]]> By: spiritualtramp http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/2009/10/a-difference-of-opinion/comment-page-1/#comment-2666 spiritualtramp Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:19:31 +0000 http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/?p=940#comment-2666 I haven't seen that. I'll see if I can check it out on Hulu or somewhere. I think that some of those atheists either a) mean well since they see religion as a crutch/disease/etc and don't understand that people can benefit or b) are somewhat bitter themselves thanks to some bad experiences and want to, as you say, share the pain. I'm sure there are other options.<br><br>I like that bumper sticker and to a degree, agree with it. I'm agnostic when it comes to a number of things. I haven't seen that. I'll see if I can check it out on Hulu or somewhere. I think that some of those atheists either a) mean well since they see religion as a crutch/disease/etc and don't understand that people can benefit or b) are somewhat bitter themselves thanks to some bad experiences and want to, as you say, share the pain. I'm sure there are other options.

I like that bumper sticker and to a degree, agree with it. I'm agnostic when it comes to a number of things.

]]> By: Krispy http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/2009/10/a-difference-of-opinion/comment-page-1/#comment-2665 Krispy Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:46:36 +0000 http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/?p=940#comment-2665 You mentioned atheism as a religion ... have you seen the South Park episode that parodies Richard Dawkins? It's a hoot if you dont' mind the usual South Park brand of course humor:<br><br><a href="http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/1012" rel="nofollow">http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/1012</a><br><br>What I'll never understand is people who prosalityze for atheism. I've sort of ended up there by default, you might even say in defeat. It is, I suppose, sort of a relief to no longer try to compel myself to search for answers I'll never find. But it's nothing to celebrate. It might be as close as I'll ever come to knowing what it's like to get used to life after losing a limb. So why do some atheists want to go around "chopping people's legs off?" Why would I want to destroy the religious faith of the people I know who genuinely benefit from and are well served by from their beliefs? <br><br>However, on the flip side, I once saw a bumper sticker that made me laugh for a good, long time. It said "Militant Agnostic: I don't know and you don't, either!" You mentioned atheism as a religion … have you seen the South Park episode that parodies Richard Dawkins? It's a hoot if you dont' mind the usual South Park brand of course humor:

http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/1012

What I'll never understand is people who prosalityze for atheism. I've sort of ended up there by default, you might even say in defeat. It is, I suppose, sort of a relief to no longer try to compel myself to search for answers I'll never find. But it's nothing to celebrate. It might be as close as I'll ever come to knowing what it's like to get used to life after losing a limb. So why do some atheists want to go around “chopping people's legs off?” Why would I want to destroy the religious faith of the people I know who genuinely benefit from and are well served by from their beliefs?

However, on the flip side, I once saw a bumper sticker that made me laugh for a good, long time. It said “Militant Agnostic: I don't know and you don't, either!”

]]> By: spiritualtramp http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/2009/10/a-difference-of-opinion/comment-page-1/#comment-2664 spiritualtramp Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:58:12 +0000 http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/?p=940#comment-2664 Heh, yeah. Heh, yeah.

]]> By: spiritualtramp http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/2009/10/a-difference-of-opinion/comment-page-1/#comment-2663 spiritualtramp Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:57:54 +0000 http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/?p=940#comment-2663 Yeah mixing politics and religion can be bad. But it's difficult to avoid mixing two things that are so informed by and that so inform your worldview. Yeah mixing politics and religion can be bad. But it's difficult to avoid mixing two things that are so informed by and that so inform your worldview.

]]> By: Snurp http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/2009/10/a-difference-of-opinion/comment-page-1/#comment-2662 Snurp Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:08:01 +0000 http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/?p=940#comment-2662 Well if organizing is all it takes to make a religion, then all the modern political parties are . . . wait. Well if organizing is all it takes to make a religion, then all the modern political parties are . . . wait.

]]> By: jasonfaylen http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/2009/10/a-difference-of-opinion/comment-page-1/#comment-2661 jasonfaylen Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:41:30 +0000 http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/?p=940#comment-2661 let me add to that- I think its good for Christians to see that we are not the only ones targeted by media. here is an example of a journalist who wanted to paint atheism as being divided just like religion. she had an agenda, and she stuck to it- possibly despite the facts. Sure, it happens to us too- but that's not to say we don't bring it on ourselves!<br><br>Any school of thought is going to have members who agree and disagree on varying levels- that's a consequence of humanity. <br>furthermore, it takes a special kind of journalist to approach and handle such a topic completely unbiased from start to finish. let me add to that- I think its good for Christians to see that we are not the only ones targeted by media. here is an example of a journalist who wanted to paint atheism as being divided just like religion. she had an agenda, and she stuck to it- possibly despite the facts. Sure, it happens to us too- but that's not to say we don't bring it on ourselves!

Any school of thought is going to have members who agree and disagree on varying levels- that's a consequence of humanity.
furthermore, it takes a special kind of journalist to approach and handle such a topic completely unbiased from start to finish.

]]> By: jasonfaylen http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/2009/10/a-difference-of-opinion/comment-page-1/#comment-2660 jasonfaylen Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:29:14 +0000 http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/?p=940#comment-2660 I've always bemoaned the differences that Christians choose to quibble about, but as I've grown older I have realized the irony of it all: the similarities we use to gather together people with common beliefs eventually end up excluding many that are not really unlike us. Ultimately, the more we highlight specific commonalities, the more we divide the larger body. I have to assume this is true in all religions, and it only stands to reason that it would apply in atheism as well. <br><br>in the end, I think its all about learning to value what things you have in common, and have respectful dialog about those things you have agreed to disagree on. I think that we could see great improvement in society if we each try to move in that direction. <br><br>Scott and I regularly fellowship over beer and tobacco, and we have some pretty big religious and political differences. I look forward to the day that we can also fellowship with Shawn. with music and technology and fine beer as viable topics, we may never even touch religion or politics... I've always bemoaned the differences that Christians choose to quibble about, but as I've grown older I have realized the irony of it all: the similarities we use to gather together people with common beliefs eventually end up excluding many that are not really unlike us. Ultimately, the more we highlight specific commonalities, the more we divide the larger body. I have to assume this is true in all religions, and it only stands to reason that it would apply in atheism as well.

in the end, I think its all about learning to value what things you have in common, and have respectful dialog about those things you have agreed to disagree on. I think that we could see great improvement in society if we each try to move in that direction.

Scott and I regularly fellowship over beer and tobacco, and we have some pretty big religious and political differences. I look forward to the day that we can also fellowship with Shawn. with music and technology and fine beer as viable topics, we may never even touch religion or politics…

]]> By: sidfaiwu http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/2009/10/a-difference-of-opinion/comment-page-1/#comment-2659 sidfaiwu Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:54:06 +0000 http://www.spiritualtramp.com/blog/?p=940#comment-2659 There is definitely a spectrum of opinions amongst atheists about the religious. Some feel that they are, to paraphrase a section of your post, dumb, defective and dangerous. Of course, they seek out the worst examples of religious behavior and use it to support their opinions. This is, of course, confirmation bias.<br><br>Others are perfectly fine with religion and the religious and only want to live their lives free of religious interference in their lives. I'm more towards this end of the spectrum. However, I do find that religion and supernaturalism in general are, on balance, dangerous particularly when mixed with politics.<br><br>What to do I do about that then? The answer is pretty obvious: organize with like-minded individuals to become a recognized voting block. Well, that and donate to the <a href = "http://www.secular.org/" rel="nofollow">Secular Coalition for America</a>. Of course, the very act of organizing is a lot of what leads Scott and others to tease us about being a religion and leads other to make as a serious accusation. There is definitely a spectrum of opinions amongst atheists about the religious. Some feel that they are, to paraphrase a section of your post, dumb, defective and dangerous. Of course, they seek out the worst examples of religious behavior and use it to support their opinions. This is, of course, confirmation bias.

Others are perfectly fine with religion and the religious and only want to live their lives free of religious interference in their lives. I'm more towards this end of the spectrum. However, I do find that religion and supernaturalism in general are, on balance, dangerous particularly when mixed with politics.

What to do I do about that then? The answer is pretty obvious: organize with like-minded individuals to become a recognized voting block. Well, that and donate to the Secular Coalition for America. Of course, the very act of organizing is a lot of what leads Scott and others to tease us about being a religion and leads other to make as a serious accusation.

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