The God Delusion

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
How can one respect someone who believes in fairy tales? I wouldn't lend any respect to an adult who believes in Father Christmas. Numerical superiority does not make it any better...

A little thing called empathy ? Trying to see things , just for a moment , from their point of view ? From realising that for them , it is not a fairy tale ? And also by realising that in case what you think is a fairy tale happens to inspire people to do good things , and does not turn into an orthodoxy , then it is deserving of respect ?

[aneeshm]

And just a question which is relevant to only me : How does the author deal with what are called the "dharmic" traditions ? Is his tirade restricted to fulminations against the Judeo-Christio-Isamic tradition , or does he raise his pen against the agnosticism of Buddhism , or against the hard atheism of Jainism ( it would be funny to see him try to disprove himself in his hatred of religions in general ) , or against the many and varied philosophical schools underlying Hinduism ?

[Jon Miller]

I would really like to know more abuot Jainism..

JM

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Not answered though, why should I respect someone more for religion than someone who believes in fairy tales?

Because like it or not Religion has had a role to play in the history of civilisation as an organising agent. Society is about game-rules, and this can be observed even in the animal kingdom. Humans can develop highly sophisticated game-rules based on either secular or spiritual philosophy, and the latter has had a major role to play in history.

It's easier to be an atheist these days because the mysteries of the universe have alternative explainations unavailable to previous generations. Also, the freedom from religious interference and compulsion is a relatively recent concept, and still not universal.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by aneeshm


A little thing called empathy ? Trying to see things , just for a moment , from their point of view ? From realising that for them , it is not a fairy tale ? And also by realising that in case what you think is a fairy tale happens to inspire people to do good things , and does not turn into an orthodoxy , then it is deserving of respect ?

I think you mean pity

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
I would really like to know more abuot Jainism..

JM

You mean, you feel you need to know more about the origins of Jain civilization?

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Cort Haus


Because like it or not Religion has had a role to play in the history of civilisation as an organising agent. Society is about game-rules, and this can be observed even in the animal kingdom. Humans can develop highly sophisticated game-rules based on either secular or spiritual philosophy, and the latter has had a major role to play in history.

It's easier to be an atheist these days because the mysteries of the universe have alternative explainations unavailable to previous generations. Also, the freedom from religious interference and compulsion is a relatively recent concept, and still not universal.

And that is why I should respect religion? Those are the reasons to be disgusted by the very concept...

[Arrian]

No, don't respect religion. Respect other people, many of whom believe.

Sure, you think they're wrong... you're certain of it, even. Many of them are equally sure that you're wrong. So, to coexist like civilized people, you have to have a modicum of respect for one another, despite differing beliefs.

Obviously, this only really works if they do the same for you. This is why my main problem with religious people isn't their belief but rather the desire of *some* of them to ram their belief down my throat, and force me to live by their rules. Absent that, I can get along with religious people just fine, and respect them. A very smart fellow just down the hall from me is very religious... born again and all that. I obviously disagree with him rather emphatically on that score, but I respect his intelligence nonetheless.

People believe all sorts of whacky ****, Provost. I'm sure that you have some belief somewhere in that head of yours that is, upon review, crazy. Or at least wrong.

-Arrian

[Provost Harrison]

No.

[Lorizael]

Dammit, Arrian. I was just about to make that exact same post. Sigh. Now I have no excuse not to be working.

[Provost Harrison]

Is it not the fundamentalist who tells me I am going to meet some fiery demise should I not follow their nonsense. There are plenty of people who I know who are religious, but I still consider their beliefs to be idiotic under the circumstances...

[Arrian]

Bah! Why should that stop you! Write up your version anyway.

-Arrian

[Provost Harrison]

The great thing about humans are, you can ignore the ones who just aren't worth the effort

[Lorizael]

Can you really honestly say, PH, that you have no delusions of your own that require examining? It is simply human nature to deceive oneself. Though many do it with religion, all do it somehow.

And you are deluding yourself if you believe you're not deluding yourself. Which makes you, what? Yes, a big fat hypocrite.

[Provost Harrison]

And what am I deluding myself over? That I don't believe in God?