And if the moderators here want to be consistent in upholding the forum's guidelines, fascist views like yours ought to be a ban worthy offense. — Buxtebuddha
Given the troubles you have had with moderation in the past, I'm surprised you would say that.
Although I find the positions Pseudonym has expressed in this discussion poorly argued and morally suspect, I have no question he should be allowed to make them on this forum. — T Clark
First, I didn't say it, Wikipedia did.
Second, I didn't bold that particular line, so it doesn't even come into play.
Third, and finally, if a delusion was an idea that is out of keeping with the patient's social, cultural, and religious background, then that means that every new denomination or sect of an existing religion that forms is a delusion. This means that Jesus was delusional because his ideas were out of keeping with the social and cultural background he found himself in.
Obviously, thinking differently isn't a symptom of a delusion. It is thinking illogically on purpose, and only in a particular case or for a particular belief, in order to avoid the logical truth, that is a delusion.
Think, people, before posting your comments. — Harry Hindu
If you were to even say that people can decide to support tyranny under the right circumstances, I still wouldn't call you an irrational fascist. — SonJnana
most theists deny that evolution occurred and also deny that prayer cannot scientifically allow you to communicate with anyone or anything among others — Joel Bingham
Everyone, to one degree or another, twists the evidence to suit their conclusions. Some more than others, but we all do it. None of us are immune from such behavior. — Sam26
Cons -
The discouraging of critical thinking
The absolving of moral responsibility to an authority
Religious wars
Child abuse
Psychological abuse
Pros -
Nothing that is not already replicated in atheists — Pseudonym
Delusional people twist certain evidence to support their belief, and ignore other evidence that contradicts their belief. — Harry Hindu
So if a teacher in a faith school teaches that all non-believers are so evil that they deserve to be tortured for eternity, that's fine — Pseudonym
Religion does not discourage critical thinking. — BlueBanana
"Absolving of moral responsibility to an authority" is neither a strictly negative thing — BlueBanana
every state in the world does that with their legal systems. — BlueBanana
Wars exist without religions, which are just excuses. Child abuse happens outside religions as well — BlueBanana
It's fine in the faith school, I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be tolerated here. — BlueBanana
No, most states are democracies which means that each citizen has a part to play in devising and revising these moral decisions. — Pseudonym
There was no vote on the ten commandments. — Pseudonym
Racism exists outside of neo-nazi groups so we shouldn't act against neo-nazis? — Pseudonym
that the authority (state, society, laws) is chosen democratically by the people does not make it any less an authority. — BlueBanana
they have so much space for interpretation they actually leave a lot more freedom for moral decisions and the choices and preferences of the individuals than actual laws. — BlueBanana
An authority is needed for morality in any society, because otherwise we're left with pretty much an anarchy or the state of nature with everyone following their own interests. — BlueBanana
Let's shut down hospitals and schools as well because then there are less opportunities for child abusers. — BlueBanana
priests don't have a higher probability to be child abusers than other men. — BlueBanana
blocking a single way to do that won't stop the abusers, but instead they'll find another way. — BlueBanana
Being delusional is holding beliefs that contradict reality or rational argument. I've posted the symptoms of Wikipedia several times on these forums and theists match up with a vast majority most of them. Look it up.That doesn't mean anyone that twists certain evidence to support their belief and ignores other evidence that contradicts their belief is delusional. — BlueBanana
Yes they do. There are a greater proportion of child abusers in the priesthood than there are among farmers, or soldiers, or dentists. Just as there are among schoolteachers, paediatricians etc. Groups that have access to children, particularly where they have some significant authority and are implicitly trusted by parents tend to attract abusers. The priesthood is one such institution. — Pseudonym
All I said was that it is one institution (among a number of others), that allows child abusers access to victims and a means to cover-up their behaviour. The fewer such institutions we have the safer our children will be. — Pseudonym
I think the fact that a group supposedly professing knowledge of the divine manage to restrain themselves from abusing children to no greater degree than any other group shows absolutely clearly how utterly useless religion is at instilling moral values. — Pseudonym
Well, the problem could be solved in multiple manners. The Church could be much much better at policing its own members and prosecuting them. There could be advisory standards in place so that priests never have much one-on-one time with children, if at all. — Akanthinos
I think that's not really as widespread amongst Christians as they claim it is. — Akanthinos
The real advertising scoop for Christianity was the big emphasis on forgiveness. Now you can do whatever the hell you like in life as long as you get in a quick apology before death you'll be fine. — Pseudonym
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