Christians told to treat atheists and agnostics with "deep esteem" - Page 18

**Russ B** · 09-05-2008, 17:10

All this bickering, I'd have thought we could at least be united against....the scientologists!!! Cult!!

**Jefferson T** · 09-05-2008, 17:13

I think I'm biased after seeing it on South Park anyway.

But, yup I do think they are on the wacky side.

Xaccers · 09-05-2008, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

All this bickering, I'd have thought we could at least be united against....the scientologists!!! Cult!!

Hear hear!

(and the Romans)

**Kevin T** · 09-05-2008, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Après moi le déluge.........

If we're not careful, heads will roll...

moroboshi · 09-05-2008, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

There is no harm whatsoever in believing that our God is in the hearts of ALL men and women. Personally I don't undestand why those who do not (or cannot) share this belief take such offense at it. Islamics would have me believe Allah is god - I don't get offended. I believe them to be very wrong but patronising? I think that's just overdoing the 'persecuted atheist' bit.

It's offensive if you find the idea of a 'god' unpleasant.

Religion is responsible for a whole lot of very nasty stuff, and as an atheist myself I'd rather not have believers convinced that the hand of an invisible 'god' fiddling around inside me.

Personally I'd just like people to stay out of each other's way completely. If people want to believe in ancient myths and magic, then they're free to do so, but when they start meddling with scientists, education, political policy, and who knows what else, that's when atheists/rationalists feel under attack and threatened.

---------- Post added at 17:45 ---------- Previous post was at 17:42 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

Time after time I have shown you where you have taken scripture out of context to create this 'evidence'. Continually repeating it does not make it correct.

Have you read 'The god Delusion'? I have, and it's an excellent book with an incredibly compelling case, and to illustrate it Dawkin's has all sorts of terrifying quotations from the bible.

**Russ B** · 09-05-2008, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by moroboshi

Have you read 'The god Delusion'? I have, and it's an excellent book with an incredibly compelling case, and to illustrate it Dawkin's has all sorts of terrifying quotations from the bible.

Yes I have - have you read it's excellent counter, The Dawkins Delusion?

**Maggy J** · 09-05-2008, 18:09

It's like watching a train wreck happen when participating in a CF religious thread.

Mind it's pretty much the same at the Hitchikers Guide(h2g2) over on the BBC site except there's about religious six threads running concurrently and as there are thousands more participants at that site the threads get very long indeed and more or less rotate around as they progress further and further along.

also they are a hell of a lot more verbose than us but just as b minded.Some of the atheists are just as abusive too.Dawkins has a lot to answer for...

moroboshi · 09-05-2008, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

Yes I have - have you read it's excellent counter, The Dawkins Delusion?

Never heard of that one, I guess nobody bought it.

So I take it you were unmoved by Dawkin's argument and reasoning? The book left me pretty disgusted to be honest, I had previously just ignored religious people but having read Dawkin's book I looked at them in a new light so to speak. Religion says some absolutely horrific things.

**Russ B** · 09-05-2008, 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by moroboshi

Never heard of that one, I guess nobody bought it.

Maybe people just selectively ignored it....

Quote:

Originally Posted by moroboshi

So I take it you were unmoved by Dawkin's argument and reasoning?

I was moved at how much of a chip there is on his shoulder and how he takes the bible way out of context to try and prove a point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by moroboshi

The book left me pretty disgusted to be honest,

Me too, I couldn't get over how misguided the man is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by moroboshi

I had previously just ignored religious people but having read Dawkin's book I looked at them in a new light so to speak. Religion says some absolutely horrific things.

It also says a lot of very wonderful things, but they don't make headlines.

**Jefferson T** · 09-05-2008, 19:21

Well - I just got both (luckily in audio format) so I'm going to give both sides a listen.

**Russ B** · 09-05-2008, 19:22

Dill, read Dawkins' effort first for the best effect

**Jefferson T** · 09-05-2008, 19:25

Will do

Should take about a week for me to listen to both, I'll comment on them then.

Xaccers · 09-05-2008, 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

I was moved at how much of a chip there is on his shoulder and how he takes the bible way out of context to try and prove a point.

I've heard that from both sides of the theological spectrum, one of the reasons why I've never bothered reading his book.
You clearly don't have to take parts of the bible out of context to show it's flaws and hypocracies.
Science of the Discword 3 is pretty good though.

**Russ B** · 09-05-2008, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

You clearly don't have to take parts of the bible out of context to show it's flaws and hypocracies.

I guess some people will read whatever they want in to things if it furthers their cause - Dawkins is a classic example.

Xaccers · 09-05-2008, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

I guess some people will read whatever they want in to things if it furthers their cause - Dawkins is a classic example.

Well if he wants to make money out of it, and people are willing to pay, that's their choice, personally, I don't need to read his book.