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Originally Posted by Cheese
Yeesh...thats really pulling at straws my friend.
I see know that promoting truth, critical thinking, reasoning, healthy skepticism/debate, etc.. is not a bad thing!
That doesnt appear to be more than the fact that he feels he will only deal with truth or anything that can be proven. I dont see the parallel you were drawing...but I shouldnt speak for him.
I dont paint all theists with the same brush...but I certainly paint their choice of kool-aid. The vast majority of theists use their specific brand as a networking and social tool. When it comes to actual dogma most havent got a clue what the word dogma means, let alone what is actually written in their tome(s).
The vast majority of atheists who turned from any theism turned once they actually delved further into the backgrounds of their religion. Education and the educated almost always turn away from dogma. That is probably part of the truth mentioned above.
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Straw dogs!
Listen, I have read the Satanic Verses, I have read the debate on the Koran and one of its most sympathetic historians (lost her name, Swedish I believe) said she feels badly about how the overwhelming historical documents put Islam in such a bad light because of its very precarious beginnings.
We have given Judaism and Christianity such a free ride because of religious fear for a almost 2 thousand years.
To vastly simplify my stance, is that there is such a huge volume of contradictory dogma, questionable historical data, and then the best anti theist thing itself; the bible.
What to me is most difficult to accept is that people with faith are so often completely unaware of the historical problems, the brutal problems with the original biblical texts.
I research and learn these things, and yet those who believe in the Bible do not and will not. Blaming that its just faith, who needs to actually go and debate the ridiculous documents and historical research which puts religion to such a difficult litmus test.
I mean recently a religious friend debated with me the virgin birth, something common amongst deity's from ancient times. The story of jesus and much of the bible is a compilation (a greatest hits if you will) of pre-Christian gods.
But so many of the faithful do not know this, nor the 100's of other interesting contradictions, fallacy's, etc.. Simply because faith just asks you to believe, not research it...
I still think that the modern age which allows free religion is the most dangerous moment of human history for religion. It allows open debate, and thus I still believe a growth in atheism will occur because people are no longer in fear of their lives if they doubt great theistic religions.