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Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos
I'm not in the business of defending Richard Dawkins, but you seem to be saying that "pointing out the logical flaws" is a bad thing. Poking holes and exposing the flaws in powerful, international organizations and movements is a good thing.
And even if he does say that people who believe are stupid, it's a far cry from that saying (and enforcing) the idea that they shouldn't be afforded the same rights as non-believers.
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I'm not going to defend church's in the same way you shouldn't have to defend Dawkins. What the church does and what the individual christian does are two completely different things. I for one believe all people should be afforded the same rights.
My problems with Dawkins is he attacks individuals with his Mantra not the organizations. His Mantra does nothing more then entrench extremists and alienate moderates.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos
You are the one that brought it up. You said you, as a Christian, weren't allowed to have your beliefs, and then you didn't explain how.
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Sorry I think I wasn't clear. Its not that you are not allowed to have you beliefs without ridicule.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos
Anyway, I've never been persecuted for my beliefs. But I've had "Christian values" pushed on me all my life, even in public school. I've never had an atheist tell me what to believe.
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Christian values shouldn't be pushed on people and to a large degree especially in public schools this has been eliminated. Athiesm has definately become a stronger voice over the past 5 years. Somehow the debate has become either you are a creationist or an athiest and anyone who declares that they believe all of a sudden becomes a creationist. The middle ground of being a quiet christian who believes has disappeared to a large degree.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos
Now come on, this just isn't true. Our political leaders are always religious/Christian. We hear all the time that the majority of Canadians identify themselves as religious (and mainly Christian). There are churches in every community, and religious organizations are given a mighty favorable status by the tax man.
The most popular guy in town is a smiley-faced hockey playing hero who is openly Christian, and everybody, even the atheists, love him.
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Look at the 30 an under demos on religion. Here is as close as I can find
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religio...e_and_religion
(i didn't even change the numbers)
Athiests 31.8 Canada 37.3 with Catholics being 38 and the other christian religions over 40. So amoung the younger crowd religion is not prominant at all outside of religious groups.
Religous organizations are no more favoured by the tax man then any other non-profit community or charitable organization and essentially that is the purpose they serve.
Anyway the real way to get rid of the organzational consequences of religion is just to increase standard of living and access to information a wait. Demographics will take care of the problem on its own. The biggest thing is that you probably don't want to come on hear and read how great Jesus is and how to be saved and I don't particularly want to read how stupid everyone who believes in religion is. Simple respect of people's beliefs goes a long way. If I like my Spegehtti Monster you shouldn't care.