Quote:
Originally Posted by SebC
Lacking knowledge is the definition of ignorant (as it pertains to a specific topic, or just generally). And yes, my education would have been inferior had I not learned about evolution in biology.
Sure. And what about the harm that gets done in between?
Yes I have.
Yet some religions (whether real, or just theoretically possible) sanction murder. Clearly your right to life is more important that any religious creed that might infringe upon it. Which apparently, is the most assinine thing I've said. You can't have it both ways. Either religious rights are absolute (and therefore, your right to life isn't), or they are lower down the totem pole (which you just called assinine and offensive).
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Your rights end where they infringe on my rights, and vice versa. That is the difference between something obviously ridiculous (religion sanctioning murder) and something which we actually should respect (people's beliefs). If you can't see that, then you're being willfully ignorant. My right to believe that gays are sinners is absolute...you can't force me to change my opinions no matter how much you may dislike them. My right to harm you in light of that belief is not. The "hate speech" laws we deal with are already infringing pretty far into the "freedom of expression" arena, but it could be argued that such speech is powerful enough to incite *actual* harm.
And really, all of this is quite ridiculous. The whole idea of "rights" is a product of a civilization that has invented the concept. As such, ALL rights are subject to the whims of the majority (and therefore changeable). We long ago lost the ability (most of us) and will to defend ourselves against infringement of our own rights...including the ability to defend our own lives. Now, we just go about our business and expect 'society' -- including government -- to defend our rights ... or at least those rights that some old farts decided to write down 30 years ago.
What an aimless rant!