Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post

Cube Inmate · 05-17-2007, 06:45 PM

/dork on
Does anybody know what happened on the planet Vulcan before they were saved by logic? I kind of get the feeling it would have looked very much like what's happening on Earth right now, as exemplified by this thread.
/dork off

On the message of this thread, I (as an atheist) am opposed to anything that suppresses critical thinking...it's an ability that's severely lacking in humanity in general. So, while you may have the right to believe anything you like, that won't stop me from engaging you in discussions intended to make you question your religion. I had such a discussion last week, and I didn't have to aggressively tell the person he was "wrong" in his beliefs. It's enough to simply ask questions and know that I've made someone else think a little more critically. On the other hand, he made me think a little bit too. Neither of us changed our beliefs, but that wasn't the point in the first place.

I should add...

One-on-one, the vast majority of religious people I encounter are also reasonable people. They're aware that their beliefs defy logic, but they're fine with that (a la Textcritic). As a movement, though, I think religion is much less capable of being reasonable. That's the same for any large group--political parties, minorities, majorities, feminists, Calgarians, etc.... So, if we (atheists as a group) could reason with them (religions as a group) the same way that is possible as individuals, I don't think we'd have the same level of argument. It's not possible, unfortunately.

05-17-2007, 06:45 PM	#114
Cube Inmate First Line Centre Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boxed-in Exp:	/dork on Does anybody know what happened on the planet Vulcan before they were saved by logic? I kind of get the feeling it would have looked very much like what's happening on Earth right now, as exemplified by this thread. /dork off On the message of this thread, I (as an atheist) am opposed to anything that suppresses critical thinking...it's an ability that's severely lacking in humanity in general. So, while you may have the right to believe anything you like, that won't stop me from engaging you in discussions intended to make you question your religion. I had such a discussion last week, and I didn't have to aggressively tell the person he was "wrong" in his beliefs. It's enough to simply ask questions and know that I've made someone else think a little more critically. On the other hand, he made me think a little bit too. Neither of us changed our beliefs, but that wasn't the point in the first place. I should add... One-on-one, the vast majority of religious people I encounter are also reasonable people. They're aware that their beliefs defy logic, but they're fine with that (a la Textcritic). As a movement, though, I think religion is much less capable of being reasonable. That's the same for any large group--political parties, minorities, majorities, feminists, Calgarians, etc.... So, if we (atheists as a group) could reason with them (religions as a group) the same way that is possible as individuals, I don't think we'd have the same level of argument. It's not possible, unfortunately. Last edited by Cube Inmate; 05-17-2007 at 06:52 PM. Reason: If you saw the change, you'll know why!