religion

[paulgiamatti]

I'd never make the charge of creationism being inherently closed-minded. When used as the basis to justify harmful fundamentalist religious views, then I'd say it's morally reprehensible, but I don't think "closed-minded" accurately represents my beef with it.

[RobotElvis]

Originally Posted by paulgiamatti [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I'd never make the charge of creationism being inherently closed-minded. When used as the basis to justify harmful fundamentalist religious views, then I'd say it's morally reprehensible, but I don't think "closed-minded" accurately represents my beef with it.

I agree anything used to justify hatful actions against humanity should be considered morally reprehensible. But belief in a creator does not necessarily lead an individual down that path.

[paulgiamatti]

Originally Posted by RobotElvis [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I agree anything used to justify hatful actions against humanity should be considered morally reprehensible. But belief in a creator does not necessarily lead an individual down that path.

Then here we can agree. All I ask is that you keep it to yourself when you're in my home or around my children.

[Glenzig]

Originally Posted by paulgiamatti [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Then here we can agree. All I ask is that you keep it to yourself when you're in my home or around my children.

You don't want your children to be given any other options for belief?

[paulgiamatti]

Originally Posted by Glenzig [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

You don't want your children to be given any other options for belief?

I'm not sure if I understand what you mean by "belief" here. There are plenty of things about the universe and the study of science that are hugely inspiring - just read about supermassive black holes or look at the Hubble images of galaxy clusters, or read Stephen Hawking's description of the event horizon. There are plenty of things that can be simply believed with a great deal of awe and wonder under the purview of science without involving superstitious, religious nonsense.

If you were referencing spirituality, then yes I am very much open-minded to that as well. I believe to be human is to have the desire for self-transcendence, and reach a more enlightened state of being if you will. Does this make me believe in anything supernatural? It does not. I believe there is no such thing as a suspension of the laws of physics, and it is this fact about our universe that is the only thing that can be described as miraculous.

[Eliseus]

Originally Posted by paulgiamatti [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Then here we can agree. All I ask is that you keep it to yourself when you're in my home or around my children.

So what he is saying is he wants your children to listen to his children fallacies, but will take action if your children try to preach anything. He also twists words to describe himself as being "honest" rather than admitting his blind faith.

[RobotElvis]

Originally Posted by paulgiamatti [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Then here we can agree. All I ask is that you keep it to yourself when you're in my home or around my children.

Yes but evolution has been used to commit horrible atrocities against humanity, namely eugenics. Yet I am sure that you are comfortable talking about evolution in school and in your home.

[paulgiamatti]

Originally Posted by RobotElvis [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Yes but evolution has been used to commit horrible atrocities against humanity, namely eugenics. Yet I am sure that you are comfortable talking about evolution in school and in your home.

Religion is the only thing that indoctrinates in scripture carrying out malevolent, hateful, and oppressive things to others in the name of god or under his direct command. There are speeches about this very subject by widely acclaimed secular humanists that carry much more weight under their names than I do, I've mentioned a handful of them somewhere upthread.

Humans can find any reason to do evil and wicked things, but religion, to put it euphemistically, has far more blood on its hands than anything else in mankind's history. To ignore this is simply to be anti-historical.

[paulgiamatti]

I have no idea. Every question you've just asked extends far beyond my knowledge or expertise. It is fascinating though, I agree with you there.

[RobotElvis]

Originally Posted by paulgiamatti [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I have no idea. Every question you've just asked extends far beyond my knowledge or expertise. It is fascinating though, I agree with you there.

That my friend is called blind faith.