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You're as black/white as anyone I have seen here, in a different way.
I don't think so. I try very hard not to be, and I've gotten better at it with age. One indicator is that I will attempt to consider the other person's point of view. I may not ever agree with it, but I will acknowledge its existence and understand that another's experience and knowledge can lead them to see the world differently from how I see it.
I know that things are very rarely ever black and white, either/or.
A couple of things that a few of our christian posters don't understand:
1. Critiquing a religion is not the same thing as condemning a religion.
2. There is a difference between criticizing a religion, and criticizing the beliefs of a particular poster.
A couple of things that a few of our christian posters don't understand:
1. Critiquing a religion is not the same thing as condemning a religion.
2. There is a difference between criticizing a religion, and criticizing the beliefs of a particular poster.
Very good points, phetaroi.
I think some would also do well to remember that very few people just wake up one fine day and say, "Gee, I'm going to despise this religion today."
The fact of the matter is that many people have had very bad experiences that were the direct result of religious beliefs--their own or that of others--and their perspective on those religions indicates this.
Several major religions teach that its adherents will suffer persecution and that they are to welcome it and wear the persecution proudly. This, I believe, causes some confusion wherein some adherents start to see all negative remarks about their religion as an "attack", when in fact it might be genuine criticism and/or anger and disgust as a result of a negative experience with that religion.
Continuing to display or defend the behavior that caused the negative perception in the first place will only further close the mind of one who has had the negative experience.
I think some would also do well to remember that very few people just wake up one fine day and say, "Gee, I'm going to despise this religion today."
The fact of the matter is that many people have had very bad experiences that were the direct result of religious beliefs--their own or that of others--and their perspective on those religions indicates this.
Several major religions teach that its adherents will suffer persecution and that they are to welcome it and wear the persecution proudly. This, I believe, causes some confusion wherein some adherents start to see all negative remarks about their religion as an "attack", when in fact it might be genuine criticism and/or anger and disgust as a result of a negative experience with that religion.
Continuing to display or defend the behavior that caused the negative perception in the first place will only further close the mind of one who has had the negative experience.
That's a very good point.
There's more than one way of looking at it, but one way is that there are two kinds of prejudice. One type is when it's learned by children from their parents or other people like themselves, and based almost exclusively via word of mouth. The other type is when an individual learns through actual interaction that there are things about a particular culture that just don't set well with someone. The former is appalling; the latter at least I can understand.
I think some would also do well to remember that very few people just wake up one fine day and say, "Gee, I'm going to despise this religion today."
The fact of the matter is that many people have had very bad experiences that were the direct result of religious beliefs--their own or that of others--and their perspective on those religions indicates this.
Several major religions teach that its adherents will suffer persecution and that they are to welcome it and wear the persecution proudly. This, I believe, causes some confusion wherein some adherents start to see all negative remarks about their religion as an "attack", when in fact it might be genuine criticism and/or anger and disgust as a result of a negative experience with that religion.
Continuing to display or defend the behavior that caused the negative perception in the first place will only further close the mind of one who has had the negative experience.
you make good points ... but ... We are trying to talk the risk versus benefit of religion and the reliability of god claims. How reliable are people that have abused by religion in those discussions when it comes to assigning actual weights of the claims?
when does the scarring become so bad that these people have lost sight of what is being said?
just look at the word "God". when a person cringes at the word, that is a real indication that we need to double check that person's situation and past experiences. Not outlaw any god claims that don't fit a political agenda.
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