02 Nov 06
Would the believers amonst you (of whatever flavour) consider what would have happened had they been born and raised in a different culture/faith?
If you are prone to being a believer, would you not be a believer in the other faith?
So if you are an ardent catholic, you could have been a muslin cheerleader, except for an accident of birth.
How can any of you assert that your faith is the true one?
02 Nov 06
Originally posted by sugiezdThe culture I was raised in gave me the opportunity to see most world religions (and atheism) at very close quarters. So it's not as though I didn't know about the alternatives.
Would the believers amonst you (of whatever flavour) consider what would have happened had they been born and raised in a different culture/faith?
If you are prone to being a believer, would you not be a believer in the other faith?
So if you are an ardent catholic, you could have been a muslin cheerleader, except for an accident of birth.
How can any of you assert that your faith is the true one?
If I'd been raised in another faith, I'd probably be non-religious at this stage in my life. Eventually, however, I think I'd end up right where I am.
02 Nov 06
Originally posted by lucifershammerWhich is where?
The culture I was raised in gave me the opportunity to see most world religions (and atheism) at very close quarters. So it's not as though I didn't know about the alternatives.
If I'd been raised in another faith, I'd probably be non-religious at this stage in my life. Eventually, however, I think I'd end up right where I am.
(Serious question)
03 Nov 06
Originally posted by sugiezdNearly all American and European Christians would be Buddhists in parts of the East, Hindus in India, and Muslims in North Africa and most of the Middle East. They are followers of the belief system integral to their culture.
Would the believers amonst you (of whatever flavour) consider what would have happened had they been born and raised in a different culture/faith?
If you are prone to being a believer, would you not be a believer in the other faith?
So if you are an ardent catholic, you could have been a muslin cheerleader, except for an accident of birth.
How can any of you assert that your faith is the true one?
03 Nov 06
Originally posted by WulebgrThank you - exactly the point that I am trying to make.
Nearly all American and European Christians would be Buddhists in parts of the East, Hindus in India, and Muslims in North Africa and most of the Middle East. They are followers of the belief system integral to their culture.
Now, given that several of these religions are at odds with each other (and within themselves) doesn't that make regigion ridiculous?
03 Nov 06
1 edit
Originally posted by sugiezdWhat aspect of human nature isn't ridiculous?
Thank you - exactly the point that I am trying to make.
Now, given that several of these religions are at odds with each other (and within themselves) doesn't that make regigion ridiculous?
Some Native American tribes, which exactly I forget, had some ceremonies in which their own beliefs were ridiculed, just to put things in perspective. Something akin to Saturnalia, the spirit of carnival, I expect.
Sadly, Western rationalists often have a monotheistic hangover, even when they think they're atheists. (Isn't it ridiculous to call yourself an atheist?)
At the same time, some religious practitioners find common ground with other religions--there's not much to choose between Sufis and Christian mystics, for instance.
You can choose to emphasise differences or similarities. Different religions are expressions of different cultural responses to the terrors of inhabiting a space-time continuum. Could you have done better had you lived 1000, 10000, 100 000 years ago? Sneering at religion is a rather Johnny-come-lately activity, in my opinion.
That doesn't mean you can't mock religious people. (Loop back to top of post).
03 Nov 06
Originally posted by Bosse de NageNice post.
What aspect of human nature isn't ridiculous?
Some Native American tribes, which exactly I forget, had some ceremonies in which their own beliefs were ridiculed, just to put things in perspective. Something akin to Saturnalia, the spirit of carnival, I expect.
Sadly, Western rationalists often have a monotheistic hangover, even when they think t ...[text shortened]... opinion.
That doesn't mean you can't mock religious people. (Loop back to top of post).
I particularly like the bit about calling yourself an aethist being ridiculous.
After all, it's just the ground state.
I think that the place of religion in society is diminishing, possibly in reverse proportion to education.
03 Nov 06
Originally posted by sugiezdPossibly because many educational faculties have been taken over by a certain anti-religious ideology?
I think that the place of religion in society is diminishing, possibly in reverse proportion to education.
Quick question: When you were in school, were you ever taught about Christopher Columbus? Do you remember what the reason was for the opposition he faced?