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mythology

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54. You can't prove a negative

Tue Nov 17, 2015, 11:34 AM

Nov 2015

You can say that much of our ethical standards have roots in religion, but given the frequency that similar ethics appear across religions, it's probably human nature and so could have been reached without religion. But that's a supposition because they did start in religion. You can't prove that our cultural ethics would have evolved in the same fashion (for good or bad) without religion. And no claiming you did doesn't count because you are immersed in the culture.

I say this as an atheist who got kicked out of my religious high for being too atheist.

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It saddens me to see xenophobia even here at DU. [View all] Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 OP

I'll take your word on that mdbl Nov 2015 #1

If you let your fear rule you that way JackInGreen Nov 2015 #4

I've given this a lot of thought over the last few days. Pacifist Patriot Nov 2015 #20

a truly beautiful sentiment. nt restorefreedom Nov 2015 #61

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. nt Javaman Nov 2015 #43

That was said in the context of facing a German/Nazi invasion GummyBearz Nov 2015 #53

No actually it wasn't. It was in FDR's 1932 inaugural speach... Javaman Nov 2015 #56

I was saying GummyBearz Nov 2015 #57

No worries. :) we have all had to taste our toes now and then. Javaman Nov 2015 #58

Sometimes fear conquers our better, more liberal nature. It happens though, pampango Nov 2015 #2

fear enid602 Nov 2015 #6

Fear is certainly sometimes understandable. pampango Nov 2015 #7

What about fear of a population full of armed people and easily attained guns? FLPanhandle Nov 2015 #30

Fear of all members of an ethnic, racial, or religious group is patently unreasonable. Koinos Nov 2015 #3

How about fear of religious doctrines mdbl Nov 2015 #5

I believe that fear or hatred of all religious doctrines is unreasonable. Koinos Nov 2015 #10

Bullshit FLPanhandle Nov 2015 #29

Why are you so angry? Whence the hate? Koinos Nov 2015 #36

No anger FLPanhandle Nov 2015 #51

You can't prove a negative mythology Nov 2015 #54

Saying "bullshit" to a poster you do not know might not seem particularly rational to an observer. Koinos Nov 2015 #70

Too much time with buddies watching football this weekend. FLPanhandle Nov 2015 #89

Yes, fear of religious doctrines can be reasonable Yorktown Nov 2015 #11

Lol ok rjsquirrel Nov 2015 #15

What Muslims and Christians have in common is fear of and hatred for atheists Fumesucker Nov 2015 #21

Nope. Because a lot of believers just don't care Yorktown Nov 2015 #23

How about bigots? rjsquirrel Nov 2015 #12

No, as long as we do not fear the human beings who may or may not practice what pampango Nov 2015 #13

It is ALL radical religious doctrines BlueMTexpat Nov 2015 #14

So you decide rjsquirrel Nov 2015 #16

If you really cannot understand BlueMTexpat Nov 2015 #22

Doctrines are just words - they need adherents - LiberalElite Nov 2015 #24

Agreed. Koinos Nov 2015 #45

if not everyone in a group follows their doctrines, mdbl Nov 2015 #87

I'm Going To Disagree RobinA Nov 2015 #48

But I think there is a Mesican under my bed. Enthusiast Nov 2015 #8

�Cuidado! DFW Nov 2015 #19

Kicked and recommended! Enthusiast Nov 2015 #9

No kidding. eShirl Nov 2015 #17

Hope we get the chance, before the environment shuts us down. Koinos Nov 2015 #38

Don't let all the reactionary BS on DU right now get you down. marmar Nov 2015 #18

DU is not immune from the shortcomings of human nature. Koinos Nov 2015 #44

I know a little about Xenophobia yuiyoshida Nov 2015 #25

This have been alerted on and hidden? That's ridiculous. BeanMusical Nov 2015 #28

Which is why she is not around these days yuiyoshida Nov 2015 #31

I can't blame her but it's a big loss for DU. BeanMusical Nov 2015 #33

She has totally left the internet as well yuiyoshida Nov 2015 #34

I'm so sorry. BeanMusical Nov 2015 #35

Please tell her that she is missed here. panader0 Nov 2015 #49

I have told her that... yuiyoshida Nov 2015 #62

A word of caution to anyone who posts in a non-English language: Orrex Nov 2015 #60

Wow, that was kind of disturbing. Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 #63

disturbing enough to lose yuiyoshida Nov 2015 #66

That's very sad. Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 #71

I frankly can't tell how many of "us" are left. yuiyoshida Nov 2015 #74

Have you been to Alaska? Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 #75

I am part Native Hawaiian ..even yuiyoshida Nov 2015 #76

Well, yes, there's the cold. Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 #77

I read some where yuiyoshida Nov 2015 #78

We have a large ex-NFL Samoan football player, Mao Tosi, Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 #79

Fishing and cannery is the biggest industry in Samoa. American Samoa is the largest fishing port Bluenorthwest Nov 2015 #85

Good guess on my part. Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 #88

That's freaking horrible! neverforget Nov 2015 #93

Kick and R BeanMusical Nov 2015 #26

I live in a small town next to Paterson, NJ, an area with the no_hypocrisy Nov 2015 #27

Islamophobia, like any prejudice, makes no sense at all. Koinos Nov 2015 #41

I'm with you on this madokie Nov 2015 #32

It's not that hard to figure out, if we all went back around 70 years in time, bullwinkle428 Nov 2015 #37

I am sure glad I wasn't around 70 years ago yuiyoshida Nov 2015 #40

He has done an INCREDIBLE job sharing stories of that era that were so bullwinkle428 Nov 2015 #46

honto desuyo! yuiyoshida Nov 2015 #47

The worst thing about xenophobia is that other xenophobes on other countries malaise Nov 2015 #39

It is hard to defuse fear, anger, and hatred. Koinos Nov 2015 #42

Just for perspective, DU finally PPR'd a poster who has spent months spewing horrible anti gay and Bluenorthwest Nov 2015 #50

'Bout fuckin' time. Iggo Nov 2015 #55

:thumbsup: Orrex Nov 2015 #59

One year too late, but still, DU is a better place for their departure. bullwinkle428 Nov 2015 #65

Finally and at last? Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 #67

I was not sure you would be glad. You and that poster, I have avoided you because you two Bluenorthwest Nov 2015 #84

Are you sure you don't have me confused with someone else? Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 #86

Finally! n/t tammywammy Nov 2015 #94

disgusting ain't it. spanone Nov 2015 #52

Well, it's always been very strong on DU. So, I guess you can GBCW your account. closeupready Nov 2015 #64

Did I say anything about leaving? Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 #68

I didn't mean it in the sense that, for example, Sid would have done it. closeupready Nov 2015 #69

Thank you. Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 #72

Totally agree. closeupready Nov 2015 #73

so true and sometime from people who certainly should know better Douglas Carpenter Nov 2015 #80

It's not xenophobia. It's a fear of foreigners. ... Oh, wait. n/t pampango Nov 2015 #81

Exactly. Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 #82

KnR, Blue. Hekate Nov 2015 #83

It's scary to see the reactions Bush used to coax out of his voters Hydra Nov 2015 #90

yeah, I had to keep a "future ignore list" when DU3 was rolled out MisterP Nov 2015 #91

K&R Solly Mack Nov 2015 #92