Religion

pinto

(106,886 posts)

71. The more we de-mystify and better understand the "other", in whatever sphere, the better, imo.

Thu Jan 1, 2015, 01:44 PM

Jan 2015

And doing so in a way which doesn't deny differences but accepts them for what they are - different aspects of the big picture - flexes our perceptions and understanding.

I grew up in a very predominately Catholic area, but it was also ethnically diverse. So while we all shared a common religion our various immigrant backgrounds were the more interesting for me. Syrians, Lebanese, Lithuanians, Poles, Irish, Italian, Greeks, Portuguese, etc. The immigrant melting pot of the Northeast US.

I only knew two non-Catholic families well, though. One close friend was Jewish, another some sort of Protestant. It wasn't until I moved away from the neighborhood that I realized how limiting that was. And, lol, I moved into a different melting pot of all sorts of religions or no religion. An eye opener. Looking back, one I wish I had experienced earlier.

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Teaching Religion to Children May Not Be Easy, but It Is Necessary [View all] cbayer Dec 2014 OP

Bullshit on both claims in the title. AtheistCrusader Dec 2014 #1

My parents are non-religious but sent us to Catholic school. hrmjustin Dec 2014 #2

I wish I had had more education about different religions when I was a child. cbayer Dec 2014 #3

Living Brooklyn my whole life I was exposed from an early age. hrmjustin Dec 2014 #4

I grew up in a predominantly Catholic neighborhood until middle school. cbayer Dec 2014 #5

As for the question of faith and kids I don't have kids but I do bring my sisters kids to church hrmjustin Dec 2014 #7

Why would you have needed it as a kid, as opposed to just... doing it now? AtheistCrusader Dec 2014 #44

When teaching a myth, essential to block info that destroys the myth. Classic religion problem on point Dec 2014 #6

Well, I am glad he is the one that is providing general guidance on this. cbayer Dec 2014 #8

Sorry CB. Have to disagree. Indoctrinating children in a lie is harmful to them on point Dec 2014 #11

First, you have to have data to show that it is a lie, which you don't. cbayer Dec 2014 #12

You have this backwards. You have to have prove it is true. Otherwise made up nonsense on point Dec 2014 #15

No, no. I don't say it's true, so I don't have to prove anything. cbayer Dec 2014 #16

You misunderstand science. It only says this is our current best model on point Dec 2014 #25

Lol, I truly do not misunderstand science, but thanks for the chuckle. cbayer Dec 2014 #29

Actually, pretty much everyone touting "proof" and "truth" while talking about science LTX Jan 2015 #50

Science is a methodology that results in facts and theories supported by evidence on point Jan 2015 #85

Hey, on point! Welcome back. cbayer Jan 2015 #86

What parts do we need to reserve as edhopper Dec 2014 #17

You don't have to reserve a single word of it as possibly true. cbayer Dec 2014 #18

Depends on what they believe, edhopper Dec 2014 #19

No, it depends on how they act, not what they believe. cbayer Dec 2014 #20

Define God edhopper Dec 2014 #21

I have no definition for god at all. Do you? cbayer Dec 2014 #22

Outside edhopper Dec 2014 #23

So, do you have evidence that this vaguely defined supernatural agent does cbayer Dec 2014 #26

No edhopper Dec 2014 #27

"Do you have a single shred of data to support that all of it is a lie or a myth? " series? Warren Stupidity Dec 2014 #32

I taught my kids that it's all mythology Rainforestgoddess Dec 2014 #35

I also live in a community where being religious is far from the norm cbayer Dec 2014 #36

Honestly, I'd be a bit disappointed Rainforestgoddess Dec 2014 #42

That's very unfortunate. cbayer Dec 2014 #43

You keep selling it, but nobody's buying. Probably doesn't help that you claim not to use AtheistCrusader Dec 2014 #45

Wow. That's an interesting thing for you to say. Rainforestgoddess Dec 2014 #47

Post removed Post removed Jan 2015 #48

It may have gone to far and I apologize for that. cbayer Jan 2015 #53

The start of critical thinking is the ability to distinguish between myth and religion. rug Jan 2015 #57

What IS the difference? PassingFair Jan 2015 #63

Start here: rug Jan 2015 #64

Thank you for the wikipedia link, oh critical thinking one. PassingFair Jan 2015 #66

Read the citations, oh befuddled one. rug Jan 2015 #68

Or we could just start with the ability to distinguish between belief in god cbayer Jan 2015 #67

The best way is to distinguish between discussion and bigoted bullshit. rug Jan 2015 #69

Which is easily done if one uses critical thinking instead of knee jerk reactions. cbayer Jan 2015 #70

Checklist. PassingFair Jan 2015 #75

Exactly the point. cbayer Jan 2015 #79

I would support a World Religions class in schools Prophet 451 Dec 2014 #9

I agree and I think this author lays out the reasons for this really well. cbayer Dec 2014 #10

We should be prejudiced against phil89 Dec 2014 #13

"We should be prejudiced" is not a phrase that I will accept. cbayer Dec 2014 #14

Yes, in cbayer's world, if you cannot prove something is false... trotsky Dec 2014 #28

You won't even get cbayer to admit the non-existence bvf Dec 2014 #40

Of course, after all, there's an invisible, fire-breathing, pink unicorn hiding in my garage. AtheistCrusader Dec 2014 #46

Quite a claim considering religion came about originally for early man shraby Dec 2014 #24

Interesting historical analysis that sounds about as good as any. cbayer Dec 2014 #30

Racism and xenophobia arose in different cultures all over the world too. trotsky Dec 2014 #31

The power of Myth by Joseph Campbell Phlem Dec 2014 #33

What a great set of interviews. cbayer Dec 2014 #34

I absolutely agree you need to teach myth to kids. Goblinmonger Dec 2014 #41

This is a subject that has haunted me for a long time.... N_E_1 for Tennis Dec 2014 #37

Thought provoking post. Thanks. cbayer Dec 2014 #39

Ah, I see from C & B that you may have thought I was CTYankee. cbayer Jan 2015 #54

That's exactly what happened.... N_E_1 for Tennis Jan 2015 #83

That's ok. I've mad much more embarrassing mistakes and I haven't had a stroke! cbayer Jan 2015 #84

This message was self-deleted by its author kdmorris Dec 2014 #38

This is the most ridiculous, stupid, intellectually bvf Jan 2015 #49

Indoctrinating children with religion is child abuse randr Jan 2015 #51

Oh my god!! We need to start building more jails ASAP. cbayer Jan 2015 #52

Actutal child abuse can be deceptive randr Jan 2015 #55

When you make a comparison between raising children in a religious home and cbayer Jan 2015 #56

Call it what you want randr Jan 2015 #58

Again, you are making hyperbolic statements that have no basis in fact. cbayer Jan 2015 #59

I would not paint our fellow men/women with such a broad brush randr Jan 2015 #60

I think we can agree on this point. cbayer Jan 2015 #61

We are in agreement randr Jan 2015 #72

I am glad we found common ground. cbayer Jan 2015 #73

We are Democrats and should be proud to discuss, disagree, and come to understanding. randr Jan 2015 #76

+1 pinto Jan 2015 #77

Thank you for having this conversation with me and for being civil cbayer Jan 2015 #80

And back at ya randr Jan 2015 #82

I agree 2naSalit Jan 2015 #62

Although I would love to take credit, the book is not mine. cbayer Jan 2015 #65

The more we de-mystify and better understand the "other", in whatever sphere, the better, imo. pinto Jan 2015 #71

Exactly. I think that is his goal - demystification in order to increase understanding cbayer Jan 2015 #74

Unfortunate headline from HuffPo. "Teaching about religion" is the author's gist. pinto Jan 2015 #78

That's a really good point and I think may explain some of the responses here. cbayer Jan 2015 #81

That would significantly alter my response to the article. AtheistCrusader Jan 2015 #87