Religion

rug

(82,333 posts)

65. The Four Oxen and the Lion

Reply to awoke_in_2003 (Reply #60)

Sat Apr 21, 2012, 06:02 PM

Apr 2012

A Lion used to prowl about a field in which Four Oxen used to dwell. Many a time he tried to attack them; but whenever he came near they turned their tails to one another, so that whichever way he approached them he was met by the horns of one of them.

At last, however, they fell a-quarrelling among themselves, and each went off to pasture alone in a separate corner of the field. Then the Lion attacked them one by one and soon made an end of all four.

United we stand, divided we fall.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

72 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

As a long-time atheist, I'm often asked if I "respect" religion. [View all] MineralMan Apr 2012 OP

The subtlety might be too much for them to get Warpy Apr 2012 #1

Those who call believers deluded may find the subtlety too much for them. rug Apr 2012 #7

Deluded, eh? Who used that word? MineralMan Apr 2012 #19

You can read post #3 in this thread: rug Apr 2012 #24

Then, I suggest that you post your reply to that post. MineralMan Apr 2012 #25

As a matter of fact I wasn't replying to you at all. rug Apr 2012 #29

The nature of DU discussions is that anyone MineralMan Apr 2012 #33

In that case, keep your suggestions as to whom I reply to to yourself. rug Apr 2012 #35

Sir, Yes Sir! MineralMan Apr 2012 #42

Off the shelf delusions vs. Individually created delusions NAO Apr 2012 #32

A delusion is fixed, false belief that is maintained despite evidence to the contrary. cbayer Apr 2012 #37

Some might say that the definition of self-delusion... cleanhippie Apr 2012 #66

To maintain that there is a god or gods is not, as no one can submit evidence to the contrary. AlbertCat Apr 2012 #67

Again, I object to the incorrect use of a technical term. cbayer Apr 2012 #72

How does being an atheist enable you to recognize people's needs or tendencies? rug Apr 2012 #48

If atheism is simply nonbelief in god(s) AlbertCat Apr 2012 #68

Abraham, Moses, others were delusional by your criteria NAO Apr 2012 #38

Indeed. MineralMan Apr 2012 #47

Do you therefore call someone who believes that to be delusional? rug Apr 2012 #50

No, I do not. MineralMan Apr 2012 #52

The only one who did that so far in this thread is you. Warpy Apr 2012 #28

The only post above mine is yours. rug Apr 2012 #30

Congratulations. Warpy Apr 2012 #43

Frankly, there is little to misunderstand about your post. rug Apr 2012 #45

"Oh, I hate Judaism, but some of my best freinds are Jews." Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #2

The beliefs of my friends and people I respect MineralMan Apr 2012 #5

Everybody believes something... immoderate Apr 2012 #3

As an agnostic, I find that I respect the teachings more than most "religious" people. DCKit Apr 2012 #4

Every religion has two types of "teachings." MineralMan Apr 2012 #9

And yet, Jesus said that unless one hated their immediate family, they could not truly love him. stopbush Apr 2012 #12

The problem with that is that you're talking about a record MineralMan Apr 2012 #16

The problem with that is that you're talking about a record AlbertCat Apr 2012 #69

"I have come to set you against your mothers and fathers" DCKit Apr 2012 #22

Jesus said what other, later, people said he said. xtraxritical Apr 2012 #57

Problem is too many who ask that question mean only the Abrahamic faiths intaglio Apr 2012 #6

And I think the reason is "active recruitment".... physioex Apr 2012 #10

Ah, but Judaism is not an evangelical religion, and it MineralMan Apr 2012 #13

Point taken..... physioex Apr 2012 #17

That is true, more or less, I think. MineralMan Apr 2012 #11

Well put. I usually substitute political affiliation for religious belief to make the point. stopbush Apr 2012 #8

i don't much respect organized religions. i'm coming to not respect many ellenfl Apr 2012 #14

I Just Ask AldebTX Apr 2012 #15

What do you do when you're told Yes? rug Apr 2012 #21

I would only argue that once you start using ridicule, disparagement, pejoratives cbayer Apr 2012 #18

And I would argue that you are incorrect. MineralMan Apr 2012 #20

Do you respect or disrespect people who mock people based on their beliefs? rug Apr 2012 #31

Mock? That is not something I particularly respect in a person. MineralMan Apr 2012 #49

Does "not something I particularly respect" mean you disrespect someone who does that? rug Apr 2012 #51

That depends. I try very hard not to judge people or determine MineralMan Apr 2012 #55

You're saying that on balance you respect them more than you patrice Apr 2012 #23

The guy that figured this out rrneck Apr 2012 #26

Exactly. Thanks. MineralMan Apr 2012 #34

It's amazing how few people actually get that (including some fellow atheists). Well said. NT Grown2Hate Apr 2012 #27

UR Correct..The fact that anybody could fear me because I'm an Atheist is because.. Tikki Apr 2012 #36

In normal conversations with people, I don't bring it up either. MineralMan Apr 2012 #39

MineralMan! Those are my thoughts exactly! DesertDiamond Apr 2012 #40

Thanks! MineralMan Apr 2012 #41

Very well said. JFN1 Apr 2012 #44

Could not the same, but opposite, argument be made here? cbayer Apr 2012 #46

Indeed it could be made. MineralMan Apr 2012 #53

religion marshall gaines Apr 2012 #54

Oh, it is quite possible to die without religious belief. MineralMan Apr 2012 #56

of course marshall gaines Apr 2012 #58

I doubt very seriously that you interviewed many atheists MineralMan Apr 2012 #59

ok marshall gaines Apr 2012 #61

Instead of getting angry, how about describing the personal experiences MineralMan Apr 2012 #62

not angry marshall gaines Apr 2012 #63

I give religion the same respect... awoke_in_2003 Apr 2012 #60

The Four Oxen and the Lion rug Apr 2012 #65

While late to this discussion, I must say that you give credulity to cachukis Apr 2012 #64

If I didn't know better, I would say this is parody. LTX Apr 2012 #70

I don't see the equivalency, to respect an idea is to give it some measure of merit... Humanist_Activist Apr 2012 #71