Religion
In reply to the discussion: Is the universe evil? [View all]Goblinmonger
(22,340 posts)My wife often gets offended because I obviously love the book and she has talked about reading it and I have told her that she shouldn't. She thinks it's because I think she's stupid. Which isn't the case. You need to have put in your literature chops to read Joyce and she just hasn't done that (an attorney--so her reading is elsewhere).
I've tried explaining this to others without much luck, but I'll give you a shot. The problem I have with that definition of belief is that it assumes--not with malice or even knowing it--that your belief is normal. Specifically in this case because the US and the west is primarily Christian. So people feel comfortable saying things like "well, you just don't believe in god, but that's just a belief you can't prove." No. When we prove things, the burden is on those making the claim. And in this case, a pretty big claim. That I "don't believe" in god does not mean that each is on equal footing. As the null hypothesis, I think my position is the default until proven otherwise.
I'm fine with you believing whatever you want. Really, I am. Your god is no more compelling than Zeus or any other god. And I don't see a lot of people running around saying that they "don't believe in Zeus" and that nobody really knows and that their belief in Jesus as god is no different than their disbelief in Zeus.