Occupy Religion: Don’t Let Religion Occupy You

[cbayer]

52. As a scientist, I find your post more descriptive of scientific study

than of debate or discussion.

If we are discussing things that really can't be measured or quantified, the quest for "truth" becomes very subjective and multifaceted. And what may be very true for me may not be true for you at all. We could have a jousting match in which your skills are better than mine and you win, but it won't make anything more or less true.

Still, I can be interested in your opinion and even strenuously argue that I think you are wrong. But if I start making it personal and tell you that your perspective does not even merit consideration, let alone respect, the discussion is over. If I tell you that you are too stupid, deluded or crazy to really get it, the discussion is over.

As to the argument about slavery, there are things that I think most people will agree on. Holocaust bad, slavery bad, bigotry bad. With those that hold strong opinion opposed to mine on these critical points, I don't even want to begin the discussion.

But we are not discussing that here. We are discussing religion, belief systems, whether there are deities or not, etc. In these areas, I do not believe that you are any closer to the truth than I am. But we can discuss it.