Atheists & Agnostics

MrModerate

(9,753 posts)

39. It seemed to me that 'live according to one fantasy or another . . .

Wed Aug 14, 2013, 04:17 AM

Aug 2013

. . . some of it is indeed bad fiction' was defining our knowledge of the universe as fiction.

But I don't want to put words in your mouth.

With regard to faith in one's ability and faith in one's god, I see those as entirely different, more like the difference between confidence and belief.

Similarly, I have confidence in the scientific method, I have no faith that all discoveries will be for the betterment of mankind, but yes, I can imagine a better world through rational thought. In fact I don't think you even can have a better world without rational thought (although luck — i.e., random chance — is also an essential element).

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I�m wrestling with the term �bigot� in relation to Richard Dawkins� now infamous remark about Islam [View all] MrModerate Aug 2013 OP

Hasn't he been trashing Christianity for years and getting a pass... TreasonousBastard Aug 2013 #1

Your four examples are not objectively true. rrneck Aug 2013 #2

Well, that's not what I said . . . MrModerate Aug 2013 #4

Religion is not inherently bad. rrneck Aug 2013 #6

Hmm. There we disagree. MrModerate Aug 2013 #20

Trapped some may be, rrneck Aug 2013 #21

It's hard for me to look at a belief system . . . MrModerate Aug 2013 #25

I call it fiction. rrneck Aug 2013 #33

Certainly our knowledge of the universe around us . . . MrModerate Aug 2013 #37

I wouldn't call our knowledge of the universe fiction either. rrneck Aug 2013 #38

It seemed to me that 'live according to one fantasy or another . . . MrModerate Aug 2013 #39

I was talking about religion. rrneck Aug 2013 #40

You're moving the goalposts, which makes me wonder skepticscott Aug 2013 #12

Well, I wasn't trying to make a direct comparison to Dawkins' remark . . . MrModerate Aug 2013 #22

I think that frogmarch Aug 2013 #3

That's an excellent parsing of the dilemma . . . MrModerate Aug 2013 #5

Just to be clear skepticscott Aug 2013 #7

I believe this is what the quote is: Curmudgeoness Aug 2013 #8

It needs to be taken in context - See his piece here: mr blur Aug 2013 #10

Yes, exactly skepticscott Aug 2013 #11

Yes, that's the one. n/t MrModerate Aug 2013 #16

So can you specify skepticscott Aug 2013 #18

I've just read Dawkins' response to the controversy . . . MrModerate Aug 2013 #23

You stated that the definition of "bigotry" skepticscott Aug 2013 #28

In particular, the "contempt" part . . . MrModerate Aug 2013 #29

And why would a reasonable person skepticscott Aug 2013 #30

A reasonable person would see the tone of the remark, as well as the content. MrModerate Aug 2013 #31

You can not convey tone of voice through text. LostOne4Ever Aug 2013 #32

Oh, *really*? MrModerate Aug 2013 #36

And the tone of the remark skepticscott Aug 2013 #34

He didn't. Keep in mind it is a lament. Not an accusation. AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #41

Excellent link, with great rebuffs. Curmudgeoness Aug 2013 #14

I do not think that any religion is inherently bad. Curmudgeoness Aug 2013 #9

Some of them have some pretty grim facets, such as Thuggee. When the Brits took over dimbear Aug 2013 #13

The people who are sheperding the sheep Curmudgeoness Aug 2013 #15

I'm still trying to figure out how this was a "racist" statement as I saw reported. ScottLand Aug 2013 #17

Why 'wrestle' with it? AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #19

While your confidence is clear, many others think otherwise . . . MrModerate Aug 2013 #24

So show them his full essay. AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #26

I've actually got better advice for Dr. Dawkins . . . MrModerate Aug 2013 #27

It's not an argument skepticscott Aug 2013 #35