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Atheists & Agnostics
In reply to the discussion: Dishonesty and thoughtlessness in believers. [View all]LostOne4Ever
(9,286 posts)14. I don't see how your reply relates to my comment
I was using my own experiences from when I was a believer and saying that they might apply to an indeterminate number of believers just as well. I was not saying that was the reason for all believers or in any way trying to push my beliefs on those who disagree.
Could you maybe elaborate further?
As for post #7, I would say that those you are describing as not having given it much thought, would be similar to those I am describing in my reply. Of course, finding the goal post is the reason we ask follow up questions.
"Oh you don't believe that huh? Then how do you interpret this?"
Seems pretty simple to me.
As for the goal posts part, I think that post is referring to a tendency among some believers to claim something to be literally true till that position becomes problematic, and at that point demand that it is nothing more than a metaphor, or to change interpretations on the fly.
Its frustrating to have a discussion about the specifics of a system of belief when the moment that those specifics become problematic they no longer mean what you thought was understood a while ago. Literal truths become metaphors. A bad metaphors then must mean that the interpretation is wrong not the source material. The conclusion that the source material is always good and always right is never questioned.
It pretty much makes everything unfalsifiable. You can't argue against something that can never be proven wrong, and you become the evil atheist for not accepting their interpretation of "bunnies and rainbows" or finding it unfullfilling.
I am not saying those believers are wrong. They very well could be right. I don't know everything. But without some objective method of telling if something is a literal truth, a metaphor, or just wrong; and another objective way of correctly interpreting said metaphors it feels more like a game of "catch me if you can" than an actual search for truth or knowledge.
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I don't see peoples' faith as being dishonest simply because they don't fit some fundamentalist...
stone space
May 2014
#2
I realize that dishonest has a really negative connotation, but I don't mean "deliberately lying"
Warren Stupidity
May 2014
#5
Maybe the problem isn't in the answers. Maybe the problem is in the questions.
stone space
May 2014
#7
No, I'm saying that they might define their religious beliefs differently that...
stone space
May 2014
#9
Again no such thing and I would appreciate if you would stop insulting atheists.
trotsky
May 2014
#27
If an atheist takes a literalist position with respect to the bible in a discussion with...
stone space
May 2014
#33
I never said it was, but you are claiming that taking something literally = believing it. (nt)
stone space
May 2014
#41
"Advanced Atheism"? That's sounds like an interesting topic worthy of its own thread. (nt)
stone space
May 2014
#44
Not sure I can point to any particular reason. It's just what I believe. I don't claim to have...
stone space
May 2014
#49
I didn't just decide to call myself an atheist. I call myself an atheist because that's what...
stone space
May 2014
#54
wait, you have to start from: that book is the revealed truth from god.
Warren Stupidity
May 2014
#50
The post you replied to was only addressing the question of whether or not...
stone space
May 2014
#51
Taking something literally does not = believing that the literal interpretation is true. (nt)
stone space
May 2014
#56
Claim atheism falsely? Am I being excommunicated? I didn't even know it was possible.
stone space
May 2014
#87
Just so you know, the word "fundamentalist" is frowned upon here in A&A
EvolveOrConvolve
May 2014
#65
Incidentally, we are in a thread where people like my wife are being described with...
stone space
May 2014
#68
I think Warren did a far better job upthread describing what is meant by "dishonest"
EvolveOrConvolve
May 2014
#74
I get what you're saying. I don't personally know if any biblical literalists,
TxDemChem
May 2014
#16