Something about boredom--other people's--goes here, but I'm not sure what.
This topic could easily go in the Ethics forum, but I choose Religion because my first attempt to address the issues will pertain to goings-on in this forum.
A couple months ago, in a topic criticizing Wicca, a critical voice noted that s/he did not have any need to learn about the religion s/he was criticizing. Essentially, the critic announced that it was all bigotry and that should be good enough for the rest of us.
And more recently, I went off on atheists, but because they had simpler, less challenging amusements to deal with, I didn't see much of a substantial response; I'm farming through the latter pages of A conundrum to make sure I haven't missed anything. But to recap:
If religion is so simpleminded and ridiculous as people paint it to be, how come so few of the painters seem to have any clue what they're about?
So a new message to atheists: If you expect your atheism to be regarded as anything other than a childish rebellion against perceived authority, if you wish your atheism respected as an educated conclusion and not a knee-jerk reaction, if you wish atheism in general to be given the credit of the objectivity it claims, you need to show those aspects. Do not expect people to believe what you tell them on faith. Otherwise, you're just another cheap religious tool seeking converts to numb the pain of recognizing personal failure.
And yes, you have the right to bitch pointlessly all you want. Don't expect respect for it, though.
And in the meantime, please remember that being "just as good" as the people you criticize is not "good enough". What makes atheistic shite so stinkless? Y'all set the standards with your rough, uneducated criticisms. It's now time to live up to them.
It's showtime.
:m:,
Tiassa
This topic could easily go in the Ethics forum, but I choose Religion because my first attempt to address the issues will pertain to goings-on in this forum.
A couple months ago, in a topic criticizing Wicca, a critical voice noted that s/he did not have any need to learn about the religion s/he was criticizing. Essentially, the critic announced that it was all bigotry and that should be good enough for the rest of us.
And more recently, I went off on atheists, but because they had simpler, less challenging amusements to deal with, I didn't see much of a substantial response; I'm farming through the latter pages of A conundrum to make sure I haven't missed anything. But to recap:
I keep trying to expand on that, but it speaks pretty clearly.So here's a personal message for atheists: You must understand religion before your rejection of it is valid. If religion is so simplistic as it is cast by many atheists (and, for that matter, many believers) then understanding religion and figuring out how to overcome the obstacles it poses ought to be quite simple, as well, right? Look: Most atheists criticizing "religion" have no freaking clue what they're talking about, and just because you're not calling God an old man with a beard who sits in the sky and judges everything doesn't mean you're not treating it as such. An atheistic argument so pointed as to address only the prevailing cultural motifs is a mere reaction against perceived authority ....
.... But come on: If religion is such a simple matter, how come so few atheists understand it? If religion is such a boneheaded assertion, why does it evade the grasp of most of its atheistic critics? If religion is so unnatural, why did atheism have to evolve from superstitious people? (Tiassa, 7.8.2003)
If religion is so simpleminded and ridiculous as people paint it to be, how come so few of the painters seem to have any clue what they're about?
So a new message to atheists: If you expect your atheism to be regarded as anything other than a childish rebellion against perceived authority, if you wish your atheism respected as an educated conclusion and not a knee-jerk reaction, if you wish atheism in general to be given the credit of the objectivity it claims, you need to show those aspects. Do not expect people to believe what you tell them on faith. Otherwise, you're just another cheap religious tool seeking converts to numb the pain of recognizing personal failure.
And yes, you have the right to bitch pointlessly all you want. Don't expect respect for it, though.
And in the meantime, please remember that being "just as good" as the people you criticize is not "good enough". What makes atheistic shite so stinkless? Y'all set the standards with your rough, uneducated criticisms. It's now time to live up to them.
It's showtime.
:m:,
Tiassa