You have a point there. I guess they are trying to be nice, even if they are (in my view) entirely misguided.I sort of feel for them in a way. I mean, if you are wholeheartedly Christian and truly believe that those who do not accept Christ will in fact go to a horrible place of indescribable punishments for eternity...
... doesn't that obligate you to try and save your friends? By saying, well, it's your choice, I don't push my religion on others - yet I truly believe that you are headed for the worst fate possible... You're a bit of a neglectful prick if you don't try to save your friends right?
On this we disagree. Strong belief in anything - be it God, mysticism or a specific scientific theory (String Theory makes a good example) - without the search to disprove it only leads to false reinforcement. There is no substitute for knowing the truth, however thin our understanding of it might be.I don't know, that's just how I've felt in the past when Christian friends have tried to talk me over. Sure, I still don't agree with them, but at least I can respect that they are being strong in their own beliefs.
Strong belief in anything - be it God, mysticism or a specific scientific theory (String Theory makes a good example) - without the search to disprove it only leads to false reinforcement. There is no substitute for knowing the truth, however thin our understanding of it might be.
Isn't he just saying that a steadfast refusal to consider alternative explanations isn't necessarily a quality to be respected?
Most religious people I have asked will not even consider the possibility that their belief is wrong - they are '"being strong in their beliefs". I don't think that such a blinkered, active denial of any alternative explanation is particularly worthy of celebration.
I do, however, agree that people with strong religious beliefs can indeed lead ethically sound lives, just as can agnostics and atheists. People's actions may increase the good (reduce suffering, increase happiness) even where their belief system does not hold up to intellectual rigour.
In your schema, do I deserve the same disrespect as someone who wouldn't hear the other side to begin with?
Sorry, I missed this bit.Some people would rather be secure than free, and that's entirely their prerogative. I don't mean to put words in your mouth, but I question that someone who chooses security over freedom necessarily leads a less worthy or lower quality life. All you or I could say conclusively is that their way is not our way.
Sorry, I missed this bit.
People can and will believe what they want and that is, of course, entirely their prerogative. My concern is not that someone's belief my lower the quality of their own life, but I am concerned where someone's dogmatic belief causes harm or suffering to others (which is what I though I was saying in the last paragraph of my post).
I have said elsewhere that one of my core moral beliefs is that people should be allowed to do (think, believe) so as they please, in so far as in doing so they do not cause harm or suffering to others.
But that is of course, a belief, a strongly held one at that, but I am open to persuasion that it is wrongly held.
This is really all you need to say. I've never heard a fundamentalist come up with a good answer to this.
I stormed out of the apartment and went somewhere else. I just don't see why an all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving God would send a good dude like me to hell.?