Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Peter Kirby · 12-10-2006, 12:01 PM

Malachi151, note that you have repeated that you disagree with me, but I have not said that I disagree with you. My response to your "I disagree" was and is, "Do you?"

Clivedurdle's OP is ambiguous, and it's awfully hard to say whether what he was pointing at is closer to what I was talking about or what you were talking about.

What I was talking about was a mode of thought, a way of thinking, that may be categorized as Christian. This seems to be the way that "djrafikie" took it, as well as (for the most part) Johann_Kaspar. Examples of modes of thought are petitio principii, Ockham's razor, god of the gaps, and modus tollens.

What you are talking about are base assumptions and general influences which have, if not been held by all Christian thinkers, been transmitted to us today through Christianity. Examples of base assumptions are mind-body dualism, naturalism, and free will.

I have not been talking about the latter and have allowed you to say your peace on that. I think your list could be even better rounded (drop 9, conglomerate some of the first 8, add some stuff on ethics) but if it's meant merely to say, "there are some beliefs in the western world that have been conditioned by Christianity," then it may succeed in the demonstration of that.

May Athene bless me with wisdom and Dionysus give me good cheer,
For I think that explains all that, and the end of this is near.

kind regards,
Peter Kirby

jeffevnz · 12-10-2006, 12:18 PM

- The idea that it is immoral to follow a different religion or to disagree with any part of the current one is peculiar to the Abrahamic religions. Other religions simply hold that such thinking is incorrect.

- Christians have put together more argumentation for their various beliefs (including EoG) than followers of other religions, because they had to combat science and rationalism, which sprang up in their own backyard. Their arguments are generally nonsense, but I give them credit for trying.

- Rules about sexual behavior are more restrictive than those of any other religion, except Islam. Contrary to popular belief, these rules developed recently, during the Renaissance. The Middle Ages were basically a 1,000-year orgy.

EarlOfLade · 12-10-2006, 12:50 PM

Chrisitans don't really THINK, they just regurgitate old sayings that has been touted to them since they were kids.

How many Christians do you think consider whether Jesus was a real person or a myth?

Do you really think that they have ever considered the position on let's say gay marriage and actually have come up with a list of things that will be destroyed if gays can marry? Or do you think that they have gotten that idea and all the talking points from their local scam artist, the preacher?

jeffevnz · 12-10-2006, 12:56 PM

No, you're absolutely right. Rank and file Christians are as mindless as the followers of any other religion. I just meant that their scholars have a history of pseudo-rational inquiry that you don't see with other religions

Peter Kirby · 12-10-2006, 01:00 PM

Earl:

Christians think as well as you do.

--
Peter Kirby

mountainman · 12-10-2006, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clivedurdle

What is it like to not think like a Christian?

Consider the Emperor Julian, and his literature.
PAGAN. A word that funnily enough popped into
existence with the word "christian" like a particle
and its anti-particle, at the same time. Pair creation.

We have our own individual "guardian spirit"
or "guide" (in the greek daemon) and
then there are the gods of heaven and earth.

Quote:

What are the signs of thinking like a xian?

Julian provides a good reference in his "The Caesares"
but I do not have it with me at the moment. Essentially
it relates to the belief in the existence of some form of
"free ticket" to "the universal order" that is associated
(and in some cases with an extreme form of exclusivity)
with the subscription to "christianity".

Pete

Johann_Kaspar · 12-10-2006, 03:14 PM