Freethought & Rationalism Archive

03-13-2003, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tdekeyser
I take a bit of offense to that comment. Anna was not "stupid", she was LIED to that there was a God protecting her. She was taught that Christians are on the narrow path and rightious and can be trusted.

How would you like it if I called your wife "stupid"?

Sorry about that. Lets just say that it was not very smart. Around here we trust everybody (our house is never locked) but deal with money. It must hurt to lose 50 grant unless she has lots of it, which she probably doesn't or she would know better.

03-13-2003, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by christ-on-a-stick

Tim, I would take that with a *bowl* of salt - after all, IIRC Amos also called the children molested by Catholic priests "cowards" for not immediately reporting their abuse.

I really don't remember, but do you mean that I wondered why they went back for seconds before they reported their abuse?

christ-on-a-stick · 03-13-2003, 03:05 PM

Amos -

Quote:

Well it's easy to call me a prick but I am glad that you realize that it takes courage to tell relevant authotities about sexual abuse. Let's just conclude that child molesters are cowards and that cowardice runs in the family.

Your words in the Cardinal Law thread, page 6.

03-13-2003, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by christ-on-a-stick
Amos - Your words in the Cardinal Law thread, page 6.

For sure, and don't you agree that it takes courage to go to the autorities and that cowards lack courage?

christ-on-a-stick · 03-13-2003, 04:07 PM

Quote:

For sure, and don't you agree that it takes courage to go to the autorities and that cowards lack courage?

1. It may or may not require courage to go to the authorities, depending on the person. For one person it might be very easy, for another it might take a great deal of courage.

2. Yes, cowards lack courage. Duh.

3. Lacking courage does not necessarily = being a coward.

You are attempting to create a false dilemma of two extremes - either one is courageous or cowardly.

I find your disparagement of sexual abuse victims odious.

christ-on-a-stick · 03-13-2003, 04:11 PM

Hi Helen,

From this part of Tim's post

Quote:

<snip> ... not only was she harmed physically, he also took $50,000 from her because he convinced her that he was "anointed".

it would appear that he is not referring to anything as (relatively) benign as being called a sinner.

03-13-2003, 04:28 PM

Odious? I just try to be realistic.

We do not know if this girl was abused and even if she was used as a willing participant it would constitute abuse in my view because of the unusual circumstances she found herself in. We'll here about this later and can deal to it then.

Baidarka · 03-13-2003, 06:40 PM

Christ-on-a-stick said it for me. �I can't help but wonder, if this girl's existing credulity made her even *more* susceptible to the kidnappers' brainwashing. After all, this guy reportedly claimed to be "God". Maybe she believed him???�.
I too think that Elisabeth�s religious training may have primed her for Emanuel�s brainwashing.
If we teach children that gullibility is a virtue than we leave them defenseless to pseudo Messiahs and others who might use their lack of healthy skepticism against them.
There is an argument that religion is beneficial and that it is evil to take people�s faith from them. I think that this is true to a certain degree but that if religion were sold in the drug store as a remedy for societies ills it would have to come with a long list of harmful side effects. The fact that religions teach that it is a virtue to embrace the unbelievable as holy and true may be the most harmful.

03-13-2003, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baidarka
Christ-on-a-stick said it for me. �I can't help but wonder, if this girl's existing credulity made her even *more* susceptible to the kidnappers' brainwashing. After all, this guy reportedly claimed to be "God". Maybe she believed him???�.
I too think that Elisabeth�s religious training may have primed her for Emanuel�s brainwashing.

Very much so. She was brainwashed before and recognized him as a voice of truth that spoke with conviction. They usually do.

christ-on-a-stick · 03-13-2003, 07:38 PM

Baidarka,

Quote:

If we teach children that gullibility is a virtue than we leave them defenseless to pseudo Messiahs and others who might use their lack of healthy skepticism against them.

Well put!

Amos sez:

Quote:

She was brainwashed before and recognized him as a voice of truth that spoke with conviction. They usually do.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

03-13-2003, 04:28 PM	#47
Amos Guest Posts: n/a	Odious? I just try to be realistic. We do not know if this girl was abused and even if she was used as a willing participant it would constitute abuse in my view because of the unusual circumstances she found herself in. We'll here about this later and can deal to it then.

03-13-2003, 06:40 PM	#48
Baidarka Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 590	Christ-on-a-stick said it for me. �I can't help but wonder, if this girl's existing credulity made her even more susceptible to the kidnappers' brainwashing. After all, this guy reportedly claimed to be "God". Maybe she believed him???�. I too think that Elisabeth�s religious training may have primed her for Emanuel�s brainwashing. If we teach children that gullibility is a virtue than we leave them defenseless to pseudo Messiahs and others who might use their lack of healthy skepticism against them. There is an argument that religion is beneficial and that it is evil to take people�s faith from them. I think that this is true to a certain degree but that if religion were sold in the drug store as a remedy for societies ills it would have to come with a long list of harmful side effects. The fact that religions teach that it is a virtue to embrace the unbelievable as holy and true may be the most harmful.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.