Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 06-24-2003, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HelenM
It seems to me that when it comes to theist beliefs, many people here are willing to spend forever analyzing and dissecting and objecting to them.

When it comes to the 'no theist moderators' rule, some are evidently content with 'it works, why change it?' or 'it's obviously against the mission statement'.

It seems that there is a reluctance on the part of some to apply the same critical, analytical standards to the latter as to the former.

Why is that? Shouldn't critical analysis be applied just as rigorously to those rules/ideas we like, as to those we don't?

If not, then 'critical thinking' can be simply a smokescreen used to try to justify one's own irrational biases. And, imo, the 'most deluded theist' is not necessarily more deluded than the self-proclaimed 'rational, critical thinking' nontheist who is selective about which issues he/she critically thinks about.

Helen

I have tried to think critically about this issue, and I keep asking how a theist can honestly support the goals of an organization that is devoted to non-belief. The answer seems to be that they can support some of the goals in some situations, but the discussion keeps getting derailed by the charge of "bigotry" which just does not fit here.

I have decided that I would go along with accepting a theist moderator in some cases, if all the conditions were right, preferably in one of the specialized forums. But I do not see the need or value for a theist moderator right now. (leonarde - you lost fair and square. No theist moderator could have saved you.)

I would particulary object to redefining the mission of the boards from supporting non-belief to supporting non-believers.

yguy · 06-24-2003, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toto
I have tried to think critically about this issue, and I keep asking how a theist can honestly support the goals of an organization that is devoted to non-belief.

I don't see the relevance of the question. If I had a board dedicated to promoting yguy-ism, I wouldn't have any problem with an atheist mod, because by being himself, he would give me a chance to hold his truth up to scrutiny in the light of mine, whether he had any intention of supporting my beliefs or not. Or, if his arguments were better than mine, and I had the guts to admit it, I'd be smarter than I was before. Win-win deal.

Toto · 06-24-2003, 01:21 PM

yguy - that's why we encourage theists to post here. Moderating is something else.

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06-24-2003, 01:21 PM	#213
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	yguy - that's why we encourage theists to post here. Moderating is something else.

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