Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Sauron · 02-06-2002, 01:47 PM

Over on the BaptistBoard (www.baptistboard.com).

Truth hurts.

Huginn · 02-06-2002, 02:37 PM

Did you type god with a lower case 'g' or something?

Christopher Lord · 02-06-2002, 02:42 PM

I would consider that a complement.

Sauron · 02-06-2002, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Huginn:
Did you type god with a lower case 'g' or something?

I said:

John Ashcroft was wrong for using taxpayer money( $8,600) to put drapes over naked statues, and that we taxpayers shouldn't be paying for his religious beliefs;
Palestinians shouldn't give up their homes just because "god's word" says that the Jews have a right to the land;
an unplanned pregnancy is a devastating thing to someone's life;
that gay adoption was in fact endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics;

etc.

And asked some embarrassing questions, such as:

which is better for the child:
a. to grow up in a gay home, or
b. to spend their young life in an orphanage, and never be placed in a home at all?

But what got me banned (I think) was this one:

Quote:

By its nature, fundamentalism rejects evidence, fact and rationality. It relies instead on rules, which are inflexible. People drawn to fundamentalism prefer that; it removes the uncertainty associated with having to work through moral problems. It also gives them the certainty that they crave, the assurance that makes them feel better.

But what if their interpretation of these rules is incorrect?

Because they are a fundamentalist, there is no way to exit the infinite loop - no way to inform that person that they're making a mistake. They can't discover it themselves, because they don't trust their own ability to reason and decide things. Other people cannot tell them, because outsiders are suspicious and might be from "the enemy". Their own religion isn't going to provide the correction; if it could do that, they wouldn't be in error in the first place.

They're stuck. With exit doors all around them, they're totally stuck.

By accepting fundamentalism, they have placed themselves in a "logic-proof box" with no way to detect error or deliberate deceit.

Churches are not the problem.
Fundamentalism is the problem.

[ February 06, 2002: Message edited by: Omnedon1 ]

elwoodblues · 02-06-2002, 04:55 PM

lol, I hope you weren't very surprised.

The Naked Mage · 02-06-2002, 05:34 PM

Well-said, by the way!

RufusAtticus · 02-06-2002, 05:43 PM

I agree. Well said.

-RvFvS

RufusAtticus · 02-07-2002, 11:36 AM

I noticed that they locked the Pediatrican thread, as I phrophesied. (http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=18&t=000166)

Worship me, mortals. I have the gift!

-RvFvS, The seer of Georgia

[ February 07, 2002: Message edited by: RufusAtticus ]

emphryio · 02-10-2002, 08:35 PM

Very well said. So much so that I think its worth holding onto.

AJ the greek · 02-23-2002, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Omnedon1:


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By its nature, fundamentalism rejects evidence, fact and rationality. It relies instead on rules, which are inflexible. People drawn to fundamentalism prefer that; it removes the uncertainty associated with having to work through moral problems. It also gives them the certainty that they crave, the assurance that makes them feel better.
But what if their interpretation of these rules is incorrect?

Because they are a fundamentalist, there is no way to exit the infinite loop - no way to inform that person that they're making a mistake. They can't discover it themselves, because they don't trust their own ability to reason and decide things. Other people cannot tell them, because outsiders are suspicious and might be from "the enemy". Their own religion isn't going to provide the correction; if it could do that, they wouldn't be in error in the first place.

They're stuck. With exit doors all around them, they're totally stuck.

By accepting fundamentalism, they have placed themselves in a "logic-proof box" with no way to detect error or deliberate deceit.

Churches are not the problem.
Fundamentalism is the problem.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ February 06, 2002: Message edited by: Omnedon1 ]

I found this quite profound but was late to read it so therefore I *bump*. Well Said!

02-06-2002, 01:47 PM	#1
Sauron Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: In the dark places of the world Posts: 8,093	Woo-hoo! I got banned! Over on the BaptistBoard (www.baptistboard.com). Truth hurts.

02-07-2002, 11:36 AM	#8
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	I noticed that they locked the Pediatrican thread, as I phrophesied. (http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=18&t=000166) Worship me, mortals. I have the gift! -RvFvS, The seer of Georgia [ February 07, 2002: Message edited by: RufusAtticus ]</p>

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02-06-2002, 02:37 PM	#2
Huginn Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Lincoln, England Posts: 1,499	Did you type god with a lower case 'g' or something?

02-06-2002, 02:42 PM	#3
Christopher Lord Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 808	I would consider that a complement.

02-06-2002, 04:55 PM	#5
elwoodblues Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Dunmanifestin, Discworld Posts: 4,836	lol, I hope you weren't very surprised.

02-06-2002, 05:34 PM	#6
The Naked Mage Veteran Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: The Execution State, USA Posts: 5,031	Well-said, by the way!

02-06-2002, 05:43 PM	#7
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	I agree. Well said. -RvFvS

02-10-2002, 08:35 PM	#9
emphryio Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: WV Posts: 4,369	Very well said. So much so that I think its worth holding onto.

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