Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Paperstreet · 05-08-2003, 12:38 PM

Read a science textbook, especially biology, and especially the chapters on evolution.

mike_decock · 05-08-2003, 12:43 PM

One of the most important steps for me was to admit I believed out of fear. Overcoming that fear in order to critically and honestly examine my beliefs was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

-Mike...

Ab_Normal · 05-08-2003, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike_decock
One of the most important steps for me was to admit I believed out of fear. Overcoming that fear in order to critically and honestly examine my beliefs was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

-Mike...

We could have the Frank Herbert step. "Fear is the little death. Fear is the mind-killer..."

SimplyAtheistic · 05-08-2003, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ab_Normal
We could have the Frank Herbert step. "Fear is the little death. Fear is the mind-killer..."

Step 5: Learn from evidence. Look at all the geological evidence presented to help form a conclusion.
Jake

AJ113 · 05-08-2003, 02:13 PM

Step 6: Lurk on the forums of II

Sr. Zonules · 05-08-2003, 02:16 PM

Step X: Get a good objective (lowercase 'o' please) education!! (not in Kansas et al) (no offense to those who live in the beautiful sunflower state)
Step X+n: Know what the meanings of important words like: Reason, chaos, random, religion, subjective, objective, altruism, selfishness................

It seems to me that people who do not get an objective education seem to not obectively know the real world around them... I love it when my education is objective.

It also seems to me that people justify their religion with terrible foundation of befuddled meanings of words. The most common seems to be (esp. from cretinists AKA creationists) is the difference between random and chaos.

-Z

PS... Perhaps one good step could be to talk (politely) to (polite) people about their faith or lack of it.

Sr. Zonules · 05-08-2003, 02:17 PM

Maybe a list of reading would / should / could include works from wonderful people like Richard Dawkins or Kurt Vonnegut.

-Z

PS.... your mom!

Sr. Zonules · 05-08-2003, 02:31 PM

[This post was accidentally doubled by yours truely]

mike_decock · 05-08-2003, 02:59 PM

Step X: Repeat to yourself these phrases every day.

Faith is different than trust.
Faith is by definition illogical.
I will not get struck by lightning if I question my faith.
Popularity of belief does not make it true.
Ignorance isn't evidence.

-Mike...

AJ113 · 05-08-2003, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike_decock
Step X: Repeat to yourself these phrases every day.

Faith is different than trust.
Faith is by definition illogical.
I will not get struck by lightning if I question my faith.
Popularity of belief does not make it true.
Ignorance isn't evidence.

-Mike...

Spoken like a true ex-christian, Mike

I would add to your excellent list:

If God is good, I will not burn in hell for eternity for using the reasoning skills that he gave me to deduce that he does not exist.

and:
OTOH, if God is bad, fuck him anyway.

05-08-2003, 02:16 PM	#16
Sr. Zonules Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: N 47� 11� 14�, W 122� 10� 08� Posts: 82	Steps to living healthy... Step X: Get a good objective (lowercase 'o' please) education!! (not in Kansas et al) (no offense to those who live in the beautiful sunflower state) Step X+n: Know what the meanings of important words like: Reason, chaos, random, religion, subjective, objective, altruism, selfishness................ It seems to me that people who do not get an objective education seem to not obectively know the real world around them... I love it when my education is objective. It also seems to me that people justify their religion with terrible foundation of befuddled meanings of words. The most common seems to be (esp. from cretinists AKA creationists) is the difference between random and chaos. -Z PS... Perhaps one good step could be to talk (politely) to (polite) people about their faith or lack of it.

05-08-2003, 02:17 PM	#17
Sr. Zonules Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: N 47� 11� 14�, W 122� 10� 08� Posts: 82	Humanists are cool... Maybe a list of reading would / should / could include works from wonderful people like Richard Dawkins or Kurt Vonnegut. -Z PS.... your mom!

05-08-2003, 02:31 PM	#18
Sr. Zonules Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: N 47� 11� 14�, W 122� 10� 08� Posts: 82	Arg... [This post was accidentally doubled by yours truely]

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05-08-2003, 12:38 PM	#11
Paperstreet Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 175	Read a science textbook, especially biology, and especially the chapters on evolution.

05-08-2003, 12:43 PM	#12
mike_decock Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,505	One of the most important steps for me was to admit I believed out of fear. Overcoming that fear in order to critically and honestly examine my beliefs was one of the hardest things I have ever done. -Mike...

05-08-2003, 02:13 PM	#15
AJ113 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Hull UK Posts: 854	Step 6: Lurk on the forums of II

05-08-2003, 02:59 PM	#19
mike_decock Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,505	Step X: Repeat to yourself these phrases every day. Faith is different than trust. Faith is by definition illogical. I will not get struck by lightning if I question my faith. Popularity of belief does not make it true. Ignorance isn't evidence. -Mike...

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