Comments on: Out and About with Atheists http://www.sourapplesblog.com/2009/04/02/out-and-about-with-atheists/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:11:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Mike Caton http://www.sourapplesblog.com/2009/04/02/out-and-about-with-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Mike Caton Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:59:46 +0000 http://www.sourapplesblog.com/?p=417#comment-70 The distinction in how to behave toward nutty beliefs is the distinction between one-on-one social contacts - which is where you convince people that atheism is a good way to live your life - and the public sphere, i.e. secular government. So, if someone wants to believe in the tooth fairy, I'd rather they didn't because they would live a better life and probably be more productive, which benefits me, but that's not up to me, and their toothfairyism won't cause me that much of a problem anyway. But if they try to teach my kids about the tooth fairy in a public school, that's where it does become a problem. We all of us have irrational beliefs, but when we agree on the rules we all live by, we don't expect anyone else to respect those irrational beliefs. Consequently the irrational beliefs based on groupthink are the ones we have to worry about. The distinction in how to behave toward nutty beliefs is the distinction between one-on-one social contacts - which is where you convince people that atheism is a good way to live your life - and the public sphere, i.e. secular government. So, if someone wants to believe in the tooth fairy, I’d rather they didn’t because they would live a better life and probably be more productive, which benefits me, but that’s not up to me, and their toothfairyism won’t cause me that much of a problem anyway. But if they try to teach my kids about the tooth fairy in a public school, that’s where it does become a problem. We all of us have irrational beliefs, but when we agree on the rules we all live by, we don’t expect anyone else to respect those irrational beliefs. Consequently the irrational beliefs based on groupthink are the ones we have to worry about.

]]> By: Ryan O'Brien http://www.sourapplesblog.com/2009/04/02/out-and-about-with-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-69 Ryan O'Brien Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:07:10 +0000 http://www.sourapplesblog.com/?p=417#comment-69 Thank you for posting this. And I especially appreciate your links to sites (eucharist-in-the-garbage-bin) and references to PZ Myers (the transubstantiation thing has always amused me) which are totally new to me. (Where do you find this stuff anyway? You must be Googling like crazy.) At this point in my life (50s), I’ve pretty much come to terms with my religious-spiritual-humanistic beliefs but it’s still interesting to see other people work through theirs. So many don’t, they just cling to the package they are given by their parents. I agree that it’s important to let people have their beliefs (Really, what else can you do, insist they believe as you do? -- As if you were the omnipotent one?) But when their silly seeming, illogical beliefs are in danger of harming you, they really must be squashed. The true nature of the Universe and mankind, what caused and what happened after the alleged “Big Bang,” what made man, what made consciousness, what made awareness of mortality, why do humans fear death, those are still up for grabs, even after millenniums of thought and belief. I believe that science, real science, hard science, confirmable science, will eventually unlock the secrets of the Universe. Unfortunately, that probably won’t be in my lifetime, maybe yours. As my grandma replied when her arrogant, immature grandson said when he asked her, “Grandma, wouldn’t you like to have been born when I was,” “No, I’d rather have been born when you die.” Smart grandma. In the meantime, a fresh-ground hamburger with Jack cheese, French (excuse me, “Freedom”) fries, and home made cole slaw will suffice. Oh, did I mention the mayonnaise and catsup? Condiments are my favorite food group! I hope you’re not eating something faggy like sushi tonight. :) Thank you for posting this. And I especially appreciate your links to sites (eucharist-in-the-garbage-bin) and references to PZ Myers (the transubstantiation thing has always amused me) which are totally new to me. (Where do you find this stuff anyway? You must be Googling like crazy.) At this point in my life (50s), I’ve pretty much come to terms with my religious-spiritual-humanistic beliefs but it’s still interesting to see other people work through theirs. So many don’t, they just cling to the package they are given by their parents.

I agree that it’s important to let people have their beliefs (Really, what else can you do, insist they believe as you do? — As if you were the omnipotent one?) But when their silly seeming, illogical beliefs are in danger of harming you, they really must be squashed.

The true nature of the Universe and mankind, what caused and what happened after the alleged “Big Bang,” what made man, what made consciousness, what made awareness of mortality, why do humans fear death, those are still up for grabs, even after millenniums of thought and belief.

I believe that science, real science, hard science, confirmable science, will eventually unlock the secrets of the Universe. Unfortunately, that probably won’t be in my lifetime, maybe yours. As my grandma replied when her arrogant, immature grandson said when he asked her, “Grandma, wouldn’t you like to have been born when I was,” “No, I’d rather have been born when you die.” Smart grandma.

In the meantime, a fresh-ground hamburger with Jack cheese, French (excuse me, “Freedom”) fries, and home made cole slaw will suffice. Oh, did I mention the mayonnaise and catsup? Condiments are my favorite food group! I hope you’re not eating something faggy like sushi tonight. :)

]]>