A side note
I can’t believe it’s been over a week since I last posted. I apologise for my neglect! I’ve finally finished uni for the year. :party: I’ll be back, writing posts and powering through my RSS subscriptions with gusto.
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Rational Atheism
I read an article in Scientific American this morning, Rational Atheism. It was so well written, refreshing – targeted at atheists, but I think a person with any kind of belief set could take some principles from it.
The author quotes Carl Sagan:
You can get into a habit of thought in which you enjoy making fun of all those other people who don't see things as clearly as you do. We have to guard carefully against it.
I think we all think that we see something more clearly than someone who thinks differently. I don’t think I would make fun of people, but it’s easy to act or think negatively towards them. I have certainly come across plenty of atheists who relish making fun of my beliefs; it makes them seem like insensitive idiots. Why would you want to believe the same things as those nasty people?
It was refreshing to come away feeling positive about an article on atheism. I can’t decide whether this is a step towards people showing respect towards each other, or a step towards pluralism, which I don’t think really helps anyone.
I can respect others’ opinions a lot more when they’re not hostile about mine. And the person doesn’t even have to be on the opposite side as me. Even if I might agree with them, there’s no way I’ll tell them–just fuel for the fire!
And it’s not just people of other religions either. I don’t like those evangelists out on the street corner yelling at people to repent or go to hell. Yes, it’s true that will happen, but honey always drew more flies than vinegar. Jesus teaches us to love our enemies not yell at them to convert!
Mr. Shermer did have a good point about anti-something campaigns. So I’m on a pro-God campaign.
Have you ever read The Case for… books by Lee Strobel? The Case for Faith and The Case for a Creator are really good. Most historical and biological evidence supports the Bible and intelligent design.
LaurenMarie – You’re right, I vented some similar frustration in my post Bible bashers.
I’ve read his first book “The Case For Christ”. It was good. While that book doesn’t cover creation – mainly the authority/reliability of the bible, it makes a reasonable and historical case. I don’t think intelligent design should be taught as a science, but I also don’t think evolution should be taught as fact (but as the theory that it is).
Ouch! There are a few atheists who need to be polemic and let everyone else know how superior they feel … but those are as rare as religious people hijacking planes. They say there’s one in every bunch. 🙁
Probably the reason you don’t hear or read much pro-atheist material is that, well, atheists don’t have any type of organization to get out the word. Most of us aren’t very fervent about being atheists. Not believing in Yeshua isn’t any more important to us than not believing in Isis. Either is much less important than spending time with our families, friends, or even just a good read.
Which means the ones that are left, looking for attention from the cameras, are the ones who breathe fire about how nobody else can see as clearly as they can.
I think the article was suggesting that there should be more pro-atheist action. It was in Scientific American, perhaps it was really targeted at scientifically inclined people and suggesting they “get out the word” of rational thinking.
I guess there is always someone in any group making the others look bad.
I guess I’ve just never understood the pro-atheism thing … seems like as long as we’re pluralistic enough to accept people who believe other things ( and I think we are ), the rest sort of falls into place. Anyway, that’s the rant you inspired from me with your post. :coffee: