Comments on: So Much For Religious Freedom http://belowthebeltway.com/2008/12/02/so-much-for-religious-freedom/ I believe in the free speech that liberals used to believe in, the economic freedom that conservatives used to believe in, and the personal freedom that America used to believe in. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:47:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: tfr http://belowthebeltway.com/2008/12/02/so-much-for-religious-freedom/comment-page-1/#comment-261531 tfr Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:19:26 +0000 http://belowthebeltway.com/?p=12266#comment-261531 My wife and I had this discussion a few days ago. We concluded that the only reason someone would react so violently is that they are not particularly firm in their beliefs, but their dogmatic life requires them to be. Anything that might disturb their little notion of the universe is perceived as a threat, because they would have to question their own methods of living, which they can't do. Therefore they must seek to control, both themselves and others who are perceived threats. This describes any type of fundamentalism, Islamic, Christian, whatever. Those who have accepted their beliefs and live their life accordingly don't have any need to change the minds of others who may disagree. My wife and I had this discussion a few days ago. We concluded that the only reason someone would react so violently is that they are not particularly firm in their beliefs, but their dogmatic life requires them to be. Anything that might disturb their little notion of the universe is perceived as a threat, because they would have to question their own methods of living, which they can’t do. Therefore they must seek to control, both themselves and others who are perceived threats. This describes any type of fundamentalism, Islamic, Christian, whatever.
Those who have accepted their beliefs and live their life accordingly don’t have any need to change the minds of others who may disagree.

]]> By: Amerist http://belowthebeltway.com/2008/12/02/so-much-for-religious-freedom/comment-page-1/#comment-261519 Amerist Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:24:56 +0000 http://belowthebeltway.com/?p=12266#comment-261519 I have to agree that these are not denigrating. The core tenet of what atheism is disbelief. "Don't believe in God?" Got it met right there -- does it really denigrate anyone not to believe in the Loch Ness Monster and want to get together with others who also don't? Religiosity is simply too tightly held to the breast for many people, they are bosom sentimental about their pet philosophies of the universe; so much so that they think anyone who doesn't agree must be pettish and stabbing at them. That sign doesn't say: You're stupid for believing in God. It's simply seeking out disbelievers. Skepticism is due an organized recognition; it certainly has the numbers. I have to agree that these are not denigrating. The core tenet of what atheism is disbelief. “Don’t believe in God?” Got it met right there — does it really denigrate anyone not to believe in the Loch Ness Monster and want to get together with others who also don’t?

Religiosity is simply too tightly held to the breast for many people, they are bosom sentimental about their pet philosophies of the universe; so much so that they think anyone who doesn’t agree must be pettish and stabbing at them.

That sign doesn’t say: You’re stupid for believing in God. It’s simply seeking out disbelievers.

Skepticism is due an organized recognition; it certainly has the numbers.

]]>