tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1246675698449212954.post6783293243701895028..comments2016-05-17T14:14:12.623-07:00Comments on Reason Reaction: Random Thoughts of a Thinker: 10 Things Christians and Atheists Need to Know about Each OtherUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1246675698449212954.post-52736834547610768682014-09-29T07:34:25.084-07:002014-09-29T07:34:25.084-07:00Overall pretty good, but I want to address a few p...Overall pretty good, but I want to address a few points.<br /><br />- I agree we need to treat theists with respect and not consider them "stupid" or "mentally ill" for holding their beliefs. However, we do need to encourage them to step back and separate themselves from their beliefs, like actually stating such plainly. Tell them that if they want to believe in things that are true, then they should examine what they believe against all arguments and evidence, otherwise they are accepting that they only care about what they want to be true.<br /><br />- I do not think that requesting that public schools refrain from endorsing or promoting sectarian religion is an unworthy endeavor. There is simply no reason for school employees to preside over religious prayers, whether it be in the classroom or on the football field. Students are free to pray openly and together if they desire, but if the teachers or coaches join in or otherwise approve of it, then they are alienating any students or players which do not ascribe to the particular faith being promoted. There is plenty of opportunity for students and players to pray before or after games, introducing it into the actual game ritual only serves to divide, not unify the team. Plus, it's just unconstitutional, and allowing minor infringements only emboldens theists to do more of the same.<br /><br />- Not only do I not believe that any gods exist based upon a lack of evidence to substantiate the claim, but also because there is evidence which proves that specific gods are illogical and do not exist. So yes, I do know that Zeus and Allah and Yahweh don't exist, I just don't know that NO gods exist.<br /><br />- I actually do want to destroy religious beliefs. I will 100% fight to protect the Constitutional and human rights for anyone to believe as they wish with respect to religion, but that doesn't mean I will respect the beliefs themselves. I absolutely want people to understand why their beliefs are incorrect and do not align with the evidence. I can respect the position of deism, where someone has a belief that some god exists which created the universe, provided that there are no specific claims about this deity being made which can be falsified. Beyond that, I absolutely want to challenge people who believe in unsubstantiated claims, whether they be religious in nature or not.<br /><br />-Lastly, I like the point about evolution. Just because evolution is incompatible with many religions, including Abrahamic theology, that doesn't make it "atheistic". This is obviously a canard used to foster a distrust of evolutionary theory so that theists don't bother actually understanding it, because religious leaders understand what that will lead to. Plenty of theists do accept evolution, although they obviously fail to reconcile it with their religious beliefs. I did that for a long time myself.Prototype Atheisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00432547973903495942noreply@blogger.com