onegoodmove

Why OneGoodMove.org, on the question of religion, is like FOX NEWS:

1) Their idea of a fair debate is fifty against one 2) Censor or cut off anyone who puts holes into their theory 3) Make exaggerated claims with little research 4) Interpret facts according to their world view and don't let the facts speak for themselves 5) Use the most extreme example of the opposing side to stereotype them as a whole 6) Demonize the other side for their handling of certain problems without coming up with solutions to these problems 7) Owner has an agenda and presents materials accordingly

Hi Dan, it's funny. I wonder about the same sort of behaviour from the religious posters at this blog.

On points 1-2, in matters that even vaguely relate to religion such as Israel or even its globally condemned use of indiscriminate force and WMDS in Lebanon, pro-Israel crowd resorted to posting in fake aliases to shout down legitimate Israel critics who back up their stand with UN documents and Jewish sources. They do so because they are Jewish.

On points 3-4, religious posters more often than thought exaggerate claims with little research or distort facts according to their world view and don't let the facts speak for themselves.

Unlike them, the atheists here are more inclined towards scientific facts, reason and appreciate informed dissent.

On point 5-6, my statement is the same as above. I see the religious folk here more guilty of such behaviour i.e. demonizing, name-calling without coming up with solutions to these problems.

Dan, I will hammer you on point 7.

This is Norm's blog, not yours. It is his right to set the agenda for it and to display whatever interesting snaippet that caught his eyes.

As a member here, I come to this blog often for I share Norm's interest in science, atheism and to a lesser extent, world affairs, as well as my fondness for clips on the Daily Show, the Colbert Report, Simpsons and Real Time.

If you don't like what you see here, why do you even come here in the first place?

You do know that the louder the misleading religious claims made by religious fanatics, the louder will be the response from people with the facts and research to refute such dubious claims.

If religious folks think that it is their right to say what they want about their religion in a public place to non-religious folk, the non-religious folk has a right to answer.

Because we are not dumb unthinking sheep, unlike the religious fanatics in the world today.

kes, you said: "Because we are not dumb unthinking sheep, unlike the religious fanatics in the world today."

I disagree. There are a lot of dumb, unthinking sheeplike atheists in the world today. Watch MTV - it's cool to bash religion and be an atheist. Some like Erick haven't put much thought in what they believe or don't believe. They say they hate this religion or that religion but don't even understand what those religions believe. They accept on faith or authority others' conclusions on why their isn't a God, without the same level of examination they use to analyze religion. Some here think they are nihilists yet act like they are utopian socialists. They are simply uncertain people who hide this by blinding accepting someone's version of atheism. You put fanatics after religious so I assume you are aware of very smart, thoughtful, and creative Christians, Jews, etc. I tend to like Martin Luther King, Jr. myself. One thing I noticed is that instead of refuting my claims you attacked religion perhaps thinking I was a religious person of some faith. I remember when McCarthy attacked Murrow rather than refute the claims Murrow made against McCarthy. My point was to show how hypocritical many atheists are including the blog owner, Norm. Sure there are a lot of religious idiots out there but pointing that fact out doesn't make that person's beliefs sane or hide their glaring defects. Kes, it's like you are saying that the religious fanatics are worse so it's okay to be a hypocritical atheist. If I were an atheist (I am an agnostic) I would try to be such a good influence on the world (donating $$ and service to charity) and keep myself so far from hypocrisy that others could see the logic and reason behind my belief in science and accept it. I would denounce the poser atheists and hypocrites who ruin the credibility of the whole.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/ArticleType1&callpageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1163852289325 A link for "Tracing the Divine Obsession" that works.

Dan, I have answered your points above as well as calling you out on the subtle barbs that you have addressed to the atheists here.

I’m glad my barbs have found their mark.

By the way, I am a humanist. Stereotypes like atheists and agnostics are calls types created by believers to pigeon hole people. People from the East have a much wider and open view when it comes to the idea of humanity and the universe.

By the way, you have no grounds to disagree on my point that "Because we are not dumb unthinking sheep, unlike the religious fanatics in the world today."

I have never stated which religious fanatic I’m referring to. But let’s use Christianity as an example as it is the religion with the most number of faithful: >

Here is just some proof out of most Christians did not and do not challenge the assumptions held by their faith and dogma.

1] Christianity was used to provide cover for the slavery in US for almost 200 years. At one time the story of Ham was used to justify the enslavement of Africans in the US. At one time the story of Ham was used to justify the enslavement of Africans in the US. Moreover, God condones slavery. Exodus 21: 20-21 states: “And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property.” Passages condoning slavery are abundant: (1 Peter 2: 18, Collosians 3:22-25, Titus 2:9-10, Ephesians 6:5-8) Furthermore, many characters portrayed as beacons of virtue and goodness had slaves including Abraham himself.

It was only in 1965, during the Second Vatican Council, the church officially abandoned its ancient doctrines about the collective guilt of the Jewish people and the eternal divine curse upon Jewish blood.

Dan, I have answered your points above as well as calling you out on the subtle barbs that you have addressed to the atheists here.

By the way, I am a humanist who leans towards Buddhism as I still have some gripes with it.

Stereotypes like atheists and agnostics are types created by believers to pigeon hole people instead of understanding and accepting them on their own terms with regard to their unique set of circumstances, history and personality.

So what religion do you belong to? You are trying very hard not to admit to any religion to prevent people here from rebutting your anti-atheist rants on religious grounds. I am merely calling your bluff.

Fortunately, Eastern philosophy has a much wider and open view when it comes to the idea of humanity and the universe.

By the way, I think my point is perfectly valid when I say that "Because we are not dumb unthinking sheep, unlike the religious fanatics in the world today."

I have never stated which religious fanatic I’m referring to.

But let’s use Christianity as an example as it is the religion with the most number of faithful and the most number of excesses: >

Here is just some proof out of most Christians did not and do not challenge the assumptions held by their faith and dogma.

1] Christianity was used to provide cover for the slavery in US for almost 200 years. At one time the story of Ham was used to justify the enslavement of Africans in the US. At one time the story of Ham was used to justify the enslavement of Africans in the US. Moreover, God condones slavery. Exodus 21: 20-21 states: “And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property.” Passages condoning slavery are abundant: (1 Peter 2: 18, Collosians 3:22-25, Titus 2:9-10, Ephesians 6:5-8) Furthermore, many characters portrayed as beacons of virtue and goodness had slaves including Abraham himself.

2] Christian prosecution of the Jews for over 1600 years.

Since the time the Bible appeared in 383 AD. Since then, Christian prosecution of the Jews by banning them from owning property and practice religion became the dogma of the day. This continued through the ages with the slaughter of Jews in the Rhineland (in present-day Germany) by Christian Crusaders in the first 3 crusades and the extermination of 6 million Jews by Christian and Catholics Nazis.

It was only in 1965, during the Second Vatican Council, the church officially abandoned its ancient doctrines about the collective guilt of the Jewish people and the eternal divine curse upon Jewish blood.

3] Perpetual practise of religious bigotry and intolerance

Christians’ relationships with non-believers or believers of other faith are predicated by Christian beliefs that non-believers are damned to hell, regardless of their actions and who they are, SIMPLY BECAUSE they do not believe in the Bible or Jesus.

No Christian has challenged this belief, even though it contradicts the Christian message of love for your fellow men. How can you love your fellow man, if you can’t accept him for who he is such as practising another moral faith?

Last but not least, Christians are taught not to question their faith. A poor faith indeed as they will not be open to new ideas or other Christian writings besides the Bible…

People of other faiths have no such restrictions on studying other faiths and philosophies to open their minds and hearts.

For your information, I have read the Bible, as well as the Gnostic Christian writings.

Surely you have read more Christian writings than a non-Christian like me?

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