Comments on: The Humanist Symposium, humanism, and a few thoughts http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/10/the-humanist-symposium-humanism-and-a-few-thoughts/ Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:19:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: vjack http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/10/the-humanist-symposium-humanism-and-a-few-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-19591 vjack Sat, 14 Apr 2007 15:58:57 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/10/the-humanist-symposium-humanism-and-a-few-thoughts/#comment-19591 I think this is going to be a good one. I love CoG, but I also like the idea of having another outlet with a more limited focus. I hear you about the laziness factor, but I going to try to help this one get off the ground. I think this is going to be a good one. I love CoG, but I also like the idea of having another outlet with a more limited focus. I hear you about the laziness factor, but I going to try to help this one get off the ground.

]]> By: SnowFire http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/10/the-humanist-symposium-humanism-and-a-few-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-19513 SnowFire Fri, 13 Apr 2007 21:04:51 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/10/the-humanist-symposium-humanism-and-a-few-thoughts/#comment-19513 I agree with you that it’s not difficult to criticize a religion. I am yet to come across a religion that makes sense. One can’t even begin to justify the supernatural mumbo/jumbo without getting ridiculous. And what happens when you take all supernatural elements off a religion? The “non-supernatural” elements of the religion stops making any sense. It’s somewhat unusual turn you are taking now to promote atheism instead. What would it be like? Very interesting. I agree with you that it’s not difficult to criticize a religion. I am yet to come across a religion that makes sense. One can’t even begin to justify the supernatural mumbo/jumbo without getting ridiculous. And what happens when you take all supernatural elements off a religion? The “non-supernatural” elements of the religion stops making any sense.
It’s somewhat unusual turn you are taking now to promote atheism instead. What would it be like? Very interesting.

]]> By: TXStorm http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/10/the-humanist-symposium-humanism-and-a-few-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-19424 TXStorm Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:40:38 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/10/the-humanist-symposium-humanism-and-a-few-thoughts/#comment-19424 I have to disagree with the statement that no one is going to leave religion because of being shown how absurd it is, for I stand as a counter-example to that claim. It was the exposure to the refutations of the xn notions that caused me to instantly cease the faith with which I had been raised. To answer the question why it is that it seems that atheists spend their time criticizing religion rather than presenting some other unified front, the reason is quite simple: the one constant amongst atheists is the absence of a belief in gods. That is the defining characteristic for this particular grouping of individuals. Outside of that we may share some beliefs or activities, but these are per accidens traits which are not unifying or necessary to the knowledge that there exists no magical mystical beings. Just like a group of firemen share the attribute of fighting fires, but may not share other intersts such as boating, when we pick the attribute by which we are going to describe some group, or more accurately create a group, it is that attribute which will be the constant, not some other unrelated one. That said, I do agree that we all should make an effort to put forth positivity as a practical response to the hatred and evil of religon. I simply doubt that we will offer the same positive messages simply because we share the trait of not believing in fairy tales.. :) I have to disagree with the statement that no one is going to leave religion because of being shown how absurd it is, for I stand as a counter-example to that claim. It was the exposure to the refutations of the xn notions that caused me to instantly cease the faith with which I had been raised.

To answer the question why it is that it seems that atheists spend their time criticizing religion rather than presenting some other unified front, the reason is quite simple: the one constant amongst atheists is the absence of a belief in gods. That is the defining characteristic for this particular grouping of individuals. Outside of that we may share some beliefs or activities, but these are per accidens traits which are not unifying or necessary to the knowledge that there exists no magical mystical beings. Just like a group of firemen share the attribute of fighting fires, but may not share other intersts such as boating, when we pick the attribute by which we are going to describe some group, or more accurately create a group, it is that attribute which will be the constant, not some other unrelated one.

That said, I do agree that we all should make an effort to put forth positivity as a practical response to the hatred and evil of religon. I simply doubt that we will offer the same positive messages simply because we share the trait of not believing in fairy tales.. :)

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/10/the-humanist-symposium-humanism-and-a-few-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-19404 Ebonmuse Thu, 12 Apr 2007 04:50:37 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/10/the-humanist-symposium-humanism-and-a-few-thoughts/#comment-19404 Hi Pedro, Thanks for the link! I'm happy to hear you're sufficiently intrigued to consider contributing - I hope you do, and I look forward to seeing you there. :) I think your remarks are dead-on. Criticizing religion is much easier than defending positive atheism, especially since the fundamentalists are so prone to doing things that get us riled up. But that just makes it all the more important that we take the time to offer a positive alternative to the small, nasty worldview they promote. Hi Pedro,

Thanks for the link! I’m happy to hear you’re sufficiently intrigued to consider contributing – I hope you do, and I look forward to seeing you there. :)

I think your remarks are dead-on. Criticizing religion is much easier than defending positive atheism, especially since the fundamentalists are so prone to doing things that get us riled up. But that just makes it all the more important that we take the time to offer a positive alternative to the small, nasty worldview they promote.

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