The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #131699   Message #2973125
Posted By: Richard Bridge
26-Aug-10 - 06:49 AM
Thread Name: BS: The God Delusion 2010
Subject: RE: BS: The God Delusion 2010
Well I don't definitely say that I know or can prove that there is no God, and I don't really care if people want to believe that there is a God - whatever God it is - but I do object to the common religious assumption that the beliefs and rules of their religions are not to be rationally questioned, and that they justify acts (or omissions) that are prohibited by secular law.

I particularly object to the idiocies that prohibit statements derived from solid evidence - like the age of the earth, and how it was formed - and that in the name of "faith" require children to be indoctrinated - or effectively disentitle a gender.

I further object to the assumption that your God can tell me what to do (or not to do) - or that a set of people who believe in that God can tell me what to do on the basis of their "divine revelation". Dawkin's example of the assumption of Mary was quite telling (although I notice he held back from a similar criticism of Islam's belief in the uplifting (sorry if I have the wrong term) of Mohammed.

These religions are irrational beliefs. Believe in them if you wish: thought is not a crime. But using those beliefs to oppress others, now that can well be a crime. It is very troubling that it is such a widespread crime.