BS: 10 commandments...west virginia style

Subject: RE: BS: 10 commandments...west virginia style
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 07 - 02:58 PM

No, I'm not a the pot arguing against your kettle. I'm looking at world history and, for a slam-dunk example, the many wars fought in the name of religion. And I'm on very solid philosophical ground in my objections to the over-arching power and influence of industrial religions.

Subject: RE: BS: 10 commandments...west virginia style
From: GUEST,Gza
Date: 14 May 07 - 03:09 PM

How many wars have really been fought over money and control of land and resources? In how many of those wars was religion used as a red herring simply to motivate the fighters?

Of course wars are fought in the name of religion. They are also fought in the name of "freedom". In both cases it is a cynical and opportunistic propaganda technique used to brainwash the common people. The real reason for the wars is the age-old reason behind all wars: an attempt by the strong and ruthless to steal someone else's land, money, and resources.

Religion is a handy propaganda tool for the powerful, that's all, and it will always be used by those in power if they can find any way to use it. You can also use anti-religious dogma in exactly the same manner. Marxists did so again and again in Russia, in China, in East Asia, in Africa, and in doing so they slaughtered millions of innocent people. So the hatred OF religion, when translated into aggressive political action, has proven to be just as vicious as the religiously inspired political actions it was fulminating against.

Ironical, isn't it?

Many pots calling many kettles black.

Subject: RE: BS: 10 commandments...west virginia style
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 07 - 03:59 PM

I think your portion of the kettle is a syllogistic fallacy and a religion apologist. So you'll have to pardon me from wasting any more time discussing this with you, because I don't think you'll understand my reluctance to let you restate what I characterized as my view of the world and the situation that religion has left it in.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 10 commandments...west virginia style
From: GUEST,Gza
Date: 14 May 07 - 05:20 PM

Likewise. You won't let go of your right to be deeply prejudiced against religion, and why should I waste my time trying to get you to? I am no fan of organized religion. Neither am I a fan of blind prejudice, masquerading as a zeal to save the world from organized religion, just because you don't subscribe to it.

Subject: RE: BS: 10 commandments...west virginia style
From: GUEST,Gza
Date: 14 May 07 - 05:46 PM

All I am arguing for, you should note, is that religious people should respect non-religious people and not judge them for their choice of non-belief...and non-religious people should respect religious people and not judge them for their choice of belief. Equally.

Both should respect the other and forgo labelling the other as "wrong".

Apparently, that is an attitude of mutual allowance and mutual respect that doesn't suit the people who are blathering away on this thread beating to death their favorite hobby horse, which is their presumption that religion is the worst thing that ever happened to the world.

No matter how you twist and turn and wiggle and squirm, it always amounts to one basic stand: you're prejudiced, but you don't realize it. You think you're smarter, better, and more right about life than religious people, and you think you have every right to your chosen form of prejudice...and that makes you just as wrong as the religious people who think that same way twisted about you.

You all deserve each other...all you "my way is the only right way" people, and you would do better to leave less judgemental, more tolerant people alone to live in peace with one another.

Subject: RE: BS: 10 commandments...west virginia style
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 07 - 05:48 PM

You're still on that reductive binary.

Subject: RE: BS: 10 commandments...west virginia style
From: GUEST,Gza
Date: 14 May 07 - 05:58 PM

I'm saying treat religious people as you wish they would treat you. Leave them alone.

Do not judge yourself or your way of life as better than theirs. Do not look down your nose at them. Do not shove your beliefs in their face. Do not criticize them for what they believe. Do not blame them for all the world's ills. Do not try to change them to be like you. Leave them friggin' ALONE to enjoy their own form of thinking in the way that they choose!

Wouldn't you rather they did that for you? You would, right??? You don't like it when they try to convert you.   Well then, don't try to convert them...do exactly for them what you wish they would do for you.

Geez! This isn't such a hard concept to grasp.

Subject: RE: BS: 10 commandments...west virginia style
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 07 - 11:47 PM

You remind me of the smoker who walks into the room and pollutes the air for everyone who doesn't smoke, then suggests that the non-smokers are too sensitive, and would intrude on your right to smoke.

Circular logic and straw men are your long suit. I've just looked at your posting record--you favor hot button topics entirely below the line at this music site. Do you play an instrument? Sing? Research music? Hmmm. Perhaps you should go look for a blog at the National Enquirer--you'll be in good company over there.