Back to the debate that you said didn't exist. If we look at these last two posts before The Man decided to take it in a completely different direction you can see our two points are missing each other. Let me see if I can explain what my position is a little clearer so we can get past all of the mud slinging.
Thousands of years ago mankind had very primitive religions that over many years evolved into many different beliefs. As the centuries passed so did the changes in religion. Sometimes they died out while others combined or changed to fit the times. One of the biggest change for religion was enlightenment of the people through science. And in the last hundred years or so there has been an explosion in the number of Atheists. It's actually the fastest growing segment of population compared to any religion. There is a reason for this and it's a trend that will naturally progress throughout the years.
Now in my opinion, if you follow this out for the next 1000 or so years religion will all but have vanished from the face of the earth. No one will force it out, there will be no dictators killing off the religious, it will just be a natural progression through the enlightenment of man. Just like those who believed the world is flat... yes, there are STILL some that believe it's flat, but for the most part they are gone. Now let me make this clear, this is how I see the world in 1000 years or so. It just makes sense with the way technology is going and what we have learned in just the last 50 years alone.
Now that we are clear that it's my opinion that religion will be all but gone in the future, we can go back to my original statement.
This statement was in direct response to the OP post about the riots and death caused by a movie that outraged religious followers.
Now if religion was no longer a factor on planet earth, then you could not have mass killings because of religious intolerance, right???? Exactly what I was responding to.
I was NOT saying the world would be free from violence nor did I ever say that death and destruction would be gone once religion was gone...
Again, I was only addressing the religious intolerance in the OP.
Now go back and reread your posts and you will see that YOU took it down a completely different path, one that I was NOT even addressing.
Back to the debate that you said didn't exist.
No...that's debate on my part you claimed doesn't exist.
One of the biggest change for religion was enlightenment of the people through science.
I would agree to that.
And in the last hundred years or so there has been an explosion in the number of Atheists.
You do realize you are committing a logical fallacy?
Actually one of the more common ones.
The appeal to popularity.
http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/appeal-to-popularity.html
excerpt:
The basic idea is that a claim is accepted as being true simply because most people are favorably inclined towards the claim. More formally, the fact that most people have favorable emotions associated with the claim is substituted in place of actual evidence for the claim. A person falls prey to this fallacy if he accepts a claim as being true simply because most other people approve of the claim.
Now in my opinion, if you follow this out for the next 1000 or so years religion will all but have vanished from the face of the earth.
I didn't challenge that opinion.
I'm not convinced as an absolute, but I do expect a decline .
Now let me make this clear, this is how I see the world in 1000 years or so.
I have no objection to you having that opinion. Just realize that it's yours and not necessarily everyone elses.
Now that we are clear that it's my opinion that religion will be all but gone in the future, we can go back to my original statement.
Where we came to logger heads was over your claim that atheism would create a betterment of humanity.
I was explicit in pointing out that all your argument does is shift the identity of conflict and confrontation. Betterment is unlikely because many of the underlying issues would continue. That was not a statement claiming religion had a better track record....history is full of religious conflict and wars........but so is history full of conflict and confrontation concerning non-religious issues.
You did not address the points I was making and instead tried the tired old diversion of polarizing the discussion into a religious versus atheist debate.
Tim.......I'm used to seeing that style of debate...I even use it myself! But I try not to fall into others debate traps at the same time......so I know not allow myself to be herded in to logic traps and debate positions that can't be defended.
Now if religion was no longer a factor on planet earth, then you could not have mass killings because of religious intolerance, right????
What the fuck you reading when I pointed out the atrocities of opportunists Like Stalin and Pol pot...........the potential for mass killings would still exist.....just not associated with religion.
WW1, WW2 were basically wars of opportunity as was the Invasion of Iraq.
I see no reason why there would be fewer opportunists in an atheist world.
I was NOT saying the world would be free from violence nor did I ever say that death and destruction would be gone once religion was gone...
Again, I was only addressing the religious intolerance in the OP.
Hey....you want to believe you only posted that, fine.
But I took issue with your claim that a world free of religion would be a betterment.
It would not address the underlying issues that currently drive the present religious conflicts.
Religion is a means to focus hate, but it's not exclusive.
Now go back and reread your posts and you will see that YOU took it down a completely different path, one that I was NOT even addressing.
My what a short memory you have.
So tim are you saying the world will be a better place if and when it evolves to atheism as a result of rejecting all other beliefs.
response:
Dan Quayle.....
What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is.
Indeed
