Subject: Re: Music, religion, etc.
AntiUtopia@aol.com
Date: Fri Jan 07 2000 - 18:57:53 EST
In a message dated 1/7/00 5:17:39 PM Eastern Standard Time, shok@netcom.com
writes:
<< Probably the largest pool of Atheists
you could conveniently find would be in a list of men and women who have
received Nobel Prizes for scientific discoveries. And yet the
misconception that Atheists must, at heart, be bad, amoral people still
persists.
-robbie
>>
Robbie -- I could also argue that a large number of people out of a pool of
dictators and tyrants have been atheists as well, but then you could reply
the rest of that pool was made up of theists...and you'd be right :) Arguing
on these grounds is arguing on the wrong grounds.
However, it's not your fault. I'd blame Thoughtless Theists as much as
anyone. However, there is another Theist position that doesn't argue that
"atheists are bad people." What thoughtful theists (specifically,
monotheists in the Judeo-Christian tradition) argue is that we're All bad.
And that we need something to motivate us to follow our best impulses and
ignore our worst. For that matter, to help us define our best and worst
impulses. And that atheism (not atheists) is bad because it removes these
helps provided by religion.
Honestly, this entire facet of the argument has always seemed Not To the
Point to me. What does it have to do with the fact of Anything's existence?
Utilitarian arguments for the existence of God seem pointless -- if there is
no God, I prefer to believe there is no God because that is the truth, not
because it's not necessary to believe anymore. If there is a God, I believe
there is a God because I've been led to believe that is the truth, not
because it's best for society.
Jim
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b25 : Mon Feb 28 2000 - 08:38:07 EST