CreativeDominant
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ORIGINAL: ThatDamnedPanda
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ORIGINAL: CreativeDominant
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ORIGINAL: slvemike4u
I would be interested to know how one "proves" someone wrong concerning irrational beliefs born of prejudice and fear.
Hey Mike...lots of people hold the belief that homosexuality is wrong. They get that from their upbringing in churches that believe it to be so. These churches taught that the Bible teaches the wrongness of homosexuality. While much of what the Bible has to say has been proven wrong through modern technology and modern scientific means, the question of whether or not homosexuality is a choice or genetic programming caused by our DNA in the same manner that heterosexuality is has yet to be proven. Until it is, these people will always hold the belief that it is a choice and one made against God's teachings.
You can call those beliefs irrational all you want and I won't deny that for SOME people, those beliefs are born out of prejudice and fear but to label all those who feel that way with that brush of fear and prejudice just shows your own closed mind.
Not necessarily. In my opinion, people select a religion (and adhere to it) because it fits the way they're comfortable viewing the world. If the religion teaches them something that sounds to them as though it is borne of prejudice and fear of differences, then they ought to question it. If they don't have the courage to question it, then I think a good argument can be made that they are fearful, prejudiced people for accepting without question something that someone with a conscience ought to be questioning. If they do question it and still decide it feels right, same thing - they're fearful and prejudiced people who are hiding behind their religion, using it as a pass to live a prejudiced, fearful life. You make it sound as if any view held by religion that doesn't fit in with views held by another more free-thinking person, or with those held by non-believers, to be fears that are then borne out of fear and prejudice. Sorry panda...that makes it a too-easy way for those who disagree with the views of a religious person to dismiss the views of a religious person. Sounds a lot like the "Free Thought" program I listened to on my way home from teaching yesterday. The speakers hold the belief that all religious beliefs are held simply out of fear of a "big, bad punisher" and therefore, the morality and good deeds of those religious folks ONLY derives from this fear and if they could free themselves from it, that most religious people would be worse than the free-thinkers whose morality comes from within with no fear of a "big, bad punisher". An interesting argument, but I'd be willing to bet a false one for many of us who do believe in a God. I am not afraid of him...if I was, would I enjoy beating on women so much?...but that doesn't stop me from believing in him. Do I think that all views held by various religions...such as the view against homosexuality...are right? No. As a doctor with a scientific background, I think the church will be proven wrong on its stance on homosexuality. But I am also able to view the stance in the context in which it was decided...hundreds of years ago when the scientific proof wasn' there. But again, the scientific proof ISN'T there yet and so, they continue to believe as they do. That doesn't make that view fearful or prejudicial, it makes it what it is...a view based on faith in the unseen, unknown head of their organizations.
"My bible told me this is the way to think" is no excuse at all for immoral behavior. People are ultimately responsible for the way they think and act, and the religious influences they cite for their personal beliefs speak volumes about who they are as human beings.
Yes, it does...it speaks volumes about how muddle-headed they are and how arrogant they are in assuming that their behavior is approved of by God or that it matches the teachings of the Bible. Again, I have no argument with the "calling" of someone on the wrongfulness of immoral behavior backed by religion. But let's not forget that many times, it is not the religion that is wrong but the person's twisting of it to suit their own agenda. Let's also not forget that the Bible was written by men in a time when the society was patriarchal, hence the reason why men are seen so often as the heroes of the Bible as compared to the women of the Bible. Sure, there are women who are courageous and full of good deeds in the Bible but, as it is written, that is always in support of their men.
Those who kill abortionists in the name of God? Wrong. There is nowhere in the Bible where people are urged by God or Jesus to go forth and kill abortionists. Hunting down and hurting/killing gay people in the name of God? Wrong. There is no page in the Bible where people are urged by God and Jesus to go forth and do this. Yes, the Bible declares the actions wrong but it also declares that it is best to hate the action and love the one who commits the action.
< Message edited by CreativeDominant -- 7/20/2009 7:55:48 AM >
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