Xref: utzoo talk.religion.misc:3956 alt.flame:1143
Path: utzoo!hoptoad!ihnp4!ptsfa!ames!rutgers!noao!arizona!amethyst!hdunne
From: hdunne@amethyst.ma.arizona.edu (|-|ugh)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc,alt.flame
Subject: Re: Christmas parties
Message-ID: <282@amethyst.UUCP>
Date: 3 Jan 88 08:28:07 GMT
References: <8712231623.AA24882@decwrl.dec.com> <1340@vaxwaller.UUCP> <14173@oddjob.UChicago.EDU> <207@sp7040.UUCP> <1393@uoregon.UUCP>
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Organization: Dept. of Math., Univ. of Arizona at Tucson
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In article <1393@uoregon.UUCP> markv@drizzle.UUCP (Mark VandeWettering) writes:

}	How incredibly poor in FAITH is a man who will only believe what
}	is SHOWN to him, what is EXPLAINED to him, what cannot be
}	denied.

"Faith" is a cop-out. Belief in the supernatural is an admission of ignorance.
People used to "explain" lightning, rain and other natural phenomena by
believing in lightning gods, rain gods etc. Lumping your ignorance together
and calling it "god" may be emotionally satisfying, but it doesn't explain
anything and doesn't bring you any real benefits.

}	From my point of view (a not particularly good Roman Catholic) there
}	is no doubt that Jesus was the real son of God.  What that
}	means?  I have no idea.

Then what's the point of believing it? What would you say to someone who said,
"I firmly believe as part of my religion that colorless green rocks sleep
furiously."

}	The Bible has been used by many different (and many very evil) people
}	as justification for actions.  I guess the rule is, you can read
}	anything you damn well please into the Bible.  But then, that
}	"don't make it so" either.

Isn't the bible supposed to be the word of God? Looks like he didn't do a very
good job of making himself clear. Perhaps he should have glanced over
"Elements of Style" before starting.

}	Dammit, let people be what they wish to be!

A noble sentiment. However, it's invariably the religionists who violate it!
I am perfectly willing to let people believe any religion they like, even when
it's based on demonstrably false myths and is irrational to the core. I don't
shove atheism down anyone's throat. It's when they start shoving religion down
mine that I tend to get "intolerant"!

Hugh Dunne         |     ...{cmcl2,ihnp4,seismo!noao}!arizona!amethyst!hdunne
Dept. of Math.     |    Phone:             |         {amethyst.ma.arizona.edu}
Univ. of Arizona   |    +1 602 621 4766    |  hdunne@{    arizrvax.bitnet    }
Tucson AZ  85721   |    +1 602 621 6893    |         { rvax.ccit.arizona.edu }