No matter how crazy, wrong-headed or stupid people’s beliefs are, somebody always gets up and says. “Well, we have to give them credit for sincerity. At least they’re willing to standby what they believe.”
Are we to believe that sincerity is the virtue that nullifies all vices?
When I was little, I had a friend who believed she was going to heaven because her name was Mary. She believed this so charismatically that even I began to wonder how god could send someone to hell who has the same name as the mother of Jesus. (In another thread, we can discuss the cruelty of telling little seven year olds about hell.)
In the fourth grade, there was a boy in my class who believed with all his heart that he could fly like Superman. He believed so strongly that he was willing to act on his belief. Over the weekend he tied a towel around his neck like a cape, climbed up on his parent’s roof and jumped. Fortunately he wasn’t killed, but he tore a hole in his leg that went all the way to the bone.
Sincerity of belief, strength of belief, steadfastness of belief in no way justifies the content of belief. You can be sincerely wrong. If you find yourself on the wrong road, you wouldn’t stay on that road just so people can give you credit for steadfastness.
Are we to believe that sincerity is the virtue that nullifies all vices?
When I was little, I had a friend who believed she was going to heaven because her name was Mary. She believed this so charismatically that even I began to wonder how god could send someone to hell who has the same name as the mother of Jesus. (In another thread, we can discuss the cruelty of telling little seven year olds about hell.)
In the fourth grade, there was a boy in my class who believed with all his heart that he could fly like Superman. He believed so strongly that he was willing to act on his belief. Over the weekend he tied a towel around his neck like a cape, climbed up on his parent’s roof and jumped. Fortunately he wasn’t killed, but he tore a hole in his leg that went all the way to the bone.
Sincerity of belief, strength of belief, steadfastness of belief in no way justifies the content of belief. You can be sincerely wrong. If you find yourself on the wrong road, you wouldn’t stay on that road just so people can give you credit for steadfastness.
The god who allows children to be raped out of respect for the free will choice of the rapist, but punishes gay men for engaging in mutually consensual sex couldn't possibly be responsible for an intelligently designed universe.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
