The Not-so-elephant In The Room

[Amine]

I don't know what you believe so I can only guess. That's why I gave the abortion example. Your effect on the world depends on what is true. If you oppose abortion and it turns out that atheism is true, wouldn't you agree that you are making the world a worse place for people who want to get abortions? I know you have good intentions, but don't you think that believing in true things matters as to which decisions a person should make?

Believing in truth matters, but I just think your approach to this is very black and white - "Either someone is making the world a worst place, or they are making it a better place." 

Sometimes we do things that are good, sometimes we do things that are not so good. This applies to every single person on earth. Even the best person is not perfect. I feel like having the attitude that "so and so is making the world a worst place because they are atheist, or because they are Christian, or whatever", is very small minded. We all contribute in good ways sometimes and in bad ways sometimes. In extreme cases we'll get people who are very bad and who's bad actions far outweigh whatever good they did - like Hitler. But that is the exception I think. I think most people are good people trying to live honest, good lives.   

I think it is unhealthy to be so concerned with whether or not another person believes in God. Everyone brings good and bad to the world regardless of what religion they are.

I never said "Either someone is making the world a worst place, or they are making it a better place." I am saying that what we believe about specific matters makes our decisions better or worse. Believing in things that aren't true means we act on bad information, even if our intentions are good.

I'm looking at a specific belief here, the belief in God. Should we believe it or not? If it isn't true, we shouldn't believe it. This has nothing to do with the sum total of all of the other beliefs a person holds, which are also important but not the topic of discussion right now. "No one is perfect" is not a case for neglecting to examine individual beliefs.

You have said that believing in true things does matter. That's why we should care. If either of our beliefs are wrong, there are consequences. If Catholicism is true, I want to know it. I don't want to just shut people down and tell them to not bother trying to explain to me why I might be mistaken. That would be the cause not only of poor consequences, but stagnation.