(January 7, 2017 at 8:08 pm)Autolite Wrote:Quote: Thinking otherwise is the epitome of narrow mindedness and bigotry.
@Catholic Lady
To understand what I'm talking about, try and imagine that almost everyone that you know believed in the Tooth Fairy. You can't call them delusional because belief in the Tooth Fairy is a shared belief within your community. You can't call their beliefs absurd, irrational or idiotic because you'll be branded "narrow minded and bigoted" and you'll be vilified and bombarded with countless ad-homs and insults.
Society demands that you afford the Tooth Fairy believers respect even thought you know that such a belief is complete and absolute nonsense. Picture yourself in that situation and perhaps you might be able to better understand what the Atheist is dealing with...
If believing in ferries was any sort of widely accepted belief, why the hell should I give a crap if other ppl believe in them? Why should I respect them less for it? I don't believe mohammed was a prophet who spoke to an angel (islam), I don't believe people are "saved" simply for believing in jesus (evengelical christianity), I don't believe Buddha was a God (Buddhism). Does that mean I think those who do are mental? Of course not!
I can see how it can be annoying/lonely to you that you're the only atheist in your circle. But this does not need to progress to you thinking everyone else except yourself has a mental issue. Unless of course you're looking for an excuse to feel superior.
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
-walsh
