RE: Old Wine in New Bottles
September 6, 2011 at 7:36 pm
(This post was last modified: September 6, 2011 at 7:51 pm by Simon Moon.)
Like others, I'm wondering why you posted using such unnecessarily metaphorical language? Why not just make your point as succinctly as possible? Then there would be no need to unpack your overly flowery prose and get to the f'n point.
I was in the process of replying point by point, but then I decided why bother?
There are so many flawed statements in your OP, that I didn't even know where to start. But here's a few gems:
Are you saying that evolution preceded atheism?
Cārvāka, Samkhya and Mimamsa were atheistic philosophical schools that existed as early as the 6th century BCE in India.
"Mimamsa theorists decided that the evidence allegedly proving the existence of God was insufficient. They argue that there was no need to postulate a maker for the world"
Wow! 6th century BCE Indians having the same reasons for disbelieving in the existence of gods as the vast majority of modern atheists. And evolution did not appear until over 2000 years later.
This a straw man. Very few atheists claim to have absolute certainty that a god or gods don't exist.
So, not believing in the existence of gods has become a new mythology?
Is that really the philosophical rack you want to hang your hat on?
Is not believing in the existence of garden fairies also another new mythology?
Did you post any examples yet?
I'm interested in learning the atheist dogma I hold.
Please go on...
I was in the process of replying point by point, but then I decided why bother?
There are so many flawed statements in your OP, that I didn't even know where to start. But here's a few gems:
Quote:In time, the turf grab became the turf grabbed and held with the same tight grip favored by its predecessor. Evolution.
Are you saying that evolution preceded atheism?
Cārvāka, Samkhya and Mimamsa were atheistic philosophical schools that existed as early as the 6th century BCE in India.
"Mimamsa theorists decided that the evidence allegedly proving the existence of God was insufficient. They argue that there was no need to postulate a maker for the world"
Wow! 6th century BCE Indians having the same reasons for disbelieving in the existence of gods as the vast majority of modern atheists. And evolution did not appear until over 2000 years later.
Quote:We know what's really Real. We know the One True Way, and unless you are on our team, you are an infidel. Why? Because we say so and we are rocking and ruling the world. Empirical is awfully close to empire, and our way is the highway, because we built it. Now, all roads lead to us. Deal with it.
This a straw man. Very few atheists claim to have absolute certainty that a god or gods don't exist.
Quote: So Mythic went Industrial Strength, snuck in under the covers with Science, and soon a new age was born; a new faith for a new day. The us vs. them dynamic, the demonization of the Other, Mythic's signature move, was quietly appropriated for use against any who might challenge the new authority
So, not believing in the existence of gods has become a new mythology?
Is that really the philosophical rack you want to hang your hat on?
Is not believing in the existence of garden fairies also another new mythology?
(September 6, 2011 at 6:57 pm)Fred Wrote: As for having a dogma, oh, yes you do. Maybe you can't see it from inside the choir room, but outside it's clear as day, and that's what this thread is about.
Did you post any examples yet?
I'm interested in learning the atheist dogma I hold.
Please go on...
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
