RE: Questions about Belief and Personal Identity
June 3, 2021 at 11:17 am
(This post was last modified: June 3, 2021 at 11:28 am by Mister Agenda.)
I have a problem with someone believing that their race makes them better than anyone; even if they're not vocal about it, vocal enough that I know about it is too vocal.
I don't have a problem with someone following pro-social religious teachings like lovingness and kindness, even if they're vocal about it. I have trouble living up to that standard, I tend to reflexively reflect what's thrown at me, but I admire people who can pull it off, even if I think their claimed source is suspect.
I don't have a problem with someone following somewhat stricter religious practices as long as they don't try to drag me into it and they're loving towards their children, even if I don't agree with what they're teaching their children. I don't see any ethical way to make sure they teach their children only things I agree with, and kids tend to turn out okay as long at they're loved and know it.
I do have a problem with American religious people who try to insert their religion into the laws of the land. If you can't articulate a good nonreligious reason for a law, preferably supported by evidence, it shouldn't be a law.
I have an acquaintance, whom I used to consider a friend, back when I was a libertarian. He seemed to be a libertarian-leaning Republican. He made a charitable effort to teach entrepreneurial skills to youths in Allendale country, then the poorest county in SC with a predominately black population, one of the few counties in SC to vote democratic. I admired him for that, he seemed to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
I'm not sure how much of this is change over the years or I'm just discovering more about who he really is. We had arguments over immigration, he was really worried that Syrian refugees were harboring terrorists and no amount of evidence could convince him otherwise. He was a big Trump supporter. He thinks the election was stolen. He was at the capital on Jan 6, though not involved in the insurrection, which he blamed on Antifa. I've recently learned he's a flat-earther, and I don't know if he was back when I used to see him in person or whether he fell down that rabbit hole since.
I can still credit him with good intentions, he's at least kind to law-abiding Americans even if he doesn't agree with him; but I am no longer able to respect him, because frankly, his beliefs make him a loon.
I don't have a problem with someone following pro-social religious teachings like lovingness and kindness, even if they're vocal about it. I have trouble living up to that standard, I tend to reflexively reflect what's thrown at me, but I admire people who can pull it off, even if I think their claimed source is suspect.
I don't have a problem with someone following somewhat stricter religious practices as long as they don't try to drag me into it and they're loving towards their children, even if I don't agree with what they're teaching their children. I don't see any ethical way to make sure they teach their children only things I agree with, and kids tend to turn out okay as long at they're loved and know it.
I do have a problem with American religious people who try to insert their religion into the laws of the land. If you can't articulate a good nonreligious reason for a law, preferably supported by evidence, it shouldn't be a law.
I have an acquaintance, whom I used to consider a friend, back when I was a libertarian. He seemed to be a libertarian-leaning Republican. He made a charitable effort to teach entrepreneurial skills to youths in Allendale country, then the poorest county in SC with a predominately black population, one of the few counties in SC to vote democratic. I admired him for that, he seemed to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
I'm not sure how much of this is change over the years or I'm just discovering more about who he really is. We had arguments over immigration, he was really worried that Syrian refugees were harboring terrorists and no amount of evidence could convince him otherwise. He was a big Trump supporter. He thinks the election was stolen. He was at the capital on Jan 6, though not involved in the insurrection, which he blamed on Antifa. I've recently learned he's a flat-earther, and I don't know if he was back when I used to see him in person or whether he fell down that rabbit hole since.
I can still credit him with good intentions, he's at least kind to law-abiding Americans even if he doesn't agree with him; but I am no longer able to respect him, because frankly, his beliefs make him a loon.
I'm not anti-Christian. I'm anti-stupid.
