(January 3, 2010 at 8:25 am)Pippy Wrote: And yes, I think Adrian did tip over a little there. It is like the Hitler argument in the sense that you can't blame a man's beliefs (or especially others who share similar beleifs) for his own shortcomings. If an Atheist is bound to be responsible for his own actions, so is a Theist.
What's funny is not only do I disagree with that but I personally believe the complete opposite. I do not believe in Free Will and I also ultimately do not (or at least always try not to) blame anybody for their character but only for their behaviour and actions (if that makes sense?). Beliefs are what drive people's behaviour, so I believe that beliefs are the only thing that you can (justly) blame. Just as this belief that I have that I am mentioning here (the belief I have that beliefs are the only thing that you can (justly) blame), if it were to cause me to live my life in ways that harmed others then it, this belief, is what is to blame... it is simply that it is dealt with by dealing with me who is the holder of the said belief.
EvF
