On "Scholarly Consensus"

[Tonus]

However if we ever want a world without religion we need to call them out in a rational and reasoned manner, show them you don't need God to be good and when we debate let their craziness come out on its own.

I think we'll eventually wind up with a world without religion, or at least a world where it is marginalized. The growth of freedom, knowledge, and prosperity will lead us in that direction. All of the mysticism in the world won't change that.

But I'm not concerned with changing anyone's opinion, as much as I am curious about what people believe and why. When I was a Christian it was an obligation to pester people into accepting my views. Now that I'm not, I'm not particularly concerned with what people believe as long as they aren't seeking ways to infringe on my rights or freedoms. If, by discussing this stuff, we happen to change a few minds, that's great. But it's not my goal.

So I'm not concerned with whether people are nice to one another. I don't mind getting flamed by theists here, and it doesn't bother me that they get flamed. This shouldn't be a problem to anyone who has spent enough time on the internet and who is smart enough and disciplined enough to not let name-calling get them bent out of shape. Be yourself. It's what you're best at.

Besides, I'm a soft touch, so I need to live vicariously through Minimalist. He has to keep flaming those fucking fundie shitheads or the whole universe is out of whack.