(September 20, 2014 at 9:22 pm)Rhythm Wrote:(September 20, 2014 at 8:05 pm)whateverist Wrote: Yes. I think it too often willfully misrepresents and overstates its case without regard for developing any real empathy for what it that theists value and why. Knocking down the ridiculous claims of fundamentalist theists is too easy.In my sig line, you will see an expression of anti-theism. I'm not interested in developing any empathy for that belief. None. I don't care why they value it. It's hardly a ridiculous claim coming from the fringe, it's a ridiculous claim that defines the faith. It's still easy to shit on, though.
That is your choice of course. Just as it is their choice to go on believing the fantastic things their parents pressed on them so fervently. Anyone can shit on anyone else and ridicule what they find profound. Gawd knows enough theists revile atheists with enthusiasm. I just don't have a dog in that fight.
People believe extravagant things. I do. I think you do too. What's more, aside from empirical fact, none of us is privy to any absolute scale of values from which to judge what is or should be important to people. I just go ahead and stake my claim to what I value with no thought to justifying that to anyone else.
I try to respect the choices of others, but not because I think that is what a good person should do. I do it because I prefer to live in a world of peers and not some solipsistic nightmare where I am the only one with the truth and everyone who disagrees is just a deluded zombie. I want no part of that world. Tolerance is the only viable way.
