EvF -
In answer to your question, it depends on any number of factors other than just the ones you've defined. You're saying that delusion itself is harmful, but are you taking into account that in the world there are billions of harmless people who are deluding themselves over one thing or another and I'm not just talking about religion? It doesn't add up at all. And that's just it, you say that religious people cherry pick, and I agree. It is for that exact reason, meaning the fact that they have a sense of right and wrong, that they aren't harmful. That's the issue here. What you're doing is equating delusion with all manner of sinister things, which in my view is exaggerating, and also clearly untrue because I'm sure we all have religious neighbours and relatives and friends. Mine are all peaceful people, are yours? If they are, does that not show that being religious, indeed even deluded in itself in any way, doesn't equal dangerous? I'm sure reasonable people can come to the honest conclusion that it does, and I'm sure you're pretty reasonable yourself. I know that you're putting a lot of focus on how they cherry pick nd how that means that they're not following their religion to the full, and that's fair enough, but it's a different issue.
In answer to your question, it depends on any number of factors other than just the ones you've defined. You're saying that delusion itself is harmful, but are you taking into account that in the world there are billions of harmless people who are deluding themselves over one thing or another and I'm not just talking about religion? It doesn't add up at all. And that's just it, you say that religious people cherry pick, and I agree. It is for that exact reason, meaning the fact that they have a sense of right and wrong, that they aren't harmful. That's the issue here. What you're doing is equating delusion with all manner of sinister things, which in my view is exaggerating, and also clearly untrue because I'm sure we all have religious neighbours and relatives and friends. Mine are all peaceful people, are yours? If they are, does that not show that being religious, indeed even deluded in itself in any way, doesn't equal dangerous? I'm sure reasonable people can come to the honest conclusion that it does, and I'm sure you're pretty reasonable yourself. I know that you're putting a lot of focus on how they cherry pick nd how that means that they're not following their religion to the full, and that's fair enough, but it's a different issue.
