Becoming an angry atheist

[Natachan]

Not really any difference, and I might argue that both have their validity. A church is a private organization and can set up their own rules. That's not my issue (her beliefs, btw, nata is a girl's name). My issue is that public institutions feel justified in spreading this hate. That is NOT ok.

But let's put that aside. Why is one type of hate ok and the other not? Why is it ok to put down one minority group and not another? Would it be acceptable if politicians all were saying that good Americans can't be Catholic? Or Baptist? Would you expect that they would be glorified for saying so? Or would they face a public backlash? What if they said Episcopals don't count as patriots? What if our public sphere was laced with anti-semitism. Would that be acceptable?

Hate is hate. Injustice is injustice. The motive is unimportant. It is still ill-treatment of a group that you don't happen to belong to. And there should be no acceptance of that.

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Sorry, but I must throw the bullshit flag. Rational people have the ability to reflect on their beliefs and to change them if they see fit. Enlightened societies respect this process of working out one's own beliefs as freedom of conscience. Those same enlightened societies recognize that vigorous debate, and sometimes outright argument, is part of that process.

Changing a mind isn't a choice. Its being honest. If I believe apples are blue and you show me a red apple am I choosing to believe that apples are red? No. I am obligated to believe that by the evidence.