They've committed their fair share of historical atrocities, they've stood in the way of intellectual progress, and they've hindered minorities trying to attain civil rights and equality. Theists can be real assholes. We all know it. Many threads have (rightfully) been devoted to pointing this out.
But I thought I might create a different kind of thread. Wikipedia defines humanism as "a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively." I'm sure there are a great many humanists here. Since we "emphasise the value ... of human beings, individually" as well as collectively, wouldn't it be a good exercise of the heart for us to express gratitude toward those human beings who differ from us in our beliefs?
Name a theist who has made a contribution to society that you appreciate. If the figure is obscure, please name his or her contribution. Also, if you wish, tell us why you hold this particular person in high regard. Now, of course, many historical figures lived in times where identifying themselves as atheists might have resulted in decapitation. Thus they might have only professed theism in order to avoid the consequences of doing otherwise. Try to pick someone who showed a genuine impulse toward belief. (Isaac Newton would be a good example.) I was recently inspired to create this thread by an atheist who said he admired Augustine.
(Theists, you guys don't get off so easy... you have to name a nonbeliever.)
Of course, I'll start.
Leo Tolstoy (Russian Literary Master, wrote War and Peace): Devout Christian who renounced his wealth and title of nobility for Jesus Christ. His commitment to Christian morality motivated him to explore the power of nonviolence. He ended up influencing Gandhi who put his ideas into practice.
PS: They don't have to be historical. Contemporary theists welcome!
But I thought I might create a different kind of thread. Wikipedia defines humanism as "a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively." I'm sure there are a great many humanists here. Since we "emphasise the value ... of human beings, individually" as well as collectively, wouldn't it be a good exercise of the heart for us to express gratitude toward those human beings who differ from us in our beliefs?
Name a theist who has made a contribution to society that you appreciate. If the figure is obscure, please name his or her contribution. Also, if you wish, tell us why you hold this particular person in high regard. Now, of course, many historical figures lived in times where identifying themselves as atheists might have resulted in decapitation. Thus they might have only professed theism in order to avoid the consequences of doing otherwise. Try to pick someone who showed a genuine impulse toward belief. (Isaac Newton would be a good example.) I was recently inspired to create this thread by an atheist who said he admired Augustine.
(Theists, you guys don't get off so easy... you have to name a nonbeliever.)
Of course, I'll start.
Leo Tolstoy (Russian Literary Master, wrote War and Peace): Devout Christian who renounced his wealth and title of nobility for Jesus Christ. His commitment to Christian morality motivated him to explore the power of nonviolence. He ended up influencing Gandhi who put his ideas into practice.
PS: They don't have to be historical. Contemporary theists welcome!
