You know, I'm finding something peculiar about the way I perceive theists now. It's been in the making, with both this site and real-life, with so many attempts to reason with theists. The times I've tried in real life have been met with the same hostility as is often seen here, even within my own family. My own abilities of arguing reason and belief (or lack there-of) are no comparison to some of those on this forum, yet the result seems approximately the same whether it is they or I making an argument. I think I'll start calling theists "brick-and-mortar," as arguing with them is like arguing with a brick wall.
I truly believe the resistance is due to three main factors:
1) So much of the average theist's life has been invested in belief. To find that has been a waste is, well, enough to make a person feel silly. Defensive mechanisms...
2) The fear of death is a nearly insurmountable fear. To acknowledge the facts is to acknowledge mortality with no hope of the everlasting. Defensive mechanisms...
3) Some people just have a built-in desire to argue and to win the argument at all costs, though they fail to see the loss they sustain (William Lane Craig?)
It's coming to the point where I don't even want to hear what they have to say, to read what they have written. It's going to be the same idiotic thing we've all argued against before, to no avail. The better we prove our point, the more angry the theist becomes.
The best I can hope to gain from this site in the future is insight on a myriad of topics from those without silly imaginary friends. After all, perspective and outlook can certainly differ from those who still hold on to adolescent fantasies. I'm looking forward to those socio-political discussions, but I'm leaving the theological debates alone from this point. If they wanna drink the cool-aid or jump off the cliff, I say let 'em.
I truly believe the resistance is due to three main factors:
1) So much of the average theist's life has been invested in belief. To find that has been a waste is, well, enough to make a person feel silly. Defensive mechanisms...
2) The fear of death is a nearly insurmountable fear. To acknowledge the facts is to acknowledge mortality with no hope of the everlasting. Defensive mechanisms...
3) Some people just have a built-in desire to argue and to win the argument at all costs, though they fail to see the loss they sustain (William Lane Craig?)
It's coming to the point where I don't even want to hear what they have to say, to read what they have written. It's going to be the same idiotic thing we've all argued against before, to no avail. The better we prove our point, the more angry the theist becomes.
The best I can hope to gain from this site in the future is insight on a myriad of topics from those without silly imaginary friends. After all, perspective and outlook can certainly differ from those who still hold on to adolescent fantasies. I'm looking forward to those socio-political discussions, but I'm leaving the theological debates alone from this point. If they wanna drink the cool-aid or jump off the cliff, I say let 'em.
Creationists are like Slinkys: It's hard not to giggle when they tumble down the stairs.
