RE: Anti-Theism
December 5, 2017 at 11:56 am
(This post was last modified: December 5, 2017 at 12:09 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
(December 5, 2017 at 11:43 am)vulcanlogician Wrote: Might we unearth Sam Harris's argument involving Jainism in regard to the question of anti-theism? If Hitchens' criticism of the Abrahamic god "is just one expression of why -theism- is abhorrent," don't the Jains count as theists who lack any of these aberrations. Being a bit of a peacenik, I admire Jains (though my love of bacon and tendency to imbibe a variety of intoxicants makes the religion personally unattractive). What kind of beef would a reasonable person have against the Jains? How do Hitchen's remarks about Yahweh apply to them in the slightest?Actually, no. Jains aren't theists at all. I don't find their ideology particularly compelling, I have objections..but it would be inappropriate to call them anti-theist objections. Theism seperates itself from other forms of god belief (and assorted spirit/supernaturalism) by criteria to which jainism doesn't conform.
Quote:Anyway, I guess I kind of drifted away from the "definition of anti-theism" part of the discussion to offer the point that theism isn't necessarily the biggest problem with religion.
Religions have their own problems..but being an anti-theist isn't the same as being an anti-religionist. The anti-theists position is that -theism- is the biggest problem in theism. It's really that simple.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!