Posts: 2080
Threads: 63
Joined: June 3, 2018
Reputation:
17
Christian missionary becomes atheist after trying to convert tribe
September 25, 2019 at 7:20 am
TL;DW An interesting talk about a Christian missionary who tried to convert an Amazonian tribe to Christianity but instead ended up becoming an atheist, essentially because the cultural and linguistic differences of the tribe were such that they required evidence for any new information given to them, meaning they didn't buy into the concept of Christianity. This made him to rethink his former beliefs and eventually he became an atheist and an anthropologist.
Good quote from the video:
Quote:I'm a failure as a missionary. I'm a mediocre scientist. But I have learned a tremendous amount through the eyes of the Piraha...
If you're frightened of dying, and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the Earth.
Posts: 19881
Threads: 324
Joined: July 31, 2016
Reputation:
34
RE: Christian missionary becomes atheist after trying to convert tribe
September 25, 2019 at 7:22 am
"Oh Lord, protect me from new knowledge!"
Posts: 4219
Threads: 13
Joined: September 27, 2018
Reputation:
17
RE: Christian missionary becomes atheist after trying to convert tribe
September 25, 2019 at 7:27 am
(September 25, 2019 at 7:20 am)EgoDeath Wrote: Quote:But I have learned a tremendous amount through the eyes of the Piraha...
A wise man!
Always good to respect and listen to the "other side." Always good to admit we may be wrong. Always good to resist the ego-defenses of a challenge.
Difficult to do, but apparently he did it.
Posts: 2080
Threads: 63
Joined: June 3, 2018
Reputation:
17
RE: Christian missionary becomes atheist after trying to convert tribe
September 25, 2019 at 7:38 am
(This post was last modified: September 25, 2019 at 7:41 am by EgoDeath.)
(September 25, 2019 at 7:27 am)Belaqua Wrote: A wise man!
Always good to respect and listen to the "other side." Always good to admit we may be wrong. Always good to resist the ego-defenses of a challenge.
Difficult to do, but apparently he did it.
Depends on what you mean by respect. But sure, I always try to consider that someone I'm talking to might know something I don't, or might be able to teach me something. Only if everyone tried their best to live by that rule. Only if...
If you're frightened of dying, and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the Earth.
Posts: 27198
Threads: 519
Joined: June 16, 2015
Reputation:
90
RE: Christian missionary becomes atheist after trying to convert tribe
September 25, 2019 at 9:01 am
(September 25, 2019 at 7:27 am)Belaqua Wrote: A wise man!
Always good to respect and listen to the "other side." Always good to admit we may be wrong. Always good to resist the ego-defenses of a challenge.
Difficult to do, but apparently he did it.
No it's not. Nice display limited thinking.
I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem.
Posts: 2080
Threads: 63
Joined: June 3, 2018
Reputation:
17
RE: Christian missionary becomes atheist after trying to convert tribe
September 25, 2019 at 9:42 am
(September 25, 2019 at 9:01 am)wyzas Wrote: (September 25, 2019 at 7:27 am)Belaqua Wrote: A wise man!
Always good to respect and listen to the "other side." Always good to admit we may be wrong. Always good to resist the ego-defenses of a challenge.
Difficult to do, but apparently he did it.
No it's not. Nice display limited thinking.
Another disingenuous attempt by Bel to dirty the waters. Hey, if we should always listen to the other side, then the Christians have a point. If the Christians have a point, they're probably right about some things. If they're right about some things, then they know just as much as the atheists. It's a wash!
If you're frightened of dying, and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the Earth.
Posts: 4219
Threads: 13
Joined: September 27, 2018
Reputation:
17
RE: Christian missionary becomes atheist after trying to convert tribe
September 25, 2019 at 11:25 am
(This post was last modified: September 25, 2019 at 11:26 am by Belacqua.)
(September 25, 2019 at 9:42 am)EgoDeath Wrote: dirty the waters
I thought the point of the story was that we should listen to others as we never know where we'll learn something important. Open-mindedness and all that.
You said a moment ago:
Quote:I always try to consider that someone I'm talking to might know something I don't, or might be able to teach me something.
But is it muddying the waters for me to say that everybody should listen to everybody? Surely you don't intend to say that Christians have to listen but atheists don't? Because that would be a wildly egotistical thing to say.
Posts: 2080
Threads: 63
Joined: June 3, 2018
Reputation:
17
RE: Christian missionary becomes atheist after trying to convert tribe
September 25, 2019 at 11:52 am
(This post was last modified: September 25, 2019 at 11:53 am by EgoDeath.)
(September 25, 2019 at 11:25 am)Belaqua Wrote: (September 25, 2019 at 9:42 am)EgoDeath Wrote: dirty the waters
I thought the point of the story was that we should listen to others as we never know where we'll learn something important. Open-mindedness and all that.
You said a moment ago:
Quote:I always try to consider that someone I'm talking to might know something I don't, or might be able to teach me something.
But is it muddying the waters for me to say that everybody should listen to everybody? Surely you don't intend to say that Christians have to listen but atheists don't? Because that would be a wildly egotistical thing to say.
Yes, it's a poor attempt to muddy the waters.
Sure, I will try to consider that someone I'm talking to knows something I don't. That doesn't mean I will, blindly, without discretion, just listen to anyone and respect their beliefs because they're "on the other side."
If you're frightened of dying, and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the Earth.
Posts: 18504
Threads: 79
Joined: May 29, 2010
Reputation:
125
RE: Christian missionary becomes atheist after trying to convert tribe
September 25, 2019 at 12:00 pm
He was lucky. Remember the guy that went to convert a protected tribe near India ? (Cant recall their name)
He dead.
Posts: 12806
Threads: 158
Joined: February 13, 2010
Reputation:
111
RE: Christian missionary becomes atheist after trying to convert tribe
September 25, 2019 at 12:09 pm
(September 25, 2019 at 9:01 am)wyzas Wrote: (September 25, 2019 at 7:27 am)Belaqua Wrote: A wise man!
Always good to respect and listen to the "other side." Always good to admit we may be wrong. Always good to resist the ego-defenses of a challenge.
Difficult to do, but apparently he did it.
No it's not. Nice display limited thinking.
Sure, it is-as a starting point. Once they've spoken and you've listened, then it's okay to say "Fuck those dumbasses."
|
