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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: The inexorable proof of God:
« on: May 07, 2007, 09:49:18 AM »Why should I respect people that honestly believe there is a man in heaven that they can speak to through their minds that is with them all the time and that will save them when they die?
My freedom of expression does not stop at your feelings. If I offend a religious person because I denounce them to their face, so be it. I'm offended everyday by their lack of awareness to reality, by not stopping to think and ask, "Gee, are we really so special that this universe was created all for us?"
The way I see it, there are many reasons, starting with the fact that they HONESTLY believe it.
Being indoctrinated from childhood is just one of the many ways someone can fall into the loop of religion. Imagine a man who is not religious, who happens to have a loved one who is dying. This man, in a moment of desperation and grief, breaks down and prays to heaven (even though he doesn't truly believe) for the recovery of his family member, with the promise of changing his ways. Then, lo and behold, the person does recover.
So, then what? Even though the recovery was a miracle of medicine rather than a divine one, how can this man get out of his promise without betraying himself and losing his sense of self worth? I don't think I can disrespect such a man because of his newfound devotion... and that's just one example off the top of my head. I can think of many others.
Truth is, it's not always as simple as just renouncing faith for lack of proof. I can remember the first few times I told someone I was an atheist, I couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling that I was about to be smitten by lightning!