A distinction:
I appreciate what you’re saying, and I think it’s important to hear. In writing with such wry and caustic humour, you’re able to really effectively reveal the absurdity of what’s happened. There is a difference, however, between parody and ridicule. At points your sarcasm (”one third time for logical conjecture,” etc.) becomes quite harsh and implies that the religious view denies logic and reasoning wholesale.
You’re dealing with something that, more than being a “precious belief” per se, is an important part of many people’s identity. Many define themselves, not just peripherally, but primarily as “Christians.” Attacking that belief system without at least giving it some hint of respect or sensitivity is akin to mocking a person’s chosen lifestyle, personality, or preferences as not just different but illogical and wrong. You can’t in one section write ironically about the deductive demerits of believing in written scripture as a priori truth and then claim to avoid attacking the very heart of a person’s belief system and philosophical identity. You have literally brought the very basis of not only Christian teaching but religious belief in general into question, and in a fairly patronising and uncompromising way.
I’m not asking you to “present both sides” or any equally bullshit measure. But I am asking you to be empathetic. When criticising the core of a person’s self-identity (what they believe in), it’s important to be a little more humane.
Ryan
HA, but you attack the creator and subsequently the followers of this “religion” (its actually a protest)- so you infact are saying that you consider yourself an imbecile- Touche’
Ps- go cry elsewhere
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The only thing that gets me is that, you would like us to “be a little more humane” but their are christian churches that promote death to Iraq soldiers, gays, and victims of aids, and even September 11th. I think it is safe to say that FSM is more humane then godhatesfags.com which is a christian church. We’ve never wished death upon people, or have been happy of the death of anyone.
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I’ll say that the basic morality in the New Testament to some part is of use. But that’s about it as far as I’m concerned. And I’m not referring to the Ten Commandments here.
I’m against killing people only because of once own fundamental beliefs, in fact I’m mostly against killing people in general… Depends a bit on which side of the bed I wake up though.
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Ryan;
If i define myself primarily as a small raspberry pudding i bet you would attack THAT belief system without any hint of respect or sensitivity.
When criticising the core of a person’s sanity it’s important to be blunt.
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“implies that the religious view denies logic and reasoning wholesale.”
I thought religious belief was based on faith, hence devoid of a provable, factual basis and unable to be proven or disproven logically.
“You’re dealing with something that, more than being a “precious belief” per se, is an important part of many people’s identity. Many define themselves, not just peripherally, but primarily as “Christians.” Attacking that belief system without at least giving it some hint of respect or sensitivity…”
I show Christians the same respect I show any dangerously deluded, well armed and powerful insane idiot.
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Religion does deny logic and reasoning. If I could logically determine that there is a god it wouldn’t be called faith, it would be called truth.
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>>
FSM is simply putting a mirror up in front of you. The fact that the picture is silly is the basic point. There’s not a whole lot more of a humane approach than giving you the opportunity to see yourself as we see you.
Treat yourself better. Replace what’s at the core of your self-identity with something that is real and healthy and fun.
When the symbol of your religion is a device used to torture people to death, can’t you see there’s a problem?
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