tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2649179563624525119.post2973760268922037519..comments2023-06-22T13:59:01.275-05:00Comments on The Scientific Universalist: Existence of GodSammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513507615980707905noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2649179563624525119.post-41284860332468495372011-03-11T12:09:54.573-06:002011-03-11T12:09:54.573-06:00I completely agree with you. The negative concepti...I completely agree with you. The negative conceptions many believers have of non-believers is a major problem to having a rational, polite discussion. In my experience, this is usually caused by stereotypes learned from a young age and lack of contact with non-believers. Not only are children in conservative Christian churches taught that non-believers (or members of another religion) are evil and desire nothing more than to "lead you astray", they are told not to communicate with them. Of course, without real world experience, those learned stereotypes never get challenged in a meaningful way. In high school, many of my conservative Christian friends were shocked to learn that I considered myself an agnostic (which they of course assumed equaled atheist). I cannot remember how many times I heard "but you're such a nice person!". They honestly expected atheists and agnostics to be mean and sinful.<br /><br />However, the disbelievers aren't completely innocent either. I have seen staunch atheists who think that anyone who holds religious or spiritual beliefs must be ignorant, foolish, and stupid. That stereotype is just as wrong.<br /><br />I try quite hard not to judge people based on their religious beliefs. The nicest person I know is a fundamentalist Christian. She is not stupid, nor does she consider those who do not share her beliefs to be evil. One of my best friends is an atheist. She just got married and her wife is quite religious. They have mutual respect for each other's point of view.Sammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11513507615980707905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2649179563624525119.post-18581697209986353022011-03-11T03:26:57.546-06:002011-03-11T03:26:57.546-06:00"Instead of being a debate, it should be a di..."Instead of being a debate, it should be a dialogue." However we choose to define it - debate or dialogue - the problem is that the Goddists are controlling it. Morality is so connected to religion in the minds of most folks that unbelievers are presumed to be "bad" people. Even a liberal believer - but still a believer - such as yourself faces scorn as a heretic or infidel. As long as those attitudes exist among the "Godly," I will do all in my power to oppose such notions.Doug Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18027574195522869708noreply@blogger.com