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In reply to the discussion: It would be wrong to expect atheists or antitheists to answer for a murderer who used those labels. [View all]Htom Sirveaux
(1,242 posts)94. How far does this principle go, in your view?
Does Christianity necessarily lead to rejection of evolution just as it leads to violence because you can't have Jesus without a literal Adam and Eve?
Does it necessarily lead to acceptance of slavery because you can't have Jesus without the passages that slaveholders read as allowing slavery?
I get that the "it's all literally, historically-factually true or it's all false" view works this way. It was designed to:
The white evangelical theology of biblical literalism is a device that functions to allow white evangelicals to claim a reverent devotion to biblical literalism while simultaneously refusing even to look at huge chunks and huge themes of the Bible. It is a mechanism that does exactly what it was designed to do: provide an excuse for neglecting the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It allowed people like Rice to make a biblical defense of serving their own interests on their fast day and oppressing all their workers. It is a tool that is used to defy, deny and disrespect scripture. Thats what its for. Thats why it was so effective as a defense of slavery and later as a defense of segregation defending injustice was its intended purpose all along.
But you can't assume that view of the Bible in a discussion with people who don't hold to it. That's just begging the question.
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It would be wrong to expect atheists or antitheists to answer for a murderer who used those labels. [View all]
Htom Sirveaux
Feb 2015
OP
Clearly some people are very uncomfortable with this subject and they should not be.
hrmjustin
Feb 2015
#1
Simplistic, tunnel vision misses a larger picture. Equating theists with the KKK is a cheap shot.
pinto
Feb 2015
#15
I feel a murderer should be held personably responsible if convicted in a court of law.
pinto
Feb 2015
#6
Where are the ancient atheist texts containing exhortations to violence, part and parcel with
AtheistCrusader
Feb 2015
#7
I'm glad you agree, but then I don't see where I've committed a false equivalency.
Htom Sirveaux
Feb 2015
#13
Because there's no connection between atheism and any other ideology, violent or not.
AtheistCrusader
Feb 2015
#26
What were the websites general message? end all religion by force or argument?
hrmjustin
Feb 2015
#31
You may be right, but, that sort of speculation and the undoubtable 24x7
AtheistCrusader
Feb 2015
#63
Is it prejudice when the guy who these three religions claim as their founder was a monster?
Humanist_Activist
Feb 2015
#25
I understand that atheism is not functionally equivalent to an entire religion.
Htom Sirveaux
Feb 2015
#30
While I, in general, agree that individuals are not responsible for the actions of others...
Humanist_Activist
Feb 2015
#32
I don't like interpretations of religious texts that justify violence either.
Htom Sirveaux
Feb 2015
#35
Its not so much interpretation as it is what you decide to selectively focus on...
Humanist_Activist
Feb 2015
#46
Feel free to reinterpolate Deut. 7.1-2; 20.16-18 into something other than god-mandated violence.
AtheistCrusader
Feb 2015
#58
I will. My tolerance level for the personal stuff is very low after the past 24 hours.
hrmjustin
Feb 2015
#91
Would it be wrong to expect LGBT activist to answer for a murderer who advocated for
Warren Stupidity
Feb 2015
#80