ac>> Evolution is called science for the sake of authority.  What
ac>> other options?  An atheist can't say "God said so."
FR> Evolution is a directly observed phenomena not subject to belief
FR> or disbelief.  Deity constructs don't factor into scientific facts.
rm> There are two completely different modes of thought, Mr. Rice.
rm> The "I believe" mode, and the "prove it" mode.
Greetings, Richard!  'Glad to see you're still talking to me.  }:-}
And please call me Fred.
There are several more, though.  Among them is "you must believe also"
which the Creationist cult attempts to impose within the public schools
in America.  It's a re-enactment of the "you must believe also" made so
popular in the Dark Ages.
rm> We all have our own unique mixture of those modes, but hey, that's
rm> one thing that makes us unique and individual.  We each make our
rm> own choices, (THAT SHOULD BE RESPECTED), *because* we are
rm> individual/unique.
I would love it were theists content with making their choices and letting
the rest of the world carry on rationally.  Unfortunately religion has
always been the single most deadly weapon used against the world's health
and safety -- bar none.
Witness the absolute evil the Christian cult advocates in its steadfast
denial of allowing homosexuals to enjoy the same rights as the rest of
the America populace; the same evil they once visited upon blacks.
Yes, if cults kept themselves to themselves, I would have nothing to say
about them.  Narry a single thing.  Really.  I don't have much to say
about the Flat Earth Society because they don't seek to impose their
insane beliefs in the public schools or in government.  Were religious
cults to refrain from doing so, I would shut the fuck up in an instant
and count myself better off.
rm> So, tell me why is it so imperative to "hound" a theist from echo
rm> to echo and attempt to make them feel bad about their *personal*
rm> choice to believe what they want to believe?
The argument you propose contains the logical fallacy known as "begging
the question," though.  While it is true that cultists get asked embarrassing
questions everyone knows they're incapable of answering, one could hardly
pretend that cultists are being "hounded" when they are, in fact, saying
things in public in a forum where everyone is invited to comment.
As for "choice," I think you may have missed the irony of your choice of
words.  Very few cultists ever choose their religion.  It is given to them
by their parents and they are indoctrinated into a cult.  Very few people
have any choice about the matter.
And while we're on the subject of choice, we could look at who wishes to
deny women the right to control their own bodies.
rm> Is it because it is fun?  Is it, perhaps a "religious" need
rm> to hound those who do not think the way you feel they MUST think?
One wonders what you must think of the fact that very few atheists have
any problem at all with Buddahists, Wiccans, neo-Pagans, Quakers, or a
large variety of religions and religious folk.
Why do you think it is that atheists continue to point out the evils
of Christianity, Islam, and Judism while leaving the life-affirming
religions alone?
rm> Is it fair to look down on a person just
rm> because they have theistic thoughts?
Would that they were the only "problem."  It's unfortunate that people who
need to create deity constructs for themselves do so, yet it is perfectly
acceptable when they do -- provided they keep their occult superstitions
out of government and allow rational people to govern themselves rationally.
rm> Are we not *ALL* human, and do we not ALL have a :*right*: to
rm> believe what we wish?  Do we not all deserve to have our choices
rm> respected?
To judge by the actions of Christianity, it would seem that we aren't
and that we don't and that we don't.  To judge by the history of atheism
and Humanism, it would seem that we do.
No ideology deserves repect post hoc.  No ideology deserves respect after
it has been shown to be detrimental to human progress, health, and safety.
rm> Theist and atheist can and do get along and respect each
rm> other's choices, so it is POSSIBLE to achieve, yes?
Ah, yes.  Quite.  Lebanon really didn't have _12_ warring religious factions
(seven of them different brands of Christianity) trying their best to kill
each other.  Bosnia really didn't have _two_ Christian brand names and any
number of Muslim brands rapeing, murdering, tortureing, and killing each
other.  Ireland really doesn't have _two_ Christian brands doing their best
to blow up each other's children in buses on their way to school.
Theists and theists don't get along.  Atheists are willing to allow theists
their occultism provided they behave like civilized citizens.  The facts
are, however, that theists have no moral or ethical compunictions against
killing because they justify their actions as the will of their gods.
Atheists don't have any conveinient excuses and wouldn't need them anyway.
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