From: Grant Callaghan (grantc4@hotmail.com)
Date: Sat 08 Feb 2003 - 21:09:34 GMT
I can hear you, but I just can't think of anything to say.
What do you do, for example, if the muslim kids you talked about in your
last post think that everyday behaviours by you are a sin that must be put
down? That tolerance itself is a sin? The Catholics used to think like
that and so did most other religious groups. They killed and tortured their
neighbors for what they said was blasphemy. We are now facing what looks to
be a Muslim inquisition that sees a need to punish us for what they think is
a sin. Our whole culture is riddled with sinful ways in their estimation.
Religious matters can't be looked at objectively because there is no
objectivity when it comes to religion.
I saw on television a bunch of people in Australia looking at a fence post
and telling each other it was an incarnation of the Virgin Mary. Those who
believed saw it and those who didn't believe saw only a fence post. A man
was standing in the middle of the crowd trying to tell them it was only a
fence post. The believers didn't believe him.
What meme would you use to make the believers change their minds? If the
beleivers thought the Virgin Mary wanted this man to shut up, and they took
action to make him do so, where would right and wrong come into it? Was he
rational in preaching to them against their beliefs? Would they be rational
in trying to stop him? When two sides are both doing what they believe is
right, it's very difficult to reason with either side.
Grant
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