Archbishop of Canterbury playing politics AGAIN
Discussion
Eric Mc said:
Doogs said:
Agreed EricMc, but at least they are thinking for themselves
And those who believe aren't?For instance, they have no choice with regards abortion. Admit to it and you can be excommunicated. For each athiest, or rather non-believer in an institutionalised religion, they have to make their own minds up as to whether it is wrong or not.
Without a rule book you have to think for yourself. There is nothing moral about following a rulebook that someone else has created. On the other hand, wondering whether you should terminate a pregnancy is a very moral decision for someone not willing to let others make their moral decisions for them.
rohrl said:
He's got every right to speak his mind the same as anyone else. His position has no bearing on this at all.
He has a right to speak his mind but the notion that his position has no bearing is way off the mark - that position is one of pre-eminence and his opinion will be widely reported unlike the average man or woman in the street. If Carey stuck his nose into Party politics then he too would have been better advised to stick to the knitting instead. So now you can add criticism of Carey to the list.
Derek Smith said:
I don't see how they can be, Eric, apart from the decision to join a specific religion and then to follow its dictats. They are given a set of rules, decided by a political elite. They have no choice in the matter. I accept they do pick and choose but if they 'admitted' to having made this decision they run the risk of being thrown out.
For instance, they have no choice with regards abortion. Admit to it and you can be excommunicated. For each athiest, or rather non-believer in an institutionalised religion, they have to make their own minds up as to whether it is wrong or not.
Without a rule book you have to think for yourself. There is nothing moral about following a rulebook that someone else has created. On the other hand, wondering whether you should terminate a pregnancy is a very moral decision for someone not willing to let others make their moral decisions for them.
Not every "believer" has joined any particular religion.For instance, they have no choice with regards abortion. Admit to it and you can be excommunicated. For each athiest, or rather non-believer in an institutionalised religion, they have to make their own minds up as to whether it is wrong or not.
Without a rule book you have to think for yourself. There is nothing moral about following a rulebook that someone else has created. On the other hand, wondering whether you should terminate a pregnancy is a very moral decision for someone not willing to let others make their moral decisions for them.
It is possible to have "faith" without allying oneself to an earthly institution.
Eric Mc said:
Not every "believer" has joined any particular religion.
It is possible to have "faith" without allying oneself to an earthly institution.
So they make up their own religion? It is possible to have "faith" without allying oneself to an earthly institution.
Yeah, I can see that I suppose. Indeed, most people make up their own religion. They might go to the nearest convenience church but they do not follow all the rules, such as birth control, loving they neighbour, thwoing their daughters to the mob to make things more pleasant. I mean, we're all guilty of such things some times in our lives.
Without structure though there is no religion as such. It's just a warm glow. People believe in fairies (there was a meeting advertised down my way for instructions on fiaries and it was sold out, no wonder I'm moving) but it is not a religion.
All religions are man made but not all beliefs are religions if they are just unformed wooly-minded ramblings.
Derek Smith said:
So they make up their own religion?
Yeah, I can see that I suppose. Indeed, most people make up their own religion. They might go to the nearest convenience church but they do not follow all the rules, such as birth control, loving they neighbour, thwoing their daughters to the mob to make things more pleasant. I mean, we're all guilty of such things some times in our lives.
Without structure though there is no religion as such. It's just a warm glow. People believe in fairies (there was a meeting advertised down my way for instructions on fiaries and it was sold out, no wonder I'm moving) but it is not a religion.
All religions are man made but not all beliefs are religions if they are just unformed wooly-minded ramblings.
If you want to put it that way. Personal beliefs are exactly that, personal.Yeah, I can see that I suppose. Indeed, most people make up their own religion. They might go to the nearest convenience church but they do not follow all the rules, such as birth control, loving they neighbour, thwoing their daughters to the mob to make things more pleasant. I mean, we're all guilty of such things some times in our lives.
Without structure though there is no religion as such. It's just a warm glow. People believe in fairies (there was a meeting advertised down my way for instructions on fiaries and it was sold out, no wonder I'm moving) but it is not a religion.
All religions are man made but not all beliefs are religions if they are just unformed wooly-minded ramblings.
The one thing I will never do is denigrate or insult people for holding particular beliefs - even if I don't hold those beliefs myself.
Eric Mc said:
The one thing I will never do is denigrate or insult people for holding particular beliefs - even if I don't hold those beliefs myself.
Is that the special kind of sensitivity accorded to irrational beliefs of a religious nature, or are you equally happy to humour flat earthers and moon landing deniers?otolith said:
Eric Mc said:
The one thing I will never do is denigrate or insult people for holding particular beliefs - even if I don't hold those beliefs myself.
Is that the special kind of sensitivity accorded to irrational beliefs of a religious nature, or are you equally happy to humour flat earthers and moon landing deniers?I'd certainly debate issues with thim and poke holes in their arguments - but I generally wouldn't poke FUN at them.
Ah, that would be the special consideration for beliefs of a religious nature that so infuriates Richard Dawkins. I don't particularly like upsetting people, and I know that challenging their religious beliefs can have that effect, so I would usually just avoid the subject. If someone wants to debate the matter, though, the gloves have to come off.
TheHeretic said:
Eric Mc said:
Absolutely, if people want to discuss theology (or any other ology) I'm absolutely up for such debate. But I would alswayd TRY to keep the discussion non-personal if at all possible.
Have you ever called anyone a "Tin hatter" or similar? 
But I would never say that I have "never" used the odd inappropriate word. As I said earlier, I TRY to keep personal insults out of the debate. I may not always succeed.
Eric Mc said:
Not that partcicular expression as far as I can recall.
But I would never say that I have "never" used the odd inappropriate word. As I said earlier, I TRY to keep personal insults out of the debate. I may not always succeed.
Does mockery of the ilk of 'sky fairy', and so on, deem it a personal insult? What about lefty? Tory? Pinko? Does it only matter because it is an irrational belief? On that note, why is mockery deemed a personal insult? Why does having an irrational belief deem you to be protected from mockery?But I would never say that I have "never" used the odd inappropriate word. As I said earlier, I TRY to keep personal insults out of the debate. I may not always succeed.
Eric Mc said:
I just don't like using what I consider to be abusive terms. Others have no problem - obviously, but it's not my style and I don't like it.
It's a personal choice, but hypocritical/incompetent/mendacious public figures are fair game particularly when they are in one of the categories that regularly lectures us about how to conduct ourselves. As such a whiskery old socialist in a frock is definitely fair game.Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff