9.24.2010

On Offending Others

Don't piss me off

I bet that you've known at least a handful of people during the course of your life who seemed to be offended too easily. I have known quite a few. Some are even family members.

Maybe they are offended by "bad" language, going so far as to gasp in horror when they hear "a swear word." Or maybe they had difficulty with any sort of criticism, seeming so emotionally fragile that they would burst into tears if somebody dared to laugh at them. Perhaps they were Christian and protested whenever someone dared to use the name of their "lord" in a way they didn't like.

You have all known people like this. They might have seemed almost as if they were looking for the next offense to the point where they would see it where nobody else could. I think that these people have an important lesson to offer, and that we would do well to learn it.

9.21.2010

What's the Harm if Believing Makes People Feel Good?

Belief

On the occasions when I discuss religion with Christians, I can count on being asked one question every time: What is the harm in believing? A common phrasing of this question would be as follows:
I understand that you don't believe in God. But I don't know why you seem to care that others do. I mean, what's the harm in believing in God if it makes people feel good to believe?
If you are an atheist, I'd say it is a virtual certainty that you've been asked this question many times too. In this post, I'd like us to forget about how we might phrase our response and just think through the question itself.

9.15.2010

Intolerant of Intolerance? You Better Believe It!

intolerance

Darkwulfe (Musing of a Madman) recently wrote one of the sort of posts we should all be writing every now and then. We are so used to looking at others that it can be easy to forget to examine ourselves, our biases, and our motivations. I don't imagine there are many atheists who haven't at one time or another asked themselves whether they might be guilty of some of the same intolerance of which they accuse religious believers. At least, I hope we all remember to ask this of ourselves from time to time.

Darkwulfe describes a thought-provoking encounter:

One person I love and respect very much has told me that I am intolerant of intolerance and therefore I have no right to really say anything since I am equally intolerant. He also tells me I am judgmental of judgmental people and therefore have no right to judge them for being judgmental. While a bit circular in his logic, to a point he has a grain of truth in what he is saying.

9.14.2010

Do Methodists Have Clergy Sex Abuse Problems Too?

Ken KlecknerWhen one thinks of child sexual abuse, one immediately thinks of Catholic priests. And yes, when one thinks of Catholicism, child sexual abuse has joined the ranks of other likely associations such as Popes in Prada and genocide via HIV/AIDS in Africa based on opposition to contraception. It isn't that all Catholic priests molest children; it is that the conspiracy of silence which has enabled such crimes over the decades reaches all the way to the top of the Catholic hierarchy. Indeed, ordinary Catholics who continue to contribute money to their local churches are funding a criminal empire (see How to Leave the Catholic Church if this bothers you).

9.07.2010

Plenty of Blame to Go Around for Quality of American Education

education

I'd like to expand a bit on some of the recent discussion provoked by the disturbing video clip that has been circulating on the atheist blogosphere, "Inside a Tennessee Science Classroom." It is very easy to blame the teacher featured in the video clip, and I have little doubt that this is appropriate. But what many fail to realize is that teachers like this are under tremendous pressure these days (1) not to offend anyone, and (2) avoid lawsuits. None of this absolves the teacher from responsibility, but it will have to be considered if we want to improve the quality of public education in the U.S.

Imagine for a second that you are given the task of teaching science, social studies, or a range of other subjects without offending anybody. You cannot offend the overly sheltered kids who have been brainwashed by fundamentalist homeschoolers. You cannot offend any parents, no matter how unhinged they might be. It is difficult to imagine how any teacher can accomplish this.

9.06.2010

Thomas Jefferson on Mocking Religion

Thomas Jefferson

Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is the mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus.
- Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, 1816