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Reader
Beccane Responds:
Respect
Each Other's Values
I disagree
because it cuts both ways; if you want religious people
to respect your values you have to respect religious values
as well.
I grew
up strictly atheist with parents who told me religion is
the root of various evils. I think that was narrow-minded
– we all are travelling through life trying to find
structures and meaning that reflect our values. Our values
are often very similar – we want to be loved, to be
safe, to be happy, healthy, wise etc etc. It's how we think
we can get there that differs.
Is sexual
fantasy the cause of temptation (and presumably unhappiness)
or a harmless cure? Intelligent well-meaning people can
disagree.
Dogmatic
Ideas
I agree
that terms like "sin" can be loaded and tend to
put cold water on discussion by making things seem black
and white. But religion is not THE cause of all the terrible
things you cite ("misplaced aggression, emotional and
physical abuse of women, widespread divorce, lying and philandering").
In fact, phrasing things that way is just as dogmatic as
any religious sermon. So let's tone down the hyperbole and
disagree without attacking the deeply held beliefs of others.
– Beccane
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