Opposing superstition

[Jack]

Speaking of Protestantism, no one has provided any besides the Salem witch trials. Care to add to that?

Are we trying to establish an acceptable level of inhumanity?

[Questatement]

Nope, it's pretty well established already.

Crimes Against Humanity

[ncb1397]

Is there any proof that these sociopaths wouldn't find another outlet for their psychology? Instead of sacrificing other human beings to get rich, maybe they will just sell their organs to get rich.

I tend to prefer sociopaths using superstitious religious practices to put into affect their will, otherwise they might be more effective sociopaths in reality.

[Maryjane]

From the OP:

Many atheists consider supernatural and superstitious beliefs to be fairly benign; believe what you will as long as it doesn’t interfere with another person’s privilege to believe what they wish. Yet this degree of tolerance allows the more harmful consequences of supernatural and superstitious belief to be practiced without criticism. Tolerance of the differences between individuals is commendable; tolerance of belief systems that are used to subjugate, enslave and kill those who don’t share those beliefs is not commendable at all. By not opposing fantastic thinking, especially when it is used as an excuse to cause harm to our fellow humans, we atheists become complicit in that harm. We need to champion realistic and clear thinking and not shy away from criticizing belief systems that cause wars and death to innocent humans.

Here is a prime example of how superstitious thinking can cause real harm to the innocent.

Here's another...Should we be surprised the news is about Uganda again?



YouTube - ABC Nightline: Preaching Hate in Uganda

[Diogenes]

Well, not sure what you're trying to achieve here Jack...if it's a rally-call to get atheists motivated to combat injustice,

well, atheists are just as apathetic and indifferent as anyone else...

if you're trying to achieve a general outcry against crimes against humanity, more specifically, crimes perpetrated by religious superstition ( as there are superstitions that are not specifically religious ) you don't need to look any further than a thread or two in either direction.

[Jack]

Well, not sure what you're trying to achieve here Jack...if it's a rally-call to get atheists motivated to combat injustice,

well, atheists are just as apathetic and indifferent as anyone else...

if you're trying to achieve a general outcry against crimes against humanity, more specifically, crimes perpetrated by religious superstition ( as there are superstitions that are not specifically religious ) you don't need to look any further than a thread or two in either direction.

It is a rally cry of sorts. Too many atheists and other non-believers in superstition are reluctant to speak out, fearing the disapproval of their society, friends and family. Perhaps they'll acquire the courage of their convictions by reading that there are others who think the same way they do and are willing to back them up in public debates.

You're right that not all superstitions are religious in origin. In fact not all religious superstitions are religious in origin but were adopted from the society in which the religion developed.

This is the 21st century. It's time to put away our 19th century and earlier superstitions and embrace current knowledge, fully aware that we still don't know the answer to every question. It's a matter of education and to educate one must speak up (or publish).

[Diogenes]

It is a rally cry of sorts. Too many atheists and other non-believers in superstition are reluctant to speak out

I think that that is true no matter what demographic you're talking about...religious or not...most people of whatever mind set are apathetic and/or indifferent.

Just as most people will watch a burning building, a car accident, a beating, etc and very few will try to help...the ones that do help we call heroes...because they are so rare.

The sad, and unfortunate, truth is that if you were just mugged and beaten within an inch of your life, most people wouldn't help you, most might watch, others might turn their head, some might walk away, some might even kick you along the way...

but very few would stop and help you.

Most people just don't care, or don't want to get involved, and the further it is away from affecting them personally, on some level, the less they care.

[Jack]

Folks like that are life's victims. Life happens to them, they take no active role in it. I don't know if there's any hope to change people like that and honestly, they aren't my audience.

[samsara15]

Speaking of Protestantism, no one has provided any besides the Salem witch trials. Care to add to that?

Northern Ireland comes to mind.

[mbc85]

Mmmm I don't understand why one would give a rat's ass about what happens on the other side of the world, if it's not affecting you physically nor mentally. And if it is affecting you mentally, my god I don't know how you are dealing with other problems around the world, like um wars, genocide, rape and mutilation of women, the murdering of innocent children led to fight guerrila wars, etc etc.

This is like throwing a small bucket of sand at a huge forest fire and expecting it to turn it off.

Why attack beliefs and superstition, when that is not nearly as important as all the other attrocities that happen in africa?

And why should the uganda people stop doing what they believe will help them? Even if it seems completely wrong to you, to them is not. Maybe the head of government and the government officials want it stopped because they see it as unfit or most probably are being forced to do it by other countrie's governments. But to some, maybe majority or not, it is fairly normal.

It's time for us to stop poking our noses wherever we see fit and live and let live.

There's always gonna be "wrong" in this world and either you learn to live with it and ignore it, or you try to fight every single battle.

[mbc85]

"Folks like that are life's victims. Life happens to them, they take no active role in it."

So you are saying that you are living life more than I am, just because you like to care for others in another country, which to me seems like another planet, and because you take up an "active" role in life?


"I don't know if there's any hope to change people like"

Again, why should we change to suit yor needs? Just because you think you are doing a noble cause doesn't make it noble to everyone. What you fail to realize is that your noble cause will bring more deaths and it won't completely stop what's happening in uganda. How do you think they are gonna stop the "witch doctors" and the clients jack? A slap in the wrist? Encarceration? Death? Or are they willingly gonna stop because someone (prolly many) said "it's morally wrong and it should be stopped"?


"and honestly, they aren't my audience."

If you had any set "plan" to follow, that gave out a favorable percentage of success, I might get remotely interested in it. But all you have, so far, is "complain and write letters" kinda like sit around our pcs, turn on the webcam, and sing kumbaya.

About "us" not being your "audience", that's too bad. You need rants against your "noble" goal so others that are undecided can join, just because of the "inhumane" words that people like "us" post.

[Maryjane]

There's always gonna be "wrong" in this world and either you learn to live with it and ignore it, or you try to fight every single battle.

Apathy isn't the answer. It's a matter of picking your battles, because if you don't, who is going to be left when they come for you? Make sense now?