(Untitled)

[_akenokoru]

All around me, it seems that everyone around me has religious views that have become very polarized. Now, I'm just speaking in my own life, not for all of America or the whole world, but Christopher Hitchens recently remarked on it. Now, it's not necessarily a good thing or a bad thing, but it's just the way it is

Comments

[aiwritingfic]

I really don't get why people need to bring that sort of thing up at work. *sighs*

[_akenokoru]

Because each believes they have a mission to fulfill by converting the other side, so they'll bring the topic up even when it's unsolicited. The arguments are pointless. Each side believes that the world is divided into ignorant people, and them. (And I'm talking about the extremists of both sides, so that doesn't include everyone).

[silverplate88]

"Ideas aren't dangerous, but people are." Lurve that!

I don't like intolerance at all, no matter where it comes from. So, like you, I don't get caught up in religious discussions much, for all the reasons you talk about.

And I don't like boundary-violators at all, either. Especially when it comes to perceiving that I need to be "fixed" in my beliefs, friends-choices, work-choices, anything like that.

btw that is an awesomely beautiful icon, K.....

[_akenokoru]

I don't like boundary-violators at all

That's exactly it! I knew there was something a bit more mean-spirited in what they were doing, and that's exactly it. They're boundary-violators.

awesomely beautiful icon

Thanks! I wish I could tell you where I got it from, but I forget now. :(

[_kihaku_]

a) nobody is really listening to each other (because nobody listens to each other anymore) and b)each side goes in circles, and eventually argues itself into a corner that is contrary to what they're preaching to begin with
This is true for so many arguments. Not just religious ones. The arguers get so desperate to prove their point that they won't acknowledge the other or realise their own delusions.

haHA! You're the most dangerous of them all, bcz you're intellectually dishonest bcz you won't take one position or the other! Therefore, you're an atheist
What? I prob. would have flipped at hearing this. XDD Wouldn't know where to start the picking.

ideas aren't dangerous, but people are
Rather: the people with those ideas. But yes, that is so true. :D

Great way to organise your thoughts after dealing with all that (and I'm sorry you had to deal with that. The believers and non-believers I know haven't ever been quite so vocal, so I don't know how tough it can be). Besides, you actually make a lot of sense. :D

[_akenokoru]

This is true for so many arguments. Not just religious ones

Od course it is. But with religious/philosophical arguments especially, it can get reallly nasty. I've only seen more nastiest among fandoms, sometimes.

Rather: the people with those ideas

I don't know, I disagree.... If a person is inherently cruel or a bit crazy, they can turn any idea into a weapon against humanity, and persuade others to follow them. I can get the idea that all redheads are substandard humans. Of course, to you and me, that would be ridiculous, but if to a delusional person who already has a bias against redheads, they might take this to heart start killing redheads. So it's the people who actually take those ideas and use it to justify hurting people.

[_kihaku_]

Well.. I didn't think THAT far, but really any argument can get nasty.

I meant the combination of the people and the ideas. An idea itself isn't dangerous before a dangerous person decides to use it. And a dangerous person without motivation isn't dangerous... yet.

[_akenokoru]

Good point. Agreed. :)