Should we atheists expose the lies of theists whenever possible, or should we sacrifice truth for coexistence?
1
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Option 3 might be to realize the difference between a lie and an honest error. We’re talking about 80% of the world’s population here. We have more in common with them than we have at odds.
skado
Level 9
Mar 2, 2019
3
@BlueBlood1871
Yes, as Nietzsche points out, there are differences between an educated person’s worldview and that of an uninformed person. And yes, one of those differences is that they are likely to think it absurd to believe that a literal person who lives in the sky, created the universe, and judges you in life and in death.
Another difference is they are (these days) more likely to be aware that art is not best understood as prose, but as poetry, and that religion is a social art-form, and that when taken metaphorically it references deep truths about human psychology and human nature, and that it serves the evolutionary purposes of bonding large groups of individuals to common goals of peace, harmony, and mutual support, and gives the less learned masses some relief from their existential fears.
And that this abstract way of viewing the ‘god phenomenon’ was understood in varying degrees by the some of the greatest thinkers of history, Spinoza, Hegel, Tillich, Huston Smith, Joseph Campbell, Karen Armstrong, Chris Hedges, etc., etc., and countless, nameless practitioners of faith throughout time.
In no way is personification of highest ideals, no matter how misinterpreted by the unlearned, or abused by the power hungry, a lie, whether spoken by priest or laity.
It is fundamentalism, rather than faith in goodness, that is the lie.
Unfortunately the choices are not that easy. Religion can more important than family to a lot of people. Also depending on where you live, being a non-believer could put your livelihood at risk.
Each of us has to decide what our own comfort level is while managing to stay sane and true to ourselves.
Green_eyes
Level 8
Mar 2, 2019
3
Truth can be a slippery subject. Everybody thinks of their own opinions as truth, but the actual truth might be out of reach. IMO it’s best not to call people liars. I would just say that my opinion is different, or that I think they are mistaken.
Neither option works for me.
WilliamFleming
Level 8
Mar 2, 2019
2
You can do so by asking questions that expose the weirdness of belief. Which leads to Thought, and getting religo-bots to Think is 99% to "winning"
AnneWimsey
Level 9
Mar 2, 2019
2
I don't see it as a binary choice between being a firebrand and coexistence.
I think we just don't have any real need to be controlling asshats, we live and let live, express and enforce healthy personal boundaries, and all that stuff takes care of itself.
I have friends who are believers or who have no very specific beliefs beyond some vague affirmation of a "higher power" and I see no purpose in constantly challenging them (or, really, in challenging them at all). Some people are pretty indifferent to god but at the same time don't want to think of themselves as unbelievers as that's uncomfortable and socially unacceptable. So I just let them be. And guess what, they return the favor.
The ONLY time I come out swinging is when I encounter, e.g., Christian fundamentalists who won't let me be, and want to lay guilt trips or obligations on me that I don't accept. But I've dealt with most of that by just not living in the Bible Belt or other conservative religious pockets. It's not a practical problem of daily life for me.
mordant
Level 8
Mar 2, 2019
4
I agree. And it would be on a case by case, situational basis. I don't know how I would respond until the moment arises and I will have to weight the risks vs the benefits. I cannot see being in a setting where this face-to-face 'battle with the theists' is going to happen in my life. Only online, I suppose.
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