Understanding Religion's Relationship To Human Social Systems

A random Jehovah's Witness, ... a PERSON I regard as SACRED, ...   is very unhappy with me today. He is so unhappy with me  that he has 'declared null'   my worthiness as a person to have any of my words weighed; at least, when it comes to matters of religious faith.    In other words, he has committed an Ad Hom/Poisoning The Well fallacy; to dodge a matter he's uncomfortable thinking about. I'm not taking it personally. However, I see this as another opportunity to further exercise my mind about yet-another important topic. [ Here ] I offered a 'word of caution' to JWs, about how they relate to their own religion. In fact, honestly, my chosen statement there was very charitable. At the time, I didn't even mention all the harm it does. Nor did I encourage them to leave their religion. Instead, I said only this: "I am always happy for anyone who has a purpose in life that makes them happy and helps them get up in the morning. But at...

In a Facebook Discussion Group (focused on literature and philosophy), someone posted this: In reply, , Susan Francki  wrote:  " Rubbish … Some Children are born in dire circumstances, poverty & parental abuse through no fault of their own. They never had a chance…"   In reply to Susan,  Gary Goodchild  wrote:  "there is lots examples off people climbing out of gutter/ poverty ect" In reply to Gary,  Susan wrote: "I’m well aware of that fact!" Confused, Gary wrote back, saying: "(but) you said (it was) Rubbish" To help clear up Gary's confusion, I offer this: They said "rubbish" because the OP is incorrect. The OP is incorrect because it's a "Black and White" fallacy. It's broad-stroke claim that presumes to tell us something that is: a.) absolutely true for b.) literally all humans.  [Further clarification]  This conversation (the OP and related comments) are a great example of how politically left-vs-conserv...

  Today's Question and Answer: [first draft]  Question: "Why do atheists need to see God to believe he lives? Why don't they just believe like the rest of us?" Answers: Please note, before we dive into this,  I don't wear the "atheist" label. I am, instead, "athe-ISH", generally.  I don't take the position that "no gods exist". Nor do I take the position "I'm not convinced any gods exist". Rather, I take the position that "nothing could even possibly exist ... which meets my own personal standards ... when it comes to being worthy of such a dramatic crown.   Some "gods" may exist. In fact, some do.  For example: Some people have worshipped the Sun. The Sun exists. It has been a "god" to them.  Therefor, their "god" exists.   I merely don't relate to anything in that way.   Thus, I'll say "some gods exist" , because many people DO relate to something in that way.   ...

Sometimes a religious fundamentalist attempts to troll me on the topic. They might say something like "these are awfully big opinions for a meat-machine" (or for a random convergence of materials).  However, that's really just a strawman of what non-God-invokers are saying. No "atheist" I've ever encountered thinks we are nothing more than the substance of-which we consist.  Nor do I identity as an "atheist". However, most religious fundamentalists will just assume every critic is an atheist. Why do they assume it?  Because that's how religious fundamentalists have been trained to to think; by the cultural warfare-ing,  politically-weaponized cults they call "church". In reality, I am only sometimes an "atheist" in a general sense.  Although, I am always an "anti-Theist" about the Abrahamic "God"-concepts. -just as THEY are always an anti-Theist about all the God-concepts they reject.   Now, if my "i...

[First draft] [This video is a live-stream where I read and discussed an earlier edit of this blog. -For anyone who would prefer to just listen. ] -- -- Humanity, as a species, creates a lot of problems for itself. Humans, individually, create a lot of problems for themselves and other humans; although, not equally.  But to have this conversation properly, I am very careful not to say things like "we did X-wrongs", because: "I" am not responsible for what other people do. I am never a "we" that did a thing ... if I myself did not do the thing (whichever thing). This video will help illustrate that point: Now, if we want to say we are glad for the freedoms people abuse, because we can enjoy those freedoms without abusing those freedoms, ... I can certainty understand that line of reasoning. There are many things that I am glad we have the freedom to do; despite the fact that those very same freedoms are often abused by random other people. I am al...