- Aug 8, 2012
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I don’t have time to reply to each of the 50-60 posts which came in on this thread overnight so this post will be a bit generic.
Firstly, I have no problem with the broad concept of freedom to practice your religion. However, like any freedom/right this is conditional on the ‘do no harm’ principle. The examples chosen in the OP were instances where, in my view, Christian practice was actually harmful to the broader society by breaching common standards like discrimination. I note that many of you have concerns about my ‘attack’ on religion. I’ve seen little consideration of the negative effect of Christian behaviour on society. That says it all.
Secondly. Secular and atheistic are not the same thing. Societal values are determined by a kind of amorphous consensus which includes Christians along with anyone else with an opinion. As a tiny, unorganised minority (dwarfed by the Christian majority) atheists are not in a position to command the influence that Christian conspiracy theorists like to claim they have. I have no patience for the idea that this is a Christian vs Atheist argument. Let my argument (and your response) stand on its own merits.
Thirdly. I have yet to see anyone justify any of the dozen or so negative behaviours I’ve listed. I’m excluding ‘because Christian’ or ‘because we always have’ as valid reasons since this ‘reasoning’ can be used to justify anything. If you want secular society to give you special exemptions then you need to argue in secular terms. Arguments about Sharia or Islam are equally irrelevant.
Finally – I see a significant gap opening up between what is acceptable to secular society and what is acceptable to Christianity. This gap takes two forms:
Whether you like it or not, head-butting between Christianity and society-in-general will continue. Treat this thread as a dress rehearsal for the battles to come.
OB
Firstly, I have no problem with the broad concept of freedom to practice your religion. However, like any freedom/right this is conditional on the ‘do no harm’ principle. The examples chosen in the OP were instances where, in my view, Christian practice was actually harmful to the broader society by breaching common standards like discrimination. I note that many of you have concerns about my ‘attack’ on religion. I’ve seen little consideration of the negative effect of Christian behaviour on society. That says it all.
Secondly. Secular and atheistic are not the same thing. Societal values are determined by a kind of amorphous consensus which includes Christians along with anyone else with an opinion. As a tiny, unorganised minority (dwarfed by the Christian majority) atheists are not in a position to command the influence that Christian conspiracy theorists like to claim they have. I have no patience for the idea that this is a Christian vs Atheist argument. Let my argument (and your response) stand on its own merits.
Thirdly. I have yet to see anyone justify any of the dozen or so negative behaviours I’ve listed. I’m excluding ‘because Christian’ or ‘because we always have’ as valid reasons since this ‘reasoning’ can be used to justify anything. If you want secular society to give you special exemptions then you need to argue in secular terms. Arguments about Sharia or Islam are equally irrelevant.
Finally – I see a significant gap opening up between what is acceptable to secular society and what is acceptable to Christianity. This gap takes two forms:
- A general difference of view on what acts are (im)moral and what are not. Examples include sex outside of marriage, contraception, homosexuality, euthanasia etc.
- A different view of what is acceptable behaviour coming from Christian organisations – the subject of this thread.
Whether you like it or not, head-butting between Christianity and society-in-general will continue. Treat this thread as a dress rehearsal for the battles to come.
OB
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