How Dare You Call Me a Fundamentalist?

[cavell]

The hardback God Delusion was hailed as the surprise bestseller of 2006. While it was warmly received by most of the 1,000-plus individuals who volunteered personal reviews to Amazon, paid print reviewers gave less uniform approval. Cynics might invoke unimaginative literary editors: it has “God” in the title, so send it to a known faith-head.

That would be too cynical, however. Several critics began with the ominous phrase, “I’m an atheist, BUT . . .” So here is my brief rebuttal to criticisms originating from this “belief in belief” school.
I’m an atheist, but I wish to dissociate myself from your shrill, strident, intemperate, intolerant, ranting language.

Read the rest @



http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article1779771.ece

 

[JGL53]

The hardback God Delusion was hailed as the surprise bestseller of 2006. While it was warmly received by most of the 1,000-plus individuals who volunteered personal reviews to Amazon, paid print reviewers gave less uniform approval. Cynics might invoke unimaginative literary editors: it has “God” in the title, so send it to a known faith-head.

That would be too cynical, however. Several critics began with the ominous phrase, “I’m an atheist, BUT . . .” So here is my brief rebuttal to criticisms originating from this “belief in belief” school.
I’m an atheist, but I wish to dissociate myself from your shrill, strident, intemperate, intolerant, ranting language.

Read the rest @

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article1779771.ece

I agree with Dawkins argument in his book. I agree with his reply to his atheist critics.

I don't see any problem here. And I have heard that Dawkins book has a world-wide sales total of about a million copies now.

So the score is Dawkins a million, his critics zero.

 

[ContentInHim]

Dawkins' mean-spiritedness makes me grind my teeth. He's just a bitter old man and that bitterness does cause me to pity him but not enough to buy his book.

 

[ParsonJefferson]

Dawkins' mean-spiritedness makes me grind my teeth. He's just a bitter old man and that bitterness does cause me to pity him but not enough to buy his book.

Agreed!

 

[KarrieTex]

Dawkins' mean-spiritedness makes me grind my teeth. He's just a bitter old man and that bitterness does cause me to pity him but not enough to buy his book.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[JGL53]

Gee- two christians and a republican don't like Dawkins or his book. Who would have thought? There are probably a few others like you, I'm guessing.

To each his own, I suppose. E.g., I read the bible - some parts were good, but overall I found it quite boring.

 

[ContentInHim]

I wonder how you can call yourself a Christian, JGL? Since you have such a low opinion of Christians, I mean and yet are sporting a Oneness ensignia.

 

[JGL53]

I wonder how you can call yourself a Christian, JGL? Since you have such a low opinion of Christians, I mean and yet are sporting a Oneness insignia...

What does Oneness have to do, necessarily, with being a Christian? I don't accept as true any organized religion's supernatural claims. That wouldn't be Oneness. I see all organized religion as based in myth.

As to my "low opinion of Christians", I do use a sliding scale ranking of people as to where I perceive them to be culturally, educationally and intellectually. Some self-identified liberal, modernistic, or progressive "Christians" I rank fairly high - those who self-identify as "fundamentalists" or “inerrantists” – not so much.

 

[KarrieTex]

What does Oneness have to do, necessarily, with being a Christian? I don't accept as true any organized religion's supernatural claims. That wouldn't be Oneness. I see all organized religion as based in myth.

As to my "low opinion of Christians", I do use a sliding scale ranking of people as to where I perceive them to be culturally, educationally and intellectually. Some self-identified liberal, modernistic, or progressive "Christians" I rank fairly high - those who self-identify as "fundamentalists" or “inerrantists” – not so much.

That's ridiculous. As a fundiemental Christian you would think me as less then worthy. Yet I have 3 degrees, successful in my career, and very artistic/cultural...but in your eyes not so much because I have chosen to believe the God of the Bible over the world.

I actually feel sorry for you and your narrow minded views.

 

[ContentInHim]

What does Oneness have to do, necessarily, with being a Christian? I don't accept as true any organized religion's supernatural claims. That wouldn't be Oneness. I see all organized religion as based in myth.

As to my "low opinion of Christians", I do use a sliding scale ranking of people as to where I perceive them to be culturally, educationally and intellectually. Some self-identified liberal, modernistic, or progressive "Christians" I rank fairly high - those who self-identify as "fundamentalists" or “inerrantists” – not so much.

But you are self-identifying as the very thing you appear to despise. A Christian. I'm simply trying to understand. Are you a believer or not? If you are, why are you denigrating what you are?

 

[JGL53]

That's ridiculous. As a fundamental Christian you would think me as less then worthy. Yet I have 3 degrees, successful in my career, and very artistic/cultural...but in your eyes not so much because I have chosen to believe the God of the Bible over the world. I actually feel sorry for you and your narrow minded views.

Gee- I'm not a psychiatrist or even a clinical psychologist, but I would diagnose a case here wherein what is said is actually more revealing about the speaker than about some other person or persons she is attempting to denigrate.

Now THAT is indeed sad.

And what’s up with that hot pink font – indicative of an out-of-control temperament, perhaps?

But you are self-identifying as the very thing you appear to despise. A Christian. I'm simply trying to understand. Are you a believer or not? If you are, why are you denigrating what you are?

How and why did you decide I am or ever claimed to be a "believer" in some superstitious or supranatural claims?

I am not a christian.

Regarding theism, I am an atheist or non-theist.

Is that clear enough?

I happen to assume, by means of logic, that our observed universe is ultimately a manifestation of an underlying unity. That is what I mean by Oneness. That is all I mean by Oneness.

If you interpret the word "Oneness" some other way, then that is your personal problem.

Got it?

 

[KarrieTex]

LOL that was humorous thank you

 

[ContentInHim]

Gee- I'm not a psychiatrist or even a clinical psychologist, but I would diagnose a case here wherein what is said is actually more revealing about the speaker than about some other person or persons she is attempting to denigrate.

Now THAT is indeed sad.

And what’s up with that hot pink font – indicative of an out-of-control temperament, perhaps?



How and why did you decide I am or ever claimed to be a "believer" in some superstitious or supranatural claims?

I am not a christian.

Regarding theism, I am an atheist or non-theist.

Is that clear enough?

I happen to assume, by means of logic, that our observed universe is ultimately a manifestation of an underlying unity. That is what I mean by Oneness. That is all I mean by Oneness.

If you interpret the word "Oneness" some other way, then that is your personal problem.

Got it?

CF interprets the symbol you carry as a believer in God and Jesus, though not in a normal Trinitarian way. So you are self-identifying as a believer. Maybe it's a subconscious thing and you really want to believe!

 

[JGL53]

CF interprets the symbol you carry as a believer in God and Jesus, though not in a normal Trinitarian way. So you are self-identifying as a believer. Maybe it's a subconscious thing and you really want to believe!

Well, if that is the case, then I avoid the confusion by selecting a new icon: Buddhism.

Except I should explain that I just agree with the basic precepts of Buddhism, but I do not believe literally in the metaphysics of reincarnation or in any hard and fast law of karma, the position basically expressed by Stephen Batchelor in his book "Buddhism Without Beliefs" and to a lesser degree in "What Makes You NOT a Buddhist" by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse.

So, I suppose you might say I am a liberal Buddhist.