WBC plans to picket Robin Williams funeral

[Art Vandelay]

If there is anything, ironchew and Art, that you've neglected, it is this truth.

I didn't say it's not psychologically comforting, I said it's not logical. No shit Sherlock, of course that's why people believe in it. This doesn't in any way invalidate my statement, nor does it mean religion deserves my respect.

[niam2023]

If there is anything, ironchew and Art, that you've neglected, it is this truth.

I didn't say it's not psychologically comforting, I said it's not logical. No shit Sherlock, of course that's why people believe in it. This doesn't in any way invalidate my statement, nor does it mean religion deserves my respect.

What I am saying is that being illogical and not deserving of your respect, due to the way these people think, matters less than you think it does. To them, religion only matters if it has the person in question's respect and a sufficient number of fellows who believe likewise. They can simply decree your respect not necessary, and your reasons inapplicable, due to their own thoughts.

What I am getting at, is that the truth, regardless how vaunted it is, is a fragile thing.

[Art Vandelay]

If there is anything, ironchew and Art, that you've neglected, it is this truth.

I didn't say it's not psychologically comforting, I said it's not logical. No shit Sherlock, of course that's why people believe in it. This doesn't in any way invalidate my statement, nor does it mean religion deserves my respect.

What I am saying is that being illogical and not deserving of your respect, due to the way these people think, matters less than you think it does. To them, religion only matters if it has the person in question's respect and a sufficient number of fellows who believe likewise. They can simply decree your respect not necessary, and your reasons inapplicable, due to their own thoughts.

What I am getting at, is that the truth, regardless how vaunted it is, is a fragile thing.

Obviously I'm not going to convert every last religious person. That doesn't mean you should keep silent in the name of "respecting their beliefs" whenever one of them claims that religion is just as logically sound as atheism, or that their belief systems are just as objective as logic. It's no different to someone claiming the sky is purple or Harry Potter is non-fiction. Even if it's unlikely that you'll ever get through to them, it's no reason not call them out on it and validate their delusions.

[niam2023]

What I am actually getting at is not that you should keep quiet to respect someone's beliefs.

What I am getting at is that trying to remove someone from this state of bliss is futile. Its pointless even to try.

[Mechtaur]

If there is anything, ironchew and Art, that you've neglected, it is this truth.

I didn't say it's not psychologically comforting, I said it's not logical. No shit Sherlock, of course that's why people believe in it. This doesn't in any way invalidate my statement, nor does it mean religion deserves my respect.

What I am saying is that being illogical and not deserving of your respect, due to the way these people think, matters less than you think it does. To them, religion only matters if it has the person in question's respect and a sufficient number of fellows who believe likewise. They can simply decree your respect not necessary, and your reasons inapplicable, due to their own thoughts.

What I am getting at, is that the truth, regardless how vaunted it is, is a fragile thing.

Obviously I'm not going to convert every last religious person. That doesn't mean you should keep silent in the name of "respecting their beliefs" whenever one of them claims that religion is just as logically sound as atheism, or that their belief systems are just as objective as logic. It's no different to someone claiming the sky is purple or Harry Potter is non-fiction. Even if it's unlikely that you'll ever get through to them, it's no reason not call them out on it and validate their delusions.

But, Harry Potter has to be real, they video taped it for Satan's sake!

[Art Vandelay]

If there is anything, ironchew and Art, that you've neglected, it is this truth.

I didn't say it's not psychologically comforting, I said it's not logical. No shit Sherlock, of course that's why people believe in it. This doesn't in any way invalidate my statement, nor does it mean religion deserves my respect.

What I am saying is that being illogical and not deserving of your respect, due to the way these people think, matters less than you think it does. To them, religion only matters if it has the person in question's respect and a sufficient number of fellows who believe likewise. They can simply decree your respect not necessary, and your reasons inapplicable, due to their own thoughts.

What I am getting at, is that the truth, regardless how vaunted it is, is a fragile thing.

Obviously I'm not going to convert every last religious person. That doesn't mean you should keep silent in the name of "respecting their beliefs" whenever one of them claims that religion is just as logically sound as atheism, or that their belief systems are just as objective as logic. It's no different to someone claiming the sky is purple or Harry Potter is non-fiction. Even if it's unlikely that you'll ever get through to them, it's no reason not call them out on it and validate their delusions.

But, Harry Potter has to be real, they video taped it for Satan's sake!

But don't you know that electronics don't work in Hogwarts? See, that's how they get you.

[Mechtaur]

If there is anything, ironchew and Art, that you've neglected, it is this truth.

I didn't say it's not psychologically comforting, I said it's not logical. No shit Sherlock, of course that's why people believe in it. This doesn't in any way invalidate my statement, nor does it mean religion deserves my respect.

What I am saying is that being illogical and not deserving of your respect, due to the way these people think, matters less than you think it does. To them, religion only matters if it has the person in question's respect and a sufficient number of fellows who believe likewise. They can simply decree your respect not necessary, and your reasons inapplicable, due to their own thoughts.

What I am getting at, is that the truth, regardless how vaunted it is, is a fragile thing.

Obviously I'm not going to convert every last religious person. That doesn't mean you should keep silent in the name of "respecting their beliefs" whenever one of them claims that religion is just as logically sound as atheism, or that their belief systems are just as objective as logic. It's no different to someone claiming the sky is purple or Harry Potter is non-fiction. Even if it's unlikely that you'll ever get through to them, it's no reason not call them out on it and validate their delusions.

But, Harry Potter has to be real, they video taped it for Satan's sake!

But don't you know that electronics don't work in Hogwarts? See, that's how they get you.

By Glycon's bleeding fangs, I never even considered that...

[Ironchew]

What I am actually getting at is not that you should keep quiet to respect someone's beliefs.

What I am getting at is that trying to remove someone from this state of bliss is futile. Its pointless even to try.

On the contrary, when dealing with someone that values vague nontruths over evidence, I've found that sustained ridicule eventually gets the message across. When someone no longer feels good about peddling their false beliefs, they usually drop them in favor of what the rest of their group thinks.

There's no guarantee it will be replaced with a rational belief, but it does happen.

[Mechtaur]

What I am actually getting at is not that you should keep quiet to respect someone's beliefs.

What I am getting at is that trying to remove someone from this state of bliss is futile. Its pointless even to try.

On the contrary, when dealing with someone that values vague nontruths over evidence, I've found that sustained ridicule eventually gets the message across. When someone no longer feels good about peddling their false beliefs, they usually drop them in favor of what the rest of their group thinks.

There's no guarantee it will be replaced with a rational belief, but it does happen.

This statement, coming from someone who behaves in this way, is just completely mindblowing.

EDIT: No, seriously, you just fucking justified every single action for oppressing any type of progress. You just justified every single action and reason that atheists or any other minority belief gets stomped on.

[Witchyjoshy]

I legit cannot think of a single situation in history where ridicule has solved anything, in all honesty.  If anything, it's made the problem worse.

It just seems like an excuse to be a dick.

[Second Coming of Madman]

Ironchew and Paragon! Always fighting like children, making a mess of the universe! And I have to clean up the messes!

Let me get my Glock 17 and you two will be best friends. Nothing like a polymer-framed short recoil operated locked breech pistol to solve arguments between you two.

[Ultimate Paragon]

I legit cannot think of a single situation in history where ridicule has solved anything, in all honesty.  If anything, it's made the problem worse.

It just seems like an excuse to be a dick.

Well, yes and no.  Ridicule can change things, as proven by Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin.  However, it needs to have a point beyond "you're a moron!  Ha ha!".

[RavynousHunter]

If there is anything, ironchew and Art, that you've neglected, it is this truth.

I didn't say it's not psychologically comforting, I said it's not logical. No shit Sherlock, of course that's why people believe in it. This doesn't in any way invalidate my statement, nor does it mean religion deserves my respect.

What I am saying is that being illogical and not deserving of your respect, due to the way these people think, matters less than you think it does. To them, religion only matters if it has the person in question's respect and a sufficient number of fellows who believe likewise. They can simply decree your respect not necessary, and your reasons inapplicable, due to their own thoughts.

What I am getting at, is that the truth, regardless how vaunted it is, is a fragile thing.

Obviously I'm not going to convert every last religious person. That doesn't mean you should keep silent in the name of "respecting their beliefs" whenever one of them claims that religion is just as logically sound as atheism, or that their belief systems are just as objective as logic. It's no different to someone claiming the sky is purple or Harry Potter is non-fiction. Even if it's unlikely that you'll ever get through to them, it's no reason not call them out on it and validate their delusions.

But, Harry Potter has to be real, they video taped it for Satan's sake!

But don't you know that electronics don't work in Hogwarts? See, that's how they get you.

But, what if said electronics were built in Hogwarts itself, using magic?

[Art Vandelay]

But, what if said electronics were built in Hogwarts itself, using magic?

I suppose it's possible. Maybe not actual electronics, but something that uses magic as a substitute for electricity could indeed work.

Now I feel as though the series would've been so much better if Harry and co had discovered thaumic computing.

[Søren]

And no offense, but even if Christian Heaven was real, I really wouldn't want to go there.

I don't want to spend all eternity sucking up to a god like that.

Actually ylu judt have to be a suck up in the present life. I dont think god will punt you out once you get your hand stamped