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MeasterAuron
Um some douche bag who hated women I think.
You're probably right there.
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MeasterAuron
You're only looking at the possibility of the moderates becoming atheists. There's also a strong possibility of the moderates turning to fundamentalism. Especially in the case of second hand accounts. You may turn one moderate atheists with a personal discussion, but a dozen more moderates may hear about this and decide the unbelievers are a threat and become fundamentalists.
Actually I was focusing on the numbers, since the fundamentalists already have nearly unlimited financial support the only thing that really matters now is how many people they can claim they represent.
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MeasterAuron
The fundamentalists will never be convinced that it's not the word of god.
I believe I said that.
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MeasterAuron
And you think fundamentalists aren't good at ignoring certain aspects of reality to get what they want?
Quite the contrary, I know that they are.
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MeasterAuron
I was talking about the fundamentalists. Basically you're telling them "Your wrong there's no god, but your interpretation of the bible is 100% correct". And of course they're more then capable of ignoring that first part.
My message is not directed at the fundamentalists its for the moderates who have only a passing familiarity with the bible.
This tactic has been the most obviously successful in this country so far. Shaming these people and letting them see what their holy book really says seems to be having a very positive effect.
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MeasterAuron
Not really because the moderates don't lend any tangible support to the fundamentalists. Like I said basically everyone hats the fundamentalists. When they see themselves as under attack they're libel to join with fundamentalists.
The fundamentalists already have all of the tangible support that they need in this country, financially it is nearly unlimited. All they need from the moderates is the numbers which they have.
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MeasterAuron
So why hurt that by attacking a group who's no real threat to you?
This new respect for atheists seems to be a direct result of this counterattack. Theists are quickly learning that we have a superior knowledge of their religion than most of them do and we will readily show them how foolish their beliefs are.
Americans hate to be made fools and this tactic, so far, has had a profoundly positive influence on atheist's respectability.
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MeasterAuron
Have you tried the "at least we both agree that fundamentalists suck" approach?
Yea but the answer is usually something along the lines of "well at least their not immoral sinners".
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MeasterAuron
Here's a problem with this whole restricting behavior thing. What if those restrictions are a necessary experience for that person to become wise? For example what if the Religious practice of fasting is necessary to understand hunger.
Fasting is not a restriction, it is denying oneself food, and it is an experience.
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MeasterAuron
Obscure? Its one of the five main religions.
The point is, its numbers are relatively small in comparison to the other main religions and that it still restricts behavior.
You cant tell me that a monk caught banging away with a prostitute in his little room would not be thrown out on his ear, even if he said he was just trying to experience the allure of the flesh.
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