Re: So Long Judge Moore, We'll Miss You

Carol Lee Smith wrote:...
> Malcolm Kirkpatrick wrote:...
> 
> One's religion may be valuable to him/her.  It may not necessarily be of
> value ot everyone.  Everyone is entitled to their own personal choice of
> religion, and as individuals may share it if others are willing to be the
> recipient(s).
> 
> I don't believe that public servants should be allowed to endorse
> religion by virtue of their office.
> 
MK. I agree, I suppose. The difference is that I don't call people who
overstep "morons". Ususlly.
> 
> > ... We are all ambassadors to others, men to the country
> > of women (and vice versa), Whites to the country of Blacks (and vice
> > versa), etc.
> 
> Etc. ??
> 
> then of course it follows that included should be:  We are all ambassadors
> to others, theists to atheists and atheists to theists.
> 
MK. Right.
>
> As individuals (individual citizens) of course.
> 
> > I do not appreciate the representation to the nation of
> > the faithful provided by intolerant atheists.
> 
> You are equating atheism with intolerance...
>
MK. No. "Intolerant atheists" then would be redundant.
>
>...I don't think you can support that attitude with proof that
intolerance is > inherent in atheism.
>
MK. I don't think atheism logically requires intolerance. I think many
atheists are arrogant, and believe that they are smarter than people
of faith. The key to avoiding arrogance while cultivating a
specialization, be it auto mechanics, Central Asian History, or
intelligence generally, is to remember that other people have their
specializations, too. Perhaps more valuable than the "intelligence"
specialization is the "compassion" specialization.
>
MK. Aside from intellectual pride, socialism seems more prevalent
among atheists than among people of faith. Again, there is no logical
connection, except perhaps that people who live in their heads might
devote more time to dreaming about what a wonderful world this would
be if they ran it. This bothers me. Most devout Christians or Muslims
could list a dozen reasons why people like me should go to hell. Most
devout socialists could list a dozen reasons why people like me should
go to prison. Since I don't believe in hell and I do believe in
prison, I fear socialists more than I fear Christians or Muslims. Of
course, these categories are not mutually exclusive, so I fear people
who would use the State to enforce religion. I probably agree with you
there, but I don't see monumental crosses or "under god" in the pledge
as the threat you'all seem to.