Philosophy Now Forum

From a theist's perspective, which is worse?

sthitapragya wrote:From a theist's perspective, which is worse?

Neither and both, it is only a problem when a person tries to force others to accept their view as the only correct one.

sthitapragya wrote:From a theist's perspective, which is worse?

Excellent question!

thedoc wrote:...it is only a problem when a person tries to force others to accept their view as the only correct one.

That creates a problem, true. But I think this answer sort of skips the intended meaning/purpose of the question. If no one is trying to force anything on anyone else... yet a theist is standing there assessing the spiritual correctness of an atheist or someone who worships a different god, is one position considered "worse" over the other?

And suppose all three are on an island... who might the theist try to convert first, and why?

Both. I'm a big boy now, and should get to make up my own personal story without people telling me what the ingredients should be.

Lacewing wrote:

sthitapragya wrote:From a theist's perspective, which is worse?

Excellent question!

thedoc wrote:...it is only a problem when a person tries to force others to accept their view as the only correct one.

That creates a problem, true. But I think this answer sort of skips the intended meaning/purpose of the question. If no one is trying to force anything on anyone else... yet a theist is standing there assessing the spiritual correctness of an atheist or someone who worships a different god, is one position considered "worse" over the other?

And suppose all three are on an island... who might the theist try to convert first, and why?

There is a subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) difference between just expressing your views and trying to convince others that your view is correct and theirs is wrong. A few years ago I worked with a Muslim who did not have the background of living in the US, he was born in Africa to Indian parents, moved to England and then to America, so he had little understanding of the American culture. We did spend some time explaining our beliefs to each other and there was never the feeling of trying to convince the other person that one is correct and the other wrong. To illustrate this one of the more amusing questions he would ask was something like "How does the Easter Bunny fit into the Christian celebration of Easter", and I would explain that the Easter Bunny was not really part of the Christian celebration of Easter. He did give me a copy of the Koran to read with the understanding that I was only going to read it to know what was written there, and I believe he already had access to the Bible. One of his accounts was that the Koran was simply the retelling of the Bible to Muhammad.

Coming from a Hindu culture, I feel more amazed that developed countries are more backwards than us, the supposedly third world countries. In India, I am openly atheist. I am still welcomed everywhere. No one has a problem with it. I argue with Theists about their beliefs and things get hot, but never personal. No one thinks anyone is bad because of their religious affiliations. I have always had theist and atheist friends. All honorable and decent men. I never ever even imagined that there would be discrimination among Theists and atheists. So when I joined this forum, I thought I would be exposed to more sophisticated thought processes. With a few very worthwhile exceptions, I find myself in the age of the crusades. It is ridiculous, the kind of animosity I see here. It is also disappointing that this world is in the hands of such medieval thinking.

sthitapragya wrote:From a theist's perspective, which is worse?

Historically most "atheists" were just people that did not believe in the god, and the sect that you did. And for most it was a burning issue (literally).

sthitapragya wrote:Coming from a Hindu culture, I feel more amazed that developed countries are more backwards than us, the supposedly third world countries. In India, I am openly atheist..

So am I and its never really been any kind of issue.
When I was a teacher and the school met for morning worship - I would look after the Muslims, Hinus, and Jahovah's witnesses who would not want to join in the "Christian" prayer. In this way I managed to avoid the embarrassment of singing those dull songs.

Otherwise I feel at home declaring my distain of all religion to whomsoever is interested. But I don't live in the USA. I live in progressive Brighton, Sussex.

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

sthitapragya wrote:Coming from a Hindu culture, I feel more amazed that developed countries are more backwards than us, the supposedly third world countries. In India, I am openly atheist..

So am I and its never really been any kind of issue.
When I was a teacher and the school met for morning worship - I would look after the Muslims, Hinus, and Jahovah's witnesses who would not want to join in the "Christian" prayer. In this way I managed to avoid the embarrassment of singing those dull songs.

Otherwise I feel at home declaring my distain of all religion to whomsoever is interested. But I don't live in the USA. I live in progressive Brighton, Sussex.

A little bit of irony. Our religion instruction teacher at school told my mother that I was the only well-behaved child in her class. The rest of the children gave her absolute hell, yet I was the only 'atheist' that I'm aware of.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

sthitapragya wrote:Coming from a Hindu culture, I feel more amazed that developed countries are more backwards than us, the supposedly third world countries. In India, I am openly atheist..

So am I and its never really been any kind of issue.
When I was a teacher and the school met for morning worship - I would look after the Muslims, Hinus, and Jahovah's witnesses who would not want to join in the "Christian" prayer. In this way I managed to avoid the embarrassment of singing those dull songs.

Otherwise I feel at home declaring my distain of all religion to whomsoever is interested. But I don't live in the USA. I live in progressive Brighton, Sussex.

A little bit of irony. Our religion instruction teacher at school told my mother that I was the only well-behaved child in her class. The rest of the children gave her absolute hell, yet I was the only 'atheist' that I'm aware of.

Atheists can't give hell, as they have no claim on it.

Dalek Prime wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:
A little bit of irony. Our religion instruction teacher at school told my mother that I was the only well-behaved child in her class. The rest of the children gave her absolute hell, yet I was the only 'atheist' that I'm aware of.

Atheists can't give hell, as they have no claim on it.

Sadly good Christian teachers can, and do give Hell to others.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016 ... n-children