On the religious issue, France is unusual in that it is constitutionally a secular country.
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On the religious issue, France is unusual in that it is constitutionally a secular country.
Indeed, I don't think an act of terrorism where AK47 assault rifles are used to attack a magazine really compares to other countries and their take on gun control. The people who say if civilians had guns this act would not have happened are absolute clueless morons and this topic is not about them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark
I feel terrible for the people and the families of the people who lost their lives yesterday. I hope the brothers are caught alive and can pay for their awful crimes.
I was purely referring to religion in its simplest form, eg, belief in a deity/creator and subsequent doctrine to follow for the believers. Ideologies, fans etc are not religions, they are following something tangible, often to extremes. Atheism cannot be accurately described as a religion. Their is no doctrine, no ideology, no dogma. It is a lack of belief, it wouldn't even exist as a concept of religion had not been invented. There is nothing to follow or that binds atheists together, other than not believing in god. What else you believe, how you live your life, what informs your behaviour is entirely individual. Therefore, I feel that we, as humans, utterly and completely do not need religion, especially those based on the abrahamic godQuote:
Originally Posted by Rollo
On the practical level, this is exactly your weakness in countering Islamist fanatics. When you deny the moral authority you don't have much to base your opposition to them on. Ultimately, your theory will lead to recognizing the validity of any views, including those denying your right to live.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robinho
I wonder how a society based on such beliefs and practices would be able to come up with a solution to any issue. Would it be a society at all? You and Rollo don't have much in common coming from the same country, do you?Quote:
Originally Posted by Robinho
Although I would say that your argument is much more likely to be the correct interpretation of the world around us, since there is no way of knowing for sure it's still possible there is a god with a perverse and twisted sense of humor.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robinho
If the old saying that "the proof is in the pudding" is true, then a reasonable conclusion is that a large number of people around the world don't truly believe in their religions either.
Having respect for other intelligent beings not qualify in any sense of the word as a "religion". Nor does taking action to prevent harm, present or future, to said beings qualify as a religion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rollo
But is someone going to shoot the editor of a magazine because they are mocking the lack of god..............?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rollo
so are we (on paper)Quote:
Originally Posted by D-Type
Exactly my thoughts.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robinho
The Charlie Hebdo Massacre in Paris
The terrorists massacred them in the meeting room.Quote:
Two heavily armed attackers, who apparently knew the magazine’s staff would be gathered around a table late on Wednesday morning for a weekly editorial meeting, forced themselves into Charlie Hebdo’s office and shot 10 people dead
Even if they had guns they wouldn't have the time to get and use them.
Exactly. Then it must follow that said person has an individual religion - total followers: 1.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robinho
Lack of belief is NOT atheism but elleipsitheism.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robinho
Atheism is from "a" (none) and "theos" (gods). Atheism is a positive belief in the statement that there is/are no god(s).
It's kind of strange for someone to defend a faith structure they don't believe in. Could this be a demonstration of religion; ergo, what I'd said in the first place?