Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: GL of Sector 2814
"A religion is sometime a source of happiness, and I would not deprive anyone of happiness. But it is a comfort appropriate for the weak, not for the strong. The great trouble with religion — any religion — is that a religionist, having accepted certain propositions by faith, cannot thereafter judge those propositions by evidence. One may bask at the warm fire of faith or choose to live in the bleak uncertainty of reason — but one cannot have both."

In light of this quotation, do you have any comments on

(1) the text on that sign in Illinois?
(2) the people who agree with the text?

89 posted on 12/25/2009 4:14:20 PM PST by Lonely Bull
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies ]


To: Lonely Bull
In light of this quotation, do you have any comments on

(1) the text on that sign in Illinois?

For convenience, there's the text:

"At the time of the winter solstice, let reason prevail.

While I'm all in favor of reason, I see no need to highlight the fact that it's the winter solstice.

There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world.

While this is my operating assumption, I can't prove it. This is the distinction between positive atheism, which asserts that no God(s) exist, and negative atheism (my position), which is simply the lack of belief in such God(s).

Religion is just myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.

I agree that religion is myth and superstition, but not that it always hardens hearts and enslaves minds. Sometimes it does just the opposite. Humans are strange animals...

(2) the people who agree with the text?

I think that people who agree with the text are positive atheists who have a chip on their shoulder regarding religion. Really, what more could be inferred?

122 posted on 12/27/2009 10:35:45 AM PST by GL of Sector 2814 (One man's theology is another man's belly laugh -- Robert A. Heinlein)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson