Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Napoleon Bonaparte on December 12, 2012 at 9:56pm

Great presentation by Mr. Sacks. I agree.

Having participated in this forum for some time I have noticed that some Atheists do not dismiss the supernatural entirely. In my opinion people who embrace the supernatural are inhibited in their thinking rendering them unable to think rationally and freely thereby misunderstanding themselves and the world. Some are mad.

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on December 12, 2012 at 10:27pm

I agree Napoleon - exactly! The supernatural does not exist!

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on December 12, 2012 at 10:06pm

A certain degree of irrationality is inevitable in human beings.  It's a function of the fact that humans are not automatons, nor are they computers, nor are they anything within a light-year of being perfect.  We make mistakes, we are fallible, we frequently get it wrong before we get it right.

However ... systematized, organized, institutionalized irrationality ... That Is Another Matter ... and that is what religion is.  It is irrationality, given permission and license by the culture it occupies, frequently without an attendant recognition of the potential effects of that irrationality: the misinformation and damage which accompanies it.  Worse, irrationality which presumes to be true and more: which presumes to have the unvarnished TRUTH, which all humans must believe in or die.  Irrationality ascending to such a level is bad enough, but when it assails rational thought, reasoned inquiry and logic and declares them to be somehow flawed and lacking ... clearly, too much rein has been given it, without control, without oversight, without THOUGHT.

Like nothing else on this planet, institutional irrationality is DANGEROUS ... and must be STOPPED.

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on December 12, 2012 at 10:28pm

Right Loren! That irrational thinking is harmful to society. We need to educate others - plant the seed of Freethought and critical thinking skills.