From RationalWiki
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| However, if as a work of literature the New Testament is confused, as a religious literature it's a glorious confusiuon. It's abiding power lies precisely in the fact that every attempt to improve it is doomed.
| ”
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| —James P. Carse, The Religious Case Against Belief
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[edit] Stuff I am working on
[edit] Thought experiment 1
Let's say some shit accident happens which may or may not involve death and/or personal injury. Deeply religious people will have the following responses ready at their disposal for most outcomes:
- If nobody is injured: "Thank <Insert name of deity> that everyone is fine."
- If someone died: "<Insert name of victim> is in <Insert name of Good Place for Afterlife> now.[1]" or "<Insert name of deity> likes <Insert name of victim> so much, now <Insert pronoun for the aforementioned deity> is summoning <Insert pronoun of victim> to <Insert name of Good Place for Afterlife> through this tragedy[2]."
- If someone is heavily/permanently injured/disabled: "By the <Insert name/section of scripture with similarities>, our faith is being tested; we will have unbreakable faith no matter what happens; it's in <Insert name of deity>'s plan to make <Insert pronoun of victim> stronger than ever."
[edit] Thought experiment 2
Argument: We should be happy about the death of any individual who is with a religion which asserts a good place for the afterlife (Heaven in the derivation, other religion is a matter of substitution of names)
Derivation:
- Assumption: The religion that the victim was with asserts that going to heaven after death is a good thing
- Assumption: The religion that the victim was with asserts that if one belongs to their religion, he/she goes to heaven after death
- Observation: the person died (Assumption: we don't have sufficient information on causes of death, so we assume it is within the rules).
- Conclusion from 2 and 3: The religion that the victim was with asserts that said person goes to heaven.
- Conclusion from 1 and 4: Death of said person is implicitly a good thing (from his/her own perspective)
- Inference: We should congratulate said person's family member(s) for [the belief that] said person is in heaven
What we observe people do is somehow different:
- Observation: Somehow being happy about the death of an individual is treated as if it is a bad thing, which contradicts the previous derivation.
- Suggested explanation: It is suggested that the mortals who still lives (family members) 'misses' those who are in heaven.
- Inference from 2: we should suggest them to wait for their turn, also be aware of any hidden rules regarding front-running afterlifes.
- Observation: 3 is still kind of disrespectful to the family members.
So the Dilemma is as follows:
- If we aren't happy when someone religious died, then it is disrespectful to their beliefs/religion (We are implicitly accusing that their religion is incoherent) or the individual themselves (that we implicitly accuse them breaking certain rules and not going to heaven)
- If we are happy about their death, then it is disrespectful to their family members
Some may say such things are valid, others say it is utterly ridiculous. Some even implying the general case is valid but not the specific cases.
I am confused.
[edit] Random Quote from CP?
 Gentlemen! I will speak your precious rope, enabling me to destroy atheism on the internet. You should all be reconstructing over Operation contradiction, which will likely give Conservapedia a top result on a certain search engine starting with G. Anonymous User
I would not be surprised to find that your comments are very childish. In regards to the subject of feminism and Gay Bowel Syndrome, you don't include that the Media supports the homosexual agenda. In fact, by the time I've finished in regards to this Operation, it is likely Liberals will have lost all vestiges of credibility. :) :) :)
Rest assured, Operation Turkey Baster and Thrusting Battleships is gathering steam!!! Thousands of troops may be soon pouring in at the rallying points!
Sincerely,
Ruylopez
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