Lack of belief...

EPH2:8 · Post by **EPH2:8** » Sun Dec 23, 2018 2:28 pm

Does the term lack of belief make any claims regarding the subject of the sentence? For example I lack belief in Santa clause. Am I making any claims regarding Santa clause? Does changing the subject of the sentence determine whether a claim is made or not?

StuartJ · Post by **StuartJ** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 7:53 pm

[Replying to post 120 by Mithrae]

Au contraire ...

Nothing contrary from me.

I pointed out the correspondence between certain atheists and certain Christians in your simplistic view.

I bolstered your argument.

Mithrae · Post by **Mithrae** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 8:28 pm

StuartJ wrote: [Replying to post 120 by Mithrae]

Au contraire ...

Nothing contrary from me.

I pointed out the correspondence between certain atheists and certain Christians in your simplistic view.

I bolstered your argument.

Ah yes, I see what you were getting at. Actually quite hard now to see how I interpreted your comment otherwise! My apologies.

And yes, you're right that both groups have some folk who have similar attitudes in that (and other) areas. I wouldn't have used the term 'evangelical atheists' for folk like Dawkins if the comparison ended with their evangelizing.

Ironically, I'm quite a fan of Sam Harris

Edit: Actually a while back, probably 2013 or so, I saw videos of both Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens individually debating some Christian or other (William Lane Craig in at least one case). I much preferred Harris' approach, while another forum member who I respected preferred Hitchens'. Hitchens (and Dawkins in his writing, though I don't think I've seen him debate) was more blunt and forceful; Harris was more nuanced and respectful. One a sledgehammer, one a scalpel.

Of course even Hitchens (as I later learned) distanced himself from being a "vulgar materialist" and was open to humanity's need for the 'transcendent or numinous.' So style isn't everything I suppose.