Fundamentalist Atheism
Strange Notions is a new Disqus site run by Brandon Vogt to try to discuss Rationality and Reason with Athiests. He may well succeed with some, but there is one subset of atheism he will never succeed with. On Richard Dawkin's spectrum of theistic probability , those with a score 6 and above often fall into something I term fundamentalist atheism. Many of them come from fundamentalist Christian backgrounds, if not in their generation, then within three generations of their recent past. Fundamentalist Atheism starts with the assumption that the supernatural doesn't exist and that the natural world is all there is, and runs with it, denying any data to the contrary. I've always been one to consider the natural to be a subset of the supernatural- that is the only real difference between the natural and the supernatural to me is the line of the shared scientific knowledge of mankind. A scientist, therefore, if he is to learn anything new about the universe, needs to have h...
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Nevermind the fact that sex is one of the, if not THE, ultimate pleasures in life, the Catholic Church condemns it when it is not done in a manner that at least has a chance of leading to reproduction.
To show how hung up these supposedly celibate men are about sex, they insist that the mother of Jesus never had sex. Not before his birth not after it, even though he had brothers and sisters. The idea of a Virgin Birth is taken from earlier religions and it would not be unexpected that the Christian god would follow in the footsteps of prior gods. Saying that Mary never had sex makes celibacy seem like a good thing instead of a pathetic way to live.
So, sex that is not open to creating a new life is evil, making homosexuals and those who use contraception sinners. Right.
And I see promiscuity and being used as a sex slave being a far worse way to live than celibacy.
If you understand the Aramaic, there is no difference between the word for brother and the word for a male cousin, the word for sister and the word for a female cousin. On top of that, if you read the Syriac Gospel of Mary, you'll learn that Mary was Joseph's third wife, taken when the temple closed down- previous to that, she had been an Essene Consecrated Virgin for 10 years.
Don't you find it a bit embarrassing that Atheism has to rely on Protestant Sola Scriptura for arguments?
I'm not buying that James et al were Jesus' cousins and not his siblings. I am 99% certain that Mary had sex.
So much so that I taught myself to read Hebrew, Greek, and Syriac/Aramaic back in high school (though my pronunciation is atrocious, as is, surprisingly enough, my pronunciation of many English words that I learned first from books rather than talking to people- I still don't like talking to people).
Repeat after me: Reality is not dependent upon my skepticism or suspicion.
That is something I need to work on too. I think a *large* part of my opposition to novel ideas in general is the fact that I don't trust people who have hurt me.
If you think I'm bad on the sexual libertines, go back to 2009 in the archives and see what I wrote about the fiscal libertines. I'm pretty sure that with Pope Francis being elected, this blog will return to that topic soon.
In fact, recently I returned to that topic in a comment on Caelum Et Terra- where I disagreed with the concept that large families cause poverty. I put the blame for poverty squarely on the backs of the fiscal libertines.
The Inverse Proportional Relationship Between Material and Spiritual Poverty
I would think that data would lead to a position that would be less extreme than the one that you usually take. For example STDs should lead one to advocate safe sex as opposed to abstinence. Abortions should prompt one to promote contraception, etc.
Contraception promotes abortion.
Hmm, I think you've just given me an idea for a blog posting for "Abstinence vs Contraception, the Sustainable Preparedness Angle"
Been thinking a lot about that lately, ever since Rebecca posted about her potential political problems spending money on storm shelters for grade schools.
Abstinence is not a good way to live. I would much rather make love to my wife when we both want to. There is nothing noble about living a married life in which one cannot enjoy the best part.
Seems to me it leaves more energy for other pursuits.
And to me, the best part of being married comes at a time when one of you is absolutely incapable.
An interesting question a priest once asked me: If your wife was in a car accident tomorrow, and you could never have sex again with her for the rest of your life, would you stay with her?
My answer is an unqualified yes, because sex just isn't that important of a part of our lives.
But you are beginning to show me why Newt Gingrich acted the way he did with his first wife.
How can you say that? Don't you enjoy sex?