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<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>RE: [extropy-chat] Atheists launch inquisition...</TITLE>
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<DIV><B>From:</B> <A title=Walter_Chen@compal.com
href="mailto:Walter_Chen@compal.com">Walter_Chen@compal.com</A></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2>> The point is like this: </FONT><FONT size=2>Atheists are
not necessarily more scientific or superior than theists.</FONT> <BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I would think that atheists *are* probably more scientific
(not all of them, but in a greater majority than theists), but
"superior" is a loaded word and concept to use in this context, to the
point of being completely meaningless. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>However, compared to the history of humankind beforehand, the
ideas that came out of the Enlightenment (taking the viewpoint away from
imaginary, invisible, omnipotent, humorless and somewhat
insecure being(s) and focusing on humans) proved better for us
all. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>> Since why and how comes the universe and the existence of
God(s) are the</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>most profound questions that nobody can
answer or prove to satisfy </FONT><BR><FONT size=2>the human beings until now,
both theists and atheists should respect</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>each other and
work together to find the final answer (if it exists). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>You incorrectly state that "why and how ... the existence of
god(s)" is "one of the profound questions that nobody can answer." I mean
- I don't know how to put it more gently, but
- that's twaddle.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>You also state that both theists and atheists "should" respect
each other. It seems you are confusing "should respect each other"
with "should respect each other's *right*" to believe what they want.
Working together in a pluralistic society, however, is a
good idea (... and this charming scene was inspired by
another basic concept from the Enlightenment
- tolerance).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>> Maybe the final answer is partly objective and partly
subjective.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Maybe there is no such thing as a "final
answer" (whatever that means). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Olga</FONT></DIV>
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