"Men prefer to believe what they prefer to be true."
by:
Francis Bacon
(1561-1626) Philosopher, British Lord Chancellor
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You can slap some folks right in the face with the "truth" and they still won't believe it because they do not want to.
 -- cal, lewisville, tx     
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    Whats important cal is that you do slap them in the face. Personally I believe it's going to take a bit more than a slap in the face to make those who know about it, to do anything it. Unfortunatey people will still need a good slap and for sure they will still deserve a good kick in the ass.
     -- Anon     
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    All religions (Atheism to Zen) justify their beliefs by what ever scale seems to best fit their desired life style or argument for why, regardless of truth, law, or any other absolute. Though there be a fabric of truth in the tapestry of most religions, truth seems to be a minimal player by preference. The statist theocracy that now infests this land is a great example of the quote's accuracy.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Atheism isn't a religion.
     -- Anonymous     
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    for Anonymous and Robert, only an atheist would say Atheism is not a religion because that would detract from their prejudice and their personally perceived safe haven to find fault from.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Upon second thought there is only one other piece of advice I can give. After hearing the truth in a way which one can't personally deny, thrust and parry, thrust and parry til you get to a spot where your"friend" can have a chance to think things over in silence..When people finally come to understand what's happenened to them in real life, then are they willing to do something about the mess.
     -- Anon     
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    Mike - you really make me laugh - its like bashing your head against a brick wall to make you understand Aristotle's previous quote. I'm sure you did this just to get my response and then to add insult to injury you have to add a because to the statement WOW! you are clever - I am personally tied of providing you with evidence so here it from another voice: Does atheism have anything approaching "clearly defined rules?" Not in the least. There is only one "rule," and that is the rule of the definition of "atheism" - not having any belief in any gods. Other than that, atheists are free to do whatever they want and still be called atheists. An atheist can do and believe absolutely anything beyond gods and still fit the definition. Quite the opposite of how "rules" are treated in a religion. This is one area where a misunderstanding of what atheism is probably comes into play. Now for your "because" What the hell does Atheism to do with "Prejudice" and "Personal safe haven. Atheism stands by itself and has no other contention, belief system, criticism, etc, etc, etc, Please Mike you really must get a grip of your ego and forget your feelings that hold you to misrepresent others who disagree with your beliefs. Anonymous please feel free to enter the fray. Now to star the quote: The key word here is "prefer' - very clever.
     -- RBESRQ     
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    The problem is whose belief is "correct". Both or all believe they are right, and that their beliefs are more valid than the other. How do you (or I) know that we are right when we have not had the full experience and knowledge of the other? I never could tolerate people who were absolute in their declarations of absolute knowledge about something or the other. Because of their thunderous exclamations, I always tend to question them, or their motives for their stated belief. Then sometimes people try to bluff that they know when they know they do not know.
     -- Judith, Corrales     
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    You can believe whatever you want, but if you intend to use that belief as justification for robbing me or doing me injury, I am inclined to do more than slap you in the face. As for atheism, it is a stubborn refusal to contemplate the unanswerable questions of existence. It is the worst sort of apathy. That said, an atheist has never done me harm yet so hoorah for atheists. P.S. you athiests aren't invited to Christmas dinner, no offence intended.
     -- Justin, Elkland     
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    Judith, there is nothing wrong with having a strongly held belief as long as you don't expect that belief to effect anyone else. I strongly believe that homosexual acts are perverse in comparison to heterosexual ones. I have no problem with homosexual people or even those homosexual people performing homosexual acts. I only have a problem with homosexual acts being performed on me, most especially without my consent (which would also apply to nonconsentual hererosexual acts for that matter). The problem arises when we try to force our strongly held beliefs on others.
     -- Justin, Elkland     
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    Gosh, did I propose something illicit here?
     -- Judith     
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    Sorry for the extreme example. Somehow I thought that my opinions on the use of chewing gum (which I greatly dislike) would have less impact.
     -- Justin, Elkland     
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     -- Wayne, Naples      
    Robert, for your real world education, religion is an ideologue's beliefs, ethics, values, philosophies, or practices (individually or in concert), unthinkingly accepted as conventional. Religion, narrowed from a more general understanding, covers the belief domain outside the provable / unprovable and law's perceivable cause and effect. Religion is " real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to God and our fellow men." (Bouviers Law Dictionary) - This definition specifically uses Christianity as a template to measure differing religious persuasions. It is loosely drawn on a lawfully measurable application of an otherwise equitably principled Luke 10:27, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." This definition's usefulness for lawful purposes is limited to a purely Christian in scope society as, not all religious beliefs (religion) assume, attach, or include an extra-human experience (tangible, intangible, or otherwise - a god) or, lives with a gospel that extols the individual man's (humanity's) nobility. It is however a useful starting place to understand religion's more all inclusive and exhaustive lawfully conceptual application(s). (God or, 'god' being derived from the Saxon word: good, pronounced god; that which is whole, full, honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, esteemed, just, upright, intangibly / tangibly, spiritually / corporeally, etc. / as used by Bouvier, 'God' would here be more closely associated to an extra human experience than to a mere subject of awe or veneration; God is but one element, category, or tenant that may or may not be useful in revealing or identifying a religion. Webster's New World Dictionary -Fourth College Edition uses a slightly different vantage on Bouvier's 'fellow men' by stating - a) any specific system of belief and worship, often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy [the Christian religion, the Buddhist religion, etc.] b) any beliefs, practices, ethical values, etc. resembling, suggestive of, or likened to such a system [humanism as a religion] "any object of conscientious regard and pursuit." This definition still limits and/or excludes religions that may flourish under differing 'specific systems' that reflect or serve the believer's religion or, that have no formal worship service (such as socialism). Many definitions of religion use 'A' religion instead of the broader 'all' religions or just simply, religion. The term Atheism derives from the Greek A Theos = no god. Believing in a god or no god does not rise to the level of defining what religion is. Having clearly defined rules also does not rise to the level of defining religion. The game of hop scotch has rules but it is not a religion (-; to most people ;-) When the belief in no god becomes unthinkingly accepted as conventional, such belief and related practices, ethical values, etc. resembling, suggestive of, any object of conscientious regard and pursuit is then by definition, religion. When an individual calls other's beliefs, under the religion umbrella, wrong, according to his formally titled beliefs (Atheism), that is prejudice - hidden in his self defined belief system and Personal safe haven.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Atheists have simply made themselves god resulting in an extreme narcissism. The old saying, "It's good to be the king!" goes even more so for the little atheist god. The only problem is, the truth: they are not a god.
     -- Anonymous     
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    Many self-professed atheists actively lobby for the removal of religious iconography. This implies not an inherent lack of belief in a god or gods but rather an anti-theist belief. Thusly the atheist exposes themselves to be anti-theists, which will always be defined by theists as a religion unto itself. That said, there is nothing implicitly wrong with being an anti-theist unless you are representing yourself as atheist, at which point you are being dishonest.
     -- Justin, Elkland     
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    Religion is the curse of civilization and as such it is seen very clearly on this blog.
     -- RBESRQ     
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    Antitheism is the active opposition to theism not atheism please get it right.
     -- RBESRQ     
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    Robert, normally I do write directly into the comment box. Late last night when I wrote my comment, I was working on a project and just stayed in my word processor. Religion(s) have been both the/a curse and the/a blessing of civilization. To focus entirely on the negative is to distort history, believe a lie, and totally reject the nobility of man. There is nothing inherently good or evil in believing there is, or is not a god. It is the action of the believer / disbeliever that is the problem. In Christianity, many profess a belief in Jesus as a god incarnate but do not believe in His teachings as they would rather crusade or harm others because of their differing beliefs. As you've adequately stated, Atheism has no standards. The 20th century was the bloodiest in history because of differing religious administrations (socialism, communism, fascism, theocratic oligarchies, etc - intolerance for differing religious standards.) with a uniting thread, that was to get rid of all religions except Atheism. A god can neither be proved or disproved. It is when peaceful religious beliefs are troublesome to total mental, physical, legal, etc. dominance of other beliefs, including Atheism. Atheism raises its most deadly religious head (non acceptance of different thought / philosophy) when other religions (Buddhism, humanism, etc.) disagree with a desired end result..
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    in the right of our U.S constitusion its is provided that u may be able to practice and belive in what you think is cporrect and no goverment official nor anyone demoralise you from this right - Mack Stone
     -- Jhon Renalds, yo' mommas pants     
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    Judith Corrales, Your quote spoke my mind, perhaps, better than I could have. In any case, it speaks perfectly for me and I might pass it along under you name. Thanks. By the way, Trek is an AKA
     -- Trek Loneman, North Hollywood     
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    No, men believe the truth 2+2=4. It is the boys who have the select perspective. Men select no truth, it is the truth that selects the man.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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