While moderates don't blow themselves up or shoot family service providers in the head, they do give cover to fundamentalists both here and abroad. If it weren't for a critical mass of people saying 'Yeah, there's something to that whole God thing...', Pat Robertson would be just another raving lunatic wearing a sandwich board outside the subway station. Instead he's got millions of followers and millions of dollars to spread his hateful message.
By insisting there is some legitimacy to the dogma these zealots base their worldview upon, and demanding tolerance for any form of religous expression, moderates make it difficult to condemn the hateful dogma of fundamentalists.
Moderation is second-guessing God's will while thumbing your nose at centuries worth of science. By claiming reason and faith are compatible, moderates betray both. Either God made the world or he didn't...you can't have your Darwin and eat it too.
So what do you think of religious moderation?
2007-01-29 11:17:07 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Pat Robertson last news that he wana start his own militia
2007-01-29 11:26:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No one is more critical of religious zealotry than the moderates.
The new claim that moderates somehow empower zealots is in many ways very zealous. It claims that anthing short of completely opposing and hopefully eliminating believers is not adequate.
As for moderation, this argument wouldn't hold up for anything else. I might be a Democrat, but I probably should not base all my ideas on the current Democratic platform. I might like reading "The Wizard of Oz," but I probably ought to consider reading other books as well. And I might love my motor scooter, but around this time of year, I'm going to be driving in my car.
I'm pretty happy being a moderate. Even if Sam Harris thinks its a bad thing.
2007-01-29 19:43:41 · answer #2 · answered by Mr. Bad Day 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all I am an agnostic, I am this because I don't know one way or the other whether there is a theological presence. I know that I am sick and tired of people who are on the opposite sides of the fence throwing stones at each other; I keep getting knocked off.
To atheists: PROVE THERE IS NO GOD
To theist: PROVE THERE IS A GOD
If you can't do one or the other then anybody has just as much chance of being correct in there beliefs as the other so those of you that keep attacking the others beliefs are the ones that are acting badly.
2007-01-29 19:27:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would definitely not say that faith and reason are incompatible...they aren't polar opposites that repel and are constantly at odds with each other, contrary to what is seemingly popular belief.
There are always going to be those who take things to the extreme, and it is always those people who get highlighted and become self-appointed representatives of the whole, regardless of support.
I wouldn't be so hasty to get on the backs of moderates...I'd rather have a majority of moderates than a hoarde of extremists.
2007-01-29 19:37:26 · answer #4 · answered by Kim 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I could make the same argument toward far-left activists. I could say that plenty of good, moral people give money to "family service providers" as you so quaintly put it.
I could blame Christian Democrats for supporting abortion when they vote. I could blame everyone who stays at a Hilton hotel for making Paris so wealthy. But I don't do that, because that's not right.
And how is moderation second-guessing God's will? I believe firmly in God's will, but I try to be nice to other people. I don't see how being nice changes my faith.
2007-01-29 19:32:10 · answer #5 · answered by cirque de lune 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you are going to make up your own definition of 'moderation', and then say moderates are this or that, no one can argue with you. God made the world thru evolution---God invented the science which mankind is constantly discovering and rediscovering.
From the q&a on this forum it doesn't appear difficult for anyone to "condemn the hateful dogma of fundamentalists".
No one is stopping you or anyone else from doing that.
2007-01-29 19:26:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
As I don my superhero cape and get ready to fly out the window... eh, who am I trying to kid? While I'd love to think I'm so wonderfully special that I can *empower* others, I know I'm not. But then, neither am I responsible because some moron wants to run away with my religion. And as for the rest - ewwww! Why would I want to *eat* Darwin?
2007-01-29 19:22:52 · answer #7 · answered by happyhomeschooler 2 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I heard one imbecile on NPR making the same argument. He sounded so ridiculous, I had to change the channel. He is blaming moderates for islamic radicalism. Are you him?
2007-01-29 19:20:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Sorry, but I am a fundy who wishes Pat would excercise a whole lot more silence.
2007-01-29 19:21:36 · answer #9 · answered by james p 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Er..............Pat Robertson is a lawyer my friend.
What in the world are you ranting and raving about?
Get a grip!
2007-01-29 19:22:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋