Nothing you say is going to make a difference. Any source...however valid...that you show them is going to be debunked as left wing, or right wing, or a product of the (fill in the blank) media. It seems like their hatred and anger is faith based. Since faith can not be disproved or proved, how do we combat faiths in hatred?
2007-02-07 04:55:39 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
By faith based, I don't mean religiously faith based. What I mean is that they have a blind an illogical faith that whatever group they hate is evil. Example...a faith in Jews funding world communism.....or Blacks are all rapists. That is a belief....or a faith, it certainly can't be called a truth or fact....how do we combat faith like this? If it isn;t based on reason or logic...we can't fight it with reason or logic.
2007-02-07 04:58:03 · update #1
Some fight it with patience and repetition. Repetition worked on them once, it will always work on them. Some fight it with ridicule, believing that such faiths devalue a person and that a person who holds such faiths will respond to that. Some fight it with logic, but as you have said this is not always very effective. Some fight it with the argument from personal experience, or splitting hairs, or using any of the tactics that were originally used on the ones with the faith. Leading by example can work; however, it is more likely that the attitudes, behaviours, and statements of those who don't fit in with the delusion or belief system will be dismissed.
I have found that the best tactic is to use those beliefs against them. The sword cuts both ways, and when you take an argument that a person of faith has internalized and use it to point out how unacceptable it is when applied to something else, that can be very effective.
2007-02-07 05:10:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Leviathan said it well, at a fundamental level you can't really combat them, as they don't respect facts, evidence, science etc as valid means of acquiring knowledge, and we don't accept blind faith as valid either.
I think we need to just keep using facts, logic and evidence and always make sure we have references to back up statements we make. Don't be guilty of rendering an opinion that you can't support. Patience is a virtue, and I think atheists really need to try harder to take the high road, and show the believers for the judgmental hypocrites they often are.
Be polite as possible when pointing out their errors and illogic, try and avoid trading insults as that just brings you down to their level (which isn't to say I haven't been guilty of the above, but I try not to most of the time)
2007-02-07 05:08:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, faith is measurable. People can have it or not, and it can be shown to exist. The object of that faith may or may not be able to be proved. Faith in God can be shown true. God cannot. Faith in science can exist, and science can be shown to exist.
A statement can only be debunked if it is shown to be false. Statements may be disagreed with, or disbelieved, but debunking requires something else .... proof.
Proof may be believed or not, but that's up to the person who chooses to do so.
2007-02-07 05:01:14 · answer #3 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religious folk wriggle out of any reasoned argument or discussion using the illogic escape route, whenever they are cornered they resort to illogic and unreason to escape or divert the conversation. Failing that they resort to abuse and name calling. The best you can do is point this out to them poor things.
2007-02-07 05:03:04 · answer #4 · answered by CHEESUS GROYST 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good Q. Look to the progress people have made in the past for effective techniques (which usually amounts to having a rational Judge and Jury).
2007-02-07 04:59:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just preach and live the gospel of love. Maybe it will eventually rub off. Living in utopia in this lifetime is pretty far fetched.
2007-02-07 05:05:46 · answer #6 · answered by garo g 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You can't.
By definition fundamentalists belief in the literal truth of the bible - in so doing they reject every other method of ascertaing the truth of it, physical, biological, chemical, historical, archeological...
In my view its a rejection of what it means to be human and people who embrace such superstitious beliefs are not only ignorant - they are sub-human.
2007-02-07 04:59:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You combat it by not being of it yourself and setting the example.
If people want to change they will follow your example.
2007-02-07 04:59:05 · answer #8 · answered by Tribble Macher 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Stereotyping is a form of faith... check!
2007-02-07 05:00:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋