Are current religious debates too narrow?

Question

There's a lot of stuff about atheism versus conservative Christianity in the media right now--books, magazine articles like the recent debate between Sam Harris and Rick Warren in Newsweek, etc. Do those of you who aren't either atheists or conservative Christians feel left out? Do you think things are getting too polarized? Do you think the situation is just fine as is? Or do you think something else altogether?

Eleventy, that kind of racial discussion drives me nuts, too!

Answer 1

I am kind of an atheist, but i will answer anyway, as i have kind of non-traditional beliefs.

I really think that people are focusing on the wrong issues, trying caught up in their own opinions to see any other way, any other side.....and so everyone becomes a fallacy, and everyone becomes unreasonable.......

religion is one of the most closed minded debates of all debates because everyone has an opinion, and everyone wants to be/thinks they are right. And very few are really willing to walk in with an open mind and try to figure out an answer to their problems/questions. It is very narrow minded.

Answer 2

I'm inclined to think that we're seeing only a small segment of the debate - that part which is taking place in the English speaking western cultures where Christianity is widely spread and is the part that is most obvious to us. World wide, the same debate might have different contributors. I can only guess what difficulty the unfortunate Atheist is having in the predominantly Hindu nations where he stands facing a population who has hundreds of gods rather than just a few as it is here in the US. LOL... poor fellows. (Good luck, boys.)

I'd say the debate is only too narrow when one takes the measurement the of the average theistic mind into consideration. Otherwise it is right on spot...

[][][] r u randy? [][][]
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Answer 3

I believe Sam Harris mentions in his book Islam, and Judaism. He also states that he doesn't focus on those as much because he is not as familiar with them as he is Christianity.

I think that is perfectly understandable he never claims to be an authority in the others so why would he debate them? Which I'm sure as is the case with many other authors. Why should that bother you? Are we supposed to make this into another P.C. issue.

Answer 4

At times I believe it's too narrow, at other times I find it quite the opposite. I think it's sad because they (media) tends to stick mostly to the opposing opposites. They're "easier" to fight, less open-minded with each other and give both religious preferences a bad name. You put a level headed Atheist with a level Christian... and you would find we aren't so different and probably more people would be happy. But it's the media. We want to fan the flame.

Answer 5

don't be so speedy to jot down this off as satire. I said a BBC particular on youtube which said that perchance the baseline interest in the temporal lobes made some human beings better liable to non secular adventure. Richard Dawkins has a very low baseline interest in his temporal lobes.

Answer 6

In general, I find myself Mercutio, the innocent victim.
I end up yelling "A plague on both your houses!"

Answer 7

yes they should also include muslim and Jewish too and the real anser unpolarized=the Koran or the bible? well =Mohamed married a girl in todays more mature society would have been around 6-7 years old. He rejected salvation in Jesus and said an angel told him to marry a little girl Aisha who was 9 years old when he married her and told his other wives that she was his best wife!!!

today they go to prison for this-yet while Sunni Muslims are blowing up their competitors mosques and killing their imans for over 2 years back and forth -they either come to Jesus and learn to love their enemies or else defend Mohamed and blindly say they are right.

I was taught to reject the New Testament as being corrupt till I saw I was the one that was corupt -one lie makes you a sinner-and as Jesus says "I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to heaven but by me." John 14 verse 6

well are the Muslims right is it a good thing for a 40 year old man to marry your sister when she would be 9 years old-and in todays society around6-7 in maturity?

Isaiah predicted and proof the bible is not corrupt for the first verse Jewish people would take out is this

"Unto us a child is born a son is given, and he will be almighty God, and the prince of peace." Isaiah 9:6 predicted 700 bce

the prayer that does save is -"Show me the truth please" amen

I then prayed "Jesus thanks for the truth and that your words will never pass away, I am sorry I listened to lies about you, I am sorry for my sins, come into my heart and help me be my friend, amen.

Jesus the Messiah promised "I love you, and knock on your HEART DOOR TO COME IN DELIVER FROM SIN AND BE YOUR FRIEND, WHEN YOU ASK ME IN." REVELATION 1:1 AND CHAPTER 3 VERSES 19&20

LAST CHAPTER OF REVELATION JESUS SAYS IF YOU ADD TO MY WORD YOU WILL HAVE PLAGUES=the Talmud Jewish writings that say Jesus was an iligitimate child, the Koran that says Jesus is the Messiah and the only one without sin, but that he didnt die to forgive us as Isaiah predicted chapter 52:13-53:12 Isaiah

the answer is yes or no-canibals once ate people-they said it was right-but was it??? would you be happy for a 40 year old to marry your sister of 9 years old???? in todays society she would be about 6 or 7 years old- YES OR NO PLEASE, THANKS

DO YOU REJECT THE HADITH AS one used to defend child molestation and saying Mohamad did nothing wrong. and here-saying that that book does state that she was 9 years old
I pick the bible and salvation -the real debate is about salvation

Answer 8

I totally agree....I think it's like when people dicuss "race relations" but really just mean black and white people...