Moving forward against religion

[avaya]

1. Stop representing science is on the path of solving the mysteries of the universe. Our goal is to convince everyone that that love and curiosity are enough.
2. We should be open to extra-ordinary experiences and claims, even though we know the metaphysics and dogmas of religion are not true.' We should be open to the idea that consciousness is not merely a matter of calculations until neuroscience does more research on what it is (which will likely happen in the next couple decades).
3. We are at our strongest we we discuss issues, but weakest when we label ourselves under a common banner (new atheism, brights, etc). Assume the best: look confused then insulted when asked what you are.
4. Watch Dan Dennett's speech on good reasons to believe in god. It is dense with content and requires full attention. It is about an hour.
(starts at 17:20) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyyRA...eature=related
part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OlGn...eature=related

[Zeluvia]

Right now, there are only a few places where I think people should be on guard against religious influence and actively campaign against it.

In our schools, in our government, and of course, Islam everywhere...

Otherwise, I don't care what people believe.

[avaya]

There are a couple reasons I care -
1. All of the moderate Christians/Muslims/etc are sort of "on call" at any time. If some major event happens (like a giant natural disaster or nuclear attack etc) we will have a country receptive to nutcases preaching about the glorious end of days. That can not end well.
2. Any reasonable intuition about what life is would allow federal funding of stem cell research. Only religious moderates are preventing it.
3. Without religious moderates, religious nutcases (and religious terrorists) will lose a lot of ground/support/recruits.
4. Only a religious organization could openly protect child rapists, and still maintain millions of people looking to them as a source for morality. The Catholic Church exists because of the "casual" Catholics.

[Nicholas]

• Edited by a Moderator •

I'm almost positive you're not allowed to be in here...

[avaya]

Millions of people look to NAMBLA as a source of morality? No.

Has the ACLU ever defended a NAMBLA member from rape charges? No.

Nicholas is correct - Christians are not allowed to post in here.