Comments on: Holy Undercurrent: How Religion Shapes Cultures Worldwide

By: jim bob

jim bob — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:05:07 +0000

hello what is a contct between groups?

By: Ian MacKenzie

Ian MacKenzie — Sun, 24 May 2009 18:18:40 +0000

Very true. I don’t think it’s helpful for atheists to hold their “non-beliefs” up on a pedestal. There’s simply too much we don’t know to believe there’s “nothing” behind the music of the universe.

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By: Jean - OurExplorer Tour Guide

Jean - OurExplorer Tour Guide — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:08:02 +0000

Religion is something interesting to get to know while traveling. See how it’s embedded in local life. One may not believe, but do respect I think.

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By: Gsp

Gsp — Sun, 24 May 2009 01:03:38 +0000

I’m not sure I believe that atheists are necessarily any more objective than followers of religions. Atheism is itself a systematic set of beliefs – with a central belief that no deity or deities exists.

A truly objective point of view would consider the evidence of psychological studies, anthropological studies, and anecdotal evidence, that indicates that most people’s belief systems, including those of atheists, are not based on objective weighing up of logical arguments for and against.

Most atheists don’t arrive at their views and beliefs after having conducted an exhaustive research and analysis of the all the world’s major religions, but rather arrive at their views based on the evidence of their unique life experiences, (& as such based on what feels true, or feels like an insight to them), and rationalise that belief system afterwards. Just like everyone else.

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By: Carlo

Carlo — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:54:42 +0000

Well, I would have to argue that most who are knowledgable in something have interest in it.

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By: danmbob

danmbob — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:36:12 +0000

atheists who are knowledgeable about religion I’m familiar with, atheists actually interested in religion is not. Just curious as to what that looks like.

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By: Turner Wright

Turner Wright — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:55:54 +0000

“Yes, YES, OH DARWIN YES!”

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By: Carlo Alcos

Carlo Alcos — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:41:44 +0000

I think it’s easier to study the religions from an atheist’s point of view – an objective view, so to speak. I find the history of religions very interesting. The dogma, not so much.

What about the “In God We Trust” on the American one dollar bill? A quick Wikipedia later, I find that it’s actually the national motto. And this quote from Congress during the Cold War:

“In these days when imperialistic and materialistic Communism seeks to attack and destroy freedom, it is proper” to “remind all of us of this self-evident truth” that “as long as this country trusts in God, it will prevail.”

So it was all in effort to fend off that pesky Communism!

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By: Ian MacKenzie

Ian MacKenzie — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:34:51 +0000

“Ohh MEANINGLESS VOID!”

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By: Turner Wright

Turner Wright — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:08:45 +0000

What do you mean? All atheists have (or should have, I hope) a least a rudimentary knowledge of most of major world religions. So they can know exactly what it is they’re rejecting.

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