Quote:
Originally Posted by tame_deuces
Everybody is biased. It is not possible not to be. Without bias a human could not function cognitively because everything would have to be re-discovered every time we encountered it. The best one can do is to be aware that one is biased.
So that faith should mean "biased" seems rather silly. Bias is a perfectly good word for its use, faith is a perfectly good word for its use.
As for atheists being as dogmatic as the christians on this site, I completely disagree. That again is moving what a word means. Being dogmatic does not mean being stubborn, convinced or argumentative.
Most atheists on this site that I have seen are closer to nihilism and/or moral relativism than they are dogmatic.
I think when your beliefs are challenged and you defend them there will be many times when you appear dogmatic to the other side. This medium is very limited. You can't see the other person and the opposing group likes a "cariacature stereotype" to rally around and demonize the opposing side.
Theists are routinely accused of being "dogmatic" on this board on very little acquaintance. For the most part all atheists just assume it, I think, you're one of the few exceptions (congratulations! That's why you're a favorite poster of mine. I respect your intellect and civility.)
While I've been here I've actually done a lot of other religions investigation and I believe I have a better sense of other religions then most atheist posters on here.
The main tactic of atheists is the question. They ask questions about things as a form of attack that they themselves don't even know the answer to and when you give them the correct answer they don't even acknowledge and thank you for it because to do so would be to let their guard down. That is a type of dogmatism.
They seize the question because that gives them the offensive and they never have to do the hard part of defense. A couple of atheists like subfallen and madnak are the exception. They have much more defined and articulate ideas but most of the other posters don't. They always push the burden of proof on the theist then refuse to examine it.
Usually the smart ones on here when I turn something up get real silent. The less smart ones they insult.
I've been doing this a long time and I know the atheist group gang bang tactics pretty well. I'm always just amazed at the smarter posters tolerance of it. I've got to think they enjoy it on some level.