Comments on: Sam Harris Says We Shouldn’t Call Ourselves Atheists http://danielmiessler.com/blog/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists grep understanding Fri, 25 May 2012 02:15:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Maxo http://danielmiessler.com/blog/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists/comment-page-1#comment-86986 Maxo Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:50:22 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blogarchive/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists#comment-86986 <p>Edit from above: I tell people I'm against abortion.</p> Edit from above: I tell people I’m against abortion.

]]> By: Maxo http://danielmiessler.com/blog/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists/comment-page-1#comment-249540 Maxo Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:50:00 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blogarchive/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists#comment-249540 <p>Edit from above: I tell people I'm against abortion.</p> Edit from above: I tell people I’m against abortion.

]]> By: Maxo http://danielmiessler.com/blog/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists/comment-page-1#comment-86985 Maxo Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:49:41 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blogarchive/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists#comment-86985 <p>Symantecs are one of things that on one hand is just a matter of sticks & stones, and on the other hand can be crucial to properly framing a debate. For example, the term Pro-Life phrases the oponents as being against life. Pro-choise phrases the oponents as against freedom. I don't tell people I'm pro-life, I say I'm for abortion. The difference probably doesn't even occur to most people, but it is important to me so that I can avoid pidgeon holing people. I respect that my pro-choice friends are not blood thirsty monsters. I think that framing the debate that you are not atheist, you are simply for reason, or against bullshit, or whatever, is really just framing the debate in your light for your purposes. I believe in respecting my oponents, even if I find their views disgusting or just stupid. It does nothing but foster division and impedes working together. You will never win over your oppenents by saying, "You are a stupid asshole. You should stop being a stupid asshole and join my side, the awesome geniuses."</p> Symantecs are one of things that on one hand is just a matter of sticks & stones, and on the other hand can be crucial to properly framing a debate. For example, the term Pro-Life phrases the oponents as being against life. Pro-choise phrases the oponents as against freedom. I don’t tell people I’m pro-life, I say I’m for abortion. The difference probably doesn’t even occur to most people, but it is important to me so that I can avoid pidgeon holing people. I respect that my pro-choice friends are not blood thirsty monsters. I think that framing the debate that you are not atheist, you are simply for reason, or against bullshit, or whatever, is really just framing the debate in your light for your purposes. I believe in respecting my oponents, even if I find their views disgusting or just stupid. It does nothing but foster division and impedes working together. You will never win over your oppenents by saying, “You are a stupid asshole. You should stop being a stupid asshole and join my side, the awesome geniuses.”

]]> By: Maxo http://danielmiessler.com/blog/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists/comment-page-1#comment-249539 Maxo Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:49:00 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blogarchive/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists#comment-249539 <p>Symantecs are one of things that on one hand is just a matter of sticks & stones, and on the other hand can be crucial to properly framing a debate. For example, the term Pro-Life phrases the oponents as being against life. Pro-choise phrases the oponents as against freedom. I don't tell people I'm pro-life, I say I'm for abortion. The difference probably doesn't even occur to most people, but it is important to me so that I can avoid pidgeon holing people. I respect that my pro-choice friends are not blood thirsty monsters. I think that framing the debate that you are not atheist, you are simply for reason, or against bullshit, or whatever, is really just framing the debate in your light for your purposes. I believe in respecting my oponents, even if I find their views disgusting or just stupid. It does nothing but foster division and impedes working together. You will never win over your oppenents by saying, "You are a stupid asshole. You should stop being a stupid asshole and join my side, the awesome geniuses."</p> Symantecs are one of things that on one hand is just a matter of sticks & stones, and on the other hand can be crucial to properly framing a debate. For example, the term Pro-Life phrases the oponents as being against life. Pro-choise phrases the oponents as against freedom. I don’t tell people I’m pro-life, I say I’m for abortion. The difference probably doesn’t even occur to most people, but it is important to me so that I can avoid pidgeon holing people. I respect that my pro-choice friends are not blood thirsty monsters. I think that framing the debate that you are not atheist, you are simply for reason, or against bullshit, or whatever, is really just framing the debate in your light for your purposes. I believe in respecting my oponents, even if I find their views disgusting or just stupid. It does nothing but foster division and impedes working together. You will never win over your oppenents by saying, “You are a stupid asshole. You should stop being a stupid asshole and join my side, the awesome geniuses.”

]]> By: Daniel Miessler http://danielmiessler.com/blog/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists/comment-page-1#comment-86008 Daniel Miessler Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:00:01 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blogarchive/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists#comment-86008 <p>The alternative is to not use the grouping at all and to instead just do battle on very specific ideas as they come up. This way there isn't as much, "You are x so you must believe y." That kind of clustering leads to so much wasted time in discussions, and even the reticence to discuss things at all.</p> The alternative is to not use the grouping at all and to instead just do battle on very specific ideas as they come up. This way there isn’t as much, “You are x so you must believe y.” That kind of clustering leads to so much wasted time in discussions, and even the reticence to discuss things at all.

]]> By: Daniel Miessler http://danielmiessler.com/blog/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists/comment-page-1#comment-249538 Daniel Miessler Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:00:00 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blogarchive/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists#comment-249538 <p>The alternative is to not use the grouping at all and to instead just do battle on very specific ideas as they come up. This way there isn't as much, "You are x so you must believe y." That kind of clustering leads to so much wasted time in discussions, and even the reticence to discuss things at all.</p> The alternative is to not use the grouping at all and to instead just do battle on very specific ideas as they come up. This way there isn’t as much, “You are x so you must believe y.” That kind of clustering leads to so much wasted time in discussions, and even the reticence to discuss things at all.

]]> By: kundi http://danielmiessler.com/blog/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists/comment-page-1#comment-86004 kundi Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:23:41 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blogarchive/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists#comment-86004 <p>I think the word 'atheist' has negative tone to it. It's linked to words and phrases like 'hell', 'beyond help'. There should be positive or neutral word for it. I do not want to brand myself as 'those going to hell'. 'Those believe in reason and evidence' would be better. 'Those who are capable of critical thinking' would be better. </p> <p>So what are these alternative and better words for 'atheist'?</p> I think the word ‘atheist’ has negative tone to it. It’s linked to words and phrases like ‘hell’, ‘beyond help’. There should be positive or neutral word for it. I do not want to brand myself as ‘those going to hell’. ‘Those believe in reason and evidence’ would be better. ‘Those who are capable of critical thinking’ would be better.

So what are these alternative and better words for ‘atheist’?

]]> By: kundi http://danielmiessler.com/blog/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists/comment-page-1#comment-249537 kundi Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:23:00 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blogarchive/sam-harris-says-we-shouldnt-call-ourselves-atheists#comment-249537 <p>I think the word 'atheist' has negative tone to it. It's linked to words and phrases like 'hell', 'beyond help'. There should be positive or neutral word for it. I do not want to brand myself as 'those going to hell'. 'Those believe in reason and evidence' would be better. 'Those who are capable of critical thinking' would be better. </p> <p>So what are these alternative and better words for 'atheist'?</p> I think the word ‘atheist’ has negative tone to it. It’s linked to words and phrases like ‘hell’, ‘beyond help’. There should be positive or neutral word for it. I do not want to brand myself as ‘those going to hell’. ‘Those believe in reason and evidence’ would be better. ‘Those who are capable of critical thinking’ would be better.

So what are these alternative and better words for ‘atheist’?

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