Strident Anti Religion Cautions

Hitchens’, Dawkins’, Harris’ and Denkins’ recent contributions to the library of volumes denouncing religion(s) and promoting atheism have generated much discussion, of both the hurrahing and raspberrying sort.

For religious individuals, as opposed to parroting dogmatic religion(s) individuals, the above authors’ writings are necessarily worthy of contemplation, while the parroting dogmatic religion(s) individuals would probably recommend a good ol’ fashioned book burning.

With that said, there are a couple of interesting pieces to read cautioning against stridency among atheists.  First, a piece by Tom Krattenmaker titled Secularists, what happened to the open mind?  From Krattenmaker’s piece.

Nevertheless, I find myself wanting to leap to religion’s defense when I encounter broadsides against all religion. Yes, many religious people behave in foolish and obnoxious ways, and some do cause harm in the name of their belief system. Yet the same could be said of non-believers. When a Stalin, Pol Pot, or Hitler commits monstrous deeds in connection with an ideology opposed to religion, does that somehow prove the inherent delusion and danger of non-belief?

Second, a piece by Michael Shermer titled Rational Atheism.  From Shermer’s piece.

Whenever religious beliefs conflict with scientific facts or violate principles of political liberty, we must respond with appropriate aplomb. Nevertheless, we should be cautious about irrational exuberance.

For a more detailed explanation of what I think of as a religious individual, versus a parroting dogmatic religion(s) individual, see my post of June 9, 2003 titled A Short Religious Discourse Regarding Natural Law, which you’ll have to scroll down to at my old Blogspot site.

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