I have seen several comments, both in the Public Article as several blogs Portuguese Jose Saramago criticized for saying ... well, see the link above.
Comments that call these "trivial" to the claims of Saramago, imply that one must study theology before being able to criticize religion, says chorrilho the usual nonsense about atheists and atheism, and ... well, you know how. The saddest commentaries are those who have no religious belief, but still feel shocked and offended by this, because he fell in brainwashing that religion deserves "wipes hot" and a special respect and unquestionable.
As the patience to always correct the mistakes is not much, and I feel disgusted just by reading, much less cite certain things I've read today, I prefer to comment on this in the form of short paragraphs, more or less independent of each other. Not all apply to all criticism, obviously.
- There is no kind of evidence, evidence, etc.. the existence of any god. Nothing. Nicles. Zero. Therefore, theology is a non-discipline, has much merit and importance as painatal-logy or gambozinologia. And yes, ladies and theologians, you wasted all of your lives. Deal with it (though I know I never will, is much easier to maintain a comfortable illusion than breaking it).
- Call "banal" to claim that God exists is not the same as calling "unsophisticated" who says that 2 +2 = 4, because who is a "higher spiritual level" have "faith" that 2 +2 = 5, or is this true in the spiritual plane as or more important than the physical, he or the numbers have a meaning "deeper" or other new-age babble meaningless. Saying things as they are simple and direct way (as "the emperor has no clothes", and applicable to this case) is not "trivial" or "unsophisticated."
- Religious beliefs do not deserve more respect and consideration than any other beliefs (eg "the earth is round" or "no UFOs to mutilate cattle in the U.S.") only because they are religious. The only thing that matters is: is it true?
- Hitler was Catholic ! Stop there to include in this absurd list of "atheistic monsters". The fact that they have already been fixed for it a thousand times and still continue to do the right shows how much importance they give to facts and reality ... and how honest they are.
- As for others, there is plenty of religion in systems such as Stalinism: the cult leader, rituals, "prayers", "sacred" books (eg the red book of Mao), suppression of contrary ideas, control of "pure" ideological irrationality and dogma over facts, and the like. If pursuing the established religions, it was just because they did not want competition. Religion and "God" are not the same thing, and can exist without belief in it. No people have ever suffered by an excess of rationality and skepticism.
- Anyway, when they say that "atheists monsters did this and this," they mean they did not have a fear of divine punishment. Have you thought about the hideous distortion of morality is that? And are, therefore, to say you were going to the streets to steal, rape and kill it at this point lose your faith, because they see no reason not to do such things, except the fear of hell? What does this say about you?
- Some people speak of "the need of man toward spirituality." It has another name when you're younger, "imaginary friend". One thing is not real just because you want too. Even though life was gray and meaningless without the existence of a god and life after death (is not), it does not make it more likely their existence .
- Who says "Saramago's criticisms apply only to the Bible against the Old Testament, because the message of peace and love is new" is the need to actually read the Bible (and Jesus reportedly said that there had to change one letter the old law). But typically, the atheists know it better than anyone who believes that there is a book written by the creator of the universe, which depends on their salvation, yet never took the time to read ...
- Do not tell me that " it is better to believe, just in case ", please. This is completely idiotic (clue: there is more than one religion in the world ...)
Possibly related posts:
- Study links religion to immoral behavior
- FAQ: "Atheism is just another religion!"
- FAQ: "Without God / religion / the Bible, how can there be morality?"
- FAQ: "Who wants to buy disdain if critics both religion probably like to believe or not believe it!"
- "There must be some kind of god, my religion is right 100% right!"
