Since this is a sermon/rant, I am going to relax some of my rules of engagement and make some assertions that I think are reasonably supportable – but I may not bother supporting them. We can discuss them in comments if you want to challenge them. Otherwise it’s difficult to write without producing a great big bodge of anti-{skeptical trope} defences to head off pyrhhonian challenges.
Back in the day, the church could send its minions forth to rend and suppress books, shred their authors, and do battle against entire philosophies.
I’m going to engage in some mild “whatabout”ism regarding our (my?) reaction to the fire in Paris.
This is the sort of thing that ought to result in careers and reputations going up in smoke, and maybe a few class action lawsuits, but that probably won’t happen. Besides, it’s thoroughly too late by now. I’m sure that’s a coincidence.
The disciples of Pythagoras had an implicit faith in their Master’s doctrine: “HE HAS SAID IT!” was for them the solution of all problems.
Your host, Jean Meslier
If, closing our eyes upon all that transpires in this world, we should rely upon the votaries of the Christian religion, we would believe that the coming of our Divine Saviour has produced the most wonderful revolution and the most complete reform in the morals of nations.
Your host, Jean Meslier
Nothing says “god loves you” like when he sends one of his creatures to eat you.
What would we say or a father who, we are assured, watches without relaxation over the welfare of his feeble and unforeseeing children, and who, however, would leave them at liberty to go astray in the midst of rocks, precipices, and waters; who would prevent them but rarely from following their disordered appetites; who would permit them to handle, without precaution, deadly arms, at the risk of wounding themselves severely?
When we’re arguing against religion, I suppose it’s tempting to try to identify a religion that is not a violent pack of lies, so we can point to other religions (that are) and tell them, “be more like those guys.”