My conversation starter for Atheists : comments.
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Re: Also, Placebo
Uses of the word "faith:" 0
Uses of the word "practice:" 4
I'm talking, and have always been talking, about practice. I only brought up faith, well, when you did.
Practice is what I'm talking about. Since you seem to have trouble coming up with your own imaginary case, let's create a specific one. Imagine the world where praying to Mecca five times daily gave better health benefits than regular exercise. What are your answers to the questions? (Remember that we're talking about practice, not faith.)
yrs--
--Ben
Re: Also, Placebo
I find fundamental fault in your line of questioning because you are playing loose with definitions. I'm trying to identify how I have a problem with the core line of your questioning.
A religion that isn't based on faith is like saying "Let's play baseball without bases." It doesn't make sense. It's not that I can't imagine it, it's that your definition lacks cohesion.
Re: Also, Placebo
Is it impossible for you to picture religious practice in the absence of faith? I can't imagine so: you were just describing it a few posts ago.
yrs--
--Ben
Re: Also, Placebo
Where was I talking about religious practice in the absence of faith?
Re: Also, Placebo
Re: Also, Placebo
Ben, what's the point?
Re: Also, Placebo
The point? The point is to make you think, and to make me think. So far, all you have done is react.
yrs--
--Ben
Re: Also, Placebo
If I didn't think about it, I'd just follow it through to the conclusion you already had for it.
You still haven't answered the "is it moral?" question: something you've completely missed in your initial line of questioning, and as I've said, the only question that's really important.
Re: Also, Placebo
The edict against delicious, moist shellfish was originally a religious practice, but it arose out of purely secular necessity: your local priest was most likely the most educated person around, you saw him often, and he probably saw lots of people die after eating shellfish that had been left in the sun.
That's an example of a 'religious practice' that actually has nothing to do with religion. It's a smart thing to do in a hot country, whether or not God tells you so.