Indeed we can. Because “belief” is not based on reason. Therefor it is ALL in the same basket as something I don’t want in my government. If I believed (get it!) any of them could be trusted to govern in a secular manner I might be less salty. But I have been given very little evidence that they** can.
** They = anyone who openly, loudly, repeatedly identifies themselves by their magical thinking while campaigning / governing. They are more than welcome to believe what they want so long as they keep it out of the way of deciding my way of life. I still hold a place in my heart that thinks that’s possible, but it is getting smaller every day as I watch the [religious text]-thumpers screaming louder and louder.
Belief just means standing for something. I believe in generosity, self control, avoidance of violence, the proper treatment of women and children, etc etc. I’ll stand behind it regardless of what you say. The Qur’an also advocates this, and people agree with it so they “believe” in what’s written. Only believing in the Creator Himself and everything that happens after death requires any sort of “effort”, and even the former I would say is self evident!
Religion is neither necessary nor sufficient to engender qualities of generosity, self-control, avoiding violence / advocating for peace, treating people well etc.
Those also aren’t the types of “beliefs” I’m talking about and you know it. I specifically mentioned magical thinking and in this context “belief” is not a reference to believing in being generous, but belief in the supernatural, god, spirits, etc … magical thinking. More to the point, believing in those, the books that espouse them, and expecting other’s around you to believe / act based on those same beliefs is my problem; doubly so when preached from my elected representatives.
Indeed we can. Because “belief” is not based on reason. Therefor it is ALL in the same basket as something I don’t want in my government. If I believed (get it!) any of them could be trusted to govern in a secular manner I might be less salty. But I have been given very little evidence that they** can.
** They = anyone who openly, loudly, repeatedly identifies themselves by their magical thinking while campaigning / governing. They are more than welcome to believe what they want so long as they keep it out of the way of deciding my way of life. I still hold a place in my heart that thinks that’s possible, but it is getting smaller every day as I watch the [religious text]-thumpers screaming louder and louder.
Belief just means standing for something. I believe in generosity, self control, avoidance of violence, the proper treatment of women and children, etc etc. I’ll stand behind it regardless of what you say. The Qur’an also advocates this, and people agree with it so they “believe” in what’s written. Only believing in the Creator Himself and everything that happens after death requires any sort of “effort”, and even the former I would say is self evident!
Religion is neither necessary nor sufficient to engender qualities of generosity, self-control, avoiding violence / advocating for peace, treating people well etc.
Those also aren’t the types of “beliefs” I’m talking about and you know it. I specifically mentioned magical thinking and in this context “belief” is not a reference to believing in being generous, but belief in the supernatural, god, spirits, etc … magical thinking. More to the point, believing in those, the books that espouse them, and expecting other’s around you to believe / act based on those same beliefs is my problem; doubly so when preached from my elected representatives.