http://freethinker.co.uk/2008/08/22/evils-of-religion-spelled-out-in-landmark-gay-discrimination-case/ The voice of atheism since 1881 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:36:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 http://freethinker.co.uk/2008/08/22/evils-of-religion-spelled-out-in-landmark-gay-discrimination-case/comment-page-1/#comment-7705 Valdemar Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:22:33 +0000 http://www.freethinker.co.uk/?p=1554#comment-7705 Honestly held opinions - an interesting phrase. Is anyone suggesting that Hitler, Stalin and Mao didn't honestly believe they were doing the right thing when they wiped out millions of lives? An opinion should be judged on its own merits, by its effect on society and the individual, not on the sincerity of its advocates. But it seems we find it rather difficult to do that with religion. Perhaps that's why so many agnostics go 'noddy and smiley' when a faith-bigot comes out with pernicious tosh. Mustn't be disrespectful, must we? Honestly held opinions - an interesting phrase. Is anyone suggesting that Hitler, Stalin and Mao didn’t honestly believe they were doing the right thing when they wiped out millions of lives? An opinion should be judged on its own merits, by its effect on society and the individual, not on the sincerity of its advocates. But it seems we find it rather difficult to do that with religion. Perhaps that’s why so many agnostics go ‘noddy and smiley’ when a faith-bigot comes out with pernicious tosh. Mustn’t be disrespectful, must we?

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