apologies if someone has covered this already, but i'm a third of the way through this marvellous book which i'm enjoying more than richard dawkin's the god delusion.
the full title of hitchens' book is god is not great - the case against religion.
it pulls no punches and is extremely well written.
Thanks for the book tip Ian. I'll start on this one after I get my CCNA cert this fall, (reading nothing but Cisco stuff on train ride to/from work now). Anyway, Alan mentioned a few that I have read, and would recommend them as well to anyone:
God: The Failed Hypothesis. How Science Shows that God Does Not Exist, Victor Steng
The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins
Breaking the Spell: Religion As A Natural Phenomenon, Daniel Dennett
Jason
ever since 911 and the subsequent attacks in bali, madrid, and london it seems that everyone feels they have a licence to criticise islam (they do).
fundamentalist and many mainstream christians deride the backwardness of a religion that creates suicide bombers and 'honour' killers.
of course, it was only a small group of hardcore islamist extremists that carried out these attacks but the whole community has been tarred by them, and perhaps in some sense it is only right that the majority of 'reasonable' and peaceful muslims do accept the part they play in providing the soil for these people to grow in.
To answer the question, yes. Islam, (as well as any extreme form of religion, including jw), has led to an increase in atheism. When people are forced to think about the horrible effects of blindly following any belief system, this will almost always lead to an awakening.
Having been in the US and Europe, I'd say disenfranchisement of minority communities, lack of integration by minority communities, lack of equallity for members of minority communities and the violence and trouble that thi all causes are FAR worse in the USA
To a degree, I agree with the above statement. However, only to the extent that many European countries, (and Canada, also), have better social systems in place to support the disadvantaged. In the USA, it is still easier to really become succussful, (in the monetary sense), if one takes the initiative. That said, the Muslim community here often are better educated, have better jobs, own businesses, etc, than they are in Europe. They don't want Sharia law, and they don't fly airplanes into buildings. This is why we see less in the way of terror cells in the USA. Of couse, the USA is the country at greatest risk for an event such as 9/11, because the US is still viewed as the capital of western thought by extreme Muslims.
j
what the heck.
i'm sitting here with idle time.
ok, so what's so great about that?
Great to hear from you again, Ian!
Jason
a jw i used to know died recently.
she was almost exactly the same age as me - we were born just days apart.
she had battled cancer for almost a decade.
My condolences, Scully.
I had to BEG the BOE to have a memorial service for my df'd mother when mom and dad were killed in a car accident 11 years ago. The whole thing for the TWO of them didn't last more than 20 minutes, and NOTHING, (other than survivors, and the like), about them as people was discussed whatsoever. My non-jw relatives are still pissed over this. Real good "witness" Wacktower!!!
Jason
last week i received a home visit from a couple of elders because they were concerned about my spirituality.
and lack of progress.
i said so you can guarantee the end will be here in 5 years.
That is some messed ass logic if I ever heard it. What sort of a loving creator would destroy his creation based on a time-line? How is it fair that group A gets to leave and have as much fun as they can then come back and get saved, while group B leaves at a later time and because Jewhorevah decides its time for the end they all get lightning bolted? Scary that these people walk among us.
GBL
I remember even as a kid asking the same question. I don't know how I managed to stay in for 20 years after that.
j
i just wanted to make one simple statement... i've heard many say that they can't get out of this bull, they just faded so they wouldn't have to deal with all the issues that are sure to arise if they use confrontation.
many have said they can't stand to lose family members and the like and that's why they've chasen to fade rather then speak out.
here's what i've lost becasue i've chosen to tell the truth about the bastards.
Uh, I flipped the bird to Bethel today coming home from Brooklyn, does that count?
Seriously though, Dawg is spot on here.
j
"this is to inform the congregation that done4good is no longer one of jehovah's witnesses".
that announcement was made last thursday after i sent my d/a letter in.
they boe wasted no time.
Jason
isn't tomorrow armageddon?
i think i'll sleep late just in case... an elder called my friends house and said that armageddon was almost certain to come this year; an urban myth stated that it would be tomorrow.
i guess i'll wait to make that car payment.
This is fantastic news! I was worried about having to get up at 3:30AM to make it into NYC for work tommorow.
j
the watchtower july 1 questions from readers.
then are we to conclude that jehovah's witnesses oppose the people's use of transfusions?.
that would be a wrong conclusion.
They sure are backpedeling, aren't they? Pretty much all but saying they are wrong about their blood stance. Using this logic I guess it would also be ok to drive a non-witness to use a prositiute.
j
im new here.
i was raised as a jw by my mom.
my dad never accepted the religion.
Welcome, Guy!
j
