The rise of neo-paganism (No, this one is NOT SATIRE)

National Review Online ^ | 27th September 1999 | Roger Scruton

[Dimensio]

Why? Because even though the evidence is all around you; in history, in nature, in reason, in the testimony of untold millions of people who have experienced the salvation described in the New Testament; you will call all of it unsupported generalizations.

I call it unsupported generalizations when you claim that all atheists are sociopaths (or that they all become sociopaths) because you have to show that every single person who lacked belief in a diety became a sociopath to prove that your statement is true or prove empirically that atheism leads to sociopathy by definition. You have failed to do either.

As for evidence in history or reason, show it. Pointing out infamous atheists to "prove" your point is the spotlight fallacy.

[biblewonk]

with a continuing aversion to pagan cults and superstitions,

This guy must not know about the Masonic Temple.

[EternalVigilance]

I call it unsupported generalizations when you claim that all atheists are sociopaths (or that they all become sociopaths) because you have to show that every single person who lacked belief in a diety became a sociopath to prove that your statement is true or prove empirically that atheism leads to sociopathy by definition. You have failed to do either.

First of all, you are making up rules as you go along..which I guess shouldn't surprise me, considering the subject matter, and your stance.

The proofs of what I am saying are legion. The Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, Cuba, China, the Eastern European dictatorships, African dictatorships, South American dictatorships, etc., etc....they all thought they were smart enough to go it alone without the Creator. Where did it get them?

You accuse me of using generalities...just how specific do I need to be?

The American Republic prospered because it had Christian morality as its mainstay. The French Republic ended in blood and tyranny, because the French sneered at God, and decided they were smart enough to come up with their own rules for civil society.

(Of course, all of these societies who destroy themselves in this way in this generation come crawling to us for help in cleaning up the mess they have made...and we invariably help them out. Why? Because that's what Christians do.)

As for evidence in history or reason, show it. Pointing out infamous atheists to "prove" your point is the spotlight fallacy.

Would you rather I picked some obscure ones? :-)

EV

[F16Fighter]

"Christians began to be tolerant because the political results of sectarian warfare stripped them from power to persecute..."

"Power to persecute"?? Whoa Junior -- take a deep beathe...

If you prefer to engage in mushroom-induced historic revisionism of marginalizing the Christian based ethics and beliefs enacted by our Forefathers with your hallucinatory alternative version of the truth, then party-on....

Just make sure you're not the 'designated driver'.

[steve-b]

Nonsense. A universal statement is disproven -- not weakened, not bent, disproven -- by a single counterexample.

[EternalVigilance]

Hey, I've never seen the wind. But I've certainly seen its effects...trees bend, whitecaps form, the grass waves.

I've even seen it level towns.

Oh yes, I believe in the wind, even though I've never seen it. For every effect, there is a cause.

In the same way, I have seen what the Lord can do, personally. I believe in Him, too...in fact, I fear him alot more than I do a Great Plains twister. You can't hide in your basement from Him forever.

It's the same when I look at history. His power and presence is evident to anyone who looks for it.

EV

[Tribune7]

Thomas Jefferson would have some serious contentions with so-called "conservatives" on FR ... who seem incapable of recognizing that people can practice a non-Christian (or no) religion without being the enemy of America.

It depends on what you mean by religion. Jefferson would have had no problem with someone not believing in the Resurrection since he himself didn't believe in it. He did, however, strongly feel that Christ's teachings should be the basis for our laws and our culture.

[Tribune7]

Once again, like in so many of these threads, you have people on one side trying to tell the people on the other side what they think.

Do you have a problem with this?

[EternalVigilance]

"Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age, by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating their little boys and girls, of inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity and universal philanthropy, and, in subordination to these great principles, the love of their country; of instructing them in the art of self-government without which they never can act a wise part in the government of societies, great or small; in short, of leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system." --Samuel Adams

[Tribune7]

I did spend a lot of time seeking but the deeper I got into it the more I saw the fingerprints of man and the further I got from an ability to believe in the supernatural. In the end I'm happiest as an atheist.

Christ died (and rose) to save us from religion.

[Tribune7]

We are a Christian nation. If we ever stop being one we will become the hell on earth Haiti is as someone pointed out. <p. Or Revolutionary France. Or the Soviet Union. Or Nazi Germany. Or any other place that followed the God of Israel then threw him aside for some man-made thing.

[Tribune7]

Good point

[EternalVigilance]

Yes indeed.

[F16Fighter]

Another great post there pardner...

Sadly, there will always be those in denial for whatever odd reasoning -- regardless of the overwhelming historical proof about the true genesis of our American system.

[EternalVigilance]

Sadly, there will always be those in denial for whatever odd reasoning -- regardless of the overwhelming historical proof about the true genesis of our American system.

No kidding. Unfortunately, their philosophical brethren have been in charge in Washington for the last generation, where they have pulled out every stop in their desire to cover up that heritage.

But they have been only partially successful...our forefather's faith in Jesus Christ is a light that just refuses to be hidden under a bushel...it shines forth once again at the most innopportune times (for them and their revisionist wishful view of history).

The Truth will always ultimately overcome the lie, praise God.

Regards...EV

[Avoiding_Sulla]

Fran,

In your commentary of yesterday The Good Don't Last Too Long, you took a substantial tangent to explain the difference between "good" and "right." As you can see here and at 199, and at steve-b's response at 198, more than a year ago he and I discussed this briefly.

Certainly your commentary complements ours. I was hoping this might add something to yours.

-Av

[P.O.E.]

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