Sometimes I write, sometimes I share. This is both.

[abitofeveryone]

I wish to present a discourse on my beliefs. I've been trying and failing for several days here to set out a proper preface to this. I simply have too much to say, and there is no beginning or at least no beginning I am able to recognize. So I will launch straight into it.

Comments

[abitofeveryone]

Two things before I respond directly to your points.

1: This is exactly the kind of response I'm looking for with this essay. Well thought out and civil!

2: I wish to clarify my statement of, "These various ideals and fantasies cannot reliably be said to have been thought all the way through, to have been properly intellectually considered," because it can easily be taken the wrong way. What I meant by this the writers of religious text whether inspired by god or not cannot be said to have thought through everything they wrote to the fullest extent. This is do to the fact that they are in fact dead. So we can only guess. So its not a sure thing either way.

In this case intellectual consideration does not equate to correctness, much like you said. As these 'moral' conclusions are not a set thing. It varies from person to person. This is not to disagree with you, simply to clarify. I will agree entirely that my conclusions may appear less thought through to others and vice versa.

Just a side note on beliefs, I personally believe that both theism and atheism are both entirely irrational. As there is proof for neither, it is perfectly rational in my mind to lean in one direction or another quite heavily as long as one recognizes that there is no proof in either direction.

[shortbus_maniac]

I can agree and recognize that there is no proof in either direction.