Comments on: The right to be atheist? The right to have rights? http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/ Honey Bowtie Music blog: where sticky songs meet (occasionally) overdressed ideas. Sweet. Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:00:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: anonymous http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-855 anonymous Thu, 26 Oct 2006 01:11:15 +0000 http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-855 Haven't you ever been in a situation where someone took something you, or someone you knew to be of good character, said and interpreted it in the *worst* possible way, without giving you or them the benefit of the doubt? That didn't bother you? Sensing is not arrogant, a holy roller, or self-righteous. You, on the other hand, were very quick to judge based on a single post in which at least three people, including the original author, said you misconstrued. Finally, the core of his post was NOT "whether religious people could decide whether or not to take rights away from non-religious people." Of course they can! But in America, they don't because they believe your rights are God-given and therefore inalienable regardless of your religion. Haven’t you ever been in a situation where someone took something you, or someone you knew to be of good character, said and interpreted it in the *worst* possible way, without giving you or them the benefit of the doubt? That didn’t bother you?

Sensing is not arrogant, a holy roller, or self-righteous. You, on the other hand, were very quick to judge based on a single post in which at least three people, including the original author, said you misconstrued.

Finally, the core of his post was NOT “whether religious people could decide whether or not to take rights away from non-religious people.” Of course they can! But in America, they don’t because they believe your rights are God-given and therefore inalienable regardless of your religion.

]]> By: kateo http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-854 kateo Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:07:42 +0000 http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-854 Please. A slap in the face? Because I responded to the poor choice of words <i>he</i> made? Spare me. Besides, I <i>didn't</i>, as you claim, say that the core of his post was that I don't deserve any rights; re-read what I wrote. I said that the core of his post seemed to be the question of whether religious people could decide whether or not to take rights away from non-religious people. And anyway: <i>whatever</i>. The whole thing seems like complete and utter arrogant, holy-roller, self-righteous, self-congratulatory bullshit to me, and your defense of his thesis doesn't mean a thing to me. Please. A slap in the face? Because I responded to the poor choice of words he made? Spare me.

Besides, I didn’t, as you claim, say that the core of his post was that I don’t deserve any rights; re-read what I wrote. I said that the core of his post seemed to be the question of whether religious people could decide whether or not to take rights away from non-religious people.

And anyway: whatever. The whole thing seems like complete and utter arrogant, holy-roller, self-righteous, self-congratulatory bullshit to me, and your defense of his thesis doesn’t mean a thing to me.

]]> By: anonymous http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-853 anonymous Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:50:58 +0000 http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-853 No, the core of his post is NOT that you "don't deserve any rights" and it pains me to think that someone who claims to have read it several times could come away with such an erroneous conclusion. Sensing is saying that he believes your rights are God-given and therefore inalienable. I'm certain he'd be willing to defend your rights with his very own life if necessary. He served in the Army before becoming a minister and his own son enlisted in the Marine Corps a couple of years ago (I believe he's in Iraq right now). What he's asking you to do is to make a convincing argument that your rights are inalienable without appealing to God. The U.S. Constitution doesn't make your rights inalienable. It is merely a contract and can be modified or repealed. But the most important point I hope you'll take from my comment is that Sensing 100% believes, supports, and defends your inalienable rights whether you are an atheist, buddhist, or whatever. I'm a long-time reader of Donald Sensing and it bothers me that you would think otherwise. It's a slap in the face to a man whose writing I really respect. Vaya Con Dios, Bertone No, the core of his post is NOT that you “don’t deserve any rights” and it pains me to think that someone who claims to have read it several times could come away with such an erroneous conclusion.

Sensing is saying that he believes your rights are God-given and therefore inalienable. I’m certain he’d be willing to defend your rights with his very own life if necessary. He served in the Army before becoming a minister and his own son enlisted in the Marine Corps a couple of years ago (I believe he’s in Iraq right now).

What he’s asking you to do is to make a convincing argument that your rights are inalienable without appealing to God.

The U.S. Constitution doesn’t make your rights inalienable. It is merely a contract and can be modified or repealed.

But the most important point I hope you’ll take from my comment is that Sensing 100% believes, supports, and defends your inalienable rights whether you are an atheist, buddhist, or whatever. I’m a long-time reader of Donald Sensing and it bothers me that you would think otherwise. It’s a slap in the face to a man whose writing I really respect.

Vaya Con Dios,
Bertone

]]> By: troubadour76 http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-852 troubadour76 Tue, 24 Oct 2006 15:19:21 +0000 http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-852 Since jumping into the blogging community in Nashville, I've come to realize that there are a ton of people here with blogs who are only writing to hear their own voice. There's no honest attempt at open discourse, they basically just post their ridiculous views so that others like them can tell them how smart they are, and so they use their circular logic to beat down anyone who disagrees. He is a prime example, especially since he feels the need to remind us constantly that he will remove any comments he doesn't like. I think that's partially a result of the current political climate (where it seems only extreme views are welcome), and partially a result of the internet (which makes people think it's okay to be rude). I used to argue with those people, but I've learned that my life is better without them in it at all. Since jumping into the blogging community in Nashville, I’ve come to realize that there are a ton of people here with blogs who are only writing to hear their own voice. There’s no honest attempt at open discourse, they basically just post their ridiculous views so that others like them can tell them how smart they are, and so they use their circular logic to beat down anyone who disagrees. He is a prime example, especially since he feels the need to remind us constantly that he will remove any comments he doesn’t like.

I think that’s partially a result of the current political climate (where it seems only extreme views are welcome), and partially a result of the internet (which makes people think it’s okay to be rude). I used to argue with those people, but I’ve learned that my life is better without them in it at all.

]]> By: kateo http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-851 kateo Tue, 24 Oct 2006 12:59:29 +0000 http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-851 Yeah, I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he would read and respond to those who took the time to post comments, but he dismissed me and others out of hand by saying we didn't read the post entirely (although I did -- multiple times) or we missed the point. Another commenter there said I was missing the point on the "not having any rights" thing because I took it too literally, but I say that commenter has never heard that kind of statement pointed in his direction. There's no way to NOT take that kind of shit seriously when it has the potential to affect you. But at this point, it definitely IS a waste of my time, and I posted another reply to that effect. Yeah, I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he would read and respond to those who took the time to post comments, but he dismissed me and others out of hand by saying we didn’t read the post entirely (although I did — multiple times) or we missed the point. Another commenter there said I was missing the point on the “not having any rights” thing because I took it too literally, but I say that commenter has never heard that kind of statement pointed in his direction. There’s no way to NOT take that kind of shit seriously when it has the potential to affect you.

But at this point, it definitely IS a waste of my time, and I posted another reply to that effect.

]]> By: anonymous http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-850 anonymous Tue, 24 Oct 2006 05:46:48 +0000 http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-850 Preaching to the choir here. I struggle with my beliefs but not with my right to have rights. Chez Bez Preaching to the choir here. I struggle with my beliefs but not with my right to have rights.

Chez Bez

]]> By: troubadour76 http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-849 troubadour76 Tue, 24 Oct 2006 04:47:35 +0000 http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-849 Kate, you did a great job of rebutting his points (even though he immediately says that wasn't his point - whatever), but honestly, you're wasting your time. He is obviously very far gone done the path of "righteousness," and there is no changing the mind of people like that. Maybe we could lock him in house on election day though! Kate, you did a great job of rebutting his points (even though he immediately says that wasn’t his point - whatever), but honestly, you’re wasting your time. He is obviously very far gone done the path of “righteousness,” and there is no changing the mind of people like that.

Maybe we could lock him in house on election day though!

]]> By: browse http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-848 browse Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:57:46 +0000 http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-848 You have, yet again, given me another reason to believe you rock. Nice response, and a far calmer one than I could have managed. Every time I think I am mellowing about religion and perhaps growing more towards a "ehh, whatever works for them" attitude, I read some yahoo like this who not only has very strong ideas about his own religious beliefs, but feels compelled to inflict them upon others as well. Sigh. I simply do not fathom such an inpulse. You have, yet again, given me another reason to believe you rock. Nice response, and a far calmer one than I could have managed.

Every time I think I am mellowing about religion and perhaps growing more towards a “ehh, whatever works for them” attitude, I read some yahoo like this who not only has very strong ideas about his own religious beliefs, but feels compelled to inflict them upon others as well. Sigh. I simply do not fathom such an inpulse.

]]> By: lightning_rose http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-847 lightning_rose Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:55:18 +0000 http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-847 Governments exist only by the will of, and with the permission of the governed. Governments exist to protect the rights of the individual. It says so right in the Declaration of Independence. This Nietzsche Family Circus seems to be pretty apt. http://www.losanjealous.com/nfc/perm.php?c=82&q=38 The description of the "New Atheists" in this article pretty well sums up my feelings on the subject. http://www.wired.com/news/wiredmag/0,71985-0.html Governments exist only by the will of, and with the permission of the governed. Governments exist to protect the rights of the individual. It says so right in the Declaration of Independence.

This Nietzsche Family Circus seems to be pretty apt.
http://www.losanjealous.com/nfc/perm.php?c=82&q=38

The description of the “New Atheists” in this article pretty well sums up my feelings on the subject.
http://www.wired.com/news/wiredmag/0,71985-0.html

]]> By: nothinganything http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-846 nothinganything Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:18:33 +0000 http://www.honeybowtie.com/blog/2006/10/23/the-right-to-be-atheist-the-right-to-have-rights/#comment-846 No, you pretty much nailed it. Seems like you have <i>my</i> group well-represented. He said some stupid things and you addressed them. No, you pretty much nailed it. Seems like you have my group well-represented. He said some stupid things and you addressed them.

]]>