You could aim that at the vast majority of religious believers of every faith. Faith being the operative word. No religion stands up to rational logical examination, hence the reason faith is what underpins those who follow a particular belief system.
Exactly. Faith is faith. You either believe or you don't. If you believe - have faith, you don't question. You accept it for what it is. If you have to question it, you also have to question your faith.
The logic of dismissing one faith system over another applies to someone that chooses a single group as much as it applies to someone that chooses none, particularly with Abrahimic faiths.
For that to be right, the same logic and criteria would have to apply to a belief in reptilian shape shifters and santa.
If that's your thing then fine, but there is of course a basis to most if not all organised religions so it is a little different to your example.
There is a basis for some of the stories, but the interpretation and claims are certainly questionable in both examples. To have faith in one over another implies that the 'others' are either unexamined and therefore could be better, or dismissed in the same way as atheists do.
There is no set criteria, that's the whole point. Faith is faith, it's what person or group of people believe. No matter how illogical it may sound to someone who doesn't share that faith.
Because of the gaping holes in ALL religions man has prostituted the word of God for his own ends. Faith is your own leap in the dark if you like. But indoctrination is another, what a ****ed up ideal religion is! Religion has spawned war, genocide, sectarianism, extremism and general hatred & evil. How can this be the will of God? Well no it isn't it's the will of man who has diluted, prostituted and made the ****ed up world what it is. Dismounts soapbox I thank you!
I think that's spurious. There is zero evidence to support that theory. However, Icke and his loopy followers are welcome to believe what they wish. As I have already said, faith is faith, no matter how illogical it may be to you or anybody else. That includes Icke, if he truly believes that nonsense. At least most religions are based on ancient texts. Open to misinterpretation, granted. But there is, at least, some solid base from that time to support their beliefs.
That's not being disputed. What I'm asking (with caveats) is on what grounds does a believer in one religion dismiss the beliefs of all the others? In what way is that dismissal different to an atheist dismissing theirs?
I think you're missing the point of what faith means to those who follow religion. If you're a Catholic for example, you don't preoccupy your thoughts with whether Islam or Judaism would be the better bet, and you could have backed the wrong horse. If you have faith you believe the teachings of Catholicism, in a persons early years you could rightly say that it's more akin to indoctrination, as there is no 'choice' you're born into it. But as soon as you mature you can make your own judgements and decide whether you actually have genuine faith or not. It's a highly personal choice and people have their own reasons for choosing to be part of it.
I'm not so sure that they do necessarily dismiss them. Most tolerant believers will accept that you are free to believe what you wish, they just beg to differ, and follow a different path. The existence of Jesus as a messiah, for instance, is accepted by Muslims. They do not accept his divinity, however. So, far from all of other faith's beliefs are dismissed by one another.
In which case, they cannot dismiss people questioning their choice or elements of their chosen faith in the way some did earlier in this thread. Their faith is equal in status to reptilian shape shifters, santa and the tooth fairy.
I think generally speaking anything that aids me in ripping you a new one is allowed. It is what it is Skiddy, I'll entertain you this once so that you get the picture. Here goes, Islam is my faith, ****s like you can't feed off me when it comes to your hatred. I'll always respect my faith, love it and take it for its essence. I on the other hand is a human being , I make my choices as that....you are a desperate **** always looking for a stick to beat with but with me you'll find that the stick ends up up your arse more times than not. Now **** off because religious talk bores me...not only do I smoke weed I **** sluts too....and? ****in ****er...time for a spliff, you can't beat one after a spicy lunch.
