> > If, as a sociologist, you ultimately believe that we are going to hell if
> > we sin (or whatever) then why bother to adhere to a discipline that shows
> > us why we're moral in a way that has nothing to do with god and everything
> > to do with people?
>
>(1) i think this illustrates my point that every time we talk about
>"religion", we are in fact talking about certain sets of very
>particular religious beliefs,
right. but then, everyone who is sneering at religion, 99% of the time they sneering about certain kinds of religion. so, there's no need for anyone here to get that upset. they aren't sneering people who belong to liberal churches or people who are spiritual.
it's EMAIL. sometimes, we just use shorthand -- everyone knows that, when I talk about dead guys on a stick, i'm not bitching about CGE. or Chip. I'm talking about fundamentalists, "just christians", etc.
and you can get upset with Carl, but he seems perfectly capable of sticking to his views and really doesn't seem to be terribly moved by anyone's crits. So, why bother? chuck0? He sneers at everything. There really isn't anyone else here, save for Doug and Chuck Grimes, who have contempot for religion or who have been willing to support chucko's in your face position.
Expecting non-theologians and non-soc of religioners to so carefully parse their words on e-mail? I don't see the value of that approach. I can possibly see the value of wanting them to do so so as to avoid hurting feelings. But, honestly, if a leftist doesn't understand what Chuck0 is talking about... then.... really. What's the point.
And, as we've already pointed out, when it comes to Carl's dislike of religion, he dislikes ALL religions. Now, if you're (generic you) going to say it's ok to sneer at "fundies" or say that their religion is inferior (in so many words) then you really can't get upset with Carl because he dissed religion. After all, if you're going to diss certain religions, then you really have no right to get upset at someone who disses them all.
"Finish your beer. There are sober kids in India."
-- rwmartin