"Yes, I can see your struggle — thanks for the thoughtful reply. Unfortunately many times people in any argument deride the other side as being ‘stupid’ or something, and perhaps in religious arguments this happens the most. On behalf of nonbelievers, I apologize for their behavior. My feelings on these matters are infused with a strain of idealism and emotional delicacy that probably came from Sagan. Had I been treated as you have been, I never would have gone any further into thinking about these things, I think. I would have likely dug my heels in the sand. So I am indebted to him and things like ‘Star Trek’ for not being confrontational.
The truth is, we are all in this together. The aim of religion and, for example, science need not be opposed. If religion is revering God, then what better way to show reverence than by understanding? Certainly Newton, Bruno, Galileo, Jefferson, and countless others thought this way. That was my own feeling when I first went into it. Now, it may be that for some of us, there is not enough out there to make us believe. But I think people can still work together on it. As long as a sincere desire to know the truth exists, and a willingness to be wrong is there, it is hard to be thrown astray.
I think Buddha put it best when he said, “What we do today matters the most.” Though these are deep and central questions to human life, to always proceed with respect and morality is the best way, I think. :) "
- The lovely Xezene, an Agnostic, during a conversation we had about this post of mine.
We're all in this together.. :)
