That's only used when there really is no difference between the two items being compared (with respect to what's being compared.)General Zod wrote:
I assume you're familiar with the "no true Scotsman" fallacy, yes?
Trying to Understand Angry Atheists
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Xenophobe3691
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Darth Wong
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The "No True Scotsman" fallacy is used when someone tries to add extra components to the proper definition. In the case of atheism, someone who still maintains a latent belief in God is obviously not a real atheist; that derives from the proper definition of atheism rather than an attempt to add extra conditions.
"you guys are fascinated with the use of those "rules of logic" to the extent that you don't really want to discussus anything."- GC
"I do not believe Russian Roulette is a stupid act" - Embracer of Darkness
"Viagra commercials appear to save lives" - tharkûn on US health care.
http://www.stardestroyer.net/Mike/RantMode/Blurbs.html
From reading the original letter the Rabbi posted, his point of view seems clear - he's misunderstanding and shaking his head about something he hasn't made an attempt to learn about.
I think it's the feeling of belonging in a tight (in this case, religious) community - something that sets you apart from the teeming masses, and gives you a feeling of validation for your daily life. This in and of itself certainly isn't wrong or bad - it's how those beliefs are acted upon over the years that does. The feeling of belonging to something that's older than a human lifetime tends to lend itself to the feeling of superiority in points of view - "We've been doing this since before my great-grandfather's time, so it must be right."
Being convinced their whole lives that who they worship and how is correct, they shake their heads at the "lost souls" who are unenlightened as they.
Personally, I've studied many religions, since I was quite young, and none of them really fit me completely. I have my own belief system now (mostly unfounded by science), that I don't feel the need to give a name to a collection of personal ideas and philosophy. I'm certainly not missing the irony that I work for a Christian healthcare company at the moment.
An example of my above example of a religious person's point of view was recently at work, I brought in a Harry Potter book (yeah, I know, boo all you like), intent on finishing it that night when work was slow. A co-worker of mine, a staunch Seventh-Day Adventist, flatly informed me that reading that book was "bad," because it had witchcraft in it.
My response? "Figure out how to duplicate even one example of magic entailed in all the books, and I'll not only agree with you, I'll give you a hundred dollars."
Also, this is my first post here, and so - hello.
I think it's the feeling of belonging in a tight (in this case, religious) community - something that sets you apart from the teeming masses, and gives you a feeling of validation for your daily life. This in and of itself certainly isn't wrong or bad - it's how those beliefs are acted upon over the years that does. The feeling of belonging to something that's older than a human lifetime tends to lend itself to the feeling of superiority in points of view - "We've been doing this since before my great-grandfather's time, so it must be right."
Being convinced their whole lives that who they worship and how is correct, they shake their heads at the "lost souls" who are unenlightened as they.
Personally, I've studied many religions, since I was quite young, and none of them really fit me completely. I have my own belief system now (mostly unfounded by science), that I don't feel the need to give a name to a collection of personal ideas and philosophy. I'm certainly not missing the irony that I work for a Christian healthcare company at the moment.
An example of my above example of a religious person's point of view was recently at work, I brought in a Harry Potter book (yeah, I know, boo all you like), intent on finishing it that night when work was slow. A co-worker of mine, a staunch Seventh-Day Adventist, flatly informed me that reading that book was "bad," because it had witchcraft in it.
My response? "Figure out how to duplicate even one example of magic entailed in all the books, and I'll not only agree with you, I'll give you a hundred dollars."
Also, this is my first post here, and so - hello.
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wolveraptor
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Man, I would've told you reading that book was bad because it triples your chance of not getting laid by the end of this decade. 
Enjoy your stay on the SS SDN.
Enjoy your stay on the SS SDN.
"If one needed proof that a guitar was more than wood and string, that a song was more than notes and words, and that a man could be more than a name and a few faded pictures, then Robert Johnson’s recordings were all one could ask for."
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- Herb Bowie, Reason to Rock
I'm an aspiriing writer, so her use of characterisation and plot intrigued me.wolveraptor wrote:Man, I would've told you reading that book was bad because it triples your chance of not getting laid by the end of this decade.
I don't own any of the books, for what it's worth.
Thank you - I've read the main site and it's new sister site for a while now, so I figured I'd explore here too.wolveraptor wrote:Enjoy your stay on the SS SDN.
Welcome to the forums, just read all of the forums rules and stick to proving your points. We have a diverse set of people around here with opposing views. The ones who get in trouble are the ones who storm in here and get smacked around by making claims they can't back up. See The Hall of Shame for various examples.rhoenix wrote:Thank you - I've read the main site and it's new sister site for a while now, so I figured I'd explore here too.
I have read all the FAQ's and rules while waiting for my account to be activated, and I've read many of the debating threads with interest. If I must argue a point, I will do so from knowledge, rather than ego, and will concede a point if I cannot back it.Stile wrote:Welcome to the forums, just read all of the forums rules and stick to proving your points. We have a diverse set of people around here with opposing views. The ones who get in trouble are the ones who storm in here and get smacked around by making claims they can't back up. See The Hall of Shame for various examples.