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Comment by Styx- | Hacker News Reader

Why shit all over someone else's way of viewing the world if it doesn't affect you?

And none of the nonsense about Christians that don't believe in global warming or abortions or something, because you have no idea of this woman's stance on any of that.

Disclaimer: I'm as agnostic as they come.

EDIT: Let me add that I think it's ridiculous to criticize religious people for being religious. It is regressive and promotes animosity between the religious and the rest of us. A truly religious person will sooner die than give up their religion.

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Nobody was shitting over anything.

I certainly do not think it's ridiculous to criticize religion. It's 2016, some supernatural beliefs should not get a free pass just because people will feel offended. However, choose your battles. Elderly people saying a very common phrase is hardly something to get worked up about.

You make a bold assumption that "it doesn't affect you" (surely you'd agree this is up for debate no?), then the very next sentence describe political views that can be attributed directly to religious beliefs you're claiming have no affect on anyone.

All ideas should be up for criticism. It is the very nature of religion somehow being off limits for debate that allows bad ideas to go unchallenged and spread.

All ideas should be up for criticism, yes. But not all ideas should be criticized.

The difference being that some criticisms are productive (presumably fresh, creative takes on thinking about something) and some simply serve the purpose of making the critic feel good about himself.

In what way do we benefit to hear a criticism of religion for the umpteen-millionth time and on the internet of all places? No one is refining their thought processes, no one is benefiting.

No one? The data flat out refutes that claim: http://religionnews.com/2014/08/01/five-signs-great-decline-...

Looks like many have been refining their thought process. Perhaps it's from all of the criticism on the internet?

Just because all minds won't be swayed doesn't mean some won't be.

I do think criticizing the idea is more valid than criticizing the person who believes in that idea.

It sounds like what you mean to say is not all ideas need to be criticized always and everywhere they are present. Makes sense.

If you mean that religion should not be criticized anymore we've done it enough.... I don't see how this is not that same as saying religion is an idea that should not be up for criticism. Why is it special?

There is a time and place. An article about Dr. Heimlich in which some senior citizen invokes an age old remark isn't it.

Once you can show me the data on the benefit from that single remark, and that it doesn't correlate with the concept of 'diminishing returns' strongly, then I'll concede.

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