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Comment by trhway | Hacker News Reader

>Tangentially, I am a bit baffled by folks that are not believers yet try to make sense of a religion, don't they understand hierarchy of belief?

I'd not give a damn about religion if it weren't shoving itself in my face everywhere. For example I don't care whatever religion some people on some remote islands may be practicing because they aren't forcing their religious dogmas on me (and as long as they don't abuse other people). The Big Religion though that we have around is forcing it's tentacles everywhere trying to strangulate everything, and thus even non believers have to deal with it defending themselves.

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But if they are abusing other people, you'd care, and intervention would be justified? Is that not imposing your dogma on them?

I’d assert that an anti-dogma stance is inherently non-dogmatic.

I challenge the assertion that the gp is really antidogmatic. The definition of abuse and the appropriate response to it, while generally unquestioned in one society, may not be the same in a remote island society.

Let's jump right in the deep end. Let's say you have a remote culture where genital mutilation is done for purely religious reasons. This is done in an unclean fashion, as it's a tribal culture. Would you argue against intervention?

it isn't a dogma, it is my personal dislike of [unconsented] abuse. Depending on situation/domain i may be wrapping it into legal/dogmatic/moral/etc. devices, whatever works, yet in the end at the very core it would be just that my personal dislike of abuse.

You don't care so much you use every opportunity to tell people how much you don't care?

Clearly I meant atheists that criticize things they don't even believe in.

What's wrong with criticizing things one doesn't believe in?

Especially if, as the parent noted, that thing one doesn't belief in has—through the actions of people that do believe—negative impacts on one's life?

Nothing. But you did a strawman there by changing the subject about what you care or don't care about. If you don't care about relgion then why are you commenting? If you do enough to criticize and take time to comment then don't strawman and address what i said not what you implied.

We are talking truth and belief not impact on ones life.

>If you don't care about relgion then why are you commenting?

my original comment contains clear answer.

>address what i said

i clearly addressed your stated requirement that one have to meet some your criteria of understanding of religion in order to criticize - as i clearly disagree with such a requirement because my involvement with religion isn't at my will, it is a defense from the religion forcing itself upon me everywhere.

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