Here’s the whole thing:  “There’s another problem with faith and it occurs between people and between societies. You see, we have a choice, we have two options as human beings. We have a choice between conversation and war. That’s it. Conversation and violence. And faith is a conversation stopper. The only thing that guarantees an open ended collaboration among human beings, the only thing that guarantees that this project is truly open ended, is a willingness to have our beliefs and behaviors modified by the power of conversation. It should be clear. What else could do it? What else could guarantee that our future together of collaboration is actually open ended. We have to have a consensual space where we continually revise our description of the world, new data comes in, new arguments come in. Now failing that, when the stakes are high, we just start clubbing each other over the head.If there is nothing that a devout Muslim and a devout Christian can say to one another that will put their beliefs about the world in check, that will make them mutually susceptible to the power of conversation.  Then, when the stakes are high, there is nothing to appeal to but force.”  His definition of “Faith” here, of course, mean immovability; strong belief in the doctrines of a religion; belief without evidence.  Faith in unproved and unprovable doctrine stops conversation.  ~JJ
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Here’s the whole thing: 

“There’s another problem with faith and it occurs between people and between societies. You see, we have a choice, we have two options as human beings. We have a choice between conversation and war. That’s it. Conversation and violence. And faith is a conversation stopper. 

The only thing that guarantees an open ended collaboration among human beings, the only thing that guarantees that this project is truly open ended, is a willingness to have our beliefs and behaviors modified by the power of conversation. 

It should be clear. What else could do it? What else could guarantee that our future together of collaboration is actually open ended. We have to have a consensual space where we continually revise our description of the world, new data comes in, new arguments come in. Now failing that, when the stakes are high, we just start clubbing each other over the head.

If there is nothing that a devout Muslim and a devout Christian can say to one another that will put their beliefs about the world in check, that will make them mutually susceptible to the power of conversation.  Then, when the stakes are high, there is nothing to appeal to but force.” 

His definition of “Faith” here, of course, mean immovability; strong belief in the doctrines of a religion; belief without evidence.  Faith in unproved and unprovable doctrine stops conversation.  ~JJ

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  4. lustyloveylady reblogged this from stfueverything and added:
    I believe this is a quote from Letter to a Christian Nation. Very very good book. I love this man’s mind. We need more...
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    Quite a pacifistic statement for a war monger
  16. teachthemhowtothink reblogged this from christiantheatheist and added:
    Here’s the whole thing: “There’s another problem with faith and it occurs between people and between societies. You see,...
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