We have had many postings and long discussions about religions, religious beliefs and the political or social effects of religions or religious people. Many commenters have expressed why they disagree with or are skeptical about all those things.
But atheists, skeptics, humanists, freethinkers, whatever we non-god-believers call ourselves have more to our lives than constant controversy with religion. We have opinions, points of view and even beliefs about many other things, and people in general can be inconsistent in the way they choose to hold or reject beliefs. Being skeptical about God doesn’t necessarily mean being skeptical about everything.
There are many things that are popularly believed about which there are controversies over the evidence or lack thereof for either their existence or for their benefit to people.
To list just a few:
UFO’s; Big Foot in all his many incarnations around the world; Astrology; ESP in its many forms; spirits, ghosts or the lingering influence of bygone people; magical woodland creatures; lucky numbers, objects or rituals; reincarnation; sunken civilizations; lake monsters; prehistoric animals in jungles; Feng Shui; influences of crystals or metals worn on the body; faked moon landings; vitamin supplements; herbal supplements; traditional medicine; animals pre-sensing earthquakes; the full moon increasing accidents, crime or general lunacy; special powers used in erecting ancient structures; and hundreds of urban legends.
Taking the premise that it’s okay to be inconsistent, that it’s part of what makes human beings interesting and creative, and making the mutual promise that we won’t make too much fun of each other, what of these or any other controversial things do you believe, lend credence to, consider the strong possibility of, or think “Well, it could be, I guess.”?
C’mon. Don’t be embarrassed. Most of us have inconsistencies. Homogeneity is boring.
Richard