Posted by SLS on October 4, 2006, at 0:30:29
In reply to Re: untrue religions, posted by SLS on October 3, 2006, at 6:53:14
Well, it is 11:00, and I still feel the same way about the phrase:
"not all religions are all true."
Out of context, it seems logical, true, and benign. I have said ths already.
However, within the environment of the Faith board, faith in, and emotional attachments to, one's own religion brings in a special set of dynamics.
I think a reasonable person could feel put down by reading this statement, even if taken out of context. I think it is reasonable to assume that the author would favor his own religion. In a forum where many people believe that their religions are all true, it is not unreasonable for a reader to assume that this might also be the belief of the author. To assume this, the reader would naturally feel put down, as this statement implies that his religion is not a true religion.
This statement is in a negative format and automatically places the reader in a defensive position.
Why should someone make a statement like this?
Let me add the surrounding text to the phrase cited for sanction:
"There is truth in all religions, but not all religions are all true. Most religions are man made with some sort of spiritual foundation."
I guess we now have the added proposition that the author probably believes that at least one religion is not man made. I think a reasonable reader would take this to indicate that the author believes that there exists a religion that is made by God. The reader would probably conclude that the author would choose to worship that religion that he believed was made by God.
Now, as I have illustrated in a previous post:
"To process the logic further, at most, only one religion can be all true. The reader is then faced with the proposition that the author would choose for himself the religion that he believed was all true. If the reader's religion is different from the author's religion, then the reader has just been told that his religion is not all true. Only a religion that is all true can be Truth. Therefore, any religion that is not all true is not Truth. The author has, in effect, made the statement that his religion is the only true religion and that all other religions are not true religions."
So, what do I think?
I think the author has very strong beliefs in his religion. I think it is very difficult to navigate the special standards of civility when authoring posts on the Faith board. I think a reasonable reader would feel put down by the phrase cited for IDENTIFICATION and sanction when in context. I do not think the statements represent an eggregious incivility. However, I do believe that the meaning of the statements is clear. It is not necessary that the author subscribe to the religion that is all true for the statements to be uncivil. The sanction is valid, if perhaps unpopular. The block is long, if perhaps equitable.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:690942
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20060918/msgs/691698.html