Is the dislike of the person attached to the belief? And is there really a dislike for the person at all...or is it really the belief and method of dispensation that may be disliked? And when it really comes down to it....would anyone care about the person if they didn't dislike the ideas and beliefs the person is sharing? So, what is really being disliked? The person...or the belief? And what is really being discussed? The person? Or the belief?....still thinking
The same argument could be made about ethnicity. You don't hate the person, only their genetic predispositions. Many rationalists operate on the false assumption that believers can be anything other than believers. They will often use themselves as evidence that people DO deconvert from believing, but then again they cannot prove that they can be anything else besides a non believer. This is a matter of stereotyping and prejudice. The personal attacks are justified because a stereotype is confirmed. People who insist they are logical are impossible to correct....sab
I really don't know why you are bringing ethnicity into that except for a reaction and shock effect.
Belief in a god is not a genetic predisposition. And I think is was very emotive of you to try to compare the two.
Yes, we do operate on the assumption belief IS a choice. Many believers have stopped believing. And so have proven it is a choice to believe or not.
It is not a stereotype of predudice even though you appear to be trying to make it one. Sometimes some of the things you say really repulse me sab. And I have to say this particular argument of yours is one of those things. I have not said personal attacks are ok. I have said when people believe they are being personally attacked it is not always so. Because they cannot seperate their belief from themselves. Attack the belief...attack them...in their minds. Don't like their belief...don't like them...in their minds. I'm not talking about blatant personal comments like...you're an alcoholic, or fat etc....those are personal. I'm talking about belief.
You can dislike an opinion and not dislike the poster. I have never disliked you sab....but I do find some of what you write distasteful.