Reply #129: Logical fallacies [View All]

[jobycom]

First, your first assertion doesn't follow from anything. Hostility towards a group is bigotry, whether that hostility is caused by beliefs or race or orientation. There is no logical leap to conclude that "bigotry ceases to have a negative connotation" from what you say. I can reject a group's beliefs, even point out where those beliefs have logical shortcomings, or are disproven scientifically, or whatever, without showing hostility to the group that holds those beliefs.

Second, beliefs and actions (or desire for action) are not the same thing. Nazis are defined more by what they want to do than by their beliefs. I live around a lot of people who believe, usually subconsciously but not always, that whites are superior to non-whites. I disapprove of this belief in them, but I am not hostile to them. Those who make those beliefs part of an active campaign to harm someone, whether physically or by restricting their rights) are different. They choose to use their beliefs to harm others. It's that choice, and those actions, that evokes a hostile reaction, not their beliefs.

As a counterpoint--there are people who set up hospitals or other assistance in Africa, sacrifice their time, money, career, even life, to try to make the lives of other people better. Some of them do belief that they are superior because they are white, that Africans are held down because they are an inferior race. Some of them even volunteer to help people in Africa because they believe they are inferior (the old "white man's burden" syndrome. Should I show hostility to these people, who have essentially the same beliefs as Nazis? Or should I choose to disapprove of their beliefs, without hostility towards the people who hold the beliefs? My hostility towards a Nazi with the same beliefs is because of that person's actions--their choice to use their beliefs to hurt rather than help.

Hostility to Christians for their beliefs is no different. I don't hold the same beliefs as them. But I can belief differently without feeling the need to insult them or their beliefs in a hostile manner (for instance, shouting "God is make believe!" every time a discussion of religion comes up). Many, perhaps most Christians (like Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, etc) use their beliefs to try to become better people. Mother Teresa, Jimmy Carter, Martin Luther King, etc. Some use their beliefs to justify their hatred (Falwell, Robertson, Graham, etc). I disapprove of this group for its actions, or desired actions--for the choice they make on how to use their beliefs.

But that disapproval does not justify me insulting everyone who has the same basic beliefs. When someone shouts "God is make believe!" they not only insult Falwell, but they insult King and Carter and Mother Teresa.

As for hostility--I think hostility is always a bad thing. Forgiveness, tolerance, understanding, are all better character traits. I can't claim to be very good in that department. :) But it's what I believe. Don't hate me for what I believe.