“If you choose to follow a religion where, for example, devout Catholics who are trying to be good people are all going to Hell but child molestors go to Heaven (as long as they were “saved” at some point), that’s your choice, but it’s fucked up. Maybe a God who operates by those rules does exist. If so, fuck Him.”—Bill Zellar’s suicide note, in regards to his parents’ religion
I love this passage. If a god as described in the Bible did exist, following him would be akin to following Voldemort: fidelity simply because he was powerful. This isn’t precisely a rationality quote, but it does have a bit of the morality-independent-of-religion thing. (The rest of the note is beautiful and eloquent as well.)
I think we should keep some sort op separation between “rationality quotes” and “atheism quotes”. You can stretch this to be a rationality quote, but it does require a stretch. Just because a quote argues against the existence of a god doesn’t make it particularly rational.
I love this passage. If a god as described in the Bible did exist, following him would be akin to following Voldemort: fidelity simply because he was powerful.
There are other similarities too. e.g. Voldemort’s human form died and rose again; his (first) death was foretold in prophesy, involved a betrayal (albeit in the opposite direction), and left his followers anxiously awaiting his return; “And these signs shall follow them that believe; … they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents...” (Mark 16:17-18); …
So, who wants to join the First Church of Voldemort?
“If you choose to follow a religion where, for example, devout Catholics who are trying to be good people are all going to Hell but child molestors go to Heaven (as long as they were “saved” at some point), that’s your choice, but it’s fucked up. Maybe a God who operates by those rules does exist. If so, fuck Him.”—Bill Zellar’s suicide note, in regards to his parents’ religion
I love this passage. If a god as described in the Bible did exist, following him would be akin to following Voldemort: fidelity simply because he was powerful. This isn’t precisely a rationality quote, but it does have a bit of the morality-independent-of-religion thing. (The rest of the note is beautiful and eloquent as well.)
I think we should keep some sort op separation between “rationality quotes” and “atheism quotes”. You can stretch this to be a rationality quote, but it does require a stretch. Just because a quote argues against the existence of a god doesn’t make it particularly rational.
There are other similarities too. e.g. Voldemort’s human form died and rose again; his (first) death was foretold in prophesy, involved a betrayal (albeit in the opposite direction), and left his followers anxiously awaiting his return; “And these signs shall follow them that believe; … they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents...” (Mark 16:17-18); …
So, who wants to join the First Church of Voldemort?