tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20385137.post7721539271301752196..comments2023-11-02T04:21:10.340-04:00Comments on The way the Ball bounces: To Burn or Not to BurnBallBounceshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776039024486455199noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20385137.post-1398989874849744582010-09-13T15:27:16.630-04:002010-09-13T15:27:16.630-04:00As the token atheist here, my basic reaction is th...As the token atheist here, my basic reaction is that the guy in Florida is a kook who is getting way more attention than he deserves. Book-burning in itself is abhorrent to most atheists, because it represents a burning of knowledge, and the attempt to destroy knowledge or keep it from others is both irrational and unethical. The proper response to “holy” books is <a href="http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran/index.htm" rel="nofollow">logical ridicule</a>, not destruction. <br /><br />That said, if the guy owns the book, he is fully entitled to burn it, use it for toilet paper, line a birdcage, whatever. To an atheist, the Koran is no different than a Bible, a Vonnegut novel, or the telephone book. Just because someone else holds it a “holy” does not compel me to hold it so. Freedom of religion includes freedom from religion, and I am free to burn a Koran, spit on a communion wafer, or use a crucifix to open a plugged toilet. And you are free to call me a jerk for doing it. <br /><br />One difference between us, Rick, is that you compare the way Saudis deal with the bible with the way we in Canada deal with the Koran, and see the difference as some sort of weakness on our part. I see it as our strength.<br /><br />As for the “double standard” of our tolerance, I suspect that is exactly what Jesus was talking about on the mount.P@Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04224139690760183921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20385137.post-86188555766531366092010-09-11T17:23:11.033-04:002010-09-11T17:23:11.033-04:00Exactly. Obama preaching tolerance, but not menti...Exactly. Obama preaching tolerance, but not mentioning Islamic intolerance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com