1. pharyngula
  2. Believers in holy ghosts wonder how people can be so stupid to believe in regular ghosts

Believers in holy ghosts wonder how people can be so stupid to believe in regular ghosts

By pharyngula on October 17, 2009.

I have to give the Baptist Standard some credit — they actually have a good article that debunks common stereotypes and myths about atheists, and chides people for falling for patently bogus rumors. At the same time, though, they ask a question that made me laugh:

From the old Procter & Gamble Satanism libel to tales of more recent vintage about President Obama's faith and citizenship, Internet-fueled rumors seem to run rampant. And, frighteningly, Christians seem at the very least to be as susceptible as the population at large to spread false stories.

So, why are Christians so willing to believe unsubstantiated rumors? And more troubling, why are Christians, who should hold the highest standards of truth-telling, so eager to spread rumors—and even downright libels?

There is nothing in Christian history to suggest that they have ever felt an obligation to adhere to higher standards of truth, and…do you really have to wonder at how Christians could grow up to believe silly stories? Hello, zombie Jesus? Hi there, talking snake? Hey, Virgin Mary in a bird poop stain!

Tags
religion

More like this

Ted Koppell & Co. on Why Obama's Faith Based Strategy Makes a Lot of Sense
On Sunday, Discovery Channel's Ted Koppell returned to his old network home to appear on ABC News This Week. Koppell was on the round table panel in part to promote his fascinating new five part series "The Republic of Capitalism," which airs starting Wed. night at 10pm EST. Also appearing on the…
Even the nice theologians annoy me
Christ. It's yet another review of the Global Atheist Convention, this time by a long-winded Anglican priest. I'm being rude in my evaluation despite the fact that it is actually a generous review, because he repeats another of those oblivious stereotypes that always pisses me off. I've highlighted…
Replying to Rusty Again
I've been having a bit of an exchange with Rusty in the comments on his blog. Because those comments only allow 1000 words, I'm posting this here. You can see the beginning of the exchange in this post and the comments that follow it. The argument concerns two things. First, Rusty quotes this…
I get email
Here's an odd correlation for you: whenever I take a swipe at the foolishness of Scott Adams, I get a major uptick in the usual trickle of Christian email. I don't quite see Adams as a friend to Christianity, although he does seem to foster the kind of shallow thinking on which religiosity thrives…