tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173950.post5396462618006026909..comments2024-03-28T09:56:06.298-04:00Comments on Grim's Hall: What Do You Mean By "Compassion"?Grimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543082562999855432noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173950.post-79271252668064818812012-05-04T07:51:50.162-04:002012-05-04T07:51:50.162-04:00"douglas said... @5:10 AM"
In a nutshel...<i>"douglas said... @5:10 AM"</i><br /><br />In a nutshell.bthunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15789441349826379510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173950.post-83764067965423892042012-05-04T05:10:21.770-04:002012-05-04T05:10:21.770-04:00To be fair to atheists, I like Penn Jillette, and ...To be fair to atheists, I like Penn Jillette, and <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2011-08-16/opinion/jillette.atheist.libertarian_1_piers-morgan-friend-minimum-wage/2?_s=PM:OPINION" rel="nofollow">he has a great quote about 'compassion'</a>:<br />"It's amazing to me how many people think that voting to have the government give poor people money is compassion. Helping poor and suffering people is compassion. Voting for our government to use guns to give money to help poor and suffering people is immoral self-righteous bullying laziness.<br /><br />People need to be fed, medicated, educated, clothed, and sheltered, and if we're compassionate we'll help them, but you get no moral credit for forcing other people to do what you think is right. There is great joy in helping people, but no joy in doing it at gunpoint."douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17261739259295914188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173950.post-43733264768513329972012-05-04T05:08:51.429-04:002012-05-04T05:08:51.429-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17261739259295914188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173950.post-86695156989461983482012-05-02T22:27:53.892-04:002012-05-02T22:27:53.892-04:00But they're rational feelings, and therefore m...But they're rational feelings, and therefore more admirable than the primitive, delusional feelings of clingy bible-thumpers.Texan99https://www.blogger.com/profile/10479561573903660086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173950.post-64015524741264310152012-05-02T21:13:22.344-04:002012-05-02T21:13:22.344-04:00Well, right; but atheists are more rational than b...Well, right; but atheists are more rational than believers, so it wouldn't make sense to say they were motivated chiefly by "feelings."Grimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07543082562999855432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173950.post-71256546720337608822012-05-02T21:11:28.812-04:002012-05-02T21:11:28.812-04:00So by "compassion," they just meant &quo...So by "compassion," they just meant "feelings."Assistant Village Idiothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01978011985085795099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173950.post-14147011978673678232012-05-02T08:35:19.565-04:002012-05-02T08:35:19.565-04:00Of course, maybe I've just missed all the athe...<i>Of course, maybe I've just missed all the atheist rehab centers, homeless shelters, orphanges, and hospitals.</i><br /><br />OK, that made me laugh out loud :pCassnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173950.post-80676510908782149142012-05-02T08:15:10.415-04:002012-05-02T08:15:10.415-04:00Hopefully so, Douglas, since the gov't seems i...Hopefully so, Douglas, since the gov't seems inclined to force the Catholic ones to shut down. We'll be needing some of that atheist compassion soon!<br /><br />I think you're right, Mr. King, that in general 'I'm just doing my duty' is the proper response for a religious person. It's even true, in the case of the religious orders particularly.Grimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07543082562999855432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173950.post-22762145412565323172012-05-02T01:22:53.780-04:002012-05-02T01:22:53.780-04:00If you're motivated by compassion, you might r...If you're motivated by compassion, you might react more quickly to the sob story, but I suspect it's the people motivated by duty that help the wretches in the gutters in the black hole of Calcutta. Of course, maybe I've just missed all the atheist rehab centers, homeless shelters, orphanges, and hospitals.douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17261739259295914188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173950.post-39359966971897372452012-05-01T22:38:37.915-04:002012-05-01T22:38:37.915-04:00Also, isn't it also possible that religious pe...Also, isn't it also possible that religious people are more likely to give credit to their religion than themselves? <br /><br />All the most religious people I know, if complimented on their altruism, will retreat to modesty and say something like "it's what God would have me do".bs kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02871717971078952304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173950.post-82242287215405041932012-05-01T22:29:28.516-04:002012-05-01T22:29:28.516-04:00Of course you'll be happier if your feelings a...Of course you'll be happier if your feelings are fairly consonant with your values, but your duty is your duty.<br /><br />An interesting question would be: are atheists motivated by compassion more often than believers are motivated by their religious convictions?Texan99https://www.blogger.com/profile/10479561573903660086noreply@blogger.com