True but you take time out to diss seemingly trustworthy people who are deists.
I'm quite sure I didn't diss any deists. As I have posted before, I have known only one deist in my life, "known" to the extent that one knows anyone on SI. I had the utmost regard for him. As I recall, you did, too. My sense of him was that he was highly trustworthy.
However what do you care if some credit their good character to God and why is that cause to consequently judge them as probably not a good person?
I am hardly an expert, but a deist, by definition, wouldn't credit his good character to his deity.
I assume your comment is in reference to this remark by me.
WRT accountability, to me the notion that people need a powerful deity looking over their shoulders to do the right thing says more about the believer than the atheist. Anyone who can't imagine being trustworthy without the celestial carrot/stick, is probably not, at his core, a good person. That statement would not apply to deists, whose god doesn't engage with people let alone look over their shoulders. It was made in the context of studies done in the U.S. re attitudes toward atheists. I don't recall having seen a survey of religious affiliation in the US population that even mentioned deists so I doubt there are many who so identify. Which makes it is unlikely that deists are responsible for the prejudice against atheists.
As for why I care, it is in my nature to care about all prejudice. I stick up for any group subject to prejudice. As a non-believer, myself, about this particular group I care particularly. |
