Ron Paul: Atheism is like using drugs

Humes fork · 22nd January 2012, 10:36 AM

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I AGREE

Start to watch from 4:30.

This guy should run as a third candidate!

BenBurch · 22nd January 2012, 04:53 PM

But he thinks drugs should be legal...

Greedo · 22nd January 2012, 04:59 PM

So, errr... atheism is illegal?

Robrob · 22nd January 2012, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Greedo

So, errr... atheism is illegal?

Your first mistake was trying to use logic with Ron Paul's POV...

ravdin · 22nd January 2012, 08:29 PM

I took it to mean that endorsing freedom of religion is not the same thing as endorsing atheism, which is true enough. It's also true of Judaism, Islam, and Mormonism, although I doubt he'd use the same analogy.

Richard Masters · 22nd January 2012, 09:45 PM

I'm surprised he came in second. And I want him to win.

Bri · 23rd January 2012, 06:20 AM

Originally Posted by ravdin

I took it to mean that endorsing freedom of religion is not the same thing as endorsing atheism, which is true enough. It's also true of Judaism, Islam, and Mormonism, although I doubt he'd use the same analogy.

Worse, he's equating the statement "endorsing legalization of drugs is not the same as endorsing doing drugs" with "endorsing freedom of religion is not the same as endorsing atheism." Given that atheism is a lack of religion rather than a religion, the atheism statement would be closer to saying "endorsing legalization of drugs is not the same as endorsing not doing drugs" which actually is the opposite of the point he seems to have been trying to make.

The fact that atheism isn't a religion aside, in order for his analogy to work he seems to be suggesting that atheism is a "bad" thing that people should generally refrain from, like doing drugs.

-Bri

Oliver · 23rd January 2012, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by Humes fork

Start to watch from 4:30.

This guy should run as a third candidate!

Do I have to take drugs myself to make sense out of your OP?

Barber Shop · 23rd January 2012, 07:37 AM

I do not see Ron Paul equating atheism with drug use in this video...

I understood it as "I support religious freedom (including the freedom to have no religion), but that does not make me an atheist."

And, "I support freedom for you to put what you want in your body, but that does not make me a drug user and does not mean I think drug use is a good idea."

There are many things to criticize about Ron Paul, but this does not seem like one of them to me...

Bri · 23rd January 2012, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by Barber Shop

I do not see Ron Paul equating atheism with drug use in this video...

I understood it as "I support religious freedom (including the freedom to have no religion), but that does not make me an atheist."

And, "I support freedom for you to put what you want in your body, but that does not make me a drug user and does not mean I think drug use is a good idea."

There are many things to criticize about Ron Paul, but this does not seem like one of them to me...

I agree that's probably what he meant to say, but it was an awkward analogy. His analogy does imply that he agrees that both are "bad" but that making them legal doesn't indicate his endorsement of them.

-Bri

TimCallahan · 24th January 2012, 12:52 PM

The title of the thread is highly misleading. Paul merely says that just as we have a right to choose whatever religion we want or to not have any religious belief, so we ought to have the right to choose what we do or do not put into our bodies. While I would not vote for Ron Paul, I'm in complete agreement with him on this issue.

22nd January 2012, 04:53 PM	#2
BenBurch Gatekeeper of The Left Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Universe 35.2 ms ahead of this one. Posts: 32,199	But he thinks drugs should be legal...
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22nd January 2012, 04:59 PM	#3
Greedo Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,579	So, errr... atheism is illegal?
Greedo Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,579	__________________ "Persuade thyself that imperfection and inconvenience are the natural lot of mortals and there will be no room for discontent, neither for despair." -T.I.

22nd January 2012, 05:54 PM	#4
Robrob Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3,660	Originally Posted by Greedo So, errr... atheism is illegal? Your first mistake was trying to use logic with Ron Paul's POV...
Robrob Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3,660

22nd January 2012, 08:29 PM	#5
ravdin Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 3,568	I took it to mean that endorsing freedom of religion is not the same thing as endorsing atheism, which is true enough. It's also true of Judaism, Islam, and Mormonism, although I doubt he'd use the same analogy.
	__________________ If wishes were horses, we'd all be eating steak. -Jayne Cobb Believe what you're told. There would be chaos if everyone thought for themselves. -Top Dog slogan

23rd January 2012, 06:20 AM	#7
Bri Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 5,310	Originally Posted by ravdin I took it to mean that endorsing freedom of religion is not the same thing as endorsing atheism, which is true enough. It's also true of Judaism, Islam, and Mormonism, although I doubt he'd use the same analogy. Worse, he's equating the statement "endorsing legalization of drugs is not the same as endorsing doing drugs" with "endorsing freedom of religion is not the same as endorsing atheism." Given that atheism is a lack of religion rather than a religion, the atheism statement would be closer to saying "endorsing legalization of drugs is not the same as endorsing not doing drugs" which actually is the opposite of the point he seems to have been trying to make. The fact that atheism isn't a religion aside, in order for his analogy to work he seems to be suggesting that atheism is a "bad" thing that people should generally refrain from, like doing drugs. -Bri
Bri Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 5,310

22nd January 2012, 09:45 PM	#6
Richard Masters Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,030	I'm surprised he came in second. And I want him to win.

23rd January 2012, 07:31 AM	#8
Oliver ~The Rascal~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cologne Posts: 17,369	Originally Posted by Humes fork Start to watch from 4:30. This guy should run as a third candidate! Do I have to take drugs myself to make sense out of your OP?
	__________________

23rd January 2012, 07:37 AM	#9
Barber Shop Critical Thinker Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 277	I do not see Ron Paul equating atheism with drug use in this video... I understood it as "I support religious freedom (including the freedom to have no religion), but that does not make me an atheist." And, "I support freedom for you to put what you want in your body, but that does not make me a drug user and does not mean I think drug use is a good idea." There are many things to criticize about Ron Paul, but this does not seem like one of them to me...

23rd January 2012, 07:42 AM	#10
Bri Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 5,310	Originally Posted by Barber Shop I do not see Ron Paul equating atheism with drug use in this video... I understood it as "I support religious freedom (including the freedom to have no religion), but that does not make me an atheist." And, "I support freedom for you to put what you want in your body, but that does not make me a drug user and does not mean I think drug use is a good idea." There are many things to criticize about Ron Paul, but this does not seem like one of them to me... I agree that's probably what he meant to say, but it was an awkward analogy. His analogy does imply that he agrees that both are "bad" but that making them legal doesn't indicate his endorsement of them. -Bri
Bri Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 5,310

24th January 2012, 12:52 PM	#11
TimCallahan Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,133	The title of the thread is highly misleading. Paul merely says that just as we have a right to choose whatever religion we want or to not have any religious belief, so we ought to have the right to choose what we do or do not put into our bodies. While I would not vote for Ron Paul, I'm in complete agreement with him on this issue.
TimCallahan Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,133