I have often been asked to identify what it is I believe in.  Like a scientist searching for some valuation or experiment, I have come to a certain criteria, or methodology if you will, of what it is that I search for and how I search.  While I adhere to this methodology strongly and make every attempt to live by it, it has left more than a few people questioning me.  I have been accused by some of he little minds of cowardice because I am not a Christian or because I am not Islamic, or even because I am not making  choice (as if a choice must be made), because I am still attempting to seek and learn the truth.  That does not make me agnostic, since I do believe there is a god, but rather it makes we me a searcher for some greater truth that will allow me the “eureka” moment.  So I discuss belief systems with many different people with different points of view (including some very intelligent atheists who have chosen not to post on this board because of the reather stupid ones that keep posting here.  I give the holders of belief systems the respect they deserve as long as they extol their own system without denigrating others.  If you really believe that your system is superior, there is no need to undermine the beliefs of others through insults and pettiness, the superiority will make itself known and plain to those who review it, along with your ability to articulate that belief system.

When you insult other belief systems, you have shown that you cannot speak well of your views, that you do not know how to present your belief system in an appealing way.  You are in effect forced to denigrate other systems due to your own feelings of inadequacy towards your belief system, or are forced to do so due to your own ignorance, not only of your belief system, but also of your ability to verbalize that philosophy.  I have been the target of some because I defend Islam, the target of others because I defend other ideas that belief systems that aren’t popular, and of course the target of others because I defend Christianity.  Now why do I do that?

I generally follow four rules where belief systems are concerned.

1-When I want to learn of a belief system, I don’t ask the people who are against it.  I don’t ask the people who have anger towards it.  I ask adherents.  They have caught their “vision” and they believe in what they say, so I attempt to hear what they have to say, to understand what the appeal is to them.

2-I seek to make fair comparisons.  It is grossly unfair to compare Usama bin Ladin to Mother Theresa, if you have thugs on one side, you should compare them to the thugs on the other side.  If you have saints on one side, it is only fair to compare them to the saint like on the other side.

3-I want only to know those things which enhance the belief system, not those things which detract from other belief systems.

4-Finally, if a system has been around for a long time, there is bound to be some truth to it.  Some ideal which makes it strong and resilient.  So I seek what might be called "holy envy" (as one professor I know puts it).  It is when here is something about that philosphy or system of thought that you wish you could inculcate in your own life.

It is one reason I have a great deal of respect for many belief systems, and very little respect for the little minds that cannot even begin to tell us why their system is good, and the constantly harp on why the systems of others are evil.  I reject such dogma.

Nonsense. Atheism requires other belief systems to be untrue by definition. It is not possible to defend atheism without attacking the notion of God.
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That way you only get one side.


Or just compare the doctrines themselves.


Why?


Argument from Antiquity.


This just means it's a good meme - not that it's true.


It's interesting that even when extolling the virtues of your own belief system you are still throwing personal attacks at others.

With all respect due to one who is a searcher (and I guess that it is an essential element of being human that we feed our epistemic hunger)....

1. Your conception of 'a belief system' is unduly limited by your apparent presuppositions.  You only seem to consider those based around a belief in a god.  You only seem to consider those which base an ethic on that god.  You seem to be oblivious to the fact that neither are necessary to 'a belief system'. You seem to think of complete  monolithic belief systems; few are, most have a myriad fine distinctions amongst sects and idividual adherents. (Please note I am saying 'seem').  You might wish to consult people who do not share your basic views, rather than attack them as fools and morons.

2.  Why compare as such?  Certainly you can compare your judgements of the theories (often the contents are incommensurable), but why compare adherents at all?  

3.  Some systems either actively or passively detractt from others (think of the jihad theme, or judaism's exclusivity).

4.Conservatism is not a sensible permanent view.  The persistence of an idea may not have anything to do with its 'truth' (what do you mean by that in this context?).  Polytheism has been around much longer than mono.  Does this mean you believe it has a valid core... I doubt it, given your 'givens'.  

You reject 'little minds' that cannot say why their system is good, and concentrate on why others are bad.  Yet point 3 of your methodology is to 'make comparisons'.  Don't forget that some movements (religious, political, artistic - all belief systems) are founded on the rejection of what went before, and usually they see it as being for a good reason.

I mean these criticisms in good faith.  I hope you can come to a more stable view of what you see as your core beliefs.

True, though you did make it appear that way though by mentioning christians, muslims, and atheists. Would I be wrong if I said that most of your beliefs are based around God from the perspective of the people of this forum?

It is clarified, was clarified, you simply reduce your arguments to navel contemplation, I have little respect for people who love to get caught up in the minutae and nauseatingly miss the big picture.  They tend to be the whiners in any group.

"Seems" is not an escape when you deconstruct and take one portion out of context in order to whine about something.

Applauded.

You committed an error in your essay. Atheism isn't a belief system. It's a lack-of-belief system.

Are you sure?