Dear brother, I did not use the word justifiable in connection with rape. I tried to word it with some care so that it is not misunderstood or misinterpreted, alas I failed.
Here is what Merriam-Webster says Delusion is:
1: the act of deluding : the state of being deluded
2 a : something that is falsely or delusively believed or propagated
b : a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary; also : the abnormal state marked by such beliefs
Examples of DELUSION
He has delusions about how much money he can make at that job.
He is living under the delusion that he is incapable of making mistakes.
She is under the delusion that we will finish on time.
As the illness progressed, his delusions took over and he had violent outbursts.
Except for #2(b) and the last example that is of it, which describes a medical condition one that is certainly not what I am intending, all other definitions and examples clearly show that describing belief in God as a delusion is not improper. Your claim that belief in god is not delusion do not amount to "
it is shown to be not true".
I am not attacking anybody, or doubling down. You say you are offering an explanation, alright, what does that mean? Are you saying it is an an explanation why the attacks are justified, or, are you saying it is an explanation even though the attacks are unjustified? If it was the former, clearly my response was apt. If it is latter, what is the purpose of the explanation? I am quite aware I get attacked because people don't want to hear their pet beliefs questioned or characterized as irrational, delusional, or illogical.
Again you are putting words into my mouth, I disagreed with your stand that characterizing religious beliefs as delusional, irrational, and illogical is per se offensive comments about the individuals who hold such beliefs, they are not, that is what I am disagreeing. Besides, you are going on and on about these words as though that is all I say in my rebuttal, just that faith is this, this, and that. So far as I can recall, I have always provided long, sometimes excruciatingly long, arguments for the views I express.
This is the kind of false equivalency I reject. Hurting sensibility is very vague, some of the things that have hurt the sensibility of members here are (i) anything negative about Brahminism, (ii) questioning faith, (iii) criticizing India or comparing India with China. These have hurt the sensibilities of scores of people here.
I don't have a one-size fits all concern for hurting sensibilities, which is not the same as what you are saying, i.e. it is not a big-deal for me. It is indeed important for me, very important, to take extra care and not make people feel hurt. But, I reject your assertion that reasonable arguments by themselves hurt people's sensibility because my views are contrarian or it includes unflattering words about ideas, not people, that you and most others object to.
Brother, you can say whatever you want, pointing out irrationality is part of any civil debate. I have not called everyone pompous, another made up charge. When you are subjected to constant bombardment, most of which I ignore, yet when earnest comments are met with pompous putdowns -- I can cite them in scores in PM if you care to want to know -- and then the reaction is criticized, that is much like blaming the rape victim for skimpy clothes.
What do "our members understand", would you be kind enough to explain what they would understand?
Please review this thread and you will see I have vigorously participated in it. What more is there to say? Even the innateness of "spirituality" you are promising to post about has been already discussed. If you think I have a closed mind, would it be any less valid if I make the same observation about you? Why do you go there like everyone else?
Do what you want, say what you want, given the preponderance of believers in this forum it will be hailed as nothing short of sliced bread. If you are interested in a calm and rational discussion let us have one via PM. I have said all I have to say on god in this thread.
Cheers!