On another thread (which seems to have just been closed down for no apparent reason, hmmm!)
The subject of the intellect - which seems to be the final arbiter of atheists - was pitted against feelings in the heart, (or D.H.Lawrence's "blood")
Thinking further, & on the subject of slavery, the intellect would say, what a splendid thing it is !
You see, you capture these people, make them work hard with no reward for their labour, feed them just enough to keep them alive at the lowest possible cost to yourself, and then you sell what they have produced at an enormous profit, making you extremely rich. Intellectually speaking, what's wrong with that?
That Khandro should imagine that anyone other than the lowest of the low would think like that is even more incomprehensible. That surely says something about his intellect?
I think Khandro is saying that the application of logic alone with the absence of any sort of emotion, morality etc, probably in some sort Sci Fi dystopian setting, this could be seen as an optimal progression. I suppose those that indulged in and propagated slavery were part way towards that state at the time. Clearly the Romans, Egyptians etc saw the slaves as a commodity in the way Khandro describes.
//Clearly the Romans, Egyptians etc saw the slaves as a commodity in the way Khandro describes//
There is archaeological evidence that workers who built the pyramids were housed in purpose built houses/communities, and they and their families were provided with excellent food and other necessities. So not just keeping them alive as in Khandro's ideal world.
Khandro, I think your point is, that people don't only make decisions on intellect, but emotions too? But, you seem to be also suggesting that atheists make "a decision" and the "arbiter is intellect". Only religious people make a decision, and it can only be based on both.
> The subject of the intellect - which seems to be the final arbiter of atheists - was pitted against feelings in the heart
Atheists problem is belief without evidence, not "feelings in the heart", which all humans have (maybe with the exception of psychopaths). So it's a false premise.
Believing in something without evidence is OK on a small scale, but when a worldwide institution that controls and affects peoples lives is based upon that belief, then it's only right that somebody who doesn't want to be affected by it calls it out for what it is ...