# Theist or Atheist: a Red Herring

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theist-or-atheist-a-red-herring/32695>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [September 10, 2000, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theist-or-atheist-a-red-herring/32695 "2000-09-10T18:58:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![CheapBastid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theist-or-atheist-a-red-herring/32695/21 "2000-09-12T23:05:26Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> It is not possible to love others in a way that denies them their freedom.

implicit in the OP’s stated definition:

> [@](#):
>
> **Love** is unconditionally doing good to someone else, _while not denying their freedom, or anyone else’s._

**BUT**  
It can be (and often is) the case where one (or many), in the process of ‘doing good’ to/for a person, denies that person’s (and others’) freedom.

Interestingly enough it has happened several times in the long history of the Xians.

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