Should Atheists and Agnostics become less passive?

Question

As an agnostic I often see dillusional fanatics running around 'decrying this, and damning that. Is it time that as a more rational group we begin organising teams to start counter protesting nutters that try and ban books and take shows out of theatres - for no reason other then they don't agree with the material in them? (i'm thinking specifically of the jerry springer musical but there are millions of examples). In the past it wasn't so much of a problem, but with the current pressure Religious extremism is starting to apply is it time we take the gloves off?

Answer 1

Work smarter ... not harder.

Rather than become as they are, we must use their weaknesses against them. They are a very strong force when united, but composed of many smaller groups with very significant differences and beliefs ... yet each thinks itself to be the one true path.

The key to defeating them is through focusing on their differences, for they will turn on each other as freely and viciously as they would a true enemy.

Example : Rather than defend ourselves from their religious views, select very specific beliefs of one major branch and promote this path ... the other sects will take offense that their beliefs are not represented and begin fighting with each other ... then we can easily back away, knowing they will weaken each other and forget their original goal.

Answer 2

There are many ways to take the gloves off, but I'll be damned if I'm going to get upset over banning a Jerry Springer musical. That should be banned on the grounds of bad taste.

You can take the gloves off by performing more charitable works for the poor and sick. By doing a better job and being transparent about how the money is used, you'd be showing what a scam they are pulling when they say they are using the money to help the poor. If an atheist charity did this, people might stop buying into the atheists are the boogieman nonsense they get fed.

Or we can just get in a fist fight with them.

Either way.

Answer 3

Ever hear of the Salem witch trials? Charlemagne? The Klu Klux Klan? The Spanish Inquisition? All examples of christian terrorism and extremism. These are their shining moments of unabridged hatred. Let them ban books, it only serves to sell more copies. I guarantee that religious fanatics have sold more movie tickets, albums, CDs and books than any of the artists who created them. The Puritan, extremist christian terrorists who founded this country and continue to run it have never been able to disguise their hatred for mankind and have never been able to leave people alone to make their own choices. Speak up and you could be burned at the stake, or worse. Sit back, relax, and read The Da Vinci Code or Harry Potter, naked. Let them run things. They always have - that's why everything is going so well in this country.


Man from Utopia - The meek shall inherit more meekness.

Answer 4

I understand the frustration one may have with people and so-called 'Christianity'. But consider the following please. There is a man-made old testament of Genesis-Malachi, and the scriptural old testament; i.e. the law of Moses. The Jews were told to have two or more witnesses (about three times Deut. 10-20), and the Christians were given the same command (Matt. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1). When this concept is applied, one finds the 'old testament' is the law of Moses. My 'two or more witnesses' include Joshua (Joshua 8:31), David (2 Kings 2:3), Solomon (1 Kings 8:9), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 8:1), Daniel (Daniel 9:11-13), Malachi (Malachi 4:4)i, Jesus (Matt. 19:7-9), God the Father (Matt. 17; in effect he backs up whatever Jesus his Son says), and the apostle Paul. (The law is referred to as the old testament (KJV), many other English versions translate it as old covenant in 2 Cor. 3:13-14). Perhaps this is part of why the beast in Revelation 17 is the USA, and the harlot Babylon is the leadership of the USA. (See what happens to the beast and harlot in Revelation 18).

Answer 5

In each group there are the rational and irrational. There are extremists in religions and extremists in atheism/agnostics. Wouldn't a better proposal be that the rational on both sides try and do something to stop the irrational extremists from both sides? Obviously if your part of the rational group on either side you can see the benefits of letting others live as they wish. The problem isn't one side or the other, the problem is the extremists on both sides.

Answer 6

We are already fighting back. Not because we think it's stupid to believe ina god or two but because it is stupid to force everybody else share religious paranoia! I'm proud to announce that Koran/Quran, version 2006 is just about ready and I hope that the real translation of this book will make muslims drop their religion just like Bible 2006 is convincing christians to do less prayers and more research. And education always results in dropping the religion. Always. As for the Jews or Hindus...I wouldn't worry about them as long as they mind their own religions, which so far they do.

Answer 7

I don't think we should become more aggressive. We'd just provoke the religious types to be even more over the top, and it would become a vicious cycle. Nothing makes a Jesus freak act like even more of a Jesus freak like an atheist. I think everyone, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, need to use religion as a personal thing, and not something that needs to be screamed out to the world.

Answer 8

Absolutely, but in a positive manner. Skepticism allows a greater degree of responsibility and consideration of reality rather than basing actions on fear of reprisal from God. There's a great atheist video on YouTube that highlights some of the issues and encourages coming out as atheist (or agnostic/skeptic/bright). I highly recommend it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-8eEDePOTA&search=atheist

Answer 9

taking the gloves off, and getting our hands dirty... if Atheists are threatend then yes i would presume that they would want to "make a crushing blow" to the extreams of the religious people, but as far as being agnostic i dont mind those who want to intertwine religion with alittle devil worshiping, if its a yin and yang then we have it balanced and it should stay that way. but being agnostic i am compelled to say that the religious culture has been stepping out of there boundaries lately and does need to be pushed back into the "pin"

Answer 10

That's probably a good idea. The reason religious groups have so much weight is because they present a united front. If those who would oppose them applied the same tactics, they might win.