who come here just to deride the beliefs of believers rather than learn what and why they believe?
OK, we don't believe in ANY gods. However, we can be just as moral and altruistic as those who believe. Just as some who believe can behave immorally and selfishly.
What most of us feel is that we all have a right to believe what we feel is right and not try to force our beliefs on others.
As a great man once said. " I disagree with your views, but I'll defend with my life your right to express them".
2006-07-26 13:21:02 · 17 answers · asked by Atheist 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Here, here!! I am one of the "fundies" who occasionally gets railed on (sometimes with good reason, I admit), but there is a difference between asking legitimate questions seeking legitimate answers, and some of the shenanigans that anti-theists are doing in the name of atheism.
My opinion, if they are pissed off at God, take it up with God! Leave the people of faith out of it, and stop slandering the good name of the genuine atheists!
And I agree, if anyone tries to take away YOUR right to express your view, I will take up arms as well! This is the summary of what true tolerance is.
2006-07-26 15:32:23 · answer #1 · answered by claypigeon 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It's a fine line ... and requires some reflection ... there is being "thoughtprovoking and stimulating" ... and then there is simply being "contrary and contentious" for no one's profit ...
Sometimes the slightest nuances of phrase can make all the difference ... j_d walks the line fairly well ... because on the otherhand- none of us is perfect - and you simply can't please everyone all the time ... if someone shows "artfulness" they should get the "group's" respect though ... And some people who show no arts of speech and communication (who are continually simply offensive)... get a free clique ride from the group ...so I think "discernment" should be encouraged ...
And another issue ...lol ...technically- I am not an "atheist" ...I believe in a Supreme Being ...but if you wish to snobbishly "dismiss" my energy due to this ...then you simply sever yourself from my good energy and impetus ...
Like a tortoise ... I push on ...and inevitably I attract a wide circle of qualitative respect wherever I go- and however gradually ... whether I associate with a group or not ..
But a group that is pro evolution ...and science and reason ...over orthodox illusions, dogmas and pieties - will also find I have much to offer ... Maybe they'll even pay a bit of homeage to my questions- as I ask so few ...choosing quality over volume ... and only asking on themes I find important- like ecology ... and peeved when the "clique" treats them like pariah and anathema ...
Bartlett's ascribes that great man to have been ... none other than "Mr. Potatohead" ... awhile later, he was boiled in oil, and became a small fry ...
2006-07-26 22:48:42 · answer #2 · answered by gmonkai 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. The fact is that the ranks of atheists include the likes of James Randi, who has done so much to encourage people to think critically, but also include every depressed teenager with a blog. These latter adherents tend to have not thought out why they are atheists, but rather exemplify the Christian myth that atheists are "angry with god."
I want to bang my head against the wall when I read the posts made by these people. I am wholly unable to figure out what their motives are, but I hate to see them (absolutely unaware) living up to the worst of the propaganda about us.
I think it is extremely important to open up a dialogue with the faithful and allow them to see us as people, not the monster under the bed, not as amoral hedonists, but as mothers, fathers, working-people, and decent-folk. I believe that many of the faithful here have never actually met an atheist. Ideally, I'd like to change that.
Unfortunately, pubescent metalheads posting angry nonsense do not help achieve this goal
2006-07-27 14:39:51 · answer #3 · answered by wrathpuppet 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason there are some atheists who come in here and have arguements and have bad and mean and angry things to say is because of answers like the answer sonicflood gave. I don't understand why people like him/her don't understand that those are expressions that are used by almost everyone and that most of us were raised in religion and in our own way came to disbelief. Sonicflood there doesn't ever have to be evidence that something doesn't exist, I have the perfect example: I live in NJ here we have a major myth called the Jersey Devil- people believe they have seen it, they think it lives in the woods somewhere in South Jersey. Most people don't believe it exists, most people haven't seen it and there is absolutely no proof of it, but it has been written about and drawn and talked about (our hockey team is even named after it) for a very, very long time (just like "god") .
2006-07-27 02:26:21 · answer #4 · answered by evillyn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have the right to believe in whatever you wish. That makes America awesome, but I wouldn't go into Iraq and say you are an atheist. You would be executed.
Atheists can't be serious..Atheism has to be a joke.
I have heard Atheists say "Oh My God>>God dammit>>Jesus Christ>> Thank God" lol!!
Atheists say there is no proof of God>>>
I disagree>>
I have ancient documents that say God exists... Is there an atheist in the known world that can provide ancient documents that deny God? The answer is "NO" >>> Game over.
This is the metality of Atheism.
2006-07-26 13:32:07 · answer #5 · answered by Bad Boy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't feel let down by other atheists, but then again your argument can be said about other christians who come her to try and deride the beliefs of people of other religions etc etc.
2006-07-26 13:33:11 · answer #6 · answered by Mr Hex Vision 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
who's letting you down? And do you think approximately protecting your guy or woman ideals as forcing them on others? as quickly as I initially got here here, i exchange into basically finding for some reason to have faith in a god. Any form of evidence that would convince me. Now i've got found out that there is none to be discovered, a minimum of no longer here. So what's incorrect with protecting what i've got faith?
2016-11-03 02:00:23 · answer #7 · answered by rangnow 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not so much "let down" as embarrassed.
but every side has intelligent arguments and then those that are slightly less so.
it probably hasto do with maturity and age differences on all sides.
you have to take every answer and question with a grain of salt, as cultures in the states vary so much. an athiest raised in the bible belt will look at things different than one who was not
2006-07-26 13:30:10 · answer #8 · answered by lyleaux 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm nto an atheist, but I do agree with you. There are a lot of people who claim they are atheist, or whetever they are, and then their ignorance and poor education makes the true members of that belief or non-belief look just as bad.
The bible humpers should realise that they are just as bad as those they condemn.
2006-07-26 13:28:50 · answer #9 · answered by Onyx Dracona 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who is this great man you quote?
As a great man once said. " I disagree with your views, but I'll defend with my life your right to express them".
2006-07-26 19:18:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋