The Atheist Thread

^I have yet to meet an athiest who is opposed to people who quietly hold individual beliefs.  Most disagree with organized religion, especially fanatics.  I know I don't have any qualms with someone with an individual belief in god that they keep to themselves, but I tend to rub against organized religion, particularly Christianity, it seems.

It is, basically, the Zappa position: Think what you want, but also let everybody else think for themselves.

IVNORD wrote: rileydog22 wrote: ^I have yet to meet an athiest who is opposed to people who quietly hold individual beliefs.  Most disagree with organized religion, especially fanatics.  I know I don't have any qualms with someone with an individual belief in god that they keep to themselves, but I tend to rub against organized religion, particularly Christianity, it seems. It is, basically, the Zappa position: Think what you want, but also let everybody else think for themselves.   Why Christianity? It seems Islam is much more militant as of late.

Is it? It was not an islamic country who occupied Iraq while claiming to be guided by God.

IVNORD wrote: BaldFriede wrote: IVNORD wrote: rileydog22 wrote: ^I have yet to meet an athiest who is opposed to people who quietly hold individual beliefs.  Most disagree with organized religion, especially fanatics.  I know I don't have any qualms with someone with an individual belief in god that they keep to themselves, but I tend to rub against organized religion, particularly Christianity, it seems. It is, basically, the Zappa position: Think what you want, but also let everybody else think for themselves.   Why Christianity? It seems Islam is much more militant as of late.   Is it? It was not an islamic country who occupied Iraq while claiming to be guided by God.   I haven't heard any calls to God at the time of the invasion. Lots of talk about WMD though

Oh, but there were. Our beloved George W. made a lot of references to God. If you want me to, I will look up the quotes.

BaldFriede wrote: Oh, but there were. Our beloved George W. made a lot of references to God. If you want me to, I will look up the quotes.

The question you want to ask yourself is: "which god?"

IVNORD wrote: rileydog22 wrote: ^I have yet to meet an athiest who is opposed to people who quietly hold individual beliefs.  Most disagree with organized religion, especially fanatics.  I know I don't have any qualms with someone with an individual belief in god that they keep to themselves, but I tend to rub against organized religion, particularly Christianity, it seems. It is, basically, the Zappa position: Think what you want, but also let everybody else think for themselves.   Why Christianity? It seems Islam is much more militant as of late.

I dislike Christians because they tend to be incredibly closed-minded.  They often seem to think that no other opinion is valid, or even worthy of consideration.  It's all summed up in their belief that "everybody who doesn't think the same way I do deserves to suffer for all of eternity." 

rileydog22 wrote: IVNORD wrote: rileydog22 wrote: ^I have yet to meet an athiest who is opposed to people who quietly hold individual beliefs.  Most disagree with organized religion, especially fanatics.  I know I don't have any qualms with someone with an individual belief in god that they keep to themselves, but I tend to rub against organized religion, particularly Christianity, it seems.It is, basically, the Zappa position: Think what you want, but also let everybody else think for themselves.   <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Why Christianity? It seems Islam is much more militant as of late. <span style=""> </span> I dislike Christians because they tend to be incredibly closed-minded.  They often seem to think that no other opinion is valid, or even worthy of consideration.  It's all summed up in their belief that "everybody who doesn't think the same way I do deserves to suffer for all of eternity."

^ that seems like taking things too far in overgeneralizing. I have some christian friends who are entirely unobtrusive about their religion, and happen to be some of the most compassionate and altruistic people I know. They respect my atheism, and have yet to invite me to church, for the record. Don't let yourself fall into narrow-mindedness by being too quick to judge whole groups of people based on religion. There are so many Christians, surely you can't dislike them all?

Let's be realistic here...I'm sick of everyone saying that each person has to keep their own beliefs to themself. If you really believe that what you think is true, what's wrong with making discussion about it? I think that no matter what you believe, if you're completely silent about it, then you aren't really sure about what you believe. Who the hell cares if a Christian invites you to church? If you don't feel like going it's perfectly alright to say "Thanks for the offer, but I don't believe what you do."

I have more respect for the person who actually has enough confidence in what they believe to get into open discussion about it. I only lose respect for them if they display close-mindedness seem like they haven't really thought about their own beliefs. Anyone who has thought a lot about the whole subject and has considered more than one point of view deserves the chance to voice their opinion. Screw political correctness. It makes for a very dull, thoughtless society.

SolariS wrote: Let's be realistic here...I'm sick of everyone saying that each person has to keep their own beliefs to themself. If you really believe that what you think is true, what's wrong with making discussion about it? I think that no matter what you believe, if you're completely silent about it, then you aren't really sure about what you believe. Who the hell cares if a Christian invites you to church? If you don't feel like going it's perfectly alright to say "Thanks for the offer, but I don't believe what you do." I have more respect for the person who actually has enough confidence in what they believe to get into open discussion about it. I only lose respect for them if they display close-mindedness seem like they haven't really thought about their own beliefs. Anyone who has thought a lot about the whole subject and has considered more than one point of view deserves the chance to voice their opinion. Screw political correctness. It makes for a very dull, thoughtless society.

I have no problem with people expressing their beliefs.  I only have a problem with it when it is done without respect for other beliefs. 

Rileydog22 wrote:

I dislike Christians because they tend to be incredibly closed-minded.  They often seem to think that no other opinion is valid, or even worthy of consideration.  It's all summed up in their belief that "everybody who doesn't think the same way I do deserves to suffer for all of eternity."

Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - February 04 2007 at 22:39

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: Rileydog22 wrote: I dislike Christians because they tend to be incredibly closed-minded.  They often seem to think that no other opinion is valid, or even worthy of consideration.  It's all summed up in their belief that "everybody who doesn't think the same way I do deserves to suffer for all of eternity."    Sounds very rude from the "aggressive" Christians, someything with what I disagree, but isn't this exactly what you're doing from your atheist position?:   Rileydog22 wrote: I know I don't have any qualms with someone with an individual belief in god that they keep to themselves, but I tend to rub against organized religion, particularly Christianity, it seems.   In other words: "I'm allowed to express my disbelief but religious people, specially Christians must keep their religions for themselves"   Isn't this discriminatory against Religious people? I believe you're allowed to express your disbelief wherever and whenever you want (Unless you enter to a Church shouting God doesn't exist)..........So why can't we do exactly the same? Or is our belif so offensive for you that you can't tolerate it democratically as we tolerate and accept your atheism?   But this one is tolerant in comparison with:   Rileydog22 wrote: so they've invented an afterlife so they can pretend that it isn't all over at death.  It's really too bad that it doesn't actually work....   You don't say I don't believe it doesn't work when talking about outr beliefs, you vclearly state (Despite you have no evidence) IT DOESN'T WORK, in other words "You are wrong and I am right"   You are doing exactly what you criticize in Christians, and remember, that in my case I always disagreed with fundamentalist positions, but you are saying clearly all we believe in is false, not even an honest mistake, according to you it's an invention.   And why seest thou the mote in thy brother's eye: but the beam that is in thy own eye thou considerest not?   Iván