The Atheist - Agnostic - Non religious thread

Things here in Penn State are still the same ol...

The EXACT same group of Atheists sit outside the exact same building all day long, (really all my classes are there today and they never leave...do they have any lives/classes?) and they "debate" the preacher.
I've actually become fairly good friends with him, he's a nice guy.

A few weeks ago was epic though. Some group is doing a nation wide college tour, seriously and the 3 days they were here, were amazing! There was like 100 - 200 people gathered around them and the atheist club was up to their usual antics.
I have to be honest, I don't know who is more off putting.....these preachers spewing insanity, (and one is downright hateful) or these atheist losers. I want to hit both very hard, though the atheists win for outright pretentiousness alone and douchebaggery.
Aaaahhhhhhh being a Deist is wonderful

Slartibartfast wrote: Equality 7-2521 wrote: I don't understand the animosity people seem to have towards people who are religious. Maybe this will help: Does that sign that's hidden say God Is Your Enema?

We don't hate religious people. We just don't want them making choices for us or trying to make us see thattheir way is the only just one.
It's rare to see an atheist or agnostic trying to indoctrinate people. Religious people, on the other hand...

Funny how some people can't stand the idea of another group of people (the government in theory) make any decisions for them. But they're ready to let a rich guy in Rome or a "pastor" tell them exactly what's right and wrong. Or even more so, a delkusional voice from above.

Epignosis wrote: The T wrote: We don't hate religious people. We just don't want them making choices for us or trying to make us see thattheir way is the only just one. It's rare to see an atheist or agnostic trying to indoctrinate people. Religious people, on the other hand... Funny how some people can't stand the idea of another group of people (the government in theory) make any decisions for them. But they're ready to let a rich guy in Rome or a "pastor" tell them exactly what's right and wrong. Or even more so, a delkusional voice from above. It's called public school. And I don't let a pope or pastor or disembodied voice from above tell me what to do.  I go by the Bible.

Bible camp and Sunday school seem like indoctrination to me. I even encountered some in my first year at a Christian college. Atheists n such usually only "indoctrinate" when presenting an argument for their cause, almost always with a lot of evidence (at least from authorities on the subject, not a freshman philosophy major). Authorities in the church do not, usually, unless it's misinterpreted evidence (re: creationism).

Equality 7-2521 wrote: I don't understand the animosity people seem to have towards people who are religious. By the same logic I hate all Germans because of Nazis, all Italians because of the mafia, and all Atheists because contrary to popular belief they kill people too.

You said that you don't understand the animosity people seem to have towards religious people.  I just gave you an example of why some people do.  We tend to have animosity towards people who have animosity towards us.  Did I say all religious people are nutjobs?  No.  Just some of the more outspoken ones.  By the way, just for the record, I don't automatically have animosity towards religious people.  I respect your freedom to be religious as long as you respect mine to not be.  Otherwise, you can go to hell.

On a serious note, I have tremendous respect for people like Jim Wallis, who is very religious and not a nut case.

And by the way, public schools do not indoctrinate children as a matter of practice.  Religious schools do.  Which is why a lot of religious types want to destroy public education.

Oh and by the way, I happen to like Germans and Italians.  Nice food.


Edited by Slartibartfast - September 16 2009 at 13:00

Slartibartfast wrote: Equality 7-2521 wrote: I don't understand the animosity people seem to have towards people who are religious. By the same logic I hate all Germans because of Nazis, all Italians because of the mafia, and all Atheists because contrary to popular belief they kill people too. You said that you don't understand the animosity people seem to have towards religious people.  I just gave you an example of why some people do.  We tend to have animosity towards people who have animosity towards us.  Did I say all religious people are nutjobs?  No.  Just some of the more outspoken ones.  By the way, just for the record, I don't automatically have animosity towards religious people.  I respect your freedom to be religious as long as you respect mine to not be.  Otherwise, you can go to hell. On a serious note, I have tremendous respect for people like Jim Wallis, who is very religious and not a nut case. And by the way, public schools do not indoctrinate children as a matter of practice.  Religious schools do.  Which is why a lot of religious types want to destroy public education. Oh and by the way, I happen to like Germans and Italians.  Nice food.

The T wrote: It's rare to see an atheist or agnostic trying to indoctrinate people. Religious people, on the other hand...

Slartibartfast wrote: Equality 7-2521 wrote: And I pointed out why animosity towards a whole group for the position of its extreme classes is stupid. I didn't direct anything at you; it was a question for the atheists in the thread. Public and Religious schools both indoctrinate. That's about all K-12 education is. I didn't seriously take it as a personal slam but when you pick on US public education, as a product of public education I do, religious schools do incorporate indoctrination in their teaching, public schools stick to factual education unless they are being perverted by religious types.

Slart, I too am a product of public ed and I taught in it. What I've highlighted there is false.

Have you seen what "factual education" history textbooks in public schools leave out in the name of multiculturalism?  Have you seen some of the "children's books" very young children in elementary school are required to read?

Well, Epignosis, I can only say I am a product of public education in the '70's and I found it to be good.  I am quite sure that there is a lot of variation depending on where you went, or taught in your case.  My experience was in an all white district though there was a mix of classes, as in wealth of the parents

To the issue of indoctrination, it all depends on what definition you use.

1.	to instruct in a doctrine, principle, ideology, etc., esp. to imbue with a specific partisan or biased belief or point of view.

2.	to teach or inculcate.

3.	to imbue with learning.

Slartibartfast wrote: To the issue of indoctrination, it all depends on what definition you use. 1. to instruct in a doctrine, principle, ideology, etc., esp. to imbue with a specific partisan or biased belief or point of view. 2. to teach or inculcate. 3. to imbue with learning.