Thank You Atheists

[DoctorBarber]

For once again proving you're no different than religious people.

Atheists holding Reason Rally in Washington, D.C., this weekend | The Sideshow - Yahoo! News

You know how atheists demand people to "let them believe what they want to believe"? Well it turns out, that rule only applies when it's Christians trying to convert atheists, not vice versa. It's perfectly okay for them to make "Join the atheism club" billboards and have huge rallies in Washington to promote atheism. It's just bad whenever a Jehova's Witness tries to spread his beliefs. It's totally not the exact same thing.

Another thing I find funny is this "respect our beliefs" nonsense. Respect your beliefs? Really? While you mock ours? I thought the saying went something like "to earn respect, you must show respect". I'll stop making fun of Darwin's monkey stories when your lot stops making "cosmic zombie Jew" jokes. That seems pretty fair to me. Just like homosexuals, atheists want to be untouchable. They want to do whatever they want to do and say whatever they want to say, while calling Christians stupid and telling religious people to shut their mouths and then label it "equality". You wouldn't know equality if it slapped you in the face. And then they play the "we're being ignored by Congress" card. Please, give me a break. You've taken prayer out of schools, legalized gay marriage, and Darwin's theory of evolution ( as opposed to "God did it" ) is taught to children all across America. If there's anyone being ignored here, it's religious people. And even if there are laws "unfair" to atheists, all you have to do is speak up and they'll change it just like they've changed everything else.

[seyorni]

You judge all atheists by a militant minority?
Where have we seen this before?

[el ايمان]

stops making "cosmic zombie Jew" jokes.

I've never heard an atheist make a joke like that.

atheists want to be untouchable.
They want to do whatever they want to do and say whatever they want to say, while calling Christians stupid and telling religious people to shut their mouths and then label it "equality".

Too bad you can't prove that statement.

You wouldn't know equality if it slapped you in the face.

I daresay the religious don't have a great track record of "equality".

You've taken prayer out of schools,

Thank the Lord. I don't need my child to come into contact with prayer while it is trying to learn.

legalized gay marriage,

Thank the Lord. I don't need any disenfranchised groups ruining my day by complaining about Civil Rights.

and Darwin's theory of evolution ( as opposed to "God did it" ) is taught to children all across America.

Thank the Lord. I fully support logically thought-out theories being taught to my child in lieu of those three words.

And even if there are laws "unfair" to atheists, all you have to do is speak up and they'll change it just like they've changed everything else.

Truer words have been spoken.

[Jack]

Thank You Atheists

You're welcome.

For once again proving you're no different than religious people.

We're all human so it should be no surprise we're similar in many ways.

You know how atheists demand people to "let them believe what they want to believe"? Well it turns out, that rule only applies when it's Christians trying to convert atheists, not vice versa.

You do realize I hope that this is a rally for atheists by atheists. It has nothing to do with conversion. As far as I know theists haven't been invited and aren't asked to speak. They could freely attend if they wanted to, but the only attempts at "conversion" that will occur is if they're exposed to rationality and reason they aren't accustomed to hearing regarding religious belief.

I'll stop making fun of Darwin's monkey stories...

No one really cares when theists do that. They're only exposing their lack of education, nothing more. They certainly aren't hurting the feelings of atheists. Neither Darwin nor Dawkins is revered by atheists like god is by theists.

Just like homosexuals, atheists want to be untouchable.

Actually it's theists who want to make them untouchables. Gays and atheists don't mind being touched, as long as it's gently and with affection.

They want to do whatever they want to do and say whatever they want to say, while calling Christians stupid and telling religious people to shut their mouths and then label it "equality".

It isn't atheists and gays trying to pass anti-blasphemy laws. We're used to being insulted, ignored and marginalized. I can understand Christians getting all bothered by being treated that way, though. After all, for decades they've enjoyed a high status in this country, they've been allowed to do what they want, to even build huge tax-free churches while telling everyone how much their god needs money. No one's challenged their actions, it's been socially unacceptable to deny Christians anything they want. Now that more and more people are beginning to question the theist's privilege and are no longer willing to give religions a free pass to do what they want, Christians are in a panic. Their status, their privilege, all the social benefits of being in the majority are at risk. They are the wizard and atheists are pulling the curtain back to expose their shenanigans.

And then they play the "we're being ignored by Congress" card. Please, give me a break. You've taken prayer out of schools, legalized gay marriage, and Darwin's theory of evolution ( as opposed to "God did it" ) is taught to children all across America.

There's a substantial difference between atheism and secularism. I recommend Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com to discern the difference. You could also read the Constitution of the United States of America. It makes the case quite well for a secular, pluralistic nation composed of people of many different beliefs about gods. The idea that America is a Christian nation is one of the biggest insults anyone could level at our constitution and our founding fathers.

If there's anyone being ignored here, it's religious people.

How could that possibly be true? Billy Graham advised presidents. There's a chaplain in the Senate. Almost every politician is sworn into office with a Bible. Christians form the largest single body of theists in the U.S. The rest of us find it nearly impossible to ignore them.

And even if there are laws "unfair" to atheists...

I'll take this as an admission that all the forgoing hyperbolic crap is just that.

[barts]

I'll stop making fun of Darwin's monkey stories when your lot stops making "cosmic zombie Jew" jokes. ... Darwin's theory of evolution ( as opposed to "God did it" ) is taught to children all across America.

Darwin didn't tell any "monkey stories".

Darwin's and Wallace's theory of evolution by natural selection is a scientific theory. It's taught to children in science classes. "God did it", as you put it, is a religious belief and is taught to children in places of worship. What's the problem?

[Angry Citizen]

For once again proving you're no different than religious people.

Atheists holding Reason Rally in Washington, D.C., this weekend | The Sideshow - Yahoo! News

You know how atheists demand people to "let them believe what they want to believe"? Well it turns out, that rule only applies when it's Christians trying to convert atheists, not vice versa. It's perfectly okay for them to make "Join the atheism club" billboards and have huge rallies in Washington to promote atheism. It's just bad whenever a Jehova's Witness tries to spread his beliefs. It's totally not the exact same thing.

Another thing I find funny is this "respect our beliefs" nonsense. Respect your beliefs? Really? While you mock ours? I thought the saying went something like "to earn respect, you must show respect". I'll stop making fun of Darwin's monkey stories when your lot stops making "cosmic zombie Jew" jokes. That seems pretty fair to me. Just like homosexuals, atheists want to be untouchable. They want to do whatever they want to do and say whatever they want to say, while calling Christians stupid and telling religious people to shut their mouths and then label it "equality". You wouldn't know equality if it slapped you in the face. And then they play the "we're being ignored by Congress" card. Please, give me a break. You've taken prayer out of schools, legalized gay marriage, and Darwin's theory of evolution ( as opposed to "God did it" ) is taught to children all across America. If there's anyone being ignored here, it's religious people. And even if there are laws "unfair" to atheists, all you have to do is speak up and they'll change it just like they've changed everything else.

DoctorBarber, I'm going to ask you a serious question, and I'd like a serious response. This is not a troll question or a dismissive question.

What the hell is it with you guys and this inferiority complex? You are a huge majority in every western nation outside of Scandinavia. You are in no danger of extinction or marginalization. The days of Nero slaughtering you en masse are over. So again I ask: Why do you think otherwise?

[Cephus]

Geez, seriously? It's a gathering of ATHEISTS. They're not trying to convert anyone, they have every right to get together once a year, just like any group.

I just can't believe how utterly pathetic some theists are.

[LetThereBe]

I often find myself annoyed with "militant" atheists.

In my experience hypocrisy is not restricted to those with a given faith... or lack thereof.

[seyorni]

DoctorBarber, I'm going to ask you a serious question, and I'd like a serious response. This is not a troll question or a dismissive question.

What the hell is it with you guys and this inferiority complex? You are a huge majority in every western nation outside of Scandinavia. You are in no danger of extinction or marginalization. The days of Nero slaughtering you en masse are over. So again I ask: Why do you think otherwise?

When you live in a house of straw you're understandably paranoid and defensive.

[minorwork]

For once again proving you're no different than religious people.

Atheists holding Reason Rally in Washington, D.C., this weekend | The Sideshow - Yahoo! News

You know how atheists demand people to "let them believe what they want to believe"? Well it turns out, that rule only applies when it's Christians trying to convert atheists, not vice versa. It's perfectly okay for them to make "Join the atheism club" billboards and have huge rallies in Washington to promote atheism. It's just bad whenever a Jehova's Witness tries to spread his beliefs. It's totally not the exact same thing.

Baloney. Is it a state law that you have to be paranoid to get into Heaven? The organizers of the Reason Rally invited Fred Phelps and all from his Westboro Baptist church to attend, which the RSVP'd that they would attend. One of Fred's sons is a featured speaker at 2:35 EST PM even. Official Schedule

Another thing I find funny is this "respect our beliefs" nonsense. Respect your beliefs? Really? While you mock ours? I thought the saying went something like "to earn respect, you must show respect". I'll stop making fun of Darwin's monkey stories when your lot stops making "cosmic zombie Jew" jokes. That seems pretty fair to me. Just like homosexuals, atheists want to be untouchable. They want to do whatever they want to do and say whatever they want to say, while calling Christians stupid and telling religious people to shut their mouths and then label it "equality". You wouldn't know equality if it slapped you in the face.

Your sense of equality is not my model. I look a bit higher to the philosophies of the founders of our country for that.

And then they play the "we're being ignored by Congress" card. Please, give me a break. You've taken prayer out of schools, legalized gay marriage, and Darwin's theory of evolution ( as opposed to "God did it" ) is taught to children all across America. If there's anyone being ignored here, it's religious people. And even if there are laws "unfair" to atheists, all you have to do is speak up and they'll change it just like they've changed everything else.

Your Savior being a martyr does not necessitate that you must take on the mind set of a martyr. Or didn't Jesus do it right and you're going to perfect His craft?

[gharik]

I've never heard an atheist make a joke like that.

Oh, you must be the new guy on the internet. Welcome! You should check out google some time, just type it into your address bar. Great search features.

Baloney. Is it a state law that you have to be paranoid to get into Heaven? The organizers of the Reason Rally invited Fred Phelps and all from his Westboro Baptist church to attend, which they RSVP'd that they would attend. One of Fred's sons is a featured speaker even.

Here's the main problem: there's nothing wrong with evangelizing your views. There's nothing wrong with presenting arguments that your position is superior to someone else's. There's nothing wrong about debating the merits and flaws of theism.

So the "bring everyone in and let's have a nice big discussion about it" position makes a lot of sense. That's how you find out the truth, right? Iron sharpens iron and so forth.

But the real problem is with the people--theist or atheist--who think that it's inoffensive and perhaps even illegal for someone to argue for positions that they disagree with. The problem lies with the "let us believe what we want to believe" attitude, because what it's essentially asking for is an absence of criticism. And if it actually is important whether theism is true, then shouldn't it be incredibly important to subject one's views on it to criticism?




I'm not on board with the rest of DoctorBarber's criticism--which amounts to, if I've got it right, "America is a democracy" and "they teach science in science classes"--but I think he's right to argue that a lot of people have muddled thinking on the 'evangelical atheism' topic.

[minorwork]

Here's the main problem: there's nothing wrong with evangelizing your views. There's nothing wrong with presenting arguments that your position is superior to someone else's. There's nothing wrong about debating the merits and flaws of theism.

So the "bring everyone in and let's have a nice big discussion about it" position makes a lot of sense. That's how you find out the truth, right? Iron sharpens iron and so forth.

But the real problem is with the people--theist or atheist--who think that it's inoffensive and perhaps even illegal for someone to argue for positions that they disagree with. The problem lies with the "let us believe what we want to believe" attitude, because what it's essentially asking for is an absence of criticism. And if it actually is important whether theism is true, then shouldn't it be incredibly important to subject one's views on it to criticism?

Got my vote. DoctorBarber's first post to Volconvo was accusatory in much the same manner as this thread's OP. Not extolling the glories and benefits of attending to the Living God's plan for each of us, but going on about our sins as if he were an expert. There is no willingness evident to do ought but preach.

I'm not on board with the rest of DoctorBarber's criticism--which amounts to, if I've got it right, "America is a democracy" and "they teach science in science classes"--but I think he's right to argue that a lot of people have muddled thinking on the 'evangelical atheism' topic.

What does "muddled thinking on 'evangelical atheism'" mean?