Morality is not determined by the church you attend nor the faith you embrace. It is determined by the quality of your character and the positive impact you have on those you meet along your journey
Saturday, August 08, 2015
The real difference between the old Atheists and the new Atheists.
Atheists are not out evangelizing, trying to convert people to their beliefs. Atheists want to be able to proudly and publicly state their own beliefs, if necessary, and not be shamed by those who share different views.
Actually, 2:08, you're quite wrong. The first is what atheists have faced - and accepted out of fear - for thousands of years. The second is us standing up to the bigotry and hate and fear, refusing any longer to knuckle under. Throwing off the shackles of fear.
2:08 do you mean the coin? Superstition vs Reality One side being the ass-butt stupid, the other "heads pervail" wieghted coin? Always flipping to the ass-butt stupid side by the strangest odds? That Coin?
Never had a pair of atheists knock on my door uninvited to share the word. Never attended an event that began with an atheist prayer. Never asked by an atheist what I believe. Never witnessed horrid acts of violence, terrorism, and war in the name of atheism. Never had atheism stuffed down my throat.
No, your are very wrong. I don't want to convert you or anyone else. One arrives at atheism not through dogma, routine, or pressure. One arrives at atheism not through emotion and fear of the unknown, but through intellect and reason.
Never had an atheist accost me in a gricery store parking lot to push atheism on me, but certainly have had slews of Mormons and Jehovahs witnesses to just that. I even had a pair of Mormons go so far as to grab me arm and force me to stop and listen to them, I kneed one in the groin and called the cops, but they were let go because "they didn't mean anything by it" I then told the officer I would be open carrying next time I went to the grocery store to protect myself. I shouldn't have to strap on a holster to protect myself from being accosted by religious people should I?
I have verbalized my non-belief when asked by others, (always Christians), but never tried to sway them to my own way of thinking. Unfortunately, a lot of Christians cannot seem to let a person like me just "be". They come back to the subject, over and over, always trying to convert. I confess that sometimes I claim to be a member of another religion (usually Catholic, since it's pretty rare for a Catholic to switch to another religion, they like their rituals!), because that tends to get them off of my back. I have Never, Ever, met an atheist who set out to sway my way of thinking to their own. Most of us have thought long and hard on the subject..........going against childhood programming of our parent's religion, and we assume that others know their own minds enough to do the same. I've often thought that it's incredibly disrespectful for someone to come to my door and tell me that they "know better" than I do about what my beliefs should be. I always tell them that as strongly as they feel that they are right in their own faith, I am just as sure as they are that I am correct, and wouldn't that be annoying for me to tell them that I know what's best for them? They rarely "get it" though. So no, not "two sides of the same coin"!
Bill Maher (back from his July vacation) was on cable last night and discussed this subject. He is an atheist (as am I!) and talked about the proven number of Christians dropping in the U.S.A.
Are we really surprised? They have so mixed religion and government - it's no wonder.
The damage the Republicans have done as to pushing religion is now biting them in the ass. And, remember - they are very anti women on top of it all!
"When I hear from people that religion doesn't hurt anything, I say really? Well besides wars, the crusades, the inquisitions, 9-11, ethnic cleansing, the suppression of women, the suppression of homosexuals, fatwas, honor killings, suicide bombings, arranged marriages to minors, human sacrifice, burning witches, and systematic sex with children, I have a few little quibbles. And I forgot blowing up girl schools in Afghanistan."
I try to be "kind" to people who feel compelled to "change" or "convert" me, I just hope they hear the paper shredder in my foyer chomping on their propaganda while I politely say "Keep the Faith, literally, and thanks for the compost! " and don't bother coming back.
Both are two sides of the same coin, each trying to convert the other.
ReplyDeleteAtheists are not out evangelizing, trying to convert people to their beliefs.
DeleteAtheists want to be able to proudly and publicly state their own beliefs, if necessary, and not be shamed by those who share different views.
Actually, 2:08, you're quite wrong. The first is what atheists have faced - and accepted out of fear - for thousands of years. The second is us standing up to the bigotry and hate and fear, refusing any longer to knuckle under. Throwing off the shackles of fear.
DeleteBIG difference.
2:08 do you mean the coin?
DeleteSuperstition vs Reality
One side being the ass-butt stupid, the other "heads pervail" wieghted coin? Always flipping to the ass-butt stupid side by the strangest odds? That Coin?
Never had a pair of atheists knock on my door uninvited to share the word. Never attended an event that began with an atheist prayer. Never asked by an atheist what I believe. Never witnessed horrid acts of violence, terrorism, and war in the name of atheism.
DeleteNever had atheism stuffed down my throat.
No, your are very wrong. I don't want to convert you or anyone else. One arrives at atheism not through dogma, routine, or pressure. One arrives at atheism not through emotion and fear of the unknown, but through intellect and reason.
Never had an atheist accost me in a gricery store parking lot to push atheism on me, but certainly have had slews of Mormons and Jehovahs witnesses to just that. I even had a pair of Mormons go so far as to grab me arm and force me to stop and listen to them, I kneed one in the groin and called the cops, but they were let go because "they didn't mean anything by it" I then told the officer I would be open carrying next time I went to the grocery store to protect myself. I shouldn't have to strap on a holster to protect myself from being accosted by religious people should I?
DeleteI have verbalized my non-belief when asked by others, (always Christians), but never tried to sway them to my own way of thinking. Unfortunately, a lot of Christians cannot seem to let a person like me just "be". They come back to the subject, over and over, always trying to convert. I confess that sometimes I claim to be a member of another religion (usually Catholic, since it's pretty rare for a Catholic to switch to another religion, they like their rituals!), because that tends to get them off of my back. I have Never, Ever, met an atheist who set out to sway my way of thinking to their own. Most of us have thought long and hard on the subject..........going against childhood programming of our parent's religion, and we assume that others know their own minds enough to do the same. I've often thought that it's incredibly disrespectful for someone to come to my door and tell me that they "know better" than I do about what my beliefs should be. I always tell them that as strongly as they feel that they are right in their own faith, I am just as sure as they are that I am correct, and wouldn't that be annoying for me to tell them that I know what's best for them? They rarely "get it" though. So no, not "two sides of the same coin"!
DeleteIsn't progress grand! :-)
ReplyDeleteThere is hope for the future.
Bill Maher (back from his July vacation) was on cable last night and discussed this subject. He is an atheist (as am I!) and talked about the proven number of Christians dropping in the U.S.A.
ReplyDeleteAre we really surprised? They have so mixed religion and government - it's no wonder.
The damage the Republicans have done as to pushing religion is now biting them in the ass. And, remember - they are very anti women on top of it all!
Bill Maher:
Delete"When I hear from people that religion doesn't hurt anything, I say really? Well besides wars, the crusades, the inquisitions, 9-11, ethnic cleansing, the suppression of women, the suppression of homosexuals, fatwas, honor killings, suicide bombings, arranged marriages to minors, human sacrifice, burning witches, and systematic sex with children, I have a few little quibbles. And I forgot blowing up girl schools in Afghanistan."
I try to be "kind" to people who feel compelled to "change" or "convert" me, I just hope they hear the paper shredder in my foyer chomping on their propaganda while I politely say "Keep the Faith, literally, and thanks for the compost! " and don't bother coming back.
ReplyDelete