There's something else that I should maybe try and clarify.  Although I expect to be berated for not accepting other different  points of view, I just want to say that I am really quite open to different thoughts and opinions provided that those different thoughts and opinions come from folks who exhibit the ability to acknowledge reality.

Belief in magical deities (or supernatural entities) of any sort indicates to me that that individual simply refuses (or is unable) to acknowledge reality. That's when my 'wall' goes up.  Call it perhaps an unjustified intolerance on my part if you will, but I am just unable to afford credibility to folks who base their arguments on the supernatural.

Different views held within the realm of reality is one playing field where I might engage another. IMO,  points of view coming from those who do not acknowledge reality puts the whole game on a completely and entirely different playing field altogether...

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Quote:In your example it certainly is but not every xtian is into homeopathy

I did not mean to imply that.  The point being that they are just both examples of irrational B.S. belief. Religion and homeopathy are both absurd and ridiculous scams that cause real damage...   

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Quote:The place is billed and moderated to be a place where people of all beliefs and no belief can communicate.

Well then it might be a change for me having come from a forum where I was told by Theists that I should be burned alive or gassed to death (and where the moderation went only in one direction). OTOH, I am not really a big fan of censorship for the purpose of being polite.  As an Atheist, I really want to know what goes on in the Theists' minds. I honestly want to hear what the Theists have to say when they're 'unplugged'.  IMO, the more leash we give the Theists, the stronger the case becomes for Atheism... 

(January 9, 2017 at 6:17 am)comet Wrote:

(January 7, 2017 at 4:35 pm)Autolite Wrote: This is my first visit to your forum.  I have been a full-hard-right Atheist for at least twenty five years but I would like to ask a question that I think only another Atheist might be able to help me with.

I've spent several years discussing religion both on and offline but I think I have reached a point of 'Atheist burn-out'.  I don't think it would be a surprise to any Atheist here that such discussions rarely actually accomplish any tangible results reference changing the mind of a Theist and far more often than not usually only end up in generating a considerable amount of animosity between both parties. 

I would like to know how you other Atheists deal with and view Theists?

It seems to bother me more and more that there are so many people who continue to buy into the B.S. that is Theism.  I recently watched the 'Jesus Camp' documentary and found it unsettling and even a little depressing.  How do you fellow Atheists reconcile the fact that most of the people that you know are basically mentally 'screwed-up'.

A few weeks ago a christian neighbour of mine made a religious comment so profoundly absurd and ridiculous that it almost sent me into shock.  How do you cope knowing that many so people are this messed up?  I sometimes feel like I'm trapped in some sort of surreal 'Twilight Zone' type of parallel universe that is controlled and run by total nut-cases...

I feel the same way about liberalism.

Careful this is the sort of treasonous remark for which I carry my scimitar everywhere.

(January 9, 2017 at 6:17 am)comet Wrote:

(January 7, 2017 at 4:35 pm)Autolite Wrote: This is my first visit to your forum.  I have been a full-hard-right Atheist for at least twenty five years but I would like to ask a question that I think only another Atheist might be able to help me with.

I've spent several years discussing religion both on and offline but I think I have reached a point of 'Atheist burn-out'.  I don't think it would be a surprise to any Atheist here that such discussions rarely actually accomplish any tangible results reference changing the mind of a Theist and far more often than not usually only end up in generating a considerable amount of animosity between both parties. 

I would like to know how you other Atheists deal with and view Theists?

It seems to bother me more and more that there are so many people who continue to buy into the B.S. that is Theism.  I recently watched the 'Jesus Camp' documentary and found it unsettling and even a little depressing.  How do you fellow Atheists reconcile the fact that most of the people that you know are basically mentally 'screwed-up'.

A few weeks ago a christian neighbour of mine made a religious comment so profoundly absurd and ridiculous that it almost sent me into shock.  How do you cope knowing that many so people are this messed up?  I sometimes feel like I'm trapped in some sort of surreal 'Twilight Zone' type of parallel universe that is controlled and run by total nut-cases...

I feel the same way about liberalism.

I am a economic and social liberal. How that equates to a "Twilight Zone" makes no sense to me. You not liking liberals is your baggage. 

By the way "isms" are bullshit to me personally. I value the idea of things like protecting human rights but I don't value blasphemy laws. I do value livable wages, but no, I don't want Stalin's Russia or Castro's Cuba. So please do explain what it is you think you should hate about "liberalism"?

(January 9, 2017 at 9:55 am)Autolite Wrote: That's when my 'wall' goes up.

I'd rather build bridges than walls, myself.

I recently read this from Chip Gaines and really liked it. Great message for people of opposing views coming together to build a better world.  

For obvious reasons, I thought it appropriate to post it to this thread. 

Quote:Jo and I sometimes don’t see eye to eye on stuff.  She looks at something one way and in her gut she thinks she’s right and I look at it an entirely different way. I wish that she could get with the program and just see things the way that I do. (Of course, I’m kidding – we all know Jo’s usually right.) If Joanna and I, who are best friends, don’t see lots of things the same way – how on earth do we expect a world of strangers to magically align? 

The reality is, we may not all get on the same page and I think that’s okay. 

This past year has been tough. In my lifetime, I can’t recall humanity being more divided. Plenty of folks are sad and scared and angry and there are sound bites being fed to us that seem fueled by judgement, fear and even hatred. Jo and I refuse to be baited into using our influence in a way that will further harm an already hurting world, this is our home. A house divided cannot stand. 

If there is any hope for all of us to move forward, to heal and to grow – we have got to learn to engage people who are different from us with dignity and with love. Joanna and I have personal convictions. One of them is this: we care about you for the simple fact that you are a person, our neighbor on planet earth. It’s not about what color your skin is, how much money you have in the bank, your political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender, nationality or faith. That’s all fascinating, but it cannot add or take away from the reality that we’re already pulling for you. We are not about to get in the nasty business of throwing stones at each other, don’t ask us to cause we won’t play that way. 

In 2017: We have decided to change the conversation.

You wanna talk about how to build bridges between people that disagree? We want to be a part of that conversation. Do you want to talk about healing and compassion and kindness and restoration? We’re in the restoration business, we can for sure make time for that.

I think we are all here for a reason. I think we all have a call on our lives. Your role is not my role, and thank goodness, because there is so much unique and important work to be done. Jo and I feel called to be bridge builders. We want to help initiate conversations between people that don’t think alike. Listen to me, we do not all have to agree with each other. Disagreement is not the same thing as hate, don't believe that lie.


Also, let’s cut each other a little slack. This living out loud thing is not for the faint of heart. Jo and I don’t want to hide, we want to live brave & bold lives and we wish that same thing for you as well. But words can cut deep and having someone misunderstand your intentions can hurt as much as just about anything. If I misjudge people and am wrong, I want to be wrong having assumed the best about them. The bottom line is, I would rather be loving than be right.

Our family wants to fight for a world that knows how to lovingly disagree. We believe it starts when we operate from a position of love in all things. If your position only extends love to the people who agree with you, we want to respectfully challenge that position. We propose operating with a love so real and true that you are willing to roll up your sleeves and work alongside the very people that are most unlike you. Fear dissolves in close proximity. Our stereotypes and vain imaginations fall away when we labor side by side. This is how a house gets unified.

Think about it for a minute: This could be one of the greatest restoration stories of all time.
Who’s ready to get to work?

https://magnoliamarket.com/chips-new-years-revelation/

Quote:The very process of how any of us comes to a conclusion is so complex and poorly understood that calling her methods into question seems premature.

She's a catholic, man.  Some dude in a dress says "believe what I tell you or you'll go to hell" and they all fall in line..... except the ones who don't and the catholics don't consider them catholics anymore.

(January 9, 2017 at 9:55 am)Autolite Wrote: That's when my 'wall' goes up.

All in all, it's just another brick in the wall.

Quote:I'd rather build bridges than walls, myself.

Nah, I'm a 'walls' kinda fella.  I had some Theists tell me that I should be burned alive or gassed to death for my Atheism and as I understand it there are even those who'd try to slice my head off with a rusty bread knife if afforded the opportunity.

I guess that I might consider a draw-bridge as a compromise but I'd send you across first if you'd be cool with that...

(January 9, 2017 at 2:13 pm)abaris Wrote:

(January 9, 2017 at 9:55 am)Autolite Wrote: That's when my 'wall' goes up.

All in all, it's just another brick in the wall.

He he he, as an aside, I still like that Pink Floyd song, but looking back at it now, there is a huge difference between bucking blind authority, and poo pooing a good education. I'd say YES those kids do need an education. Maybe without a dictator of a teacher, but I look back at that song and wonder what kind of damage it did to some not saying all but some.

(January 9, 2017 at 3:16 pm)Autolite Wrote:

Quote:I'd rather build bridges than walls, myself.

Nah, I'm a 'walls' kinda fella.  I had some Theists tell me that I should be burned alive or gassed to death for my Atheism and as I understand it there are even those who'd try to slice my head off with a rusty bread knife if afforded the opportunity.

I guess that I might consider a draw-bridge as a compromise but I'd send you across first if you'd be cool with that...

If that's the experience you've had, then I don't blame you for feeling as you do. All i can do is apologize to you on their behalf. How they behaved is really not right at all. But please know that many of us are just average, everyday folks just trying to do our best in life like you.