You know, I can see a shot very like that used by US politicians to prove to folks that they're "Okay with god".

(June 24, 2011 at 11:29 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Use this when you do.

"Mmm...Many, many priests were killed by Stalinists and Maoists, in the name of atheism, in the name of getting rid of religion, in the specter of communism..."


I don't think they were killed in the "name" of atheism, but in the name of preserving the "security" of the state, and I do think there is more than a semantic distinction to be made there.

(June 25, 2011 at 8:42 am)Epimethean Wrote: "Mmm...Many, many priests were killed by Stalinists and Maoists, in the name of atheism, in the name of getting rid of religion, in the specter of communism..."


I don't think they were killed in the "name" of atheism, but in the name of preserving the "security" of the state, and I do think there is more than a semantic distinction to be made there.

Non-believers "kill in the name of atheism" at the same rate that glaciers love sky diving.

Atheists have just come on the scene although I wouldn't call them newbs considering Mao and Stalin. Right now there numbers aren't totally big so they have to put on a good show. Once the opposition's guards are down and has been subdued then you will see what kind of butchery they are capable of. I wouldn't be surprised if an atheist came along and put 3/4 of the world's population to the sword. Anyone with a 'survival of the fittest' mentality is not going to be a saint.

That's a big sword. Is this one of those Chinese films?

(June 25, 2011 at 8:42 am)Epimethean Wrote: "Mmm...Many, many priests were killed by Stalinists and Maoists, in the name of atheism, in the name of getting rid of religion, in the specter of communism..."


I don't think they were killed in the "name" of atheism, but in the name of preserving the "security" of the state, and I do think there is more than a semantic distinction to be made there.

Hmmmm. Well, Stalin killed lots of people in the name of National Security, or in the name of cleansing the Soviet Union of ..... Stalin killed far more people than Hitler. He killed lots of "undesirables".

In terms of his killing a lot of religious leaders - priests, Catholic religious, Jews, Muslims - all of them were professing devotion to something greater than the State. In terms of a communist ideology, many of the overtly religious somehow wear something or do something in particular that sets them apart from all other groups. In the case of Muslims, all Jews, and maybe some Catholics (headscarves for women pre-Vatican2), they set themselves apart, for recognition. Communism doesn't work well when you give to each according to need when and only when they are part of your religious sect. Karl Marx, although he was an atheist, seemed to expect that religions would go by the wayside, as would their hierarchy and their (sometimes vast) wealth redistributed as a matter of course - he didn't advocate banning it or forbidding conquered people from worshiping.

In short, the religious and those overtly displaying their religion made for an identifiable ethnic group. This didn't fit in well with the communist notion of equality among proletariat. Or, of course, that the State could and did seize the property of those executed by Stalin's regime. It's pretty easy to just believe in God if you want, not talk about Him/Her/It/Them, and don't do anything overt. Hey, didn't Jesus say something about Christians praying publicly? Didn't Paul say that to know Christians, they should be identified by their love, not by what they say? Didn't Jesus say that all who appear to follow Him are not "saved"? (Matthew 7:21-23)?

So are christians who hate other christians antichristians? That'd be cool.

(June 27, 2011 at 7:27 pm)Udaho Wrote: Atheists have just come on the scene although I wouldn't call them newbs considering Mao and Stalin. Right now there numbers aren't totally big so they have to put on a good show. Once the opposition's guards are down and has been subdued then you will see what kind of butchery they are capable of. I wouldn't be surprised if an atheist came along and put 3/4 of the world's population to the sword. Anyone with a 'survival of the fittest' mentality is not going to be a saint.

Wow, you've got me pegged. I'm just waiting until our power and number grow, and then off with their heads. Just because someone believes in survival of the fittest doesn't mean they think they have the right to decide who that is. Your post is profoundly ignorant.

Atheists have killed. But atheism haven't killed anyone i think. Stalin and Mao killed millions, but they were politically motivated. But when religion kills, its in the name of religion only. The crusades, the present islamic jihad, communal riots in Asia, medieval witch hunts, the Armenian genocide, and so on..
Definitly religion killed more. No doubt about it.
But will the world be a better place without religion? Well, how will we know if we don't give it a try?

(June 27, 2011 at 10:36 pm)FaithNoMore Wrote:

(June 27, 2011 at 7:27 pm)Udaho Wrote: Atheists have just come on the scene although I wouldn't call them newbs considering Mao and Stalin. Right now there numbers aren't totally big so they have to put on a good show. Once the opposition's guards are down and has been subdued then you will see what kind of butchery they are capable of. I wouldn't be surprised if an atheist came along and put 3/4 of the world's population to the sword. Anyone with a 'survival of the fittest' mentality is not going to be a saint.

Wow, you've got me pegged. I'm just waiting until our power and number grow, and then off with their heads. Just because someone believes in survival of the fittest doesn't mean they think they have the right to decide who that is. Your post is profoundly ignorant.

Atheists have already decided. You are just waiting for your Death Star to be fully operational.

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(June 27, 2011 at 11:21 pm)kriskiran Wrote: Atheists have killed. But atheism haven't killed anyone i think. Stalin and Mao killed millions, but they were politically motivated. But when religion kills, its in the name of religion only. The crusades, the present islamic jihad, communal riots in Asia, medieval witch hunts, the Armenian genocide, and so on..
Definitly religion killed more. No doubt about it.
But will the world be a better place without religion? Well, how will we know if we don't give it a try?

No, the world will not be a better place without religion. You think they are monsters with religion? Once you rid them of religion, then you will see some monsters. There will be nothing to hold them back. Logic will not do it because they are not big on logic.