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But seriously folks. Maybe one of the reasons some atheists get angry is that theists, as a rule, simply don't listen. Years and years of misrepresentation by theists regarding atheism and atheists gets a little wearing. We've explained over and over that:
-Atheism is not a religion
-Atheism is not a belief system
-Atheists are not intrinsically unhappy
-Atheism has bugger all to do with evolution
-Atheists are (generally) in favour of religious freedom
-Atheists are not waging a 'war on Christmas'
-Atheists aren't going to start believing in gods simply because Blaise Pascal didn't figure the odds correctly
-There is nothing about atheism which makes one inherently immoral
-Atheism doesn't preclude anything other than a belief in gods
And plenty more. We've explained these to you over and over and over, and you keep repeating them as if they're some sort of new revelation that's going to destroy non-theism once and for all. So yes, we get a little testy.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
As the meme says: "Stop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings and emotions" and "You're giving someone else's words authority over your emotions. They only have that power if you give it to them. Be empowered, not a victim"
"There ought to be a term that would designate those who actually follow the teachings of Jesus, since the word 'Christian' has been largely divorced from those teachings, and so polluted by fundamentalists that it has come to connote their polar opposite: intolerance, vindictive hatred, and bigotry." -- Philip Stater, Huffington Post
always working on cleaning my windows- me regarding Johari
As the meme says: "Stop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings and emotions" and "You're giving someone else's words authority over your emotions. They only have that power if you give it to them. Be empowered, not a victim"
Passive aggressive way of saying "I cant handle skepticism so please don't make me think".
Again, stop confusing anger with "aggression" as if we are all bigots. Go re read Boru's list on this page he already posted until you get it.
We are not going to barbecue your kittens or rape your women. But yea, when people make truth claims about the nature of reality, and use those claims to justify oppression, violence, bigotry, or denial of scientific fact, our "anger" is just a motivation to say something to keep those things in check.
I can for example, value the likes of Martin Luther King Jr, but no, I do not think our species ability to do good or be good is coming from the bible. I can value the likes of Malala, and again, no, I do not think her compassion or value of female education is coming from Allah or the Koran. I can value the likes of Ann Frank, but again, no, I do not think her value of humanity even in the face of such horrors, means that Yahweh was real.
I still see lots of good in my species. I simply don't assign anything we do as a species, good or bad, to old mythology.
We are empowered, but we are not out to oppress you for merely saying you need to consider you got it wrong.
December 12, 2018 at 10:38 am (This post was last modified: December 12, 2018 at 10:39 am by Alan V.)
(December 11, 2018 at 9:32 pm)Agnostico Wrote: There is a lot of anti theist openly attacking theists.
Just to be clear, a lot of theists attack other theists of different persuasions, sometimes physically. A few atheists ranting occasionally seems moderate in comparison.
(December 11, 2018 at 9:32 pm)Agnostico Wrote: There is a lot of anti theist openly attacking theists.
Just to be clear, a lot of theists attack other theists of different persuasions, sometimes physically. A few atheists ranting occasionally seems moderate in comparison.
To be fair, not even atheists are immune to being physically cruel or violence. If all 7 billion humans were suddenly, magically all atheists, our species will still be divided by other things such as politics, economics, race, and even as individuals, most of us would still be non violent, but we'd still have criminals too.
But, and having said that, you are correct. But what you said goes even between theists of different religions, or even different sects under the same umbrella labels.
For example. Malala if she were to say, " Fuck the Taliban" that would certainly be far more blunt language than she would use in reality, but she would not be wrong, and on top of that, it wouldn't be even close to the Taliban shooting her in the head.
The terms "majority" and "minority" are always a matter of geography and time period. I have lots of empathy for say Coptic and Kurdish Christians living in the middle east, but even given that, I still would say that their god does not exist. I have lots of empathy for Muslims living in America especially in more conservative states, but again, that does not mean I agree Allah is real.
But, I also get angry at my fellow liberals, when say, former Muslim Ayaan Hirsi Alli criticizes the treatment of women in the middle east. Point is it is possible to be blunt, blasphemous and be "angry" at bad claims and bad behaviors, and at the same time still be for human rights.
(December 11, 2018 at 9:32 pm)Agnostico Wrote: I question the motivation behind some atheists. There is a lot of anti theist openly attacking theists. Why? And why are they all so angry?
Seriously?!
Not sure how you've remained ignorant of the the facts, but theism has causes, and continues to cause, many real world negative consequences.
Quote:Check out this guy… Why is he so emotional? Where is all this anger and hate coming from??? Is his anger justified? Why? Is this guys argument even logical?
Why wouldn't someone who has been lied to since before he was able to discern truth from fantasy, be a bit angry about his indoctrination?
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
December 12, 2018 at 12:27 pm (This post was last modified: December 12, 2018 at 12:27 pm by tackattack.)
(December 12, 2018 at 10:20 am)Brian37 Wrote:
Passive aggressive way of saying "I cant handle skepticism so please don't make me think".
Again, stop confusing anger with "aggression" as if we are all bigots. Go re read Boru's list on this page he already posted until you get it.
We are not going to barbecue your kittens or rape your women. But yea, when people make truth claims about the nature of reality, and use those claims to justify oppression, violence, bigotry, or denial of scientific fact, our "anger" is just a motivation to say something to keep those things in check.
I can for example, value the likes of Martin Luther King Jr, but no, I do not think our species ability to do good or be good is coming from the bible. I can value the likes of Malala, and again, no, I do not think her compassion or value of female education is coming from Allah or the Koran. I can value the likes of Ann Frank, but again, no, I do not think her value of humanity even in the face of such horrors, means that Yahweh was real.
I still see lots of good in my species. I simply don't assign anything we do as a species, good or bad, to old mythology.
We are empowered, but we are not out to oppress you for merely saying you need to consider you got it wrong.
It wasn't meant to be passive aggressive. There is truth behind the quote "You will continue to suffer if you have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. True power is restraint. If words control you that means everyone else can control you. Breathe and allow things to pass" - Warren Buffet.
No where have I suggested don't accept criticism, don't make me think or skeptics are kitten burners. No where did I use attempt to justify oppression, violence, bigotry, etc.
My point was that anger or aggression are just emotional responses and aren't a good motivation for anything. I can get angry and stomp and romp, but until that subsides and I can reason what I am mad about or what to do about there isn't any forward motion. I'm not saying don't be angry about something , I'm saying don't act in that anger because emotionalism makes you less rational.
(December 12, 2018 at 11:11 am)Simon Moon Wrote: Seriously?!
Not sure how you've remained ignorant of the the facts, but theism has causes, and continues to cause, many real world negative consequences.
the facts... atheism have caused, and continues to cause many real world negative consequences
politics have caused, and continues to cause many real world negative consequences
societal norms have caused, and continues to cause many real world negative consequences
hrmm.. well the only thing relating them all is people and people will do crappy things and blame whatever is convenient.
"There ought to be a term that would designate those who actually follow the teachings of Jesus, since the word 'Christian' has been largely divorced from those teachings, and so polluted by fundamentalists that it has come to connote their polar opposite: intolerance, vindictive hatred, and bigotry." -- Philip Stater, Huffington Post
always working on cleaning my windows- me regarding Johari
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