(January 14, 2013 at 11:18 am)DeistPaladin Wrote:

(January 14, 2013 at 11:02 am)Dee Dee Ramone Wrote: Those douchebags hate gay-marriage so much, that for the first time and last time jews, muslims, catholics and extreme right unite. What a joke.

Catholics and right wing fundies also unite in my home town as they protest outside the downtown abortion clinic. It's a very tense alliance. They each have their own space.

I've seen far-right Christian nut-jobs in willing agreement with Muslim extremists over a variety of issues. Hatred of homosexuals, check, but I've seen some say "Creationism isn't just a Christian thing! Look at all these Muslims who believe in it!"

It's frustrating to see these people go out of their way to demonize Muslims but then take up exactly the same positions as the theocratic Muslim countries out there; sometimes, the only difference is that one side replaces "Jesus" with "Mohammed."

(January 14, 2013 at 11:32 am)TaraJo Wrote:

(January 14, 2013 at 11:18 am)DeistPaladin Wrote: Catholics and right wing fundies also unite in my home town as they protest outside the downtown abortion clinic. It's a very tense alliance. They each have their own space.

I've seen far-right Christian nut-jobs in willing agreement with Muslim extremists over a variety of issues. Hatred of homosexuals, check, but I've seen some say "Creationism isn't just a Christian thing! Look at all these Muslims who believe in it!"

It's frustrating to see these people go out of their way to demonize Muslims but then take up exactly the same positions as the theocratic Muslim countries out there; sometimes, the only difference is that one side replaces "Jesus" with "Mohammed."

I also hate "Islam is evil". Well yea, but any credulity or superstition or worship of ANYTHING blindly can be evil.

Hitler and Stalin had the same abuse of power as the theocracies of Christianity during the dark ages, and the sexism, slavery and genocide of Native Americans. The same abuse of power that the Imams of Iran have.

It all amounts to credulity in mass. Allow yourself to blindly follow anything without question.

Now, having said that, we do not live in a utopian perfect world and it would be as unwise for atheist to take an "all or nothing" tactic ourselves. We are humans first and we are not separate from evolution merely based on labels.

It does bother me when anyone in any religion points at another god claim and says "That is silly". When I see this to me it is like two si fi fans arguing over the merits of Star Trek vs Star Wars.

(January 13, 2013 at 6:56 pm)DeistPaladin Wrote: In what I admit is a perverse way, it offers me some comfort when I see this kind of stupidity happening outside America's borders. It reminds me that this kind of bigotry and superstition isn't uniquely American.

You need reminding of that? Sometimes it amazes me how little Americans pay attention to the rest of the world.

(January 14, 2013 at 11:45 am)CapnAwesome Wrote:

(January 13, 2013 at 6:56 pm)DeistPaladin Wrote: In what I admit is a perverse way, it offers me some comfort when I see this kind of stupidity happening outside America's borders. It reminds me that this kind of bigotry and superstition isn't uniquely American.

You need reminding of that? Sometimes it amazes me how little Americans pay attention to the rest of the world.

Oh admit it, the only reason everyone pays more attention to America than American pays attention to it is because we're the most terrifying nation in the world. We're the most war-mongering trigger-happy nation in the world, with the most massive military "defense" budget and among the developed worlds we're also the most ridiculously religious.

You pay attention to whomever is the bigger threat to your immediate well-being. Ergo people pay attention to America.

It's NOT a good reason to have people paying attention to you for.

(January 14, 2013 at 2:27 pm)Creed of Heresy Wrote: Oh admit it, the only reason everyone pays more attention to America than American pays attention to it is because we're the most terrifying nation in the world. We're the most war-mongering trigger-happy nation in the world, with the most massive military "defense" budget and among the developed worlds we're also the most ridiculously religious.

You pay attention to whomever is the bigger threat to your immediate well-being. Ergo people pay attention to America.

It's NOT a good reason to have people paying attention to you for.

I agree that's why we are paid attention to. But what amazes me are the people who bitch and moan about how America has all these bigots, when in reality we have the same or actually less than most of the world. I think it's partly the result of American's fear of actually leaving America.

Which makes more sense when it's some moron redneck who think he has no reason to leave. It makes less sense to me when it's someone who whines constantly about the country.

(January 14, 2013 at 10:11 am)TaraJo Wrote:

(January 14, 2013 at 1:46 am)Lion IRC Wrote: I thought France was one of the most secular/atheist countries in Europe.

Even in secular countries, there are still going to be douchebag religious elements and since they see themselves as outsiders, they're going to try to be louder and more obnoxious.

Anti-theists seem to rally to support causes purely on the basis of....the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

You often hear Christians being accused of having an obsession with homosexuality. But what does that have to do with (loud and obnoxious) atheists?

This is a clear example of united idiots of all religions and other crackheads.....will you join them Lion IRC?

(January 14, 2013 at 9:03 pm)Lion IRC Wrote: Anti-theists seem to rally to support causes purely on the basis of....the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

You often hear Christians being accused of having an obsession with homosexuality. But what does that have to do with (loud and obnoxious) atheists?

I like your post. It was utterly devoid of focus or a valid question. "This is a fish. What does Saturn have to do with fish?"

What cause was being supported by anti-theists here, exactly?

And really? Loud and obnoxious atheists? You can say that with some credibility [and not a moment before] when atheists start knocking on peoples' doors at 7 am to tell them about the Good Word of Not Believing and start erecting structures every block with giant atheism-symbols adorning them so EVERYONE HAS TO FUCKING SEE THEM, and when they start forcing all bibles to have the stamp "contains work of fiction" upon them...you know, everything you whiny pricks do. You asshats knock on my door to try to convert me all the fucking time. I can't walk 500 feet in any direction without HAVING to see some fucking garishly-designed brutal slab-sided place of worship with its iconography shoved up into the air upon towers like a giant middle finger and signs planted RIGHT NEXT TO THE FUCKING ROAD WITH STUPID FUCKING QUIPS ABOUT GOD. And you guys are the same ones who were trying SO DAMN HARD to get all schools to have to put stickers saying "this book contains theories that have not been 100% proven by science" whenever they contained information about evolution.

And WE'RE the obnoxious one?

BITCH. PLEASE.

Being religious is starting to look very much like being a drug addict.

(January 14, 2013 at 9:03 pm)Lion IRC Wrote: Anti-theists seem to rally to support causes purely on the basis of....the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

You often hear Christians being accused of having an obsession with homosexuality. But what does that have to do with (loud and obnoxious) atheists?

What does it have to do with us? Well, maybe we take issue with assholes oppressing the freedom of a group on biblical (wow, I actually read that as fictional, just skimming over it...) grounds. Maybe trying to get theists to realize that their personal beliefs don't override the rights of everyone else has a lot to do with us. Maybe that.

Now, let's flip the script: what business is it of yours- or anyone else's- what the gay community does with their lives? What do their marriages have to do with you?