(June 29, 2014 at 1:49 am)Minimalist Wrote:

Quote:Religion/morality is a binding and inspiring force.

No. Not always.

We're talking relative to normless/disunified/non-religious nations like Europe.

Psycho, Hi.
The problem with all religious people is that once you believe in a god, you will decipher the respective scriptures your way as most if not all are open to interpretation.
This is what leads to crazies. This is why so many fight over religion. None can make sense of who or what their god really is so they do what comes natural... they fill in the gaps.

On the other hand, by being atheist, there is nothing to decipher ...no atheist is on any crusade.
We just live life like all the rest minus the godworshipping and all the psychological and philosophical mind fucking that goes with it.

That doesn't mean we're better people or worse and you'll find just as many which come across as arrogant are also on Christian and other religious forums.
Stay Cool.

As I'm sure our Friend KoG will come up with something profound in a minute... standby....

(June 29, 2014 at 5:22 am)ignoramus Wrote: Psycho, Hi.
The problem with all religious people is that once you believe in a god, you will decipher the respective scriptures your way as most if not all are open to interpretation.
This is what leads to crazies. This is why so many fight over religion. None can make sense of who or what their god really is so they do what comes natural... they fill in the gaps.

On the other hand, by being atheist, there is nothing to decipher ...no atheist is on any crusade.
We just live life like all the rest minus the godworshipping and all the psychological and philosophical mind fucking that goes with it.

That doesn't mean we're better people or worse and you'll find just as many which come across as arrogant are also on Christian and other religious forums.
Stay Cool.

Haha, strangers of the earth.

(June 28, 2014 at 3:44 pm)blackout94 Wrote: Why are atheists so discriminated in the USA? I'm curious about the reasons, in Europe there may be some discrimination but it doesn't reach the same proportions. Isn't the USA a secular country with no religious affiliation?

And why do some people, even agnostic theists or others without any religious affiliation, get so surprised when someone says 'I am an atheist'?

There is no discrimination against atheists in the UK at all on the grounds of their atheism. It's not seen as an anti-religion here, it's just another point of view.

MM

(June 29, 2014 at 2:18 am)psychoslice Wrote: I think atheist need to be less arrogant, after all if you want someone to believe what you believe, then arrogance wont help, its nothing but ugliness.

What makes you think that I want other people to believe as I do? The arguments for and against are there, draw your own conclusions. If someone wants to abdicate reason for superstition, so be it; however, I'll become a vocal opponent when people refuse to keep it to themselves. This is particularly true when they attempt to use the force of state to have me live in accordance with their silly assed rules.

The pious using political means to force me to abide by their silly fucking rules is ok, but somehow my desire not to be burdened by superstitious bullshit becomes arrogance. Somebody's fucked in the head.

Thus far, the majority of my interactions with people who don't like atheists and whom had no idea I am an atheist seem to have a serious issue with a persecution complex. "People are trying to take our rights away!" or "It's those damned atheists who think I have no right to my beliefs!" and are spoon fed all this bullshit and then of course the moment they find out you're an atheist, their perception of you ends up being that you're the thing they're taught to hate so much.

On a few rare occasions where I have made good friends, only to find out they were devoutly religious, over long periods of time when I eventually broke the news to them it was good. Recently I broke the news to a close friend because he loves science and astronomy. One night we were out on the back porch smoking cigars and the question came up, "You've never talked about church or anything. I mean, I think we're probably of the same views, and we have a lot in common but I've always been curious... what's your take on beliefs?" and at first I was hesitant, but I went ahead and said, "Well, I'm an atheist."

The conversation ended up getting into the differences of gnostic vs agnostic, lack of belief in being an atheist vs saying "there is no xyz" and getting into some philosophy. I could tell he had not heard a lot of the positions I talked to him about. He has treated me no differently to my surprise. We still talk astronomy and science, and I think the reason it went so well is because him and I have tended to keep a fairly open line of discussion and not insult each other for our views on things. So we still shoot the shit, have cigars and talk space.

I wish I could say it were the same with most people I encounter. Realistically, it's not possible to become close friends with everyone and allow people to make the conscious choice not to discriminate because they change their mind when you prove you're a good person.

But I digress, many of the times I have encountered it have been a seriously bad spoon fed persecution complex.

(June 29, 2014 at 11:17 am)Logisch Wrote: But I digress, many of the times I have encountered it have been a seriously bad spoon fed persecution complex.

Well some people (theists, religious or deists) tend to accept and be open minded. My girlfriend is a christian and we do not have a problem with it, I talk with her about my atheism and she understands it perfectly, she doesn't think I'm going to hell. Even though realistically speaking I don't think she is really a christian, more likely a deists that follows some christian teachings

(June 29, 2014 at 11:55 am)blackout94 Wrote:

(June 29, 2014 at 11:17 am)Logisch Wrote: But I digress, many of the times I have encountered it have been a seriously bad spoon fed persecution complex.

Well some people (theists, religious or deists) tend to accept and be open minded. My girlfriend is a christian and we do not have a problem with it, I talk with her about my atheism and she understands it perfectly, she doesn't think I'm going to hell. Even though realistically speaking I don't think she is really a christian, more likely a deists that follows some christian teachings

Yes, I would have to agree with you. I'm mostly talking about those who do tend to discriminate. But I would also agree with you that it seems like there are a lot of people who generally propose a deistic god without realizing it, and then are often piggybacking various christian teachings onto it.

(June 29, 2014 at 11:59 am)Logisch Wrote:

(June 29, 2014 at 11:55 am)blackout94 Wrote: Well some people (theists, religious or deists) tend to accept and be open minded. My girlfriend is a christian and we do not have a problem with it, I talk with her about my atheism and she understands it perfectly, she doesn't think I'm going to hell. Even though realistically speaking I don't think she is really a christian, more likely a deists that follows some christian teachings

Yes, I would have to agree with you. I'm mostly talking about those who do tend to discriminate. But I would also agree with you that it seems like there are a lot of people who generally propose a deistic god without realizing it, and then are often piggybacking various christian teachings onto it.

Exactly, and this deists are not people that bother me and as a matter of fact I respect their view, even though there is no evidence it still is more plausible than the theistic religious view. I too have a problem with people that are like 'Oh my god you don't believe in god? This isn't possible how do you not believe if I know he exists?' - This is super annoying

(June 29, 2014 at 8:28 pm)blackout94 Wrote:

(June 29, 2014 at 11:59 am)Logisch Wrote: Yes, I would have to agree with you. I'm mostly talking about those who do tend to discriminate. But I would also agree with you that it seems like there are a lot of people who generally propose a deistic god without realizing it, and then are often piggybacking various christian teachings onto it.

Exactly, and this deists are not people that bother me and as a matter of fact I respect their view, even though there is no evidence it still is more plausible than the theistic religious view. I too have a problem with people that are like 'Oh my god you don't believe in god? This isn't possible how do you not believe if I know he exists?' - This is super annoying

Indeed it is interesting how some of those people can take an approach that they "know" (gnostic) and then fall back on "gotta have faith" or "cause bible" which is far from a point of speaking in terms of knowing since that doesn't give a good enough reason to consider oneself "gnostic." I'm not a big fan of the gnostic position.