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RE: Anything But An Atheist. How come?
November 19, 2011 at 6:52 am
(This post was last modified: November 19, 2011 at 6:54 am by Welsh cake.)
(November 16, 2011 at 8:53 pm)aleialoura Wrote: Why is the US so screwed up? Why do Christians do exactly the opposite of what Jesus supposedly wanted them to do? (HATE) And what was Jesus' purpose in the grand scheme of things? Hate.
Quote:"I come not to bring peace, but to bring a sword" (Gospel of Matthew 10:34)
Christianity, however you prime and paint it, is what is it is underneath the coat, an evil cult that blindly follows a monster god and condemns non-believers in him to a realm of eternal suffering.
In a sane world with rhyme and reason, anyone who takes the Bible's teachings literally should be sectioned under the mental health act and kept away from everyday members of society so we can get on with our lives. Alas, this world we are born into is very much insane, ruled by men who believe in their personal god of power and wealth.
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RE: Anything But An Atheist. How come?
November 19, 2011 at 4:24 pm
I think that most people in the U.S. would be just fine hearing that I don't practice a religion, don't go to chruch, and in fact do not believe in god. However, if I use the word "atheist" to describe myself, it causes a negative reaction. I think that when I apply the label of atheist to myself, it causes a theist to feel threatened, because I am basically saying that I am rejecting religion, and deep down they themselves know that there is no God.
The hatred and bigotry I am convinced comes from ignorance and fear.
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RE: Anything But An Atheist. How come?
November 19, 2011 at 6:31 pm
(This post was last modified: November 19, 2011 at 6:32 pm by fr0d0.)
Well a-theism is a negative stance so you should expect it to mean something to those who's stance you are opposing. If you want to be positively regarded you should label yourself with a positive affirmation of your beliefs: like humanist, nihilist, moral relativist, etc..
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RE: Anything But An Atheist. How come?
November 19, 2011 at 7:01 pm
Atheism is not a negative stance any more than 1 is negative relative to i.
Trying to update my sig ...
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RE: Anything But An Atheist. How come?
November 19, 2011 at 7:10 pm
It is in the sense that it's a reference to theism. a- "without" + theos "a god"
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RE: Anything But An Atheist. How come?
November 19, 2011 at 7:22 pm
(November 17, 2011 at 5:05 pm)Doubting Thomas Wrote: I really do think that all the hate comes from Christians knowing they can't prove their god exists or any of their religion is true. So, like a petulant child, when threats of their invisible friend beating us up don't work, they resort to tantrums. This x 1000!
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RE: Anything But An Atheist. How come?
November 19, 2011 at 7:26 pm
(This post was last modified: November 19, 2011 at 7:27 pm by mayor of simpleton.)
(November 19, 2011 at 7:10 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: It is in the sense that it's a reference to theism. a- "without" + theos "a god"
Technically I'd have to agree with you here.
Atheism is the negation of the position of theism. (theism does not denote religion, but the connotation is there...)
The problem here is that the act of negating a position is confused with being "negative in stance/attitude" regarding other positions. I suppose the negation of the proposal 2+2=5 would be misinterpretated as a negative stance/attitude toward mathematics, provided you live under the assumption that 2+2 does indeed equal 5.
The subjective connotations (often non sequitur) associated with the answer to a single question are often the foundation for such hasty generalizations of character; thus the view that a negation is the same as a negative stance/attitude.
Context and perspective is always crucial for clarity. Otherwise, language will become muddled.
From the perspective of an atheist, this negation of a single question does not imply a negative stance/attitude toward any other position (connotation-free). It is just an answer to a single question, nothing more nothing less.
Meow!
GREG
Moral is as moral does and as moral wishes it all too be. - MoS
The absence of all empirical evidence for the necessity of intuitive X existing is evidence against the necessary empirical existence of intuitive X - MoS (variation of 180proof)
Athesim is not a system of belief, but rather a single answer to a single question. It is the designation applied by theists to those who do not share their assumption that a god/deity exists. - MoS
I am not one to attribute godlike qualities to things that I am unable to understand. I may never be in the position to understand certain things, but I am not about to create an anthropomorphic deity out of my short-commings. I wish not to errect a monument to my own personal ignorace and demand that others worship this proxy of ego. - MoS
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RE: Anything But An Atheist. How come?
November 19, 2011 at 7:32 pm
(This post was last modified: November 19, 2011 at 7:32 pm by fr0d0.)
Meow indeed 
Yes, point taken. Then you should also allow any interpretation, one of which could reasonably assume negativity. Still the point remains, why not define yourself as something positive rather that something non commital or, potentially  negative.
/claws *retract* 
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RE: Anything But An Atheist. How come?
November 19, 2011 at 7:42 pm
(November 19, 2011 at 7:32 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: Meow indeed
Yes, point taken. Then you should also allow any interpretation, one of which could reasonably assume negativity. Still the point remains, why not define yourself as something positive rather that something non commital or, potentially negative.
/claws *retract*
I like this sense of humour!!!
Negative... Positive...
Points on the compass of moral value assessment?
With Magnetic North pointing toward yourself (or a proxy there of)?
hmmm...
If we accept this moral north and south to be relative points in spacetime, potentially meaningful to one, but indeed meaningless to another; the question would tend be (perhaps)... where the hell is east and west? 
Meow!
GREG
Moral is as moral does and as moral wishes it all too be. - MoS
The absence of all empirical evidence for the necessity of intuitive X existing is evidence against the necessary empirical existence of intuitive X - MoS (variation of 180proof)
Athesim is not a system of belief, but rather a single answer to a single question. It is the designation applied by theists to those who do not share their assumption that a god/deity exists. - MoS
I am not one to attribute godlike qualities to things that I am unable to understand. I may never be in the position to understand certain things, but I am not about to create an anthropomorphic deity out of my short-commings. I wish not to errect a monument to my own personal ignorace and demand that others worship this proxy of ego. - MoS
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RE: Anything But An Atheist. How come?
November 19, 2011 at 8:00 pm
(This post was last modified: November 19, 2011 at 8:01 pm by Erinome.)
I think being a theist should hold a negative connotation. IMO, it's basically saying, "I give up any pursuit of real knowledge about the world, because this book written by people whom knew nothing about the world tells me all that I need to know."
Theists around here dismiss atheism without even understanding what atheism actually is- with the same ease that they accept their myths as truths.
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