WTF Atheists!?

[thesummerqueen]

Stop hanging around in hipster hang outs?

[nathmb]

Just because an atheist deems it necessary to voice their opinion against theistic claims that have absolutely no evidence does not mean that there are pretentious or 'hipsters'. It simply means that they are opposed to the idea that a God exists and may also mean that they are opposed to the religious organisations that have ruled this planet for the last 2000 years. Also, your comment about ignoring religion until it goes away is laughable; perhaps small movements can be ignored but religion is firmly embedded in the fabric of society and the only way to begin to combat that is to make our opinions on the matter known. We have an obligation to reason to present our thoughts. It doesn't make us hipsters. It makes us reasonable and logical human beings.

[thesummerqueen]

It seems like Atheism is turning into a hispter thing on the internet and it's really pissing me of. Everywhere I read shit about Atheists it's all about how clever they are, how much they know about everyone and lots of "clever" comments dissing each other. The more clever your comment is, the more scenepoints you score. Really? Is that what Atheism is turning into? The worse thing is that they are actually pissing me of more then most of the relegious people at the moment. No need to go on about it. A true Atheist doesn't need to disprove shit to other people. If you really want relegion to go away, stop fucking talking about it. Isn't that the whole point?
Now I'm not attacking this forum obveously. At least there is some people with brains on here that I like to read threads from.

I'd like to come back to this with a slightly more serious comment.

I *LOVE* the atheist group I hang out with locally. That's the Charlotte Atheists and Agnostic, if you ever care to look them up. They are a special bunch of people. We do NOT gather up monthly, bimonthly, weekly or any night we can (I met my boyfriend through them. ) to prove how clever we are or gain "scenepoints" (wtf is this shit? I feel old and not 'up on the lingo'). We don't talk about how to destroy religion except in rare moments. A typical gathering talks about these things, not in this order:

Childcare (many are parents)
Jobs
Homebrewing (we have several brewers in the group)
Scotch (the president loves scotch and frequently recommends different brands)
Food (we have vegans, vegetarians, health nuts, and foodies in the group)
Plants (someone's always asking me some question or other)
Science (latest news - we like playing "what if?" games)
Books we've been reading - bios, science, history and philosophy
Movies
Transhumanism/our future robot overlords
Events we'd like to attend - secular or otherwise
Charities we're working on
Theme parties we'd like to hold

and so on.

We're pretty fucking normal, if you ask me. It's rare that we get heated about anything, except when we're fired up about having equal respect and rights from the religious and a separation of church and state.

So again...stop hanging out in these places? They sound like dick gatherings. If you're having a problem with a subset of people...find another subset to hang around.

Do you see us trying to be "clever" to one another and put each other down outside of a playful context?

[IATIA]

It may not be the way I prefer or most for that matter, but if it gets attention then some 'newbies' may come aboard. Religion is trying to take over the world and they get away with everything, so anything that may bring this message to those hiding under the rocks and help shut down this pervasive cancer, more power to it.

[Cyberman]

Ignoring religion in the hope it will eventually go away as the OP suggests is hardly an option. It may not be that religion is trying to take over the world necessarily, but like any parasitical fungus, left unchecked that's precisely what will happen.

[Brian37]

It seems like Atheism is turning into a hispter thing on the internet and it's really pissing me of. Everywhere I read shit about Atheists it's all about how clever they are, how much they know about everyone and lots of "clever" comments dissing each other. The more clever your comment is, the more scenepoints you score. Really? Is that what Atheism is turning into? The worse thing is that they are actually pissing me of more then most of the relegious people at the moment. No need to go on about it. A true Atheist doesn't need to disprove shit to other people. If you really want relegion to go away, stop fucking talking about it. Isn't that the whole point?
Now I'm not attacking this forum obveously. At least there is some people with brains on here that I like to read threads from.

Honestly I don't buy this bit at all, it is apeal to emotion and nothing more. If you had some theist friends or other pc liberals complain to you what I do in that case is simply say "if you don't want your claims criticized then don't make absurd claims".

Do you really think life is always about coddling the insceurities of others? If that were the case than the nuts in the Muslims ranks are right in threating the west for dissing Allah.

I think it is totally reasonable to use the word "bullshit" for example, if someone claimed that the Redskins won the Superbowl last year when that is clearly false.

So if you expect me to stop saying magic babies don't exist, sorry, that would be like DGalileo coddling the insecurities of the church when he told them the truth about the nature of our relationship to the sun.

It isn a "hipster" movement. I don't know where you get that from. I don't go out of my way to be a minority I am and for anyone passive in that minority or anyone in that majority that thinks we should be silent is dead wrong and that isn't going to happen. So it all boils down to personal comfort level. So go do your own thing and don't speak for me or any other atheist. WE are all still ultimately individuals.

---

Ignoring religion in the hope it will eventually go away as the OP suggests is hardly an option. It may not be that religion is trying to take over the world necessarily, but like any parasitical fungus, left unchecked that's precisely what will happen.

Lets be realistic here, you are not going to get rid of religion, but you can contain it with secular concepts like the Constitution, well, at least the founders intent ant not the rivized bullshit theist sell.

But you are right, anything ANYTHING can go off the rails if left unchecked, that can be religion, but it also can be political parties of any stripe, or even a business climate(IE) like the one that fucked us all over. Everything needs some sort of checks and oversight based on consent, otherwise fascism surely is to rise.

[Spectrum]

It seems like Atheism is turning into a hispter thing on the internet and it's really pissing me of.

I think I love you.

These types of people also expect all atheists to ascribe to certain ethics and political opinions, because they need company for their circle jerking.

Hipsters have ruined metal music, too. They ruin everything they touch, because they are essentially looking for affirmation and attention over contribution.

[Cyberman]

Lets be realistic here, you are not going to get rid of religion, but you can contain it with secular concepts like the Constitution, well, at least the founders intent ant not the rivized bullshit theist sell.

I certainly wouldn't want to try to get rid of religion. Whatever else can be said about it - and it can - religion does give people a sense of security, community, even hope sometimes. In that sense, it's like a drug, from which it may be possible or even critical to wean people. The Clergy Project is working proof of that. Hopefully, in the longer term, religion will then evaporate on its own. What we can do in the meantime is to keep religion as an institution from accruing power and influence over the weak, the disenfranchised and the gullible. It could be regarded in terms of a 'war' of sorts against the tobacco companies, preventing them from poisoning new recruits while at the same time caring for those who want to escape the drug's hold. I realise this may be somewhat less than focused, it's late and I'm overtired. My excuse and I'm stuck with it

But you are right, anything ANYTHING can go off the rails if left unchecked, that can be religion, but it also can be political parties of any stripe, or even a business climate(IE) like the one that fucked us all over. Everything needs some sort of checks and oversight based on consent, otherwise fascism surely is to rise.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke

[Brian37]

It seems like Atheism is turning into a hispter thing on the internet and it's really pissing me of.

I think I love you.

These types of people also expect all atheists to ascribe to certain ethics and political opinions, because they need company for their circle jerking.

Hipsters have ruined metal music, too. They ruin everything they touch, because they are essentially looking for affirmation and attention over contribution.

Again who are these "hipsters" you speak of. That is a bullshit blanket swath statement. And again, if fomeone goes arround repeating that the moon is not made of cheese, please explain to me why that would be wrong?

So you want to live in a dumbed down society that believes in magic babies? Why stop there? Why not yourself since "anything goes just because it feels good" why don't you stop being an atheist and start believing the pop culture gods of antiquaity like Osirus and Ra because that felt real to them too.

I am so damned glad Susan B Anthony didnt make voting for women "hip". because we know what a stupid woman she was. I guess she was just being "trendy".

Please stop you are embarrasing yourself. If you want to say I am not comfortable communicating like others do, that would be fine and honest. But trying to use a buzz word like "hypster" seems pretty "trendy" to use as a slur to get others to conform to your ideas.

SO either we are all individuals or we are not but you are NOT going to have it both ways and say we are only individuals when we do it your way and only your way.

Dont tell me how to be an atheist and I wont tell you how to be an atheist. There is no litumus test to that label like there is with theism.

[thesummerqueen]

I suspect both posts were created to engender a reaction. Something like that smacks of someone too lazy to get off their ass and move somewhere else when annoyed.