Meliorism - The rise of neo-atheism and the fall of reason

[Polaris]

Mm, no, actually, I've not said anything ironic yet. See, I've yet to make any claims to victory in debates, given that I don't really partake in them. I prefer to study them and read them and learn from them, because, get this, I actually don't like talking about things I am poorly-informed on.

Easter IS based in a pagan tradition, by the way. Read up on Astarte, also known as Ishtar, and the celebration and the rites of the celebration...like the painted eggs, the spring bunny rabbit, the basket, the hiding of said eggs and children seeking them. I read the thread. You didn't make him backtrack, he merely replied with "I speak one of them" in regards to the two languages that know of it as Easter. Is THAT the backtrack you're speaking of? Cuz I don't see any backtracking of any kind anywhere in that thread, I just read your post asserting it was a Jewish holiday, even though the ancient Babylonian celebration, where the Jews got it from to begin with, came first overall.

Learn history, ok? And English. You just made two failings in one post; asserting victory where there was none, and claiming irony where there wasn't any. That's not good, man.

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http://www.champs-of-truth.com/books/easter.htm Here. Some reading for your face.

Well I guess that not "yet" (you've repeatedly done so it makes no difference) is so longer true after your latest post....actually the first section alone.

But, as a Christian, I have to thank you. We desperately need people like you because bigoted Christian Fundamentalists have done great harm to our image. It's people like you who give Christians hope for a revival of Christianity among American youth.

Maybe you should post a website that does not come from the American South.

I'm sorry, but if I was looking for a retarded explanation of shit, I'd talk to a drunk. Or you could you know follow your advise and only respond to issues you actually know about. It doesn't really matter at this point.

[Garuda]

People who are characterised by an atheist philosophy not born of critical thought and diligence but congealed out of a conflation of sound-bites from youtube clips of proselytising egoists and ratings-driven public access panels of smug half-educated, half-wits with half-baked notions of the absolute truth and authority of science delivering what they consider to be progress.

The central theme running through neo-atheism is meliorism. The notion that science and technology, specifically as a result of human action, brings progress (and equally that and backward revision is retrogressive) is, in my experience dealing with neo-atheists, so central to their thinking it has become the priori on which their philosophy (if it can be called that) is predicated.

So convinced of the absolute inviolability of modern science, the neo-atheist behaves like a fundamentalist in their defence of their belief. Offering up misinterpretations and meaningless quotes stripped of context to maintain purchase on their belief, attacking reasoned enquiry like cyber-crusaders lopping off the heads of anyone who dare violate the first commandment of neo-atheism – Science is a jealous god and thou shalt not have any other god before it.

The eighteenth century dream of human progress is alive and well and masquerading as neo-atheism. Any notion of progress or regression can only make sense within a system of teleological thought. Teleological thought has embedded itself into the neo-atheist psyche so deep it has become the embodiment of reason.

“Eighteenth-century social philosophy was convinced that mankind has now finally entered the age of reason… With the progress of time society will more and more become the society of free men, aiming at the greatest happiness of the greatest number. Temporary setbacks are, of course, not impossible. But finally the good cause will triumph because it is the cause of reason.” [Bettina B. Greaves 1996]
MM

All the atheists i know are very sound in their logic, and they research positions from credible sources. Theres probably tonnes of bandwagon jumpers claiming to be atheists, as there is with every standpoint. plus i see alot more out of context passages from radio evangelists thanfrom atheist tubers.

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It's people like you who give Christians hope for a revival of Christianity among American youth.
[/quote]

i hate proselytism

[Creed of Heresy]

Well I guess that not "yet" (you've repeatedly done so it makes no difference) is so longer true after your latest post....actually the first section alone.

But, as a Christian, I have to thank you. We desperately need people like you because bigoted Christian Fundamentalists have done great harm to our image. It's people like you who give Christians hope for a revival of Christianity among American youth.

Maybe you should post a website that does not come from the American South.

I'm sorry, but if I was looking for a retarded explanation of shit, I'd talk to a drunk. Or you could you know follow your advise and only respond to issues you actually know about. It doesn't really matter at this point.

Hahahahahaha. Ahh, you're funny, man. I gave you an article that is basically just an explanation as to the roots of the Easter celebration, nothing more. Hell, it comes from people who share your delusion. If calling you on your bullshit is "atheistic fundamentalism," then hey, by all means label me as such, you're gonna have to label a LOOOT of people as such.

By the way. Minimalist didn't backtrack. And you didn't prove shit. I'm still waiting for it. Put up or shut up, delusionist.

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By the way, still no irony, considering I at least read the article and you just admitted that you did not.

[Garuda]

ausomely said, Creed

[Cato]

The danger with Neo-atheism, as I see it, is that it has absorbed pseudoscientific anthropocentrism and the delusion of progress, and has rapidly become fundamentalist in its defence of these mistaken beliefs.


MM

Neo-atheism? Seriously?

[JesusHChrist]

Here's some more neo-atheism, 1800s style:

We have heard talk enough. We have listened to all the drowsy, idealess, vapid sermons that we wish to hear. We have read your Bible and the works of your best minds. We have heard your prayers, your solemn groans and your reverential amens. All these amount to less than nothing. We want one fact. We beg at the doors of your churches for just one little fact. We pass our hats along your pews and under your pulpits and implore you for just one fact. We know all about your mouldy wonders and your stale miracles. We want this year's fact. We ask only one. Give us one fact for charity. Your miracles are too ancient. The witnesses have been dead for nearly two thousand years.
-- Robert Green Ingersoll, "The Gods" (1872)

[Creed of Heresy]

Especially considering that new atheism isn't really any different than any other atheism. "The new way of saying you don't believe in a god!" I was aware of only so many ways to do so. I figured my atheism is just English Atheism since I expressed it in the English language. XD

Maybe he means antitheism? In which case, if exposing the brutality and crimes and corruptions and myriad ways religion holds back human progress as a whole is really that bad maybe we ought to, you know, just stop. We should just let history be written by the victors. No need to intervene when we see organized groups abusing lesser groups; just let it happen. It's all good, right? XD

[ManMachine]

To everyone.

The number of responses has taken me a bit by surprise and there are some detailed posts as well as the (shall we say) less structured, its all good.

I will extend to everyone the courtesy of a considered response so please bear with me as I read through it all, digest and consider my replies.



MM

[thesummerqueen]

The good thing, mister machine, is that the scientific method and technology will continue to reveal facts and be useful whether you believe it or not...unlike religion.

[LastPoet]

Carefull Summer, fr0d0 might come in telling you have a materialist worldview