Hello from Idaho

[fr0d0]

Interesting point on the hatred received by atheists.

Some theists lay on the guilt trip thick. I think that's absolutely wrong/ against what I believe. Then there's restrictions to freedom... also anti what I believe.

Then I think back to the time when I was strongly atheist.

Is it really the religious oppressing the non religious so badly?

[Edwardo Piet]

Is it "toxic" because it makes sinners feel guilty?

1. I don't believe in 'sin' in the religious sense, so no.

2. I am not guilty for expressing the fact that I think religion is toxic.

3. I think religion is toxic because of the negative belief systems such ideologies with such conviction can have on the world (especially when they get together in groups).

EvF

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Is it really the religious oppressing the non religious so badly?

On the whole, I'd say, yes.

Being in the minority and getting people trying to "save" us (or who just plain hate us), I'd say it is (generally) the non-religious that get oppressed. But we might get a bit tetchy and want to fight back of course.

EvF

[Darwinian]

Hopefully things will calm down some. Gilligan and myself have been on Yahoo Answers (R&S) and have seen the venom some atheists can spew at Christians. I myself have difficulty understanding why an atheist would be interested in religion unless it is to mock it.

I think that you will find that most atheists, at least the ones who bother to join forums like this, are very interested in religion. After all, it's a pretty dominant force in the world. For me, I'm interested because a) I like mythology, which is what I see religion as, and b) I constantly struggle to comprehend why anyone would 'literately' believe ancient stories written down millennia ago for which there is zero evidence.

And believe me, atheists don't have the monopoly on spewing venom..

Do you see all religions such as Jewish, Hindu, Buddhism, Islam, New Age, etc as mythology as well, or just Christianity?

All of them

[Dotard]

Your son is a fucking moron.

It is not my job to make morons feel good about themselves.

Damnit Min. Stop holding back and tell us how you really feel about Gilligan.

[fr0d0]

Is it really the religious oppressing the non religious so badly?

On the whole, I'd say, yes.

Being in the minority and getting people trying to "save" us (or who just plain hate us), I'd say it is (generally) the non-religious that get oppressed. But we might get a bit tetchy and want to fight back of course.

1. in the UK you are certainly not in the minority
2. Can you give an example of hatred shown to you? (no pressure - just interested)
3. and religious oppression
...reasons you feel the need to 'fight back'

[AtheistPhil]

Do you see all religions such as Jewish, Hindu, Buddhism, Islam, New Age, etc as mythology as well, or just Christianity?

By definition, an atheist don't believe in any religion, which means every religion is mythology to him.

[The_Flying_Skeptic]

Is it "toxic" because it makes sinners feel guilty?

I'm mostly with EvsF on the answer to this question. On another note, many Christians don't feel the need to 'feel guilty' for behavior that is deemed 'sinful' because according to their religion, Christ forgives them simply for believing in him and his word and relieves them of their 'sin'. Catholic Christians don't have to feel guilty for their sinful thoughts or actions after confession, right? Aren't there murderers and rapists in jail that believe as adamantly as you? Some Christians say they are going to heaven just for being Christian no matter the crimes they have committed (i was told this by several evangelical pastors).

I think your idea that atheists are people who aren't accountable for their actions falls apart when you take the above into context (your question implies that their is no reason to feel guilty in atheism). The only person that isn't accountable for his or her actions is the last person on earth.

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Do you see all religions such as Jewish, Hindu, Buddhism, Islam, New Age, etc as mythology as well, or just Christianity?

By definition, an atheist don't believe in any religion, which means every religion is mythology to him.

I'm with Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins on this one: We are all atheists with respect to Zeus and Thor... A Muslim might as well be called an atheist by Christians since Muslims don't believe in the 'only god that truly exists' according to Christianity. But, we aren't about to invent a term to mean the disbelief in all gods... Atheism should mean 'without any god'.

I tried explaining to an old earth creationist Christian that her god was not the same as the young earth creationist god worshiped at her Sunday gathering.

[Edwardo Piet]

1. in the UK you are certainly not in the minority

I'm not talking about me and where I specifically live. I don't know what the UK statistics are anyway.

2. Can you give an example of hatred shown to you? (no pressure - just interested)

Not that I can think of. Nor do I care. This isn't about me specifically at all.

3. and religious oppression
...reasons you feel the need to 'fight back'

I'm talking about the world. The kind of fucked up shit that comes about because of religion. E.G: 9/11, the inquisition, child rape by Catholic priests, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.

Just to be pedantic AtheistPhil and Flying Skeptic - you can get religious atheists. Because atheism and theism are about belief in God (or lack thereof in the case of atheism), not about religion. You can, apparently, get versions of Buddhism that still believe in the afterlife and similar mumbo-jumbo such as reincarnation, and yet they don't believe in deities. In that case it would be Buddhist atheists and Buddhism is still listed as a religion of course.

I am so fucking pedantic lol.

To be just a bit more pedantic - well, just to clarify really - atheism itself is of course not a religion. But you may be able to get atheists that are also religious.

EvF

[leo-rcc]

Do you see all religions such as Jewish, Hindu, Buddhism, Islam, New Age, etc as mythology as well, or just Christianity?

By definition, an atheist don't believe in any religion, which means every religion is mythology to him.

Small correction, not in any gods. Atheists can adhere to a religion.

[Edwardo Piet]

How come you can say it so much more pithily than me?

EvF