Heart of the issue

[Angrboda]

I rather doubt it's one side or the other being asinine as it is just the natural tendency to stereotype and demonize those who think and feel differently than you do. That's human nature, and it crops up in politics, race, gender issues, wherever there's a drastic difference of opinion, our ordinary psychological biases will lead us to demonize the other side.

[CapnAwesome]

The heart of the issue is judgment.

You might roll your eyes at new age woo, but it doesn't anger you, because it doesn't judge you. Same with Hinduism and other religions. It's only the ones like Christianity and Islam, which judge people, that you really care about.

Speaking strictly for myself, the new age woo angers me equally or perhaps more than modern Christianity. (Although Islam is a different issue.) At least with Christians you can blame indoctrination, but with people who hang Buddhist prayer flags in their doorway and crystals and jerk off to mother earth, really they have no excuse. This is how people make their decisions, real decisions that have real consequences on the world. If people make those decisions because of Astrology and psychics, yes, it angers me. It makes the world a worse place to live in. Historically people have done horrible things because of seances and astrologers and yes it angers me. I think it doesn't get as much flak as Christians on these boards because people who believe in such woo tend to be left-wing and so do Atheists. It's easier to direct you anger towards people whom you disagree with wholeheartedly. I guess the same goes for me.

As for judgement, I do think it has something to do with it. People don't like being condemned for silly things like smoking pot or having sex when they aren't related to morality and more than likely the person is being a total hypocrit.

[thesummerqueen]

Atheists can be pretty asinine too. I don't think that has shit-all to do with religion or lack thereof.

[Tonus]

I got to thinking about what the real issue we as atheists have with theists.

Aside from "they believe in god, and I do not" both the issues and their importance vary greatly from person to person. I'm not pissed at theists. It wasn't that long ago that I was one of them. I am concerned with religion to the degree that it can impact my life negatively, either through direct action or through attempts at forming or changing laws and regulations.

Aside from that, the situation isn't that different from my different tastes in politics or economics or any number of areas in my life where I can have differences of opinion. Think about it-- people have attacked and even killed other people over political opinions and even over sports allegiances! Granted, I think the intentional walk is an abomination, but I wouldn't kill anyone over that issue! At least, I'm pretty certain I wouldn't...

[Whateverist]

The heart of the issue is judgment.

You might roll your eyes at new age woo, but it doesn't anger you, because it doesn't judge you. Same with Hinduism and other religions. It's only the ones like Christianity and Islam, which judge people, that you really care about.

But I think even more than that it would be any group which looks to insinuate their belief systems into government or public school systems. It is fine to argue for any particular issue on the merits but to do so because of the bible or koran is too much.

[Godscreated]

The heart of the issue is judgment.

You might roll your eyes at new age woo, but it doesn't anger you, because it doesn't judge you. Same with Hinduism and other religions. It's only the ones like Christianity and Islam, which judge people, that you really care about.

But I think even more than that it would be any group which looks to insinuate their belief systems into government or public school systems. It is fine to argue for any particular issue on the merits but to do so because of the bible or koran is too much.

So you want to see politics sanitized, what would you call it and what good would it be?

GC

[Minimalist]

what would you call it and what good would it be?

Freedom.

Let's try it because it can't be any worse than the 1,500 years of jesus freak bigotry and hatred which you fuckers unleashed.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

But I think even more than that it would be any group which looks to insinuate their belief systems into government or public school systems. It is fine to argue for any particular issue on the merits but to do so because of the bible or koran is too much.

So you want to see politics sanitized, what would you call it and what good would it be?

GC

Having a belief does not grant anyone privileged status.

Christians 400 years worked that out, GC. Neutrality is the best way to protect freedom for and of religion.

[vodkafan]

I think the problem is that in Christianity and Islam there is no conception of "Live and let live" . They don't just want to do their own thing, they want to impose their way of thing on everybody in their compass, so you have to do their thing too to make them happy. Sooner or later they will rub up against you. And they are not averse to using sneaky ways to get what they want, because they think it's for your own good.

[BlackMason]

Not all atheists care about science and some of them aren't rational, nor would they care to be.

Yeah, I'm beginning to see that little by little everyday.

I think the problem is that in Christianity and Islam there is no conception of "Live and let live" .

Well they do:

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

I think the message gets lost in the apparent contradictions and heavy focus on certain things. This gives the illusion of some things not being as important as others.