(February 22, 2011 at 11:19 am)Rwandrall Wrote: (WARNING: Rant)
I have seen an alarming trend around the Internet: atheists insulting theists for the purpose of insulting. I mean i have nothing against attacking and challenging their beliefs, but some of the things i see around there are not the educated argument of someone who wants to change their mindset. It is petty, it is useless, and it is simply humiliating as an atheist to see others who share my (lack of) beliefs partake in that behavior. Likewise, saying that being religious means being an enslaved sheep who doesn't question anything he's told is idiotic and does not further the discussion in any way.
As an atheist, I am an individual, as are you. If people want to view us as a group and view the actions of one or many as the potential actions of all, then the joke is on them. I understand that you think these people are petty, but it is not as if atheists have a set of commandments or some such nonsense to live by. You are not "one of them" in the same sense that all Christians are part of the same group. You should not be humiliated by the actions of other atheists because you only share one lack of belief.
(February 22, 2011 at 11:19 am)Rwandrall Wrote: I hate the stereotype that atheists are bitter, angry people who like to act superior and condescending to anyone who does not share their views...but the problem is i see a LOT of people corresponding to that precise stereotype.
Acting as though being an atheist makes them superior as human beings.
I have a completely different feeling on this because I don't care what the "atheist stereotype" of the month is or who feeds into it. Why? Because I'm not part of a cult. That's like saying I should feel humiliated by the actions of other people who don't believe in ghosts. Our similar lack of belief is irrelevant because our "selves," so to speak, are made up of so much more than that one thing. I am not defined by my atheism. Therefore, I cannot be judged by the actions of other atheists.
(February 22, 2011 at 11:19 am)Rwandrall Wrote: Of course, this in no way concerns a majority, or even a big minority: it is only a few people, some of the time. An example that made me want to write this is right on these boards:
(February 19, 2011 at 11:57 pm)Itslikebeingshiton Wrote: I guess i would need to know if you would need toilet paper in heaven. Am I going to have to take a shit every day in Heaven like I do on Earth? Does god have to take shits? Does he wipe his ass with Demon wings? If so then why does God have to take a shit?
I mean a statement like that brings absolutely nothing to the conversation. And is not that funny.
Forgive me if I am being obtuse here, but I don't really see why you care. It would be different if you were part of some sort of club and some of the members were breaking the rules, but you are not.
(February 22, 2011 at 11:19 am)Rwandrall Wrote: As to the title for that topic: Religion is ridiculous. From their beliefs to their traditions to their dogmas. But the theists themselves are not the ones to attack, their religion is. Ad Hominem attacks do not further the discussion and only reinforces stereotypes about atheists.
Without theists, there would be no ridiculous religions. I usually don't "attack" theists, but I do hold them responsible for their own beliefs, dogmas, behaviors, as it pertains to them. They are religion, in the sense that they perpetuate it. Furthermore, to a theist, attacking their religion is attacking them. There is no attacking religion without attacking them. So, if you really want all atheists to be inoffensive to theists, then we would all have to stop voicing our opinions.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for intelligent debate without ad homs, but who draws the line? Who says what is offensive and what isn't? Who gets to say when an attack on religion is funny and when it isn't? If left up to many theists, nothing any atheist said would be inoffensive or funny, if it pertained to religion. That is why the stereotype exists. Because nothing we say will ever be accepted as inoffensive. It's not because a few atheists go off their heads every now and then. In fact, I might go so far as to say atheists go off like that because of the stereotype. Because so many theists treat them like assholes when they ask legitimate questions and make logical statements. After awhile, it is just easier to go off than it is to struggle with niceties when either way gets you shit on.
