(January 20, 2017 at 5:37 pm)Aroura Wrote: Look, I think the atheists are really deflecting here. I get you are insulting the beleif,not the person, but really people define themselves by their beliefs, memories, and actions. IT's one of the core things that makes a person who they are. So of course if you insult a belief (or lack-there-of) you are also insulting the person. Stop hiding and just own it.
Insulting ones belief does NOT mean you think they are a bad person, though, so on the other hand, those acting like it goes that far are too much as well.
I think it IS meant to be insulting. Not insulting on the level of like, hey you are a crazy person, but pointing out that it is childish and silly like the tooth fairy.
Look, if you just want to compare god to something that cannot be proven to exist, you can use Russel's Teapot as a great example.
If you want to make the comparison also include the idea that it is absurd, you can use the Flying Spaghetti Monster (Or the Pink Unicorn). That's why atheists invented these figures, after all.
If you want to include the idea that it is absurd AND childish AND silly, then you use the Tooth Fairy and Santa Clause.
It is the entire POINT of the comparisons, to show that that we do not believe in these other things as adults, god belief is only different in that society accepts it, and really in no other way. A lot of great minds have wasted effort trying to rationalize this one extraordinary claim as an exception when it meets no criteria to BE an exception, but instead should be held to the same standard.
I'm not saying it's ok to insult theists, Or that its too rude to use these arguments (again, I had a similar one used against me when I was a theist and I also found it insulting, but it helped me realize it was indeed an absurd belief), but just that it seems this is the entire point of the argument is to get the theist to see how ALL of these beliefs are absurd.
Is that wrong? If you went down the street unsolicited doing it, absolutely. That's an asshole thing to do. But theists are here on an atheist forum, asking us to discuss these subjects. We didn't come to a Christian forum, they came to us. Which is great! But, this is the exact proper place for using such arguments if such a place exists at all. Otherwise, we can just rename this, "Hanging Out" forum, and not discuss belief or lack-there-of at all.
Bullshit bullshit bullshit. I have never in my life been so offended by someone "insulting" me that I needed to go onto an online forum and make a rant thread about it. Life is not fair - period. Not everyone thinks like one another. You can insult my beliefs as a Satanist all you want... so what? How does that change or affect anything? If you don't feel like you're being taken seriously in a conversation, leave that conversation. You know what offends me? Grown adults acting like little wimps.
The whole way this thread was set up is like a big cry baby whinefest and quite honestly it's a little pathetic. I'm not saying atheists don't do it, I'm not even saying theists do it more or less, but this is honestly just silly. Believing in a omnipotent deity that created the universe and watches every move you make is in fact akin to believing in a magical fairy that leaves prizes under your pillow for when you lose a tooth. There is no evidence for either and believing either one requires a vast amount of faith. This is a stupid thread and I'm honestly embarrassed for some of you.
Atheists cannot hide from the fact that belief in a supernatural sky being is quite absurd. We can be polite for the sake of saving the feelings of the theists but we cannot hide from how we feel. If that is too much for some of you to handle, I suggest you get the fuck off this forum, seriously.
Your beliefs will be challenged here, and very few of us are going to treat any theists with kiddy gloves. The problem is, you all have the same, recited, tired old arguments that we have dealt with time and time again. None of the theists every bring anything new to the table and it's honestly a bit silly at this point.
Arguing with these people on the subject of religion is like talking to a wall. At the end of the day every theist I know will back into the corner of, "Well that's just my belief, regardless of whether or not you agree with it"
And you know what? That's fine. Because like I said everyone thinks differently. But do not expect me to respect your silly beliefs.
“Love is the only bow on Life’s dark cloud. It is the morning and the evening star. It shines upon the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of art, inspirer of poet, patriot and philosopher.
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
