(April 6, 2017 at 5:17 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote:(April 6, 2017 at 10:26 am)Brian37 Wrote: I do not speak for every individual atheist, but I can say in a general sense the following. Now before anyone jumps to conclusions this thread is NOT to call any individual out. I have said to not just people on this website, but also on other social media, such as FACEBOOK and Twitter and other atheist websites general statements to theists similar to what you are about to read.
If a Muslim or Christian or Jew or Hindu or Buddhist get anything about atheists know this, we are individuals, not a gang. We have all sorts of diverse views and come from different classes different nations with different upbringings. We don't always agree on politics or economics. I have run into individual atheists in my 16 years whom I didn't agree with and even hate that person as an individual, just like I am sure there are atheists on this board who may not like me personally.
I really do find good and see empathy in followers of religion, I simply don't think they understand where their empathy is really coming from. I see good in the life of Ann Frank who said "In spite of everything I still believe humans are good at heart", something to that effect. I agree, it was extremely insightful yes, very compassionate considering the horrors going on around her. But that does not prove the Jewish God Yahweh to be a real god, much less the one god claimed.
I can also value the empathy of Martin Luther King Jr, and his value of the idea of "The better minorities do the better off everyone is". Again, I agree, but that also does not prove that the god of the bible is the one real god, much less the only god claimed.
I can value the likes of Ghandi but again, standing up to colonial conquest would not make all the gods of India real gods. I can value the likes of Malala, who rightfully stood up to the oppression of girls/women in Islam, but again, that would not prove Allah the one real god.
You can find acts of compassion in every history yes. You can find depictions of kindness and calls to charity in every religious history. The common dodge is the fallacy of "that is just god speaking different languages". No, that does not say to me there is a god, that says to me that it was always in our genes. It is the same false perception humans have with other superstitions like thinking a lucky bat or lucky socks in sports helps you win a game.
This website is not here to advocate any government to force the end of any religion. I am not here to call for harm to theists or to advocate government take away theists rights. I can say safely that this website is here for both atheists and theists to have those uncomfortable debates. Nobody is going to follow anyone home after you log off and stalk you or harm you. But if you think this was a place where we'd simply say "that's nice, where do I join up" or 'thank you for saving us", you are fooling yourself.
I have seen this kneejerk reaction from theists for 16 years, not just here. Some come in with a preconceived notion that they have a magic bullet of an argument and are shocked when we don't roll over suddenly. I can say with this website that the admins and mods do a very good job of allowing theists a voice here. If we hated every theist in the world and thought every theist was evil, we wouldn't allow theists to post her. But again, I say that about this website, but in general most atheist websites are very open to having theists there. But as individuals at least for myself, we hate preaching. It is not the theists job to save atheists like we are lost puppies.
To us is is strictly about evidence and logic. As individuals we also interact differently too. Some atheists here prefer a more library type conversation, while others here, like me don't have a problem being blunt. But the same can be said all over social media with other atheists, not just this website.
My point is, treat us as individuals, here and anywhere and even in person face to face. Learn to separate your legal rights to make a claim, which are NOT in jeopardy, and the ability to demonstrate the credibility of what you are claiming. But again, that applies equally to anyone of any religion. I think the more theists do that, the more they will understand atheists are not evil baby eaters, although we do barbecue kittens.
^^^This^^^
Addendum to add "Or we'll kill you!"
SHUT UP TRAITOR, you are the atheist Ned Flanders from the Simpsons, "Can't let this little doozie get out".
We must let the theist think we are vampires, demons. We must let them think we are the fine print in in a cell phone cable contract. It is only by deception we can fool them.
