(June 18, 2013 at 3:13 am)Polaris Wrote: My favorite societies are secular...the Nordic nations, but the atheists in Europe tend to think more rationally than the ones I have seen come from America. It's funny, but the Bible is the most popular book in Sweden...they don't believe in the religious aspects, but they're not afraid to read it which is the vibe I get from certain atheists....though it's probably harder for a believer to read a religious book from a competing faith (I had a friend leave a class because it taught Ancient Israel [and by connection the OT...it's a reference point] from a secular standing).
Maybe because Sweden is more secular than the US. I mean that there are no fears about religion interfering with legislation and infringing others' rights.
I will tell you something, I live in Egypt, a very religious country. Our constitution was written by a religious group (the Muslim Brotherhood) and many articles are completely religious. One of them say that Sharia principles are the main source of legislation. Another article specify Sharia to be limited to the Sunni sect (This was intended not to allow even modern views of Islam)
This makes you very anti-theist ! btw, I am just an atheist and I have not aggressive attitudes towards religion itself. I even don't mind praying for social concerns for we are a very religious society. But when you see your country is destroyed by religion and religious aspects you feel very hostile towards evil represented in religion. We are on the edge of a civil war because of "faith", Islam, the Islamic project and the application of Sharia. So don't blame me or people like me when they become aggressive towards religions. I think this is the clue to understand the difference between the American and Swedish atheists' attitudes towards religions, specially dangerous ones.
Regards.
* Illusion is a big world ... and the world is a bigger illusion.
* Try to live happy ... try to make others live happy.
* Try to live happy ... try to make others live happy.