Internet Smackdown Aftermath

[CapnAwesome]

There is a danger that you will end up with those things if you're not too careful. There are atheist churches being set up now which I think is defeating the whole idea. And these celebrity atheists are becoming like the new authoritative figures/clergy and certain books like revered texts.

They're free to spew any amount of bullshit they like as long as they're not insulting/harming anyone in the process. If someone wants to go on about the wonders of astrology, homeopathy, psychic mediums, the Lost City of Atlantis, the Pyramids being built by ancient aliens, UFOs, crystal skulls or whatever else then they can. We're not the thought and reason police.

I'm isolating these two quotes as one, mostly because I find the response to each line a little tedious and hard to read, and also because I don't really disagree with anything else you said. In fact I don't disagree really with these statements either. If there were some sort of organized Atheist thought, Atheist clergy etc, I would be totally against it. I don't see any of that happening. You can tell from two seconds on these boards that Atheists can't agree on anything for long enough to become organized. I think a fear of that happening is misguided. If it did I highly suspect the greatest opposition to it would come from Atheists.

I think the second ironic thing is that you say the religious can say whatever they like as long as it's not harming anyone. (Duh) However you don't extend the same courtesy to Atheists. A lot of 'Atheist's can't say this or you are like this' 'we aren't supposed to believe this' in your posts. It seems (from the limited information that I have) that you have the same double standard that Christians have towards the unreligious. That they are supposed to shut up. That the religious are the only ones allowed to publicly address their beliefs. I find that an offensive belief. One that would delegate me to a second class citizen. Whether or not my position is neutral doesn't mean that you somehow aren't allowed to vehemently express my other opinions regarding religion.