I really hate fundie fucktards.

[tavarish]

If a person feels they are an atheist and through atheism she learns religions are morally corrupt
Then she goes and burns down a church would you hold atheism responsible? yourself as an atheist?

That would be a brilliant analogy if atheism indeed mandated to behave in a certain way, but it doesn't.

You might very well be walking the line, as might some others, but don't pretend that people aren't choosing sides. Atheists responses are somewhat less predictable, than a fundamentalists, but predictable as well.Just look at the convert stories on this forum as a whole. Don't pretend that self-labeling as atheist doesn't hold societal expectations and a connotation, as does the label Christian. I learned that very well my first few weeks here. I don't know anything about Saul Alinsky, but it sounds like a call for action to me, and what is that if not a mandate.

Societal stigmas and personality traits are not the same as internal dogmas and social control.

Would you like to know WHY the term "atheist" brings negative connotations? It's due to the fact the religious majority of the world views it as taboo and against the beliefs that they hold dear. Christopher Hitchens advocates the Iraq War - something that he did on the back of a ticket fueled by his books based on his rejection of belief. Does that mean that other atheists should follow his political views? Of course not. Richard Dawkins makes many points that I disagree with. I can do that because I hold allegiance to no one. I don't look up to famous atheistic debaters (although I do look to them for debating strengths and weaknesses), and I won't answer any call to arms unless my rights are being infringed or I or my loved ones are in danger.

Just because some people are outspoken and urge others to think like them does not mean it has any internal regulation or dogma. Those are the views of those people, and those people alone. They are not speaking for anyone else but themselves.

However, Christians speaking for their religion, acting on religious beliefs, ARE promoting an internal dogma. When they approach the public stage, they represent their religious denomination, as there ARE mandates that urge Christians to act within certain boundaries.

It's not a fine line, it's a huge difference.