RE: Yes I pick on all religions.
September 7, 2014 at 4:12 pm
(This post was last modified: September 7, 2014 at 4:13 pm by Lucanus.)
Michael, the fact that the USSR was an atheist regime is beyond doubt, and I agree with you when you say that we have to recognize the errors of the past "as we are the ones who can help prevent them from ever occurring again". But I think you are making an over-generalization in this case.
Most (if not all) of the atheists on this board are non-believers for reasons that are completely different from those of a Leninist/Stalinist. A Soviet Communist had to accept the dogmatic doctrine of the party, even in matters of science, which (I guess you know, since I get you are a Biologist) led to disastrous results pretty much everywhere, though an interesting example is the Lysenko case.
Now, I think it's very clear that the only thing in common between a modern day Western atheist and a Soviet is well... the lack of belief in gods. But it's not being an unbeliever that counts; for instance, to me being an atheist means being capable of thinking critically and being open-minded about other people's opinions. "Atheist" is as broad a category as "Theist". I wouldn't blame, say, a Buddhist, for the evils of Islam, or an Episcopalian for the evils of the Inquisition. But that's what I get when you write about "Atheist ideology": you blame the whole category for the wrongdoings of a bunch of greedy, totalitarian nutjobs.
Most (if not all) of the atheists on this board are non-believers for reasons that are completely different from those of a Leninist/Stalinist. A Soviet Communist had to accept the dogmatic doctrine of the party, even in matters of science, which (I guess you know, since I get you are a Biologist) led to disastrous results pretty much everywhere, though an interesting example is the Lysenko case.
Now, I think it's very clear that the only thing in common between a modern day Western atheist and a Soviet is well... the lack of belief in gods. But it's not being an unbeliever that counts; for instance, to me being an atheist means being capable of thinking critically and being open-minded about other people's opinions. "Atheist" is as broad a category as "Theist". I wouldn't blame, say, a Buddhist, for the evils of Islam, or an Episcopalian for the evils of the Inquisition. But that's what I get when you write about "Atheist ideology": you blame the whole category for the wrongdoings of a bunch of greedy, totalitarian nutjobs.
"Every luxury has a deep price. Every indulgence, a cosmic cost. Each fiber of pleasure you experience causes equivalent pain somewhere else. This is the first law of emodynamics [sic]. Joy can be neither created nor destroyed. The balance of happiness is constant.
Fact: Every time you eat a bite of cake, someone gets horsewhipped.
Facter: Every time two people kiss, an orphanage collapses.
Factest: Every time a baby is born, an innocent animal is severely mocked for its physical appearance. Don't be a pleasure hog. Your every smile is a dagger. Happiness is murder.
Vote "yes" on Proposition 1321. Think of some kids. Some kids."
Fact: Every time you eat a bite of cake, someone gets horsewhipped.
Facter: Every time two people kiss, an orphanage collapses.
Factest: Every time a baby is born, an innocent animal is severely mocked for its physical appearance. Don't be a pleasure hog. Your every smile is a dagger. Happiness is murder.
Vote "yes" on Proposition 1321. Think of some kids. Some kids."
