My Thoughts On Militant Atheism

[The Valkyrie]

So, someone has been insulted by someone else in the past and that gives them the right to get in MY face before they know me and I'm the one who is supposed to back away?

No!

That's their failing, not mine. If they judge all people by some experience they've had in the past then there's something wrong with them.

And I should forgive them if they can't defend their position when they're backed into a corner and resort to insults? No. Once again, the weakness is theirs and I will respond in kind.

Are we supposed to surrender when faced with militant religion/religiosity?

Screw that. It's been tried and doesn't work. It just makes them bolder.

And how many times have you judged an entire group based on your interactions with a few?

You DO NOT bow to militancy. There are only so many cheek you have to turn before the pricks try to kick you in the arse cheeks.

And you think moderate muslims and christians don't have the same view as this?

The point is that judging a group based on the actions of a few is something that we as humans unfortunately do. It is then in the best interest of those who are mature and wise enough to distinguish the group from the individual, and discover the reason behind why a person might be hostile to us. In this way you and the other person can reflect on their interactions and find that it might not be the best way to approaching each other.

If in a discussion one person makes the mistake of making an insult and you were to insult them back this would more than likely lead to more insults being tossed and the whole discussion would bear no fruit for either person. Yet if you were the one to check them and ask them why they are insulting you, they would at least realize their error.

Such as I asked kitanetos why he/she was insulting me, I learned that my comments which I did not actual think were insulting anyone did have some things that could be viewed as insulting even if I myself did not realize it or for that matter intend it.

How many times have I judged and entire group by the comments/actions of a few?

As little as possible, though I admit I have slipped.

I try to judge people by their merits, not by the groups they happen to be associated with.

Except YECS - they're deliberately ignorant.



But, once again, I will state that backing down in the face of extremism is just another sort of appeasement. They see your weakness and demand more.