What IS good, and how do we determine it?

[Catholic_Lady]

Sorry.

For what it's worth, I have never talked to an atheist about this, so I'm new to the subject and have never heard y'alls thoughts on it.

That's how you end up with these strange ideas about atheism....from -not- talking to atheists.  The "atheism is like a religion" bit is clearly considered brilliant in some circles, as often as we see it here, but for us, it's just tiresome and aggravating.  I'm gonna level with you, while everyone is still enjoying the glow......I think you're bullshitting me in a very big way.  I don't think you came to that comment yourself or by observation (and after all, you've just now claimed you've never talked to atheists about this.....the preamble offered before you dropped the turd makes -no sense- whatsoever in light of this statement).  This was, essentially, scripted.

Rhythm, I am sorry you feel that way.

I promise you the thoughts I expressed on that post came entirely from me and my observation in the past 7ish or so months. That's approximately how long ago I met and facebook friended a lady I met here in Texas. She's a very outspoken atheist on facebook and is always posting about atheism and posting links to blogs and group pages and stuff. I never brought it up with her, but the observation I made that atheism seems to be treated by some atheists like a religion, is not something I knew other people had ever even thought of before.

When you told me this was not original earlier tonight, my first thought was... "Wow, really? Others have thought of this and made this observation before too?"

Obviously all you have is my word and that's all I can give you. I'd just hate for you to think I'm being deceitful and lying to you. Because that's just not cool.

I have 2 other very dear friends who are atheists whom I have been friends for forever and they have never given me that impression before. They simply just don't believe in God and that's it. So I know it's probably just a minority.

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Any reason why "Christianity" in particular? There are thousands of religions out there. If anything, it seems like the one you'd be more concerned about is radical Islam...

I mentioned Christianity in particular because the picture in question was obviously taken in a church.  Crosses aren't much of a thing in mosques.  If it makes you feel any better, I'm an across-the-board, equal opportunity foe of all Abrahamic religions -- especially radical Islam.

Oh, haha. Gotcha.