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RE: Atheism, an uphill struggle
February 14, 2012 at 7:26 pm
(February 14, 2012 at 7:09 pm)Nebuloso Wrote: (February 14, 2012 at 6:36 pm)Abracadabra Wrote: Atheist - An unimaginative uncreative person who erroneously believes that science has ruled out mystery in the universe.
And this is completely wrong. Nobody said science has answered all the questions. Scientists admit that the universe is mysterious and there are many things they don't understand yet. An atheist just doesn't assume that what is mysterious must be a god. Nobody is saying the universe is not mysterious.
I understand that. I truly do. And I'm sure that my silly signature line would not qualify as a formal definition for "atheist".
But like I say, I have hardcore atheist proselytizers hot on my trail who do take the stance that there cannot possibly be a spiritual essence to reality and they claim that this is a verifiable proven fact.
Well, ok. Ultimately it may only be one person who has an opinion larger than the universe itself. But still. It's not the first time I've encountered this kind of attitude from people who claim to be "atheists".
I guess it's a lot like the Christians really. Not every Christian is an over-bearing proselytizing jerk. But neither do they speak out against the Christians who are.
Same thing appears to be happening with "atheism". There are extremely over-bearing atheists who proselytize that there cannot possibly be a spiritual essence to reality and they claim this is an indisputable proven fact, yet other atheists don't speak out against that nonsense either.
Christian - A moron who believes that an all-benevolent God can simultaneously be a hateful jealous male-chauvinistic pig.
Wiccan - The epitome of cerebral evolution having mastered the magical powers of the universe and is in eternal harmony with the mind of God.
Atheist - An ill-defined term that means something different to everyone who uses it.
~~~~~
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Clearly Jesus (a fictitious character or otherwise) will forgive people if they merely know not what they do
For the Bible Tells us so!
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RE: Atheism, an uphill struggle
February 14, 2012 at 7:53 pm
(February 14, 2012 at 7:26 pm)Abracadabra Wrote: I understand that. I truly do. And I'm sure that my silly signature line would not qualify as a formal definition for "atheist".
I don't mean to be hijacking this thread discussing your signature but I wanted to add one more point. I do understand where you are coming from but to say that you understand that your definitions are not correct and still use them anyway is spreading false information about what it is to be atheist. Many Christians actually believe that your definition is in fact the true definition of Atheist and when they see your sig it only further supports their misunderstanding of what it is to be Atheist. Whether you are Christian, Atheist, or Wiccan we should try to adhere to not spreading false information.
“You don't get to advertise all the good that your religion does without first scrupulously subtracting all the harm it does and considering seriously the question of whether some other religion, or no religion at all, does better. ”
― Daniel C. Dennett
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RE: Atheism, an uphill struggle
February 14, 2012 at 9:13 pm
(This post was last modified: February 14, 2012 at 9:18 pm by AthiestAtheist.)
(February 14, 2012 at 7:53 pm)Nebuloso Wrote: I don't mean to be hijacking this thread discussing your signature but I wanted to add one more point.
I was thinking of doing the same. Abra, your signature is a bit ridiculous. Atheists are unimaginative? You define unimaginative as not believing in things just because people tell you to? That is just ignorant. Also, no one is saying science has answered every question about the universe. Science is a possibly never-ending search for knowledge.
(February 14, 2012 at 7:26 pm)Abracadabra Wrote: Same thing appears to be happening with "atheism". There are extremely over-bearing atheists who proselytize that there cannot possibly be a spiritual essence to reality and they claim this is an indisputable proven fact, yet other atheists don't speak out against that nonsense either.
It's funny how non-rationalists confuse "proselytizing" with "educating with facts".
"Sisters, you know only the north; I have traveled in the south lands. There are churches there, believe me, that cut their children too, as the people of Bolvangar did--not in the same way, but just as horribly. They cut their sexual organs, yes, both boys and girls; they cut them with knives so that they shan't feel. That is what the Church does, and every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling. So if a war comes, and the Church is on one side of it, we must be on the other, no matter what strange allies we find ourselves bound to."
-Ruta Skadi, The Subtle Knife
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RE: Atheism, an uphill struggle
February 14, 2012 at 9:39 pm
(This post was last modified: February 14, 2012 at 9:47 pm by Abracadabra.)
(February 14, 2012 at 7:53 pm)Nebuloso Wrote: (February 14, 2012 at 7:26 pm)Abracadabra Wrote: I understand that. I truly do. And I'm sure that my silly signature line would not qualify as a formal definition for "atheist".
I don't mean to be hijacking this thread discussing your signature but I wanted to add one more point. I do understand where you are coming from but to say that you understand that your definitions are not correct and still use them anyway is spreading false information about what it is to be atheist. Many Christians actually believe that your definition is in fact the true definition of Atheist and when they see your sig it only further supports their misunderstanding of what it is to be Atheist. Whether you are Christian, Atheist, or Wiccan we should try to adhere to not spreading false information.
Signature lines are often humorous, satirical, and/or artistically comical.
Anyone who looks to my signature line for a formal definition of "atheist", deserves to be led into the world of misunderstanding. Moreover, if they accept my definitions for Christian and Wiccan too, that truly would be amazing.
Nope, my signature is not intended to be a formal online dictionary. It's just satire. I personally think that should be blatantly obvious to anyone.
Besides, do you truly think that a Christian is going to give my signature definitions a second thought after they read my definition of a "Christian"?
(February 14, 2012 at 9:13 pm)AthiestAtheist Wrote: It's funny how non-rationalists confuse "proselytizing" with "educating with facts".
Going around telling people that any possible concept of spirit has been completely ruled out by scientific knowledge and logic is not "educating with facts", on the contrary it's an outright blatant lie.
"facts" would be more along the lines of telling people that, based upon our current understanding of physics, and based on various pictures and claims of spirit, it's extremely unlikely that those pictures could possibly be real.
Now THAT would be truthful.
But proclaiming that any possible concept of a spiritual essence to reality has been flatly ruled-out. Is simply a lie.
It's just an outright lie. Period.
In fact, anyone who actually believes that to be the case actually fits the definition as stated in my sig line.
I firmly hold that to be an absolute truth.
Christian - A moron who believes that an all-benevolent God can simultaneously be a hateful jealous male-chauvinistic pig.
Wiccan - The epitome of cerebral evolution having mastered the magical powers of the universe and is in eternal harmony with the mind of God.
Atheist - An ill-defined term that means something different to everyone who uses it.
~~~~~
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Clearly Jesus (a fictitious character or otherwise) will forgive people if they merely know not what they do
For the Bible Tells us so!
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RE: Atheism, an uphill struggle
February 14, 2012 at 10:10 pm
(This post was last modified: February 14, 2012 at 10:13 pm by AthiestAtheist.)
(February 14, 2012 at 9:39 pm)Abracadabra Wrote: Going around telling people that any possible concept of spirit has been completely ruled out by scientific knowledge and logic is not "educating with facts", on the contrary it's an outright blatant lie.
"facts" would be more along the lines of telling people that, based upon our current understanding of physics, and based on various pictures and claims of spirit, it's extremely unlikely that those pictures could possibly be real.
Now THAT would be truthful.
But proclaiming that any possible concept of a spiritual essence to reality has been flatly ruled-out. Is simply a lie.
It's just an outright lie. Period.
That's nice, except I never said that.
(February 14, 2012 at 9:39 pm)Abracadabra Wrote: In fact, anyone who actually believes that to be the case actually fits the definition as stated in my sig line.
I firmly hold that to be an absolute truth.
Then you're ignorant.
"Sisters, you know only the north; I have traveled in the south lands. There are churches there, believe me, that cut their children too, as the people of Bolvangar did--not in the same way, but just as horribly. They cut their sexual organs, yes, both boys and girls; they cut them with knives so that they shan't feel. That is what the Church does, and every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling. So if a war comes, and the Church is on one side of it, we must be on the other, no matter what strange allies we find ourselves bound to."
-Ruta Skadi, The Subtle Knife
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RE: Atheism, an uphill struggle
February 14, 2012 at 10:18 pm
(February 14, 2012 at 10:10 pm)AthiestAtheist Wrote: That's nice, except I never said that.
Well, that was the concept I was originally complaining about.
If you don't support that stance then you wouldn't qualify for my sig line definition anyway. 
Christian - A moron who believes that an all-benevolent God can simultaneously be a hateful jealous male-chauvinistic pig.
Wiccan - The epitome of cerebral evolution having mastered the magical powers of the universe and is in eternal harmony with the mind of God.
Atheist - An ill-defined term that means something different to everyone who uses it.
~~~~~
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Clearly Jesus (a fictitious character or otherwise) will forgive people if they merely know not what they do
For the Bible Tells us so!
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RE: Atheism, an uphill struggle
February 14, 2012 at 11:33 pm
(This post was last modified: February 14, 2012 at 11:40 pm by Cosmic Ape.)
(February 14, 2012 at 7:03 pm)Abracadabra Wrote: Atheist: science has ruled out mystery in the universe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quSRLETlKDg
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