A Small Census

[Jackalope]

Hiatus == break.

Welcome back, BTW. I'm glad to hear you have been well.

[Mystic]

Thanks.^

[Catechism]

A little questionnaire is in order, I think. All of the following questions come from strawmen jstrodel built in this thread.

1. What is your age? 45

2. Are you married? Kids? Was for 14 years - 2 kids

3. Are you angry or disappointed at "God"? God doesn't exist. Nothing to be angry or disappointed at

4. Do you subscribe to hedonism? Sounds good in theory but in practice it just involves too much puking and weird diseases

5. Are you an atheist because you want to be, without eternal consequences, sexually promiscuous? A drug addict? An alcoholic? I am none of these things. I am atheist because there is no evidence of a god.

6. Do you like "psychedelic" music? Depends on the music, but Pink Floyd fucking rocks

7. Was atheism "transmitted" to you from a "Marxist"? Ummm.....no

8. Are you selfish? Only in an Ayn Rand kind of way

9. Is your "community" centered around pornography? No even remotely

10. Is your atheism a political statement? Only to the degree that I want religion out of my politics.

11. Were you recruited into atheism by the promises of sex and drugs? No, it was more the rock and roll that got me. God hates rock and roll.

Did God tell you himself that he hates rock and roll?

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Where in the bible does it say God hates rock and roll?

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Not really sure what you people get out of being an atheist. Maybe they give you a gift card or something? Coupons? Free bowling shoe rental?

[Cyberman]

I can't speak for every atheist, but in my experience it's the freedom to actually look at the world for what it is without having it shackled to bronze age mythology. The gift cards are just a bonus.

[Jackalope]

No, all the babies we can eat. Quite a good deal, if you ask me.

[Shell B]

Your time away, MK. Happy you've been good.

[fr0d0]

1. What is your age? 53

2. Are you married? Kids? Yes. Temporarily separated. Still (working it out). 2 gorgeous kids, 10 & 12

3. Are you angry or disappointed at "God"? Yes

4. Do you subscribe to hedonism? I find it strange to reflect and notice my own selfishness. So I guess I must.

5. Are you an atheist because you want to be, without eternal consequences, sexually promiscuous? A drug addict? An alcoholic? I couldn't deny that one attraction to church was the large proportion of females. I have obsessions, but abstain from non medical drugs

6. Do you like "psychedelic" music? Yes.

7. Was atheism "transmitted" to you from a "Marxist"? Theism was certainly "transmitted" from capitalists.

8. Are you selfish? I can't deny it

9. Is your "community" centered around pornography? More than I'd like. I try to ignore it lol

10. Is your atheism a political statement? In the US Christianity certainly seems to be

11. Were you recruited into atheism by the promises of sex and drugs? See above.

[Cyberman]

1. What is your age? I can never remember; I think I was 43 last birthday.

2. Are you married? Kids? No and no. It's a sore point.

3. Are you angry or disappointed at "God"? No more than I am at Mickey Mouse. So quite a bit, then.

4. Do you subscribe to hedonism? If I had the money, probably.

5. Are you an atheist because you want to be, without eternal consequences, sexually promiscuous? A drug addict? An alcoholic? No, I'm an atheist because that's how God made me. Allegedly.

6. Do you like "psychedelic" music? Can't say I've ever been aware of any, so the answer's probably yes and no.

7. Was atheism "transmitted" to you from a "Marxist"? Not that I'm aware of.

8. Are you selfish? At least half the time. I derive the greatest pleasure from the pleasure I give others (ladies, take note).

9. Is your "community" centered around pornography? There's porn around, certainly, especially on my hard drive, but then there's much more of other things as well. So not really centred, no.

10. Is your atheism a political statement? No, my political views are a political statement. My atheism is my opinion of how the Universe works.

11. Were you recruited into atheism by the promises of sex and drugs? If I was, there's been a serious breach of contract.

[Esquilax]

Did God tell you himself that he hates rock and roll?

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Where in the bible does it say God hates rock and roll?

You know, if the bible had actually said anything about that, hundreds of years before rock was a thing, that'd be pretty impressive.

Not really sure what you people get out of being an atheist. Maybe they give you a gift card or something? Coupons? Free bowling shoe rental?

What you feel we "get" out of being an atheist depends on how much value you place on the truth, really. Personally, I think it's great; I like to believe true things.

Also, leprechaun gold, seriously. You can only get your atheist card at the end of a rainbow, after all.

[genkaus]

The following logic is used:

Atheism implies one doesn't believe in God(s).
Not believing in God(s) implies not believing in a theocracy.
Not believing in a theocracy implies a political stance.
Therefore Atheism implies a political stance.

Your argument fails on two levels. An atheist may still believe in theocracy - understood not as rule of god, but as rule of religion - if he believes that religious morals are what are best for the society.

Secondly, not supporting something does not make it a political stance. People who are apolitical never support any political ideals and they are not accused of taking a political stance. What is required for it is either actively opposing a theocratic political stance or taking up an alternate one - both of which not all atheists do. So, no, atheism is not a political stance by itself.