You are ruining the image of Atheists!

[Chas]

Well, I just can't believe it. I said in ''Kevin Mirasi'' thread that we should respect all beliefs, and people started to insult me. First of all, I can't believe that a forum such big that it must be supported (and it is popular since it is overfunded) allows people to be rude.

You know, I wanted to make a big thread about my arguments why God doesn't exist. But now, I won't. You know why? Because I don't want to do anything with people like you.

Seriously, what are you doing? Would you talk like this in IRL conversation? Yeah, I can defend Christians. I support the true ones. You know who is a real Christian? A person who is incapable of hatred, a person who can forgive someone who killed their mother or raped their child - A truly forgiving person. Yes, true Christians are rare, and I still don't support their doctrine of hell. But people - why do you have to abandon all morals? Maybe not all of the Bible must be rejected? Maybe besides old testament horrors and injstices there is something positive?

I recently saw Michio Kaku on interview with RT. He was all fine and happy, until they started to talk about 9/11. He asked a woman if she is a conspiracy theorist in such way that he looked like a gestapo asking if people are hiding jews in their house. What I mean is, you freak out when someone is talking about Christianity. You call it extremism, you want to ban it. Easy, people! Christians are loud but harmless. And then you wonder why they talk about NWO and end times. If you are that hostile to christianity people WILL think that end times are coming! Easy, slow, with kindness, people!

I wish that the stereotypical image of an Atheist was an intellectual in a lab cloth, with a bow tie and glasses, who can CALMLY, WITH KINDNESS, WITHOUT SNARK AND SARCASM refute creationism, conspiracy theories, homeopathy, whatever you find irrational.

Instead, when I hear ''Atheist'' I see a guy looking like Steve Shives who is a fanatical Liberal and Obama supporter, extremely rude and snarky, ultra hostile towards religion and anything that isn't supported by leftist media.

So what will you do know? If you will laugh because I'm promoting kindness and understanding, then maybe you are supporting those who favored brutality and fanaticism, like Spanish Inquisition?

How different are you from those people? Of course, your methods are less brutal, but the core is still there. Atheism isn't a religion, yet you behave like religious fanatics. When something isn't exactly in line with your beliefs, you freak out - like fanatics.

And I, as a rational Atheist, am ashamed of you just like a true Christian is ashamed of Westboro Baptist Church.

-Kemotx, a rare Kind Atheist.

You do not seem to understand that ridiculous ideas do not deserve respect.

I respect people's rights, including the right to believe whatever they want.
I am under no compunction to respect their beliefs when those beliefs are absurd.

If you are going to get your panties in a twist because people here call a spade a spade and have no patience with the crappy ideas that have been repeatedly debunked, then you need to sack up.

[JesusHChrist]

Learn much young padawan must.

Religion is frequently a very dangerous, deadly business. Not to mention promoting backwards ideas, morals, mindset and worldview.

Such "beliefs" should most definitely not be "respected", whatever that means. If it means we should accord some manner of deference to idiots who believe a virgin can give birth, or a prophet rode on a magic horse-like thingy to Jerusalem and back, or a con-man had a picnic lunch with an angel who gave him some magic golden plates, you can stuff that nonsense where the sun don't shine.

Do you respect all political beliefs, no matter how egregious? Let's respect the beliefs of those lovely neo-Nazis. By all means!

What is so special about religious belief that it should be guarded and shielded from the mockery/criticism/scorn we apply to any other ridiculous human endeavor?

[freedomfromforum]

OK jackass, try this on for size.

I've written a book - a holy book.
I received revelation from the god
Fucktard. Fucktard has revealed
to me that all people who tolerate
christianity must be put to death
by violent anal-cactus insertion.
I am to smite all jackasses who
are christian sympathizers. Now,
you HAVE to respect my beliefs.
Isn't that what you said? Well there
ya go jackass; respect that asshat.
Fucknuts!

[Kemotx]

Well, I just can't believe it. I said in ''Kevin Mirasi'' thread that we should respect all beliefs, and people started to insult me. First of all, I can't believe that a forum such big that it must be supported (and it is popular since it is overfunded) allows people to be rude.

You know, I wanted to make a big thread about my arguments why God doesn't exist. But now, I won't. You know why? Because I don't want to do anything with people like you.

Seriously, what are you doing? Would you talk like this in IRL conversation? Yeah, I can defend Christians. I support the true ones. You know who is a real Christian? A person who is incapable of hatred, a person who can forgive someone who killed their mother or raped their child - A truly forgiving person. Yes, true Christians are rare, and I still don't support their doctrine of hell. But people - why do you have to abandon all morals? Maybe not all of the Bible must be rejected? Maybe besides old testament horrors and injstices there is something positive?

I recently saw Michio Kaku on interview with RT. He was all fine and happy, until they started to talk about 9/11. He asked a woman if she is a conspiracy theorist in such way that he looked like a gestapo asking if people are hiding jews in their house. What I mean is, you freak out when someone is talking about Christianity. You call it extremism, you want to ban it. Easy, people! Christians are loud but harmless. And then you wonder why they talk about NWO and end times. If you are that hostile to christianity people WILL think that end times are coming! Easy, slow, with kindness, people!

I wish that the stereotypical image of an Atheist was an intellectual in a lab cloth, with a bow tie and glasses, who can CALMLY, WITH KINDNESS, WITHOUT SNARK AND SARCASM refute creationism, conspiracy theories, homeopathy, whatever you find irrational.

Instead, when I hear ''Atheist'' I see a guy looking like Steve Shives who is a fanatical Liberal and Obama supporter, extremely rude and snarky, ultra hostile towards religion and anything that isn't supported by leftist media.

So what will you do know? If you will laugh because I'm promoting kindness and understanding, then maybe you are supporting those who favored brutality and fanaticism, like Spanish Inquisition?

How different are you from those people? Of course, your methods are less brutal, but the core is still there. Atheism isn't a religion, yet you behave like religious fanatics. When something isn't exactly in line with your beliefs, you freak out - like fanatics.

And I, as a rational Atheist, am ashamed of you just like a true Christian is ashamed of Westboro Baptist Church.

-Kemotx, a rare Kind Atheist.

You do not seem to understand that ridiculous ideas do not deserve respect.

If you think that ridiculous ideas do not deserve respect, then it's your opinion. How can one ''understand'' something that isn't a fact? It's like saying, ''you don't understand that lemon ice cream is the best''.

[Doubting Thomas]

I've seen a lot less kind atheists elsewhere than what you find here.

Beliefs don't have to be respected. The right to hold a belief should be respected.

[Faith No More]

It's important to differentiate between the belief and the believer. Beliefs should never get automatic respect, but we should treat the believer with respect until they demonstrate they don't deserve it.

But I think the really important thing here, Kemtox, is that you found a self-satisfying way to feel superior and just can't hold back from letting everyone know it.

[Kemotx]

Your mom was ashamed of you when she had you.

You are 5 year older than me, and you behave like a 10 year old.

[mostlysilent]

I can kind of understand what you are saying OP and I too try to be respectful of others beliefs for the most part but sometimes people just get tired of being respectful of things they find ludicrous. So forums like this become something of a safe haven for non believers to just let lose and let all their anger and frustration out and not have to sugar coat or play nice like they probably have to do in real life. So yeah people are likely to be more frank and perhaps brutal than they would be in person.

[Tiberius]

Mate, this entire thread makes you look like the 10 year old. You state that the forum as an entirety is "ruining the image of atheists", yet to back up this assertion you point to a small subset of users who at times have used insulting language towards you and others, well within the rules of the forum (because freedom of speech).

You ignore the fact that we are perfectly welcoming of theists here who want to join in the community and talk about their beliefs, that have stayed here as members for years, that have served (and still do) on the staff team, and that have donated to keep the forums open. You think we're ruining the image of atheism; some theists here clearly disagree with you.

The real world is not all lovey-dovey. People get into arguments over their beliefs all the time. Why should it be any different here? Indeed, the great thing about this forum is that it allows people to debate the way they want. If you insult your opponent, you're only making yourself look bad, you're not making the whole of atheism look bad.

[Jackalope]

Speaking of respect - what do you think of someone who comes into an established community and insists that everyone behave as he thinks they should?

You aren't nearly as mature as you think you are.