Hey Anti-Theists! Prove Your Claim

[Neo-Scholastic]

I guess I'm just the permissive sort...[my] concern is for the children brought up in god-fearin' homes...I would be in favor of legislation to undermine this a bit...could be questionnaires and interviews both for the kids and the parents to take separately. Not sure what sort of teeth I'd want in such regulation but just shining some light in would do some good and perhaps alert authorities where there are real concerns.

That's a very dangerous idea, Whateverist. I can only imagine how that could play out in a country in which "colored people" is considered a racial slur while "people of color" is permissible.

[RobbyPants]

Every time I decide to prove that god doesn't exist, the invisible leprechaun on my shoulder glares at me. I'm not sure what it is he wants, but he scares the shit out of me. So I just close the thread and wait for my heart to stop racing.

Umm... I don't think he liked this post. AT ALL.

Yeah, I have one of those, too. I wonder if it's the same one. Does he speak with an Irish accent?

He's the reason I'm an agnostic atheist and not one of the gnostic ones ChadWooters is talking about.

[Dystopia]

My biggest concern is for the children brought up in god-fearin' homes. Sentiment in this country seems to run toward leaving all but physical care up to the parents. I would be in favor of legislation to undermine this a bit. Haven't worked out all the details but just as kids should see a pediatrician regularly as they mature, there could be questionnaires and interviews both for the kids and the parents to take separately. Not sure what sort of teeth I'd want in such regulation but just shining some light in would do some good and perhaps alert authorities where there are real concerns.

I feel repulse for parents who educate their kids in a god fearing environment, but up to a certain point I pity for them because they genuinely believe to be doing the right thing.

While your proposal seems great, it would never be able to be implemented. You see, when the constitution (Haven't read the american one, but I'm sure the principle of secularism is there) says there is a separation between church and State, that means the Church cannot regulate or influence public decisions, AND the State cannot regulate religious education and the church's business, the church is free to do whatever they please as long as they don't commit crimes. Even as an anti-theist, I have to refuse your idea, I'm not even concerned about slippery slope, I just see it as wrong. And taking a questionnaire, in a sense, would be like saying 'We don't trust you to raise your kids properly, we think you may be retarded, so please answer these questions'. I don't see many benefits arising from these, it seems to be against personal privacy and human dignity. As much as I dislike religious indoctrination, my take is that legislating restrictions is not the way to do it, I don't want to go down that path, I prefer spreading enlightenment and reason to make people realize they should think for themselves, whether that means being an atheist or at least a freethinker.

I'd give you a benefit of doubt though - If we are talking about the type of religious indoctrination so severe that it can be considered child abuse (and no longer religious teaching) then it should be illegal, and I'm sure some of those teachings are virtually illegal, at least in Europe. EG - In some countries homophobia propaganda is illegal, so even if the bible says gays are morons, you can't teach to your kids gay people are inferior. I'd say the same for JW refusing to let their children take blood transfusions (and I hope that's illegal in America) or any religious dumbass thinking prayer is a better solution than a hospital. That's not only child abuse, but murder by omission, and it should be treated as crime.

[Whateverist]

I guess I'm just the permissive sort...[my] concern is for the children brought up in god-fearin' homes...I would be in favor of legislation to undermine this a bit...could be questionnaires and interviews both for the kids and the parents to take separately. Not sure what sort of teeth I'd want in such regulation but just shining some light in would do some good and perhaps alert authorities where there are real concerns.

That's a very dangerous idea, Whateverist. I can only imagine how that could play out in a country in which "colored people" is considered a racial slur while "people of color" is permissible.

You're right. It just seems like kids should be shielded from some excesses, don't you think? Like withholding proper medical treatment in lieu of prayer, or raising your preteen daughter to look forward to becoming the 50th bride of the local elder. Actually doing anything is fraught with difficulties but there are definitely some things that need addressing.

[Mister Agenda]

There's nothing sick or malicious about a botfly, unless it was intentionally created as such. Why would anyone worship a being that -created- a botfly? Further, who would wish for there to be such a being?

That, my friend, is anti-theism.

Seems awfully close to maltheism (God is not nice...at all). An antitheist would think theistic beliefs are undesireable even if they're superficially fluffy and sweet. And the botfly doesn't seem to be an argument against believing in the God of deism, who really isn't necessarily responsible for exactly how everything turns out, except in broad strokes.

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I get the sense that North American atheism is more often than not a reaction to Evangelicals. If you look at some of the anti-Christian posts, you will nearly always see a fundamentalist literal interpretation presented as the only option. All the talk about religion being intrinsically bad appear to follow from some negative personal experience with religion....really just rationalizations.

Atheism isn't a reaction to Evangelicals, with the exception of the excesses of Evangelical fundamentalism having a tendency to drive their children away from it when they're old enough to flee, sometimes all the way to atheism; but Evangelicals give atheist secularists and anti-theists a lot to which to react.

It's a fair cop that an Evangelical minister declaring Ebola is what we need to take out the gays and atheists will get more attention in the news than a UCC minister calling for equal treatment of LGBTQ individuals will.

[The Grand Nudger]

Seems awfully close to maltheism (God is not nice...at all).

Very close, yes. Specifically if there actually -were- a god.

An antitheist would think theistic beliefs are undesireable even if they're superficially fluffy and sweet.

As the superficially sweet and fluffy idea of daddy in the sky is undesirable to me, on it's own merits and divorced from any invocation of factual reality, yes.

And the botfly doesn't seem to be an argument against believing in the God of deism, who really isn't necessarily responsible for exactly how everything turns out, except in broad strokes.

Hence not anti-deism, yes.

[LivingNumbers6.626]

Give me the proof as to why I should think different, but first pick up a dictionary. . I think that if the god of the Abrahamic religions existed, it would be quite warranted to be up in arms. That guy is a dick. Where's Lucifer when you need him? Time for war.

[Chad32]

I just came across a top ten video where Bill Maher explains pretty well the reason I'm anti theist. Why I think religion harms people. It's number four, and starts at 8:05.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYN0UCUkXQE

[downbeatplumb]

I'm not a Christian for the same reason I'm not a Hindu, Buddhist, Scientologist, Mormon, Jew etc.
Never been any of the above, never seen a reason to start.
The end.

[jughead]

Sorry I couldn't resist making fun of the inane "Hey Atheists..." titled threads. Anyway...

For those of you that self-describe as anti-theists, you face the same burden of proof as believers. So, please share the compelling proof or evidence that you believe disproves the existence of a god or gods.

It is not my job to prove the thousands of fake gods humans created over the millennia exist.

http://www.godfinder.org/

Just cause I tell you shit can fly are you going to believe it? Religion is all man-made delusions.