Ex-theists are often like ex-smokers, sanctimonious and insufferable.

[Whateverist]

The analogy of the opening post is way off.  Religious people murder people every day.  They discriminate against people every day.  It is right and proper to fight against such things.

If religious people did not affect others with their poison, then tolerating them would be fine.  But those fuckers are all about fucking over other people, and they should be stopped.

That is some pretty loose talk for you.  Every religious person murders people and discriminates every day?  Therefore everyone of the mofo's should be opposed at every step?  They're all poisonous.  

Meanwhile those who are not religious never murder or discriminate.  They're never poisonous.

What really have you justified?

[abaris]

Of course the good deeds done due to religion count.  Now, tell me, how many good deeds does it take to balance against a beheading?

I've no problem recognizing something good being said or done by religious people or groups. And I call out the bad things that are said and done by religious people or groups. It's not an equation of good vs evil, it's welcoming everyone fighting for the same cause, even from an unexpected corner, and picking one's fights.

[Salacious B. Crumb]

I think everyone has made a good point here. I don't feel that religion should be stopped per se, but it needs to be combatted and ridiculed at every necessary opportunity, and be made known why such acts of evil were committed in the first place.

[Whateverist]

People of all beliefs and backgrounds do that everyday. How are religious people special? If you accept the idea that religious people do harm because of religion, then are you ready to accept the balance by good deeds done by religious people, or do you think only bad deeds count? How does that work?

Of course the good deeds done due to religion count.  Now, tell me, how many good deeds does it take to balance against a beheading?  

Edited to add:

When smokers and drinkers start beheading others due to their smoking and drinking, then we can start to talk about how such things compare with religion.  But otherwise, it is a bullshit analogy.

Were you a smoker?

But the problem with balancing the good with the bad the way you're doing it is you are holding each and every religious person responsible for the actions of every other religious person, living and dead.  If you can't see the absurdity of that you need glasses.

[Whateverist]

I think everyone has made a good point here. I don't feel that religion should be stopped per se, but it needs to be combatted and ridiculed at every necessary opportunity, and be made known why such acts of evil were committed in the first place.

I don't do theism so I don't understand what this 'evil' is that must be combated.  Are living theists possessed by the same evil spirits which animated those who ruled during the inquisition?

[Aroura]

I'm and ex-smoker AND and ex-theist, and I don't feel I do any of those things. And I went to 7 years of private Catholic school, and I was a heayv smoker, so it's not like quitting either was easy.
Kind of offensive presuppositions. Many vocal atheists were never theists. Many anti-theists are also never-theists.

Yes, some people can be sanctimonious pricks. Perhaps the psychological abuse that can be religion causes some peple who get out of it to be more anti.

Do you feel the same negativity for people who escaped cults and are now trying to raise awareness of these things, and save other people from them?

[Cato]

I've noticed the same behavior in religious converts. The always seem to be much more zealous than those growing up in a particular faith.

[robvalue]

The idea that "faith" is a good means to knowledge should be stood up to in my opinion. It's the core of the stupidity and danger of religion. It stands in the way of the progress of individuals and society. Maybe ex theists can see that very clearly and it motivates them.

Obviously I'm not talking about randomly hassling people on the street about it though.

[Whateverist]

I'm and ex-smoker AND and ex-theist, and I don't feel I do any of those things. And I went to 7 years of private Catholic school, and I was a heayv smoker, so it's not like quitting either was easy.
Kind of offensive presuppositions.  Many vocal atheists were never theists.  Many anti-theists are also never-theists.

Yes, some people can be sanctimonious pricks. Perhaps the psychological abuse that can be religion causes some peple who get out of it to be more anti.  

Do you feel the same negativity for people who escaped cults and are now trying to raise awareness of these things, and save other people from them?

No it is always situational and individual.  You don't seem to carry any such prickishliness.  I did edit the OP with the intent of making that clear.  Didn't work?

But there is a pattern and when I see it I want to call it out and say that isn't my atheism.  Just no theism here.  Period.  I'll let others worry about saving the the mortal souls of those who still have their heads buried in the sands of ignorance.

[Whateverist]

It stands in the way of the progress of individuals and society.

But whose version of progress, and will I be celebrating or going underground?  I don't believe there is any perfect teleological goal we as a species are aimed at which the theists are preventing us from achieiving.