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RE: Are all atheists this ill-informed about religion?
October 18, 2015 at 9:55 pm
(October 18, 2015 at 9:14 pm)Delicate Wrote: I suppose any theist who has read this part of the forum has to chuckle at how terrible atheist critiques of theism are.
But when the laughter dies down, you're left with a troubling realization: There actually is a huge pool of people on this planet who call themselves atheists and post on the internet, but are less familiar with theism than toddlers with the inside of a quantum mechanics textbook.
Where does one go for actually informed atheistic critiques of religion? I'm feeling my brain atrophy after reading some of the threads here.
I'd agree, But what is troubling, is those who are atheist, who used to be preachers, or who where exposed to the Church and make horrible theological arguments. Where they really taught that poorly, or do they take to attacking distortions and Sunday school theology after becoming atheist?
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RE: Are all atheists this ill-informed about religion?
October 18, 2015 at 9:55 pm
No, you.
"I was thirsty for everything, but blood wasn't my style" - Live, "Voodoo Lady"
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RE: Are all atheists this ill-informed about religion?
October 18, 2015 at 10:02 pm
In all seriousness, instead of bitching about the quality of discourse here, why not attempt to raise it?
"I was thirsty for everything, but blood wasn't my style" - Live, "Voodoo Lady"
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RE: Are all atheists this ill-informed about religion?
October 18, 2015 at 10:02 pm
(This post was last modified: October 18, 2015 at 10:04 pm by Alex K.)
(October 18, 2015 at 9:55 pm)RoadRunner79 Wrote: Where they really taught that poorly, or do they take to attacking distortions and Sunday school theology after becoming atheist?
Ah, sophisticated theology, that most elusive animal! Many claim to have seen it, but if you follow up on the sightings, it's usually just a dressed up pig.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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RE: Are all atheists this ill-informed about religion?
October 18, 2015 at 10:03 pm
(October 18, 2015 at 9:52 pm)Spooky Wrote: (October 18, 2015 at 9:14 pm)Delicate Wrote: I suppose any theist who has read this part of the forum has to chuckle at how terrible atheist critiques of theism are.
But when the laughter dies down, you're left with a troubling realization: There actually is a huge pool of people on this planet who call themselves atheists and post on the internet, but are less familiar with theism than toddlers with the inside of a quantum mechanics textbook.
Where does one go for actually informed atheistic critiques of religion? I'm feeling my brain atrophy after reading some of the threads here.
Odd. I've had exactly the opposite experience here. Most of the Atheists I've met are former theists.
Or like me grew up steeped in religion. Want to know all about Lutheranism? Just ask.
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
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RE: Are all atheists this ill-informed about religion?
October 18, 2015 at 10:06 pm
(This post was last modified: October 18, 2015 at 10:19 pm by Athene.)
(October 18, 2015 at 9:14 pm)Delicate Wrote: I suppose any theist who has read this part of the forum has to chuckle at how terrible atheist critiques of theism are.
But when the laughter dies down, you're left with a troubling realization: There actually is a huge pool of people on this planet who call themselves atheists and post on the internet, but are less familiar with theism than toddlers with the inside of a quantum mechanics textbook.
Where does one go for actually informed atheistic critiques of religion? I'm feeling my brain atrophy after reading some of the threads here. While the atheists on this forum vary in their degree of familiarity with theism, one does not have to immerse themselves in study of theism to know that magic isn't real.
Maybe you should stop pretending you're interested in "informed atheistic critiques of religion" and admit you're only interested in getting people to fall in line with your way of thinking.
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RE: Are all atheists this ill-informed about religion?
October 18, 2015 at 10:12 pm
I'm most definitely curious to hear how atheists, in general, don't understand the Bible or religion, when study after study has shown that we tend to understand it better than the religious people know their own material. As has already been pointed out, what is usually happening when we get this complaint, "You don't understand Christianity at all!", is that the particular Christian making the complaint subscribes to a different version of Christian theology than the one we're describing... there are so many, after all. Rather than say, "No, that's what the Calvinists believe" (or whatever), they claim the reason we're wrong about their version of theology is because we just don't understand Christianity at all.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2...-religious
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/201...s-that-bad
The statement that atheists are typically bad at understanding Christianity reads to me as sheer prejudice and contempt.
Do people make bad arguments against religion here? Of course! There are people making bad arguments FOR religion on religious forums, all the time, and an honest Christian would acknowledge that there are at least as many bitter arguments among the faithful on basic points of doctrine as there are atheists who happen to guess wrong when discussing with a member of a particular denomination, here.
Also, as has been pointed out but bears repeating, many of us are ex-Christians who were quite devout for a number of years, and who have read the Bible while believers and after leaving the faith. To claim that we don't understand the faith we participated in for years is disingenuous, and is just a method of dismissing from your own minds the possibility that we read the same book you did, understood it clearly, and came to a different conclusion about it. Often, objections to our phrasing is based on how we talk about it, post-departure, when we see the ideas we used to cherish in a new light that is not as flattering... you expect us to speak about things in the same accepting and reverent way to which you have become accustomed in your own social/theological circles, and we don't do that, so you write it off as poor understanding. After all, goes the reasoning, if we understood it, we'd be more respectful! It's nonsense, and you should know better.
A Christian told me: if you were saved you cant lose your salvation. you're sealed with the Holy Ghost
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
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RE: Are all atheists this ill-informed about religion?
October 18, 2015 at 10:22 pm
Yup.
"Why aren't you taking the tale of god sending himself down to earth to sacrifice himself to himself in order to save you from himself (thanks, Chad32) seriously?"
As much as Christians like to dance around it, that's the story they want us to treat with respect, if not reverence. It's laughable.
"I was thirsty for everything, but blood wasn't my style" - Live, "Voodoo Lady"
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RE: Are all atheists this ill-informed about religion?
October 18, 2015 at 10:28 pm
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
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RE: Are all atheists this ill-informed about religion?
October 18, 2015 at 10:28 pm
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
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