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Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?
May 20, 2017 at 7:31 am
Some here at AF have expressed puzzlement at why atheist criticize the Abrahamic religions just because we don’t believe in them. One even likened it to his criticizing Zeus.
As I said in th tat thread, if zeusian evangelists tried to get public schools to teach Mr. Olympus and Hades in science classes or a group of them tried to get a law passed saying only those shot by Cupid could get married, it’s very unlikely they wouldn’t have anything to say about it.
Theists teach their respective doctrines as if they were self evident truths. I’ve never heard one say. “This is just my opinion, but I think my god is probably the only true god, and those who disagree are welcome to express their own opinions.”
Yet, these “truths” don’t stand up to close scrutiny, so the theist would much rather not be subjected to scrutiny. Which makes me wonder why they come to an atheist website looking for fiat credulity and act dismayed when they find it not.
The god who allows children to be raped out of respect for the free will choice of the rapist, but punishes gay men for engaging in mutually consensual sex couldn't possibly be responsible for an intelligently designed universe.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
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RE: Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?
May 20, 2017 at 7:47 am
They score Heaven Points™ for testifying before heathens.
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RE: Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?
May 20, 2017 at 8:01 am
(This post was last modified: May 20, 2017 at 8:01 am by Edwardo Piet.)
A lot of people,
Like to criticize things,
That they deem fucking stupid,
Us atheists,
We,
Criticize people's beliefs,
Because we think,
That they're fucking stupid.
This has been "The Dastardly": a poem by Federico Loveheart except not really just kiddin'.
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RE: Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?
May 20, 2017 at 8:12 am
Generally I don't care what anyone believes. They can believe they're a talking mushroom if it gets their rocks off. It's when they insist the things they believe are real and offer them up for critical evaluation that I get to criticise. Double if they insist that I should think they're real too.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?
May 20, 2017 at 8:18 am
(This post was last modified: May 20, 2017 at 8:19 am by Alex K.)
Is it a good enough reason that I find it worrisome if large swaths of the population live in some kind of fantasy world? Why should I not care about that?
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: Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?
May 20, 2017 at 8:34 am
Religious beliefs are, in the main, dangerous and inimical to personal and societal freedom. Far too many religious tenets boil down to 'This you must not read, this you must not see, this you must not ask, this you are forbidden to know.' If given its head, the end result of such a mindset is tyranny and oppression.
I find that sufficient reason to criticize.
Boru
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson
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RE: Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?
May 20, 2017 at 8:37 am
(May 20, 2017 at 8:18 am)Alex K Wrote: Is it a good enough reason that I find it worrisome if large swaths of the population live in some kind of fantasy world? Why should I not care about that?
I'm comforted by the fact that most people in the US who say they are religious are lying. They care about TV, beer, and football.
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RE: Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?
May 20, 2017 at 8:47 am
And Poo! hehe
No God, No fear.
Know God, Know fear.
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RE: Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?
May 20, 2017 at 9:08 am
Religious beliefs can be a sign, if not an actual cause, of impaired critical thinking. It depends on the severity of course; however such impairment can lead to, or at least imply, a lack of critical thinking in other areas, which leaves a person ripe for fleecing by those out to capitalise on the gullible. That's largely how Trump happens.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?
May 20, 2017 at 9:15 am
(May 20, 2017 at 8:37 am)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote: (May 20, 2017 at 8:18 am)Alex K Wrote: Is it a good enough reason that I find it worrisome if large swaths of the population live in some kind of fantasy world? Why should I not care about that?
I'm comforted by the fact that most people in the US who say they are religious are lying. They care about TV, beer, and football.
But they care about them with a religious devotion, so it comes to the same thing.
Boru
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson
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