What is your problem with Atheism?

[Mystic]

Atheism undermines the values of Western liberal democracy, such as the existential equality of all human beings, human dignity, and inalienable rights.

Funny. When the church was in power, we had slavery and noble privilege. When doubt came on the scene, we acquired rights and equality. That seems to disprove your point.

That is a very strong point... I would like to see Neo answer this.

And if the Church is from God, I would like to see Catholic_Lady weigh in why it was silent regarding slavery.

[The Grand Nudger]

You might have more than a little bit of splainin to do yourself, Mystic, lol.

[polymath257]

Funny. When the church was in power, we had slavery and noble privilege. When doubt came on the scene, we acquired rights and equality. That seems to disprove your point.

That is a very strong point... I would like to see Neo answer this.

And if the Church is from God, I would like to see Catholic_Lady weigh in why it was silent regarding slavery.

Well, if Islam would reopen the gates of ijtihad, it might regain the splendor it has in the middle ages. But that was before Islam decided to condemn any who actually thought things through.

[Mystic]

Ijtehad must not only be done by some people, it must be done by everyone. This is what I believe and I can support this notion by Quran and hadiths and reason, as I did here: http://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/2350...nd-reason/

[KevinM1]

Secular humanism has never been just because.

It's a small mind indeed that can only perceive value when it's prescribed by an alleged greater authority.

[Alan V]

Atheism makes it as if it's the solution to the divisions and mess of religions, but it's not.  It's just going to lead to more divisions and ignorance.

Religions are a mess- but turning away from the question of religion and just doing away with God, sorry, that is a lazy apathetic way of handling this great divide we have.

You have intelligence. You can sort it out. Just takes effort. A huge hint: the true religion will have similarities yes, but also complete different way of approaching religion than all others that will guide to the straight path for all humans and is the way forward.

And avoiding and not accepting proofs of God just as to do away with the mess of religions, is no better, then the laziness of religious who don't seek the truth and way forward to unite humanity.

Atheists usually point to scientific (evidence-based) naturalism and secular humanism as the ways to unite humanity, not atheism per se.  (No God and no Messiah required.)  We think they represent truth and the way to truth.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Atheism undermines the values of Western liberal democracy, such as the existential equality of all human beings, human dignity, and inalienable rights.

Funny. When the church was in power, we had slavery and noble privilege. When doubt came on the scene, we acquired rights and equality. That seems to disprove your point.

Whole books have been written on the subject. I suggest "The Popes and Slavery" by Fr. Joel Panzer. The Roman Catholic Church was condemning chattel slavery, though not necessarily other forms servitude, since before Columbus.

[Fireball]

I'll get an elevator version from someone moved enough to read it. I expect apologetic blandishments sufficient to bubble up in the soul of any believer and give them a "spiritual" epiphany. Whole books written about what the RCC did (which, BTW, you don't follow) have a bias from smoking the pages of their alleged "good book".   

[polymath257]

Funny. When the church was in power, we had slavery and noble privilege. When doubt came on the scene, we acquired rights and equality. That seems to disprove your point.

Whole books have been written on the subject. I suggest "The Popes and Slavery" by Fr. Joel Panzer. The Roman Catholic Church was condemning chattel slavery, though not necessarily other forms servitude, since before Columbus.

Agreed. But it didn't seem to make much difference until people started working past religious superstitions, did it?

[Neo-Scholastic]

Adoption of an idea need not be fully based on foreseeable outcomes. If one believes atheism to be true then one should embrace/accept what follows from that position, for good or ill. Similarly for Christianity, Hinduism, etc. Christianity asserts that despite natural physical differences in ability, health, intelligence, strength etc. or circumstantial differences in wealth, prestige, power, etc. every human being is existentially equal and deserving of all the dignity afforded to them by virtue of being God's children. Secular humanism has adopted this principle...just because...and could as easily dispense with it...just because.

More arguments from ignorance from you.  If your beliefs are truly dependent on such arguments, than woe be to you.  You also didn't really answer the original complaint.

ETA:  Also, secular humanism is not atheism.

You love to cry fallacy when no argument was made. Just seems to show that your only interest is to be argumentative and not pursue truth.

And yes, it should be obvious that I chose to address my comment specifically to secular humanism, since that is the form of atheism that positively asserts without warrant principles such as human dignity and equality. Many other types of atheists, such as Nietzsche, accept that no such principles are warranted in a godless universe. I consider the later position intellectually honest. Again, it seems like you just want to nit-pick.