"Laughing At Religion" Meme Thread

[Sheldon]

That's because like many theists I have encountered, you don't seem to understand that atheism and atheist, are two different things.

lol

The clue is still your inability to understand that atheism and atheist are two different things.

Perhaps the second lol will be a clue for you, Mr. Sherlock, of the fact those strawmen you charge so valiantly ain't waterwheels.

Nope, just looks like your usual vapid nonsense, especially as you have not addressed your error at all. Even after I dumbed it down for you with an analogy. There also is no straw man there, as I assigned no claim to you at all, just pointed out an error in the claim you made. 

I understand atheism just fine, thanks - but thank you for proving that, yet again, 

Then why are you wrongly equating the acts of atheists to atheism? Again I am dubious you recognise the distinction, though the irony of you misrepresenting what I actually said is pretty ironic, both because it reinforces the point you don't know the difference between atheism and atheists, and because that actually is a straw man. 

secularists and atheists have no clue what theists do or don't actually believe because they are too busy thinking they know more than everyone else.

Wrong, theist is a person who believes in the existence of a god or gods, specifically of a creator who intervenes in the universe, the last part is another straw man, two in one post, well done. 

Since you're struggling I will help you out, atheism has no doctrinal beliefs or dogma to follow. Thus your claim about the former Soviet Union made no sense, atheists are to blame for the things they do, atheism is not. It's a fundamental error I have seen many theists make. In stark contrast if a theist goes out and kills someone they believe to be a witch, or buys and owns slaves, because the bible says...well I think even you should be able to join the dots from there. 

[The Grand Nudger]

Conversely, as christianity is a religious ideology with specific, if ever changing, doctrines - the effects of those people compelled by their self described christian conscience to act in accordance with the christian edicts and ethos of any given time or place can be laid directly at the feet of christianity. Case in point being the virulent white nationalism that's come to dominate american christianity and make life shitty or worse for any number of groups marginalized by the same and..not for nothing..themselves as well.

[TheWhiteMarten]

lol


Perhaps the second lol will be a clue for you, Mr. Sherlock, of the fact those strawmen you charge so valiantly ain't waterwheels.

Even after I dumbed it down for you with an analogy. 

You dumbed it down alright, problem is you then went and made it an entirely different statement that was inaccurate. 

I appreciate the attempt, but if you cant do an analogy just stick with blunt language. 

Then why are you wrongly equating the acts of atheists to atheism?

I'm just following the example other posters have set.

[The Architect Of Fate]

I'm just following the example other posters have set.

A standard that can't be applied as has already been explained 

You dumbed it down alright, problem is you then went and made it an entirely different statement that was inaccurate. 

Nope

I appreciate the attempt, but if you cant do an analogy just stick with blunt language. 

Nah his analogy was fine

[Sheldon]

Even after I dumbed it down for you with an analogy. 

You dumbed it down alright, problem is you then went and made it an entirely different statement that was inaccurate. 

I appreciate the attempt, but if you cant do an analogy just stick with blunt language. 

Then why are you wrongly equating the acts of atheists to atheism?

I'm just following the example other posters have set.

More vapid and irrelevant blathering, none of which address the point of your original question:

So when the Soviet Union was in the process of slaughtering priests and monks, destroying churches, and pushing "State Atheism" in schools with the explicit goal of reducing the religious population and creating a new, educated atheist society had nothing to do with atheism?

This is correct, it had nothing to do with atheism, obviously since atheism has no doctrine or dogma. Anyway not much point explaining it over and over if you're too stupid to understand it, or are just dishonestly trolling again.   

FYI, Stalin exploited the superstitious religious beliefs of the people during WWII, the Russian orthodox church were as happy to get into bed with him, as the RCC was to cosy up Hitler and the Nazis, quelle surprise...

I can't make it any simpler than this:

Since you're struggling I will help you out, atheism has no doctrinal beliefs or dogma to follow. Thus your claim about the former Soviet Union made no sense, atheists are to blame for the things they do, atheism is not. It's a fundamental error I have seen many theists make. In stark contrast if a theist goes out and kills someone they believe to be a witch, or buys and owns slaves, because the bible says...well I think even you should be able to join the dots from there. 

No analogies involved, try moving your finger more slowly over the words maybe?

[TheWhiteMarten]

This is correct, it had nothing to do with atheism...

"We are killing you with the explicit goal of making the Soviet Union an atheist society."

"Yeah, but that doesn't have anything to do with atheism."

I stand up and bow at the levels of hypocrisy and stupidity that takes to type with a straight face.

Bravo, mister - bravo.

the Russian orthodox church were as happy to get into bed with him...

That's like saying the Native Americans were happy to get in bed with the American government because the Crow worked with Custard... it is perfectly okay to know jack all about Russian history and not have an opinion like that...

...as the RCC was to cosy up Hitler and the Nazis...

lol

[Belacqua]

TheWhiteMarten

This is correct, it had nothing to do with atheism...

"We are killing you with the explicit goal of making the Soviet Union an atheist society."

"Yeah, but that doesn't have anything to do with atheism."

I think part of the issue here is that you and Sheldon are using different definitions of the word "atheism." 

Traditionally, atheism is the proposition that no gods exist. Using this proposition as a starting point, people may conclude further things. 

For example, if it's true that the Soviets held the belief that no gods exist, then it may well have been a crucial part of their decision-making concerning their ethical and political decisions. So for them, their atheism certainly was an important part of their political program.

Sheldon, however, is using a newer definition of "atheism" which is popular now on the Internet. For him, the word simply means a lack of belief in any god, and implies nothing further. By his definition, if a person says, "I am an atheist," we know nothing except that he lacks belief in certain propositions. 

From this, he concludes that the Soviet atrocities were motivated by something other than simple lack. If atheism is ONLY and ALWAYS simply lack, then it can not lead to further conclusions. 

People who are more familiar with the older definition sometimes call Sheldon's definition "lacktheism." 

I was interested to see that recently the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has been edited to include Sheldon's preferred definition. They call this "psychological atheism." While at the same time reiterating that in philosophy, the standard definition remains "the position that no gods exist." 

Some lacktheists argue that since atheism is a nothing -- merely an empty space where belief might have gone -- then nothing can be concluded from a lacktheist position and no results -- good or bad -- can be attributed to it.

[The Grand Nudger]

Who cares? No gods exist..now what. Go anywhere from that. Conclude your further things™.

[Fake Messiah]

From this, he concludes that the Soviet atrocities were motivated by something other than simple lack.

Soviet atrocities were motivated by a thing called communism - by the paranoia of their leader, Stalin. Thus the main group of people being persecuted in the USSR were other communists who were suspected of not being loyal to Stalin.

[Sheldon]

From this, he concludes that the Soviet atrocities were motivated by something other than simple lack.

Soviet atrocities were motivated by a thing called communism - by the paranoia of their leader, Stalin. Thus the main group of people being persecuted in the USSR were other communists who were suspected of not being loyal to Stalin.

Totalitarian regimes by their very nature, abuse the rights of the people who live in them, regardless of whether the regime is a theocracy or secular. The main difference is that the former provides doctrine and dogma of long standing that already provides archaic moral views that are pernicious. Whereas atheism is simply the lack or absence of belief in any deity or deities, alone it no more motivates me to do anything than my lack of belief in mermaids does. Of course if people keep insisting on how we must live our lives based a magic invisible mermaid they imagine to be real, then I am obliged to respond.