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"5 stupid things about atheists"

Leumas said:
The one that lines up with what atheists who have arrived at their atheism through a process of learned erudition and a long process of study and inspection of theology and scriptures and literature on the subjects of religion and gods?




Or the one preferred by atheists who have arrived at their atheism through a gastrointestinal movement?
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Since you're so big into rationalism, I'm sure you can provide evidence to support these assertions.
 
Quite a few posts have been moved to Abandon All Hope. They contained more useless bickering than substance. I'm reasonably certain bickering was not among the 5 stupid things and not in line with the topic of this thread, so please refrain from repeating such a digression.
Replying to this modbox in thread will be off topic  Posted By: jsfisher
 
Squeegee Beckenheim said:
I find it more credible that atheists are a diverse group and that there are some who are smug, arrogant and rude, some who are not, a whole bunch who are in-between both in terms of degrees of smugness, arrogance and rudeness and in terms of what percentage of the time they exhibit those attitudes, and that you will find people from all over this spectrum in each of the categories that you describe. I would suggest that finding any particular category to be filled exclusively with only one type of person and the other category to be filled exclusively with only one other type of person is more likely to be the result of confirmation bias than of an impartial assessment of the facts.
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While there are certainly atheists who are rude, arrogant, and all those other things, I have found them to be the minority. The majority of atheists are nice people, just like any other group. However, since we live in a society that takes the existence of God as a given, anybody who dares to say that is not true is going to be considered rude and arrogant for simply standing up to a dominant belief. A dominant belief that is the most sacred of sacred cows.

There was a time when I thought two men kissing was obscene and disgusting. Over time, though, my attitude changed, and now it's not such a big deal. Sometimes I will see two men kissing and even get that "aaaawww!" heartwarming feeling I get when I see a woman and a man kissing. It's unlikely that my attitude would've changed if society had remained at the same level of homophobia, though.

Similarly, over time people will become less and less enraged over atheists' "rudeness" and "arrogance". Being an atheist will become less controversial.
 
The Greater Fool said:
Again, I am a faux atheist. Great.

Damn those sophistry game players at Mirriam-Webster:

atheism

noun athe·ism \ˈā-thē-ˌi-zəm\

Definition of ATHEISM

1
archaic : , wickedness​
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Not to derail the thread, but how are our chances of getting the fundamentalists to understand that "archaic" means that it is inappropriate to use the word that way?
 
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Axiom_Blade said:
While there are certainly atheists who are rude, arrogant, and all those other things, I have found them to be the minority. The majority of atheists are nice people, just like any other group.
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This doesn't really address what I said.

However, since we live in a society that takes the existence of God as a given[...]
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Speak for yourself.
 
Ladewig said:
Not to derail the thread, but how are our chances of getting the fundamentalists to understand that "archaic" means that it is inappropriate to use the word that way?
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Sorry, I don't have an answer. Fundamentalists don't seem to pay attention to much that doesn't come from within their in group.

Perhaps it's best to work on the vast middle ground of (hopefully) reasonable folk.
 
pgwenthold said:
Of course atheists think atheism is better better fits the available evidence than theism. If they didn't, they wouldn't be atheists, would they?
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FTFY.

And yes, any worldview which depends upon the edicts of (generally unlikable) mythological characters is objectively less helpful, predictive and sane than one that relies on empirical evidence and rational thought.

As was said (essentially) in a great Ted talk which I cannot be bothered to look up at the moment: Not all opinions are equally valid.

ETA: But when translated to the YouTube comments section, it generally takes the form of: U theists are sooooo dum I dont even no where you guyz get this stuff. They're so many reasons jebus is stoopid and the Invisible Unicorn is write. dont u no the bible has been scientifically proven false?

Yes, as my T-shirt says: "Christianity is dumb. Give up," but I don't need the YouTube atheist task force making the argument.
 
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One other thing.

Atheism is an inherently rude position to take in our society.
There is no way to say: "You believe in myths." that isn't condescending.
 
Varanid said:
One other thing.

Atheism is an inherently rude position to take in our society.
There is no way to say: "You believe in myths." that isn't condescending.
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Yeah, if you say it like that. "I don't believe in gods" isn't condescending, though. Having said that, atheists' position is that theists are wrong, and nobody likes to be wrong, no matter how polite you are.
 
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Axiom_Blade said:
Yeah, if you say it like that. "I don't believe in gods" isn't condescending, though. Having said that, atheists' position is that theists are wrong, and nobody likes to be wrong, no matter how polite you are.
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And Theist will equally point at Atheists and say the same thing. The reality is it does not matter either way. We all follow our paths for our reasons, and I personally don't think anyone has the right to judge others wrong on that basis.
 
jsfisher said:
Quite a few posts have been moved to Abandon All Hope. They contained more useless bickering than substance. I'm reasonably certain bickering was not among the 5 stupid things and not in line with the topic of this thread, so please refrain from repeating such a digression.
Replying to this modbox in thread will be off topic  Posted By: jsfisher
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There's reason to believe it should be.
 
Varanid said:
One other thing.

Atheism is an inherently rude position to take in our society.
There is no way to say: "You believe in myths." that isn't condescending.
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As if "you'll burn in hell" is any less?

Beanbag
 
Gawdzilla Sama said:
Your claim is merely an attempt to get atheists to shut the **** up. Good luck with that.
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I don't much care what myths someone believes in. It is how they choose to act on those beliefs and how those choices affect me that I am concerned about.

If I point out that their actions which affect me rely on their belief in myths then all they have to do is provide evidence that I am mistaken. That isn't condescending, it is looking out for my best interests.
 
quadraginta said:
I don't much care what myths someone believes in. It is how they choose to act on those beliefs and how those choices affect me that I am concerned about.

If I point out that their actions which affect me rely on their belief in myths then all they have to do is provide evidence that I am mistaken. That isn't condescending, it is looking out for my best interests.
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And asking for proof, I suspect that would be considered "rude" as well. I know people were treated "rudely" for not believing.
 
Seriously it is simply impossible to be an atheist and not be rude. There is zero way outside of constant apologetics and groveling that we are allowed to express our world view. The second we say what we thing without burying it behind a wave of shame and double speak we're "rude."

Bob: The giant invisible sky wizard says I am the chosen one and I will be taken to a special magical place in the sky where I will live forever while you Ted will burn in hellfire forever! And I demand that my views as to what my giant invisible sky wizard says be given special protection and that you all make accommodations for them and never say anything bad about them!
Ted: Well Bob there's no evidence that the being in question exists...
Everybody on the damn planet: OMG Ted can't you see you are just as bad as he is? Do you have to be some strident? You're both the same!

I've at this point given up and just embraced the evil atheist label. Yes Dawkins, Harris, Dennet, Jillette... these are exactly the same as religious extremists and we'll all just pretend that's true.
 
Gawdzilla Sama said:
I was 57 before my atheism was an issue to anyone. Before that I wasn't rude to people about their religion, I just didn't care. I learned that this was just making the problem worse.
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And I for one would much rather talk about the things that bring us together rather than the things that can drive us apart. For example what is going to happen during the I-70 derby is far more important to me than your atheism :cool:
 
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