Atheism Vs. Anti-Theism

[gigiboyb]

I dont think it is really possible to summarize it, because you have to start at the beginning and buold from there to have any idea what hes talking about. To start, essentially is the notion that the universe is far too complex to have not been intelligently designed. If you want to really understand, I would suggest you pick up a copy of the book and read it.

I also want you to realize that I am not set in my ways. I was born Christian, and only started going to church at about the age of 12, under my own decision. I'm 15 about to be 16, and I am always trying to keep an open mind.

 

[Jark212]

I would say that I am a Athiest, but i strongly believe that everyone has the right to believe what they want as long as they don't ever try to FORCE there beliefes on others. I'll sit and say grace with other people because it's polite (and i'm tired of hearing there BS). Even some of my Christian friends know my beliefs they say that I'll go to heaven because i'm apparently a good person (I took that as a complement). No matter how stupis I thiny your religion is I will always respect it (scientology not included, nor any religion that advocates violence agenst innocent people)

- I was raised as a Chalothic(cant spell) but i jumped off that boat.

-Pro Tip: try not to bring up religion... ever in real life.

 

[stompy]

If you had a Muslim over for dinner, would you cook steak and ask him to eat it? I don't think so. Do you know why you wouldn't do that? Because it's against his religious beliefs. Just like praying would be against my lack of beliefs. It's actually you who would be being disrespectful for expecting me to pray.

Pro-tip: Muslims can't eat pig-based products, not cow-based. I think you've mixed up Hinduism and Islam.

 

[gigiboyb]

The thing that annoys me most though, is when people ask me why I believe in God. I acutally conjure up a compelling and logical argument, only to either walk away, or make some sort of snarky stupid comment about how my argument makes no sense without giving any reason.


EDIT: LIKE RIGHT NOW

 

[Jobz]

If you had a Muslim over for dinner, would you cook steak and ask him to eat it? I don't think so. Do you know why you wouldn't do that? Because it's against his religious beliefs. Just like praying would be against my lack of beliefs. It's actually you who would be being disrespectful for expecting me to pray.

Pro-tip: Muslims can't eat pig-based products, not cow-based. I think you've mixed up Hinduism and Islam.

Son of a...Fuck...oh well. Fixxd.

 

[Alex_P]

The thing that annoys me most though, is when people ask me why I believe in God. I acutally conjure up a compelling and logical argument, only to either walk away, or make some sort of snarky stupid comment about how my argument makes no sense without giving any reason.


EDIT: LIKE RIGHT NOW

Well, to be fair, you haven't really posted your argument yet at the moment, you've just referenced a book. And the person engaging you already thrown out a link of his own, too. So, I think you're reaching a bit here.

-- Alex

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

Wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more say no more!

Nod's as good as a wink to blind bat, eh? Eh?

Anyway, the premise for this thread is flawed. "Anti-theists," as you put them, are still atheists. You can't escape that any more than Christians can escape that dicks who happen to be Christians are still Christians.

This thread should have been about the real, common enemies: dicketry and douchebagery. Seems to me it would have been so if you weren't selling anything.

 

[Rankao]

So what does science say on how I should treat people?

 

[Hunde Des Krieg]

because i think that people that believe in a God have made a stupid choice.... it's that simple.

I just dont see how you could not have made a stupid choice such as believe of god with the mountain of evidence against it, and the complete lack of evidence for it.

No one has provided a good argument for God based on LOGIC and FACTS.

That simple, if you believe in god, you are somewhat stupid.... regardless of intelligence.

Einstein was a dumbass too : )

you don't seem to understand why most people are religious, it is not because they choose to, it is because they are taught to, by their parents like their parents were taught and so on and so on. they are taught that it is fact and because of this they don't like to change their minds, most people don't like to admit they are wrong even if the evidence is in their face, that is why they argue, people don't like setting up a belief system only to have to change it. oh and einstein was a genius, probly a helluva lot more intelligent than you will ever be. oh and the people that are born again or converts... they are the dumbasses

 

[The Overmatt]

Jobz, I could high-five you for making this thread.

I'm a Christian, born and raised (Ukrainian Orthodox if you wanna get into the nitty-gritty), and I've always been taught 2 rules above all else: "Live and let live" and "Love thy neighbour." As a result, I have never once tried to force my beliefs onto anyone else, and I fully respect a difference of opinion that anyone at all has. Hell, I think a bunch of the other faiths have some great ideas behind them, I'm just going with the one that works for me. Oh, and I believe in evolution.

A good majority of my friends, however, claim to be atheists, but if a discussion regarding religion ever comes up, they'll quickly dissolve into anti-theism. A particular instance was when one girl, let's call her Anne, I know was rambling about how all faiths are populated by bigots who just want to force their beliefs onto others, and went to some great lengths to make sure Christians were at the front of her rant. I looked at her and said that I didn't particularly appreciate her attacking my faith when, last time I checked, I've never done so to her and have been a pretty good friend. Anne then starts going on about how "Your religion is fucked up" and "they're all pushy" and "I don't know why you follow them." I then stop in my tracks and go "Anne, you were just bitching about Christians trying to force their beliefs on you for the past 10 minutes, and now look at what you're doing right here. Would you mind terribly if I put a big sticker with the word 'HYPOCRITE' on your forehead?"

The point is, it's the anti-theists that I think ruin atheism for people just as the evangelicals and extremists ruin other faiths.

 

[The Overmatt]

Jobz, I could high-five you for making this thread.

I'm a Christian, born and raised (Ukrainian Orthodox if you wanna get into the nitty-gritty), and I've always been taught 2 rules above all else: "Live and let live" and "Love thy neighbour." As a result, I have never once tried to force my beliefs onto anyone else, and I fully respect a difference of opinion that anyone at all has. Hell, I think a bunch of the other faiths have some great ideas behind them, I'm just going with the one that works for me. Oh, and I believe in evolution.

A good majority of my friends, however, claim to be atheists, but if a discussion regarding religion ever comes up, they'll quickly dissolve into anti-theism. A particular instance was when one girl, let's call her Anne, I know was rambling about how all faiths are populated by bigots who just want to force their beliefs onto others, and went to some great lengths to make sure Christians were at the front of her rant. I looked at her and said that I didn't particularly appreciate her attacking my faith when, last time I checked, I've never done so to her and have been a pretty good friend. Anne then starts going on about how "Your religion is fucked up" and "they're all pushy" and "I don't know why you follow them." I then stop in my tracks and go "Anne, you were just bitching about Christians trying to force their beliefs on you for the past 10 minutes, and now look at what you're doing right here. Would you mind terribly if I put a big sticker with the word 'HYPOCRITE' on your forehead?"

The point is, it's the anti-theists that I think ruin atheism for people just as the evangelicals and extremists ruin other faiths.

 

[The Overmatt]

Friggin browser, sorry for the double post.

 

[Vigormortis]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I praise anyone who can put faith in something. Faith is a very powerful, motivational tool that can give one's life meaning and structure. Religion on the other hand, is one of humanity's worst creations. Religion enables a small group of people, usually through interpreting a text written by someone centuries ago, to manipulate and control a larger group through their beliefs. They tell them how to think, how to act, and what is right and wrong. The latter would ordinarily be viewed as a good thing, but unfortunately most religions consider anything that brings change or raises questions in the face of their beliefs to be wrong and therefore shun these ideas and consider them blasphemous. Just look at the drama surrounding evolution.

I'm an atheist. Always have been, always will be. I, however, am not in any way an anti-theist. I have had many a discussion with any number of people on this very topic, many of whom were devout theists. However, I never used these discussions as an opportunity to bash them for their beliefs. On the contrary, I used them as a way to enlighten them so that they realized they didn't need church or a religion to believe in their respective faiths. I would explain that, if they truly believed in a deity that created us, then they should accept that this deity would want us to learn, grow, and expand our knowledge and that science is the way to do this. I've had many of them truly open their minds and become much more accepting of things their religion would otherwise have told them to fear and shun. Many of them even stopped going to church, yet held onto their beliefs. Though they did start to reassess those beliefs. Not so much question whether they were wrong in their faith, but wrong in the interpretation of those beliefs.

?It may be that our role on this planet is not to worship God, but to create him.?
?The greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion.?
?Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware, the non-existence of Zeus or Thor - but they have few followers now.?
- all quoted from Arthur C. Clark

 

[Good morning blues]

So what does science say on how I should treat people?

You say that as if science is the opposite of religion.

 

[God's Clown]

I'm more or less an Agnostic. I believe there MIGHT be a higher power, but I honestly believe he does nothing for the human race. He could have made us, did his thing, and just let us go, kinda like a video game with kick ass graphics and great A.I.

I cannot believe in a specific religion because a large portion of wars have been started based off religion. Honestly, when I think of religion, I think of the massive amounts of racism, massive amounts of murder, and massive amounts of discrimination, all under "Gods" name, like it honestly makes it righteous. Southpark got it right if there is a heaven, gonna be like 10 people in heaven, everyone else in that hell place.

/endrant

 

[Nordstrom]

I didn't make it through the rest of the thread but the opening post was a class act. I'm an atheist surrounded by Christians and the particular group I'm in is a pretty tolerant lot. On a personal level, I don't run into the the problem a lot but people do get confused about me not being raving mad against Christians. Some people don't understand why I don't live up to the typical atheist caricature. I deeply appreciate the distinction between atheists and anti-theists and I'm considering taking up the terminology.