I somewhat agree, I feel that atheists actually take up two categories. One is the 'religious' atheists, i.e. the people who challenge religious folk about their beliefs regardless of their evidence. Making claims completely unfounded (i.e. there's no God) and stating them as fact? Sounds like religion. The second (and far more likeable kind) is the irrelevant atheist. Irrelevant atheists simply don't believe in a God, nor do they often think about metaphysics or the afterlife. They merely cannot believe anything without evidence and don't really think about metaphysical concepts like God. These are the people who don't fight with religious folk unless openly challenged.craddoke said:I think this is a line of bull - atheism is about accepting the fact that there is no evidence for the supernatural and that reason therefore dictates we live based on the hypothesis that there are no supernatural forces. What you say about a "live and let live" philosophy being superior makes sense on the level of the individual, but communities (local, national, international) also have to decide whether they're going to act as if they believe in the supernatural or not. There is no middle ground since certain policies (e.g., abortion rights, obscenity laws, equal rights) will differ dramatically based on the community's decision. In my opinion, the only ethical choice is for a community to function as an atheistic state (you can substitute "agnostic" if that makes you feel better, but practically there is no difference). I would say that the apparent "aggression" of atheists in recent years is a direct response to renewed efforts by deists (mostly conservative Christians and Muslims) to undermine the atheist foundations of modern government/society.ANImaniac89 said:Atheism is no less a religion then Christianity, it follows are just as willing to shove their beliefs (or lack there-of) down the throats of anyone who dares to have a difference of opinion. and with Atheism it worse because at-least Christians believe that are trying to save the souls of others then they do it.
I'm an irrelevant atheist, by the way, I don't give a shit what your religious beliefs are, unless you're using them to try and suppress, murder, or take advantage of people who haven't choose to be part of your religion.
You want slow paced? Try watching the Redux version of Apocalypse Now, which is pretty much just Heart of Darkness in Vietnam. Also, most of the actors are stoned throughout the movie (including Martin Sheen and Dennis Hopper). The movie was so hard to film that Francis Ford Coppola tried to commit suicide over it. I love the movie though, it's just pure jungle insanity.rabidmidget said:Heart of darkness, I like the themes and ideas in the book, but IT IS SO SLOW PACED.