Why do some christians get retarded when Atheists call BS?

[_Sam Harris]

Let me start by saying I love Tyler Perry. He created a character named Madea, whose picture I used to have as an avatar. Madea said something wise once....or was it one of her friends?


Anyways....

"I'm 90% saved, it's that other 10% that will bust out and whup your a**, so be careful!'

*Picks up hardbound study Bible*

I wonder what it is that bugs Merc so much about people wanting to equate God with love. Can it be that his piss pitiful worldview is just too small to absorb that?

It's really unmanly to abuse people because you were abused spiritually. It really is. It really, really is. And that's what Merc's problem is.

Dude, I stood up for your right to leave the church without bishop dry-humping your leg. But you need to move on as best you can, and you aren't doing that. You remind me of a friend who once told me that he was going to remain a drunk becuse the process of healing and detoxification was too frightening and painful. How pathetic. I told him to go ahead and kill himself now (my exact words were jump off the Woodrow Wilson), because he was not only hurting himself, he was hurting everyone who loved him.

Merc, you have not brought forth anything close to logic, you cannot hold a rational discussion. All you want is to say that "Gawd is bad, m'kay," and have someone other than PP validate you. When that does not happen, you start another rant thread. You put both feet and one buttcheek in your mouth in your initial assumption/attack on me in your first thread and could not back out of it. So you got mad and your true, hateful, immature nature came out.

Get therapy. That's not BS, that's truth. Truth hurts sometimes. Deal with it and stop sh****g from the brain.

[Analytics]

I wonder though, if you might be the only example that some of the TBM's who post and lurk here have of an Atheist?

I'm not sure what they call themselves, but non-theists on this board include The Dude, Tarski, Mr Coffee and Dr Shades.

Would you consider them all atheists? I'm not entirely sure about that. If so, there are some fine examples on your list!

Edit: I'm not trying to be rude or snotty, but I realize my reply may come across as such. Please edit it in your mind to be a kind, gentle reply as I don't intend to be rude here.

They can call themselves what they want. I think most of them call themselves agnostic except I believe that Mr Coffee calls himself an atheist.

Tarski leaves himself open for the sublimeness of the universe. He is more attracted to Neoplatonism. Perhaps that's the sort of god Einstein believed in. Yet I don't think Tarski would consider himself a deist. Although like Einstein (and Deists) I believe he rejects a personal god. In fact I believe all on my list reject a personal god.

I also think I missed a few such as RenegdeOfPhunk and Sethbag.

As to who is an atheist or who isn't I suppose it's a semantic issue. I'm not sure it's a particularly interestnig discussion. All I care about is what one thinks of the world and what one prefers to be addressed as.

[_Sam Harris]

I wonder though, if you might be the only example that some of the TBM's who post and lurk here have of an Atheist?

I'm not sure what they call themselves, but non-theists on this board include The Dude, Tarski, Mr Coffee and Dr Shades.

Would you consider them all atheists? I'm not entirely sure about that. If so, there are some fine examples on your list!

They can call themselves what they want. I think most of them call themselves agnostic except I believe that Mr Coffee calls himself an atheist.

Tarski leaves himself open for the sublimeness of the universe. He is more attracted to Neoplatonism. Perhaps that's the sort of god Einstein believed in. Yet I don't think Tarski would consider himself a deist. Although like Einstein (and Deists) I believe he rejects a personal god. In fact I believe all on my list reject a personal god.

I also think I missed a few such as RenegdeOfPhunk and Sethbag.

As to who is an atheist or who isn't I suppose it's a semantic issue. I'm not sure it's a particularly interestnig discussion. All I care about is what one thinks of the world and what one prefers to be addressed as.

All of the people you listed are people who are far more at peace than the individual who started this thread and his bedmate. There is nothing wrong with not believing in God, there is something wrong with thinking that those who do are mental, and most definitely vice versa. I have no problem with constructing new anuses on religionists who like to persecute those who choose not to participate in theism.

[_asbestosman]

All of the people you listed are people who are far more at peace than the individual who started this thread and his bedmate. There is nothing wrong with not believing in God, there is something wrong with thinking that those who do are mental, and most definitely vice versa. I have no problem with constructing new anuses on religionists who like to persecute those who choose not to participate in theism.

I thought Mr. Coffee said he more or less agreed with Merc although perhaps I misunderstood.

In any case I also agree that persecuting those who do not believe in God is morally wrong (heh, even if God commands it and I go to hell for opposing). My personal stance is that everyone should be allowed to believe what they will even without evidence. However, one must not create laws without good evidence even if the majority agrees (the boohs for tyrrany of the majority). And as for guilt-trips for not agreeing with the majority, I just throw it right back on them. While I despise shunnig, I think it is a person's right to shun as far as social life goes.

[_Ren]

There is nothing wrong with not believing in God, there is something wrong with thinking that those who do are mental, and most definitely vice versa. I have no problem with constructing new anuses on religionists who like to persecute those who choose not to participate in theism.

Well, you can get one clear 'Amen' from an atheist on that! :)
I think you've handled yourself admirably GIMR. My hat (that I'm not actually wearing) goes off to you.

I kinda get the impression that Mercury probably is justifed in his 'attitude' to an extent. I just think he's taking it out on the wrong targets. Targets that don't deserve it. At all. (Just my opinion mind. There's probably a history here that I'm ignorant to...)
I mean, to maybe get some insight into what might motive such resentment - 'God' knows that some theists just drive me up the wall. With constant insinuations that I can't be moral without a belief in God. That I'm just as likely to murder someone as give them the time of day. That the religious are de facto more moral than the non-religious.
And it doesn't seem to matter what argument you put forward. It won't matter. The desision has already been made...
And that kind of attitude DOES breed resentment. Also, it can cause some to say 'Well, if your saying I am simply obliged to act up, then hey - watch this...!'

I mean, it was only back in the 80's that Bush Sr. made that utterly shocking and deeply moronic comment about atheists and citizenship. I doubt any respectable politician would ever get away with making such a statement today - so I'm sure that indicates things are moving in the right direction, but still. I think that kind of sentiment is still VERY strong - especially in the US. I get the impression that the term 'Atheist' is still very much a dirty word for many.

I do think I have a bit more luck in this specific regard, living in Britian. It seems pretty clear to me that it's much easier to be an atheist here - generally. If I were to live in the US, then who knows. Maybe I'd be far more bitter and lash out more. Maybe, maybe not...

But anyway, not that any of this is meant to justify anything. I just think it's important to perhaps try and see where the underlying issues might be really at. I may not be on the mark at all, but some stuff to think about anyway.
Besides, I don't think someone like GIMR needs any defense from me. Looks like she's more than capable of kicking arse all by herself ;)


asbestosman,
Hi mate :)

Dawkins made an argument in 'The God Delusion' that Einstien's beliefs would be most accurately catagorised as 'pantheist' (I'd have thought a naturalist pantheist would be even more accurate). I tend to agree...

On the distinction between agnostic and atheist, it is possible to be both agnostic and atheist at the same time. That's what I consider myself certainly - an agnostic atheist. i.e. I don't believe there is a God, but at the same time I don't know there isn't a God.

I actually think that a heck of a lot of theists should - technically - carry agnostic quantifiers too. And it's always a bit amusing to me that atheists are somehow more 'required' to make their agnostisism clear than say, a theist is... At least, that's if the atheist is being 'reasonable'!
(Again, at least some seem to see it that way. I'm not making any blanket statements...)


Just incase anybody doubts my atheist crudentials - I do agree with Mercury that seeing the inspection of 'love' as somehow comparable to the inspection of 'God' isn't accurate. Love - to me - is a behavioural pattern. It's observable. It is quantifiable. When you see the behaviour of 'love', it is between at least two known, observable entities.
'God' doesn't meet any of the above criteria.

But here's my ending statement: 'It's just a difference in opinion'. I've got no interest in 'going to war' over it...
Some things ARE worth going to war over. But the issue of 'God' ain't one of them.

[Guest]

Hi. I'm a non-theist on this board as well. My name is barrelomonkeys. I would add beastie to that list as well.

I know it's hard to remember us because we're not men.

RoP, I too get a little irritated when those that belong to a religion think that qualifies them to make determinations about my character. You and I had a lovely conversation with Ray about this very topic. I usually ignore these people and don't quite understand why they connect religiosity with upstanding morals.

After watching many theists who are rude, obnoxious and cruel I conclude that this superiority actually does not reside in any idea that they treat their fellow humans better than non-theists. I've concluded that some believe they are superior because they have a personal God that tells them that they are allowed to be hateful.

Now on this board I watch some nontheists who are rude, obnoxious, and cruel.

[_Ren]

Hey barrel.

I know it's hard to remember us because we're not men

Ouch! :D

After watching many theists who are rude, obnoxious and cruel I conclude that this superiority actually does not reside in any idea that they treat their fellow humans better than non-theists. I've concluded that some believe they are superior because they have a personal God that tells them that they are allowed to be hateful.

Now on this board I watch some nontheists who are rude, obnoxious, and cruel.

Indeed. It's almost like belief or non-belief has nothing to do with it...
....hmmmm....

[_barrelomonkeys]

Indeed. It's almost like belief or non-belief has nothing to do with it...
....hmmmm....

Bingo!

[_Mercury]

I wonder though, if you might be the only example that some of the TBM's who post and lurk here have of an Atheist?

I'm not sure what they call themselves, but non-theists on this board include The Dude, Tarski, Mr Coffee and Dr Shades.

Would you consider them all atheists? I'm not entirely sure about that. If so, there are some fine examples on your list!

They can call themselves what they want. I think most of them call themselves agnostic except I believe that Mr Coffee calls himself an atheist.

Tarski leaves himself open for the sublimeness of the universe. He is more attracted to Neoplatonism. Perhaps that's the sort of god Einstein believed in. Yet I don't think Tarski would consider himself a deist. Although like Einstein (and Deists) I believe he rejects a personal god. In fact I believe all on my list reject a personal god.

I also think I missed a few such as RenegdeOfPhunk and Sethbag.

As to who is an atheist or who isn't I suppose it's a semantic issue. I'm not sure it's a particularly interestnig discussion. All I care about is what one thinks of the world and what one prefers to be addressed as.

All of the people you listed are people who are far more at peace than the individual who started this thread and his bedmate. There is nothing wrong with not believing in God, there is something wrong with thinking that those who do are mental, and most definitely vice versa. I have no problem with constructing new anuses on religionists who like to persecute those who choose not to participate in theism.

Heres a book written by a famous scientist, you know, those people who use evidence based approaches to solving the worlds problems:



the state of mind one has togo into boggles the mind. More so religion it is a societal problem.

[_Mercury]

All of the people you listed are people who are far more at peace than the individual who started this thread and his bedmate. There is nothing wrong with not believing in God, there is something wrong with thinking that those who do are mental, and most definitely vice versa. I have no problem with constructing new anuses on religionists who like to persecute those who choose not to participate in theism.

I thought Mr. Coffee said he more or less agreed with Merc although perhaps I misunderstood.

In any case I also agree that persecuting those who do not believe in God is morally wrong (heh, even if God commands it and I go to hell for opposing). My personal stance is that everyone should be allowed to believe what they will even without evidence. However, one must not create laws without good evidence even if the majority agrees (the boohs for tyrrany of the majority). And as for guilt-trips for not agreeing with the majority, I just throw it right back on them. While I despise shunnig, I think it is a person's right to shun as far as social life goes.

Yes, no one understands me and i am a poor little alone atheist. Why, ever do I share my opinions with those who would rather call me insane than actually respond to my questions. This conversation got off bad very early when GIMR, in typical christian fashion took the questions I posed very forthrightly and instead gave me....drumroll...A QUESTION!!!!!!

I ignorantly took the bait and instead of calling her BS and failure to elaborate and differentiate faith from knowing she gave me a stupid ass quesetion that tried to equate God with Love. God, last time I checked was a hateful son of a bitch. Any christian who says otherwise rejects so much of their faith, they might as well be called Unitarians.