Atheism's Call to Arms

[Guest]

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[Guest]

Atheism is organizing, and organizing fast. Some of it's more popular organizations including American Atheists, have actually begun recruiting people. At current, billboards like "You know your religion is a myth, you have a choice" have been popping up.

Evangelism is only bad when atheists do it?

Atheism had a rally recently with over 20,000 people. The organizers claimed it was supposed to be positive and not anti-religious, but in reality it turned out too be exactly the opposite. Posters, speeches, especially from very well known and influential people included direct calls to actively and publicly mock and insult the beliefs of the religious. It almost seemed as if they were trying to incite a war between Atheists and Theists.

Correction: Some atheists had a rally. I for one didn't know or care about it. Atheism doesn't have a hierarchy, bureaucracy, or theology the way that Mormonism or even the local non-denominational church does. Atheism is the rejection of God. It's a non-position for most people. So-called "New atheism" is a subset of atheist thought where you should be focusing your criticism.

Theists often already feel as if Atheists are getting their way more and more. Removal of all aspects of theist philosophy and replacing it with Atheist ones.

I disagree. Being a theist is still a de facto requirement in most circles for public service. In addition church's have significant political sway . Atheists are largely invisible politically. Theists are feeling the same shudder that white people in America are feeling: they've been in absolute control for a very long time and are afraid of losing even a bit of political power or social power to impose their will or ideas.

Atheists have been increasingly aggressive with terms like "Sky Wizard and his Zombie Son".

That's an opinion, the same way theists would call atheists "Godless heathens" that have no moral compass/rudder or whatever pejorative of the day is used.

1. Do Atheists want equality and acceptance, or are they instead demanding the destruction and replacement of religion for their "No God" Philosophy.

Depends on the atheist but criticism of religion and the assumption that less religion would be better is assumed if a person is...an atheist.

2. If it is equality, does Richard Dawkins's call to publicly mock and attack, or posters with "Obama is not trying to destroy religion, I am" the kind of behavior that will help create equality for Atheism?

Dawkins is one guy who doesn't speak for atheists. If he wants to destroy religion that's his battle. Email him if you want to discuss his words with him.

3. Are Theists right to be concerned with these behaviors, or are they supposed to smile and nod and take it?

Smile and nod would be fine. What else can theists do besides to continue the battle of ideas.

[_aranyborju]

I'm sorry, but I have to go back to the tired old phrase that atheists are not an organized group, and so in order to get a satisfactory answer you would need to ask someone who bothered to attend the reason rally.

I think that your questions and concerns would be more appropriate for a site like atheistforums(dot)com, or atheistforums(dot)org.

In my experience, most atheists that frequent Mormon-themed discussions boards, still have close relationships with people who are extremely religious, such as family members, former ward members, etc., so their views would not be the same as someone who joins a group whose sole purpose is to end religion as we know it, and has totally disassociated itself from religion.

[_Drifting]

You believe that Atheists should be allowed to do whatever they like within the confines of the law of the land.

See...

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

Now stop persecuting atheists.

[_Corpsegrinder]

"Sky Wizard and his Zombie Son".

I hadn't heard either of those terms until you used them...but then I'm only an agnostic. We're the ones who have to empty the waste baskets and open doors for the full-fledged atheists. It's so unfair.

[_subgenius]

atheists consistently prove their inadequacy, whether it be morally, intellectually, or spiritually...they just can not recognize their shortcomings...and thus compensate with an arrogance that is usually amusing...but eventually is annoying.
Their biggest problem is their failure to understand simple historical facts...like that they are always in the minority and they always end up at the wrong end of the burning stake. Right or wrong, they are eventually purged from the society for which they offer only criticism, for they can offer little else....and barnacles eventually get scraped off.
They lack the malleable quality that religion offers, and thus are marked for demise out of the gate...the ability to adapt to their surroundings, an attribute found to be successful in evolution but is ironic in the atheist's inability to possess such a trait.
Never the less...the quasi-tolerant society we live in will allow for their nothing-better-than-a-star-trek-convention gathering because ultimately they pose about as much influence and/or threat...simply because their "doctrine" relies on science fiction and sexual fantasy. The rest of us just hope they eventually "grow" out of it, because they are like our kids...going through a rebellious stage where you really want to "kill them" but you know they are just "learning".

[_just me]

"Sky Wizard and his Zombie Son".

I hadn't heard either of those terms until you used them...but then I'm only an agnostic. We're the ones who have to empty the waste baskets and open doors for the full-fledged atheists. It's so unfair.

I've heard Sky Daddy and Zombie Jesus.

[_Polygamy-Porter]

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I see Bro Skains has adapted quickly to the local PERSECUTED Mormon community of Happy Valley.

Bravo Josh.