MasterDex Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Driving back home yesterday we passed a church with a sign that said "Don't judge others just because they sin differently than you." I thought it was a nice sentiment. I really like that sentiment! One reason I'm not big on organized religion is alot of the "i'm better than you are" attitude some, not all, employ. Yeah, that "I'm better than you are" attitude is my problem with most organised religions. It has to be the churches way and it's the only way and all these other religions are bogus - which completely doesn't fly in India where there's several hundred different sects and cults for several different religions live in relative harmony. P.S. When you said '"I'm better than you are" attitude', did ya not think 'what would be a good phrase that would explain this succinctly?' Personally, I would have gone for "holier than thou", but that's just me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorgi Duke of Frisbee Posted July 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Apparently I'm now being used in marketing material for the church that I worked at two years ago. Does anyone know the best way to ask them to take it down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Contact them and say "take it down please"? That don't work I don't know next step cos I'm unsure of US organizations. (Since "go to a lawyer" is a bit OTT) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Heart Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 "Stop, in the name of the Lord!" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Jack Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 What? How? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TheFlyingGerbil Posted July 9, 2012 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Go and tell them how pleased you are they're using a flaming homosexual in their marketing and that you'll be sure to tell everyone as much. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingGerbil Posted August 8, 2012 Report Share Posted August 8, 2012 Religion, F*@K YEAH!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strangelove Posted August 8, 2012 Report Share Posted August 8, 2012 I hate when something that gets spammed on Facebook actually agrees with me, but a few weeks back someone posted a picture that said(as far as I remember)- People constantly ask God, "why do you let bad things happen to good people?" -God asks you the same question. That was sort of the gist of it. And I kind of agree. Im not a religious person, but this is a sentiment I can get behind. I still think God is a dickhole though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyEthan Posted August 8, 2012 Report Share Posted August 8, 2012 Is that cathedral site real? I can't quite make myself believe it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingGerbil Posted August 8, 2012 Report Share Posted August 8, 2012 as far as I can (be bothered to) work out, it is indeed real. They've also got a bible school, which has some smooth jazz for when you're done rocking out with Jesus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingGerbil Posted September 7, 2012 Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 stay classy, Vatican. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted September 7, 2012 Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 Is this a bit like the whole CofE arms trade stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingGerbil Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 If your religion is worth killing for, start with yourself.— Gerry Duggan (@GerryDuggan) September 12, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorgi Duke of Frisbee Posted September 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Oh yeah, NSFW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercurial Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 (edited) I feel like I am in r/atheism. Edited September 13, 2012 by Dr.Krieger 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorgi Duke of Frisbee Posted September 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 I feel like I am in r/atheism. Heh, sorry if it's been coming on a little strong lately. The video I posted also isn't something attacking religion itself; it's just saying that we shouldn't defend a group that covers up child molestation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldorf and Statler Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 I honestly don't see why so many atheists need to be as strong about their opinion as many christians. In another awkward topic day, I was drinking one night with a cousin my age, my dad and my uncle when the topic of religion came up. My uncle is a very religious man so when my dad told him how I'm still rebellious about religion, I had to calmly sit up and argue with them. Thankfully by the end of the conversation I convinced my dad I didn't leave the Catholic religion because I was being rebellious but because I fundamentally cannot believe in one higher power. I still respect their religion and ask for them to respect mine. I'm not saying there is NO chance about a higher power. Just like atheists use science as their argument, I say that until we can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no higher power we shouldn't say what is and what isn't. We're learning as humans every day and there are still many questions. That's what I believe in. Human achievements. In a span of 100+years we built the plane and now have planes that can break the sound barrier many times. Humans have so much potential and I like to believe we make it possible ourselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Jack Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 The more outspoken Christians tend not to do any favors to Christianity's image during election seasons. Especially those politician motherfuckers. Not really related to what Duke posted but speaking for myself I can say that I usually don't hold any real acrimonious feelings toward Christianity, even if it is a belief system I don't personally subscribe to. When it comes time to pick a president, though, holy shit it makes all the fanatics come out in the worst possible way and it tends to piss me off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuchikoma Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 (edited) IMO the ones who go out and troll Christians (or other religions) and make a point of starting fights with them are not atheists; they are antitheists. It's not that religion is nothing to them - it almost seems it's everything - but instead of loving it, they hate it. That said, I went through such a phase for a while, because one of the few things that will genuinely anger me is proselytization. Those who do it may mean well, but when you deconstruct it, it's telling someone else that they are living their lives the wrong way, particularly regarding some of their most personal beliefs, and that the one doing the preaching (often a stranger) knows better than themselves what is good for them. Put that way, it's deeply, personally insulting and probably explains some of the severe reactions we see to it. Edited September 13, 2012 by fuchikoma 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorgi Duke of Frisbee Posted September 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 People can believe whatever they want to believe. I'm hardly someone who goes out in public and chides people for believing in God; if anything most of the strong anti-religious reactions from people happen because someone mocks/insults atheists or agnostics for not believing in their god or a god, or cretins try to impose their beliefs on others because "God would've wanted it that way". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 I honestly don't see why so many atheists need to be as strong about their opinion as many christians. I honestly don't see why there should be a difference between atheism and any religion in this regard. All camps will have people yelling loudly. It's just how it is. IMO the ones who go out and troll Christians (or other religions) and make a point of starting fights with them are not atheists; they are antitheists. It's not that religion is nothing to them - it almost seems it's everything - but instead of loving it, they hate it. This is exactly as invalid as the arguments that hateful Christians aren't "real Christians", or any similar idea. That said, I went through such a phase for a while, because one of the few things that will genuinely anger me is proselytization. Those who do it may mean well, but when you deconstruct it, it's telling someone else that they are living their lives the wrong way, particularly regarding some of their most personal beliefs, and that the one doing the preaching (often a stranger) knows better than themselves what is good for them. Put that way, it's deeply, personally insulting and probably explains some of the severe reactions we see to it. Here's an anecdote taken from my own personal life. I don't believe ghosts exist. All of my relatives, however, do strongly. This is often discussed openly, when I am present. Oftentimes someone will point a statement or question towards me. Yet, still, if I ever speak about my disbelief in ghosts, the room goes deeply serious and everyone starts acting like I tried to throw them under a bus. They are allowed to freely express their belief, but my opinion is not allowed because it is not in favor with the majority of my family. If this was about Christianity, instead of ghosts, damn right I would hate Christianity. Reasonable? No. Strong emotions like those rarely are. That, I imagine, is where a lot of the animosity comes from. Though I don't have to imagine; having browsed r/atheism in the past, I have seen this written by many of the people who post there. In regards to r/atheism in particular, I think the place serves its purpose as somewhere for people in such situations to let out the bitterness and anger. From what I can tell, most people who post there are not long-term; they tend to move on once they've gotten it out of their system. I feel that hating it and ridiculing it is missing the point. I think it could probably do with not being a default subreddit though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Jack Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Oh god, ghosts? You mean like John Edwards and those ghost hunting shows on tv? I just can't abide that one. If I meet someone who actually thinks that shit is real, I will openly mock them for it. Maybe not the coolest thing to do but I'm sorry, even my tolerance has its limits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuchikoma Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 IMO the ones who go out and troll Christians (or other religions) and make a point of starting fights with them are not atheists; they are antitheists. It's not that religion is nothing to them - it almost seems it's everything - but instead of loving it, they hate it. This is exactly as invalid as the arguments that hateful Christians aren't "real Christians", or any similar idea. "No true scotsman." You're right - I chose the wrong word there. It's not that they're not atheists, it's that they're not just atheists and are not representative of atheists. I think they're as bad for atheism's image as religious extremists of other stripes are to the mainstream of their respective religions. It just annoys me, being one who doesn't believe in higher powers or supernatural phenomena, to be lumped in with what are essentially hate groups because of their high visibility and prominent declarations that they are "atheists." I think "anti-theist" is a far more apt title for the oppositional variety since they are speaking for everyone who identifies as an atheist, even if their militant outlook is in stark opposition to a huge number (I'm thinking a majority) of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faiblesse Des Sens Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 I think it's ridiculous that people can say atheists are one thing or another. It's a lack of faith. It can be for any reason, they can believe anything else they want, and live their lives anyway they want. They just do it without religion. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterDex Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 I can come on pretty strong on the topic of religion, whether I want to or not, as an atheist. I've come to consider that how I, myself, broach and discuss the subject can often be taken as proselytizing when more than anything, I'm usually just interested in hearing the opinions of someone that has differing opinions to my own, so I can broaden my horizons and understand better why religious people are religious or choose to be so. I've also often received a cold reception to when approaching the topic and I believe the perception that many atheists are so vehement regarding their opinions is that for many religious people, religion just isn't something they're willing to discuss because it can be so personal to them - politics is much the same. The problem is that for atheists, at least those like myself, the topic isn't at all sacred. I'm not dismissing the fact that there are people out there who identify as atheists and are complete zealots about it but they're no different to any other religious zealot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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