If atheism is not a relgion, why they want to convert everyone!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even theologians don’t argue that a religion should be free of criticism. Rather, they engage in constructive criticism and often lead reform movements. I had the benefit of studying with theologians as an undergrad at a public university. Interesting bunch of people, including the most reasonable atheist I’d ever met. They knew how to discuss religion as both a faith experience and as a social one. No one tried to convert each other, although the department included quite a few converts. It was about trying to understand religious thought and practice, religious institutions, and how religion can be coopted by other systems like governments.
After that year of study, watching what passes for debate on DCUM is like watching 2 year olds play soccer.

Thank you, pp. I’ve had the joy of interacting with Jesuit and Episcopalian theologians, as well as with thoughtful atheists. Having a reasoned discussion between groups that disagree is an exhilarating experience.

DCUM deserves a different metaphor, that of kids in the sandbox hitting each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It seems a bit hypocritical to ignore the problems of Palestine and ISIS?

Okay, so you think it's hypocritical...
And?
So what.
I think it's hypocritical for million-dollar estate having and Mercedes Benz driving pastors to admonish their poor parishioners about how, "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" in order to get them to pay more tithes.
It's a lotta hypocritical shit in this world why should the problems of the Middle East be of more importance than what's going on right here at home?

Al Qaeda killed thousands of people on US soil, so there’s that. But by all means take comfort in your hypocritical but cozy narrative that makes you feel ok about hating on a specific group of anonymous strangers on the internet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They don't want to convert you, they want you to accept the science.

This is so inane. Plenty of religious people accept science. Plenty of scientists are religious. Find a better argument.

What you say is true. That's because they can compartmentalize, i.e., hold two completely different viewpoints in their head at the same time for reasons of their own. Do not pretend the two are actually compatible though, they're not.

You don't know very much about religion, I'm sorry to say.

well then why not explain what you are taking issue with, specifically, instead of making cryptic useless remarks???

Atheist here but I disagree they are not compatible, if by that you mean INcompatible. For scientists who hold religious beliefs, it is simply the fact that the existence of the supernatural cannot be demonstrated scientifically by definition. If there were a scientific demonstration of the existence of God, God would no longer be supernatural--contradiction in terms. Galileo said the Bible is not a scientific text (didn't include, for example, the moons of Saturn) and should not be taken as such.

[Anonymous]

This board has gone downhill so much since the arrival of the Christian martyr troll and the smiley face atheist troll. Those two should be locked in a room together so the rest of us can be left in peace and possibly have a civilized discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On DCUM it is more about telling other people they are wrong, no scientific evidence, blah blah blah, than converting.

Agree about DCUM confrontational behavior (and by all means derail and hurl insults if you’re losing the argument).

Still, isn’t trying to disprove something pretty much the same thing as trying to convert?

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This board has gone downhill so much since the arrival of the Christian martyr troll and the smiley face atheist troll. Those two should be locked in a room together so the rest of us can be left in peace and possibly have a civilized discussion.

Why is it a martyr complex to call out atheist hate on a thread about atheists? I’d get it if this were a thread about something else, like the pro-life parade thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP.

My problem isn't with Christianity as a religion. My problem is with Christianity as a political movement. As a political movement, it deserves to be attacked. As a political movement, it has stepped out into the public forum and is subject to the same criticisms and attacks as any other political movement. You can't have it both ways. You can't be a religion and demand to be free from criticism, AND be a political movement which has entered into the public sphere.

Christians are the majority religion in the US. They shape huge swathes of political policy and control one entire political party. The policies shaped by Christians are hugely detrimental and harmful to women, which is half the US population. Furthermore, their stated religious beliefs -- compassion for the poor and weak -- are completely opposite to the political stances they take. Anti-immigration is profoundly cruel, but the Christian controlled Republican party demands it, despite the injunction to aid the stranger and the foreigner. The Republican policies on gun regulation result in the deaths of many children, despite the injunction that it would be better to hang a millstone around your neck than harm a child. The Republican policies on welfare and assistance does nothing to assist "the least of my brothers." You are revolting hypocrites.

+1 million

This is the core of the criticism.

I have no issue with people doing what they want in their own homes/churches/temples. When you try to INSERT yourself into my life and oppress others then we have a problem. You have overstepped your bounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This board has gone downhill so much since the arrival of the Christian martyr troll and the smiley face atheist troll. Those two should be locked in a room together so the rest of us can be left in peace and possibly have a civilized discussion.

That's cute that you want to attribute all negative and distracting posts down to two individuals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This board has gone downhill so much since the arrival of the Christian martyr troll and the smiley face atheist troll. Those two should be locked in a room together so the rest of us can be left in peace and possibly have a civilized discussion.

Why is it a martyr complex to call out atheist hate on a thread about atheists? I’d get it if this were a thread about something else, like the pro-life parade thread.

Oh honey. Just go hang out with your friend the smiley face atheist. You two are like two peas in a pod.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It seems a bit hypocritical to ignore the problems of Palestine and ISIS?

Okay, so you think it's hypocritical...
And?
So what.
I think it's hypocritical for million-dollar estate having and Mercedes Benz driving pastors to admonish their poor parishioners about how, "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" in order to get them to pay more tithes.
It's a lotta hypocritical shit in this world why should the problems of the Middle East be of more importance than what's going on right here at home?

Al Qaeda killed thousands of people on US soil, so there’s that. But by all means take comfort in your hypocritical but cozy narrative that makes you feel ok about hating on a specific group of anonymous strangers on the internet.

Dude I'm sorry but I'm not tripping off you or your inferences so I don't know what you keep coming at me for.
Lemme remind you one more time since you seem to have some memory issues - I came in late to the discussion to answer a question about why atheists attack Christianity and I explained that my guess with regards to things here in the Western Hemisphere is that folks feel like Christianity is a bully and subsequently focus their retaliation on that religion in particular.
I offered no opinion on the Middle East and you more than welcome to whatever conclusions you wanna draw about the Middle East. By all means do you, but like I said earlier I don't hate.
I got no qualms with people doing their thing and believing what they believe. I'm 46 I've met people from all walks of life of various classes, races, faiths, creeds, colors, genders, identities, educations, sexual preferences, etc. and none of em are perfect. They're all human. The people in every group make mistakes and the people in every group have flaws.
But you know what...I'll be damned if the people in every group aren't all capable of kindness too and the people in every group all have the ability to empathize and they all have the ability to change. That's part of being human also.
So with that in mind - I don't hate.
Life is too short and love is too abundant for me to get caught up in that bullshit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It seems a bit hypocritical to ignore the problems of Palestine and ISIS?

Okay, so you think it's hypocritical...
And?
So what.
I think it's hypocritical for million-dollar estate having and Mercedes Benz driving pastors to admonish their poor parishioners about how, "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" in order to get them to pay more tithes.
It's a lotta hypocritical shit in this world why should the problems of the Middle East be of more importance than what's going on right here at home?

Al Qaeda killed thousands of people on US soil, so there’s that. But by all means take comfort in your hypocritical but cozy narrative that makes you feel ok about hating on a specific group of anonymous strangers on the internet.

Dude I'm sorry but I'm not tripping off you or your inferences so I don't know what you keep coming at me for.
Lemme remind you one more time since you seem to have some memory issues - I came in late to the discussion to answer a question about why atheists attack Christianity and I explained that my guess with regards to things here in the Western Hemisphere is that folks feel like Christianity is a bully and subsequently focus their retaliation on that religion in particular.
I offered no opinion on the Middle East and you more than welcome to whatever conclusions you wanna draw about the Middle East. By all means do you, but like I said earlier I don't hate.
I got no qualms with people doing their thing and believing what they believe. I'm 46 I've met people from all walks of life of various classes, races, faiths, creeds, colors, genders, identities, educations, sexual preferences, etc. and none of em are perfect. They're all human. The people in every group make mistakes and the people in every group have flaws.
But you know what...I'll be damned if the people in every group aren't all capable of kindness too and the people in every group all have the ability to empathize and they all have the ability to change. That's part of being human also.
So with that in mind - I don't hate.
Life is too short and love is too abundant for me to get caught up in that bullshit.

Your post, and the fact that you deleted the history of this side-discussion, speaks for itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This board has gone downhill so much since the arrival of the Christian martyr troll and the smiley face atheist troll. Those two should be locked in a room together so the rest of us can be left in peace and possibly have a civilized discussion.

That's cute that you want to attribute all negative and distracting posts down to two individuals.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some atheists are real jerks to be sure, but the premise of this thread (that atheists "want to convert everyone") is just nonsense.

One nice thing about Buddhism is you don't get pulled into these pointless conversations.

Also to the pp above who said UU doesn't believe in god, that's not true.

UU's have a choice. Some don't believe in God - openly don't believe -- and are as much a part of the ccommunity.as those who believe. There is no dogma that members must accept to belong. No words about a supernatural god that are repeated during the service.

yeah, but it's inaccurate to say UU doesn't believe in God. It does.

Here are the UU's 7 principles. https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles?gclid=CjwKCAiAlO7uBRANEiwA_vXQ-9RecG7x-FLeBYAylKGiZdvGkTQWGnN28qz8emn375OMgx82nCthdhoCdPUQAvD_BwE No mention of god

Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote seven Principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides. We live out these Principles within a “living tradition” of wisdom and spirituality, drawn from sources as diverse as science, poetry, scripture, and personal experience.

As Rev. Barbara Wells ten Hove explains, “The Principles are not dogma or doctrine, but rather a guide for those of us who choose to join and participate in Unitarian Universalist religious communities.”

1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2nd Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some atheists are real jerks to be sure, but the premise of this thread (that atheists "want to convert everyone") is just nonsense.

One nice thing about Buddhism is you don't get pulled into these pointless conversations.

Also to the pp above who said UU doesn't believe in god, that's not true.

UU's have a choice. Some don't believe in God - openly don't believe -- and are as much a part of the ccommunity.as those who believe. There is no dogma that members must accept to belong. No words about a supernatural god that are repeated during the service.

+1 there is no requirement to believe in any God as a UU. In fact, most do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This board has gone downhill so much since the arrival of the Christian martyr troll and the smiley face atheist troll. Those two should be locked in a room together so the rest of us can be left in peace and possibly have a civilized discussion.

That's cute that you want to attribute all negative and distracting posts down to two individuals.

+100

Fine, the two of them have friends. The point is that discussion in this forum has gone markedly downhill since the arrival of the Christian martyr trolls and the smiley face atheist troll(s). Their level of discourse is about the same.