Why do Atheists care? Here is one scary reason:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether you are religious or not you should listen to Christopher Hitchens take on this subject. Fascinating and scary. He called it just like it's happening. His main goal in his later life was to prevent anyone's beliefs from intruding in ANY way on anyone else, including running of a country. He also spoke about Thomas Jefferson's reason for wanting separation of church and state which most people think is because Thomas Jefferson was religious and it was the opposite.


I think I found out about this book on DCUM, but "The United States of Hobby Lobby" also goes into the religious right's plans for this country and how many people are working behind the scenes to make this a Christian nation.

Hitchens’ main goal in life was to make money and keep himself in the public eye. He got really intellectually lazy in his last decade. There was a great take-down of him in The Atlantic, hardly a conservative rag. I’m not talking about the guy who claimed, obviously falsely, that Hitchens left atheism.

This is really not true, and even if it were an intellectually lazy Hitchens is still eons above the intellect of the vast majority. People from the left turned on him because of his views on the Middle East, which I disagree with also. He was even famously heckled by the crowd on the Bill Maher show and he gave them the finger in return. Not his finest moment. But if you read his later books and watch the debates and speeches he had when he was sick from chemotherapy he was still extraordinarily brilliant .

So I reject the premise of your claim as the evidence points against it.

It wasn’t my claim. It was the claim of someone who knew Hitchen’s personally and wrote on the same issues. If I have time I’ll dig the article out.

You go ahead and post someone else's opinion if you like. Or, you could offer yours, which would be much more valuable. The problem is you resorted to ad hominem to try and discredit Hitchens by vaguely referring to some un-named article with the blanket claim "got really intellectually lazy in his last decade" when the truth is that's when he did some of his best work.

People post opinions here all the time - their own and others. If others, then I agree that it's best to include source material.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether it actually happens or not is not the concern. The concern is that people are out there actively wanting it, and these people have influence in many many places, at the state, local and federal levels. From school boards to the supreme court. We’ve seen this at all those levels recently and it is terrifying and religion is the core part of the problem.

And before anybody explodes, I’m not saying all religious people are this way. But religion itself is a problem. It’s the 21st-century and we hang onto these beliefs at our own peril.

That kind of black-and-white thinking is equally part of the problem. […]

I consider myself religious, though I don’t attend church. I have never voted for a Republican in my life, I believe in evolution, I’m slowly converting my yard to native plants for carbon sequestration, believe in the separation of church and state, prize the rule of law and I am rabidly feminist and pro choice. Painting all religions as equally bad is weak brained and is unlikely to win you any points on the internet or where it matters.

Are you me? Down to the native plants and rabid feminism? I agree, painting all religions as equally horrible—or any single religion as horrible—just makes the person arguing this look ignorant and bigoted. That line of debate never wins arguments.

I’m the pp you’re replying to; hello internet twin.

Frankly, atheists and agnostics teaming up with the sane churches - those who believe in progress, the separation of church and state, the rule of law, etc - should be the goal. Churches have the organization. Churches have dedicated flocks. Don’t paint everyone with the same broad brush. Just because I consider myself religious doesn’t mean I think God created the Remington bolt action rifle on third day to fight the dinosaurs and the homosexuals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether you are religious or not you should listen to Christopher Hitchens take on this subject. Fascinating and scary. He called it just like it's happening. His main goal in his later life was to prevent anyone's beliefs from intruding in ANY way on anyone else, including running of a country. He also spoke about Thomas Jefferson's reason for wanting separation of church and state which most people think is because Thomas Jefferson was religious and it was the opposite.


I think I found out about this book on DCUM, but "The United States of Hobby Lobby" also goes into the religious right's plans for this country and how many people are working behind the scenes to make this a Christian nation.

Hitchens’ main goal in life was to make money and keep himself in the public eye. He got really intellectually lazy in his last decade. There was a great take-down of him in The Atlantic, hardly a conservative rag. I’m not talking about the guy who claimed, obviously falsely, that Hitchens left atheism.

This is really not true, and even if it were an intellectually lazy Hitchens is still eons above the intellect of the vast majority. People from the left turned on him because of his views on the Middle East, which I disagree with also. He was even famously heckled by the crowd on the Bill Maher show and he gave them the finger in return. Not his finest moment. But if you read his later books and watch the debates and speeches he had when he was sick from chemotherapy he was still extraordinarily brilliant .

So I reject the premise of your claim as the evidence points against it.

https://harpers.org/archive/2022/08/the-enemy-of-promise-christopher-hitchens/

To be clear, I think Hitchens is a great writer and he can be really funny. But when he’s on a rant and resorting to tired stereotypes, not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether it actually happens or not is not the concern. The concern is that people are out there actively wanting it, and these people have influence in many many places, at the state, local and federal levels. From school boards to the supreme court. We’ve seen this at all those levels recently and it is terrifying and religion is the core part of the problem.

And before anybody explodes, I’m not saying all religious people are this way. But religion itself is a problem. It’s the 21st-century and we hang onto these beliefs at our own peril.

That kind of black-and-white thinking is equally part of the problem. […]

I consider myself religious, though I don’t attend church. I have never voted for a Republican in my life, I believe in evolution, I’m slowly converting my yard to native plants for carbon sequestration, believe in the separation of church and state, prize the rule of law and I am rabidly feminist and pro choice. Painting all religions as equally bad is weak brained and is unlikely to win you any points on the internet or where it matters.

Are you me? Down to the native plants and rabid feminism? I agree, painting all religions as equally horrible—or any single religion as horrible—just makes the person arguing this look ignorant and bigoted. That line of debate never wins arguments.

seriously- you could be describing me & I am a hijab wearing muslim and ground all of these beliefs in my religious beliefs. There is no compulsion in belief is an Religious idea that appears in holy scripture. human beings are inclined towards fascination with some sort of idea set, the "religion' gene. there is no way you are going to get rid of this, its part of how humans evolved and how we accomplish living in extreme environments and how we adapt. Cultivating an attitude of good for you but not for me mind set is going to get us further along than a rabid embrace of atheism. Any group that makes you show up and shout that their belief or lack thereof is the Only correct path is on the wrong path. There has to be room for diverse beliefs and lifestyles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether it actually happens or not is not the concern. The concern is that people are out there actively wanting it, and these people have influence in many many places, at the state, local and federal levels. From school boards to the supreme court. We’ve seen this at all those levels recently and it is terrifying and religion is the core part of the problem.

And before anybody explodes, I’m not saying all religious people are this way. But religion itself is a problem. It’s the 21st-century and we hang onto these beliefs at our own peril.

That kind of black-and-white thinking is equally part of the problem. […]

I consider myself religious, though I don’t attend church. I have never voted for a Republican in my life, I believe in evolution, I’m slowly converting my yard to native plants for carbon sequestration, believe in the separation of church and state, prize the rule of law and I am rabidly feminist and pro choice. Painting all religions as equally bad is weak brained and is unlikely to win you any points on the internet or where it matters.

Are you me? Down to the native plants and rabid feminism? I agree, painting all religions as equally horrible—or any single religion as horrible—just makes the person arguing this look ignorant and bigoted. That line of debate never wins arguments.

.

seriously- you could be describing me & I am a hijab wearing muslim and ground all of these beliefs in my religious beliefs. There is no compulsion in belief is an Religious idea that appears in holy scripture. human beings are inclined towards fascination with some sort of idea set, the "religion' gene. there is no way you are going to get rid of this, its part of how humans evolved and how we accomplish living in extreme environments and how we adapt. Cultivating an attitude of good for you but not for me mind set is going to get us further along than a rabid embrace of atheism. Any group that makes you show up and shout that their belief or lack thereof is the Only correct path is on the wrong path. There has to be room for diverse beliefs and lifestyles.

You are making a false equivocation. There is no “rapid embrace quote of atheism. Atheism is what occurs when all the supernatural beliefs are rejected. They are not equal positions

[Anonymous]

Rabid not rapid sorry on phone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether it actually happens or not is not the concern. The concern is that people are out there actively wanting it, and these people have influence in many many places, at the state, local and federal levels. From school boards to the supreme court. We’ve seen this at all those levels recently and it is terrifying and religion is the core part of the problem.

And before anybody explodes, I’m not saying all religious people are this way. But religion itself is a problem. It’s the 21st-century and we hang onto these beliefs at our own peril.

That kind of black-and-white thinking is equally part of the problem. […]

I consider myself religious, though I don’t attend church. I have never voted for a Republican in my life, I believe in evolution, I’m slowly converting my yard to native plants for carbon sequestration, believe in the separation of church and state, prize the rule of law and I am rabidly feminist and pro choice. Painting all religions as equally bad is weak brained and is unlikely to win you any points on the internet or where it matters.

Are you me? Down to the native plants and rabid feminism? I agree, painting all religions as equally horrible—or any single religion as horrible—just makes the person arguing this look ignorant and bigoted. That line of debate never wins arguments.

I’m the pp you’re replying to; hello internet twin.

Frankly, atheists and agnostics teaming up with the sane churches - those who believe in progress, the separation of church and state, the rule of law, etc - should be the goal. Churches have the organization. Churches have dedicated flocks. Don’t paint everyone with the same broad brush. Just because I consider myself religious doesn’t mean I think God created the Remington bolt action rifle on third day to fight the dinosaurs and the homosexuals.

Many, perhaps most atheists, understand that there are differences among Christian denominations. Many of us were Christians once. We also know that many of the sane Christian denominations are dwindling in numbers, so likely do not have enough organization or members to effectively team up with to counteract whatever the crazy christians are up to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether it actually happens or not is not the concern. The concern is that people are out there actively wanting it, and these people have influence in many many places, at the state, local and federal levels. From school boards to the supreme court. We’ve seen this at all those levels recently and it is terrifying and religion is the core part of the problem.

And before anybody explodes, I’m not saying all religious people are this way. But religion itself is a problem. It’s the 21st-century and we hang onto these beliefs at our own peril.

That kind of black-and-white thinking is equally part of the problem. […]

I consider myself religious, though I don’t attend church. I have never voted for a Republican in my life, I believe in evolution, I’m slowly converting my yard to native plants for carbon sequestration, believe in the separation of church and state, prize the rule of law and I am rabidly feminist and pro choice. Painting all religions as equally bad is weak brained and is unlikely to win you any points on the internet or where it matters.

Are you me? Down to the native plants and rabid feminism? I agree, painting all religions as equally horrible—or any single religion as horrible—just makes the person arguing this look ignorant and bigoted. That line of debate never wins arguments.

.

seriously- you could be describing me & I am a hijab wearing muslim and ground all of these beliefs in my religious beliefs. There is no compulsion in belief is an Religious idea that appears in holy scripture. human beings are inclined towards fascination with some sort of idea set, the "religion' gene. there is no way you are going to get rid of this, its part of how humans evolved and how we accomplish living in extreme environments and how we adapt. Cultivating an attitude of good for you but not for me mind set is going to get us further along than a rabid embrace of atheism. Any group that makes you show up and shout that their belief or lack thereof is the Only correct path is on the wrong path. There has to be room for diverse beliefs and lifestyles.

You are making a false equivocation. There is no “rapid embrace quote of atheism. Atheism is what occurs when all the supernatural beliefs are rejected. They are not equal positions

correct

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether it actually happens or not is not the concern. The concern is that people are out there actively wanting it, and these people have influence in many many places, at the state, local and federal levels. From school boards to the supreme court. We’ve seen this at all those levels recently and it is terrifying and religion is the core part of the problem.

And before anybody explodes, I’m not saying all religious people are this way. But religion itself is a problem. It’s the 21st-century and we hang onto these beliefs at our own peril.

That kind of black-and-white thinking is equally part of the problem. […]

I consider myself religious, though I don’t attend church. I have never voted for a Republican in my life, I believe in evolution, I’m slowly converting my yard to native plants for carbon sequestration, believe in the separation of church and state, prize the rule of law and I am rabidly feminist and pro choice. Painting all religions as equally bad is weak brained and is unlikely to win you any points on the internet or where it matters.

Are you me? Down to the native plants and rabid feminism? I agree, painting all religions as equally horrible—or any single religion as horrible—just makes the person arguing this look ignorant and bigoted. That line of debate never wins arguments.

seriously- you could be describing me & I am a hijab wearing muslim and ground all of these beliefs in my religious beliefs. There is no compulsion in belief is an Religious idea that appears in holy scripture. human beings are inclined towards fascination with some sort of idea set, the "religion' gene. there is no way you are going to get rid of this, its part of how humans evolved and how we accomplish living in extreme environments and how we adapt. Cultivating an attitude of good for you but not for me mind set is going to get us further along than a rabid embrace of atheism. Any group that makes you show up and shout that their belief or lack thereof is the Only correct path is on the wrong path. There has to be room for diverse beliefs and lifestyles.

Sorry, I’m not trying to be insensitive or dramatic or unnecessarily critical, but don’t you think that hard-core Islam “makes” you embrace their way? What if you’re a woman in Saudi Arabia or Iran and you’d prefer to wear your head uncovered?

[Anonymous]

Atheist governments mass murder their citizens and commit atrocities on innocent people, unparalleled. I don’t think atheists should be worried. But, perhaps they can move to the countries that mandate state atheism and feel safer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Atheist governments mass murder their citizens and commit atrocities on innocent people, unparalleled. I don’t think atheists should be worried. But, perhaps they can move to the countries that mandate state atheism and feel safer?

There's no such thing as an "atheist government". despite what you claim. If all you have is "Mao and Stalin!" your position is extremely weak and you should probably find a new argument. What the OPs link refers to is the exact opposite - a theocracy, based on the principles of the faith, like they have in Iran and Afghanistan.

Atheism is simply the lack of belief in a god or gods. The lack of belief. End period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Atheist governments mass murder their citizens and commit atrocities on innocent people, unparalleled. I don’t think atheists should be worried. But, perhaps they can move to the countries that mandate state atheism and feel safer?

No one is taking away your religion. You can worship whatever flying spaghetti god you want.

The point is you can’t push your religion on others. And *the government* can’t force your religion on others either.

That is the concern with the religious extremists in the GOP - they want the US to be a “Christian country”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Atheist governments mass murder their citizens and commit atrocities on innocent people, unparalleled. I don’t think atheists should be worried. But, perhaps they can move to the countries that mandate state atheism and feel safer?

There's no such thing as an "atheist government". despite what you claim. If all you have is "Mao and Stalin!" your position is extremely weak and you should probably find a new argument. What the OPs link refers to is the exact opposite - a theocracy, based on the principles of the faith, like they have in Iran and Afghanistan.

Atheism is simply the lack of belief in a god or gods. The lack of belief. End period.

World map showing nations that formerly or currently practice state atheism.



Reallly, those places should be paradise for an atheist. Lack of belief of God or gods in government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That will never happen.

Apparently you are not listening

MTG, BOEBERT, GOSAR, GOMERT, HAWLEY, BROOKS, BRIGGS, COTTON, ETC

Have all said the Republican party will when they take over remeove the Separation of Church and State.

They will do this FACT

[Anonymous]

The definition is wrong. Christian nationalism is the believe that the US was founded on Judeo Christian principles and that these principles are good and helped the US become a great nation.