Unashamedly Atheist Post

[gevauden]

An article I ganked from richarddawkins.net

This is a longer version of a topic I was discussing just the other day.
Why should I repsect these oppressive religions

I love the line; All people deserve respect, but not all ideas do.

Comments

[peculia]

Reasons I hate Richard Dawkins:

He is just as militant about his beliefs as the strongest religious zealot, and as convinced that anyone who believes otherwise is wrong. However, he seems gleefully oblivious of this hypocrisy.

I just don't dig on anyone who's all, "My opinion is the only right point of view", really.

[gevauden]

I'm not aware of Dawkins advocating war, suicide bombing or murder in the name of atheism.
Yes, he is convinced that belief in invisible sky-people is wrong and that science is correct, based on evidence. It's not so much about opinions as it is verifiable proof vs faith.

If anyone can offer genuine proof as to the existence of God, Allah, Krishna, Zeus, Odin or leprechauns I'll be the first to convert.

That said, I do agree that he gets rather strident and that's not necessarily the best way to bring people around to oner's way of thinking.

[peculia]

Has he proof that God or any variant thereof doesn't exist?

I think he's disrespectful. I don't like it.

[gevauden]

You can't prove that something doesn't exist.
It doesn't automatically follow that one should assume it does.

Point taken though, he's not particularly polite when dealing with matters of faith. That's one of the things I happen to like about him, he pulls no punches, but I can absolutely understand why others wouldn't like it much.

[peculia]

It's one thing to pull no punches. It's quite another to be rude.

[fornikate]

I think religion is rude too.

[peculia]

Depends whether it's being pushed on you with no regard for what your own feelings are on the matter. I know many people who are religious without being disrespectful of the beliefs of others - just as I know many atheists and agnostics who are the same way.

[fornikate]

Nah, the whole basis of religion is rude if you think about it.

[peculia]

How so?

[fornikate]

Do what I say or you'll burn?
RUDE.

[peculia]

That's a very narrow definition of religion! Are you sure you don't mean 'Medieval Christianity'?

[fornikate]

No, I mean all Christianity! Hello?

[peculia]

Well, Christianity isn't the only religion in the world, and you might find it edifying to read the Gospels sometime.

Oh, and Pope John Paul II of the Catholic church, which is the largest Christian denomination, declared quite some time ago that hell isn't fire and brimstone, but the state of exclusion from God. Splitting hairs, really, but nevertheless, I don't agree with your position.

I should come back when it's not 5 am :P

For the record, I'm agnostic.

[fornikate]

I'm well aware that Christianity isn't the only religion in the world.
Do you want me to explain how I think Islam is rude too or are we done?

[peculia]

Whatever you like, I'm easy.