Atheists most distrusted minority?

[Lain]

Atheists are far from tolerant. They deny outright any possibility of there being a higher power. You just can't do that. Just like you can't prove there IS a god. So why join either camp? Why not just say "I am not sure if there is or is not a god" and be done with it? Why do you have to choose religion or atheism? Agnosticism is the way to go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism

Personally believing that there isn't a God doesn't make you intolerant of people who do. Just FYI.

 

[Azuremen]

Religion tends to teach tolerance? You're joking, right? Because 9/11 is such a great symbol of tolerance...

Because 9/11 was the result of actual Islam You do understand Islam, historically, is far more tolerant than other faiths of The Book? And that was actions taken by politically driven fundamentalists that are no different than the KKK, etc.

I think atheists are more tolerant overall. Most atheists are inactive, and don't care about what other people want to believe in. Religions on the other hand, by their very nature, try to get more people to convert... and it'll sometimes use some downright nasty methods to do so.

Considering how most atheists look down their nose at anyone religious, I don't really see how they are "inactive." The attitude of "religion is for the weak minded" and other greater-than-thou sentiments is amazing - you can see it just looking through this thread. Then you have the science argument, but it doesn't really support atheism anymore than it supports religion; agnosticism is far more rational.

Religions do want people to convert, but the violent methods are the creation of institutions far more than the actual belief. As I said before, just political moves under the veil of faith, which works with masses. Just like how Darwinism was used to justify slave like work conditions and social disparity and inequality.

I recommend you read God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.

Sounds like it has an agenda I'll take a look at it, though I'm not sure what it will give me insight to. I've spent quite a bit of time studying various religions, their history, and how it has played out on the world stage. People far too often point fingers at extreme examples (such as you and 9/11) while ignoring the fact it was driven as much by politics as "Islam."

Personally believing that there isn't a God doesn't make you intolerant of people who do. Just FYI.

Personally believing there is a god doesn't make you intolerant to people that don't. Just FYI.

 

[Exorcet]

Just pointing it out, atheism is the lack in belief in gods. Not the belief that there are no gods.

 

[fitftw]

Just pointing it out, atheism is the lack in belief in gods. Not the belief that there are no gods.

Wait...what? That's the same thing...You're still saying "There is no god" which clashes with religious people who say "YES THERE IS!" Instead of provoking and fighting with each other, why can't everyone just say "you know what, there might be, and there might not be. We can be friendly either way, right?" Well? RIGHT? Why the heck NOT?

 

[Lain]

Because 9/11 was the result of actual Islam You do understand Islam, historically, is far more tolerant than other faiths of The Book? And that was actions taken by politically driven fundamentalists that are no different than the KKK, etc.



Considering how most atheists look down their nose at anyone religious, I don't really see how they are "inactive." The attitude of "religion is for the weak minded" and other greater-than-thou sentiments is amazing - you can see it just looking through this thread. Then you have the science argument, but it doesn't really support atheism anymore than it supports religion; agnosticism is far more rational.

The thing is that these "inactive" athiests aren't the ones looking down on religion. It's the small percentage of vocal, active athiests who take these strong stances against religion. The inactive athiests may not even really care or think about the issue of athiesm vs religion, they just simply don't believe and that's that.

I've got a guy I work with who's very religious, but I don't tell him I think he's a moron whenever he makes a religious remark. And in fact, I've got a lot of respect for the guy, because a good handful of his religious remarks have had a hint of open-mindedness to the possibility that there is no God attached to them.

Plus, religion's just as good at the whole "holier-than-thou" thing as atheism, if not better...

Personally believing there is a god doesn't make you intolerant to people that don't. Just FYI.

Quote this post of mine where I said it did.

 

[Azuremen]

Just pointing it out, atheism is the lack in belief in gods. Not the belief that there are no gods.

Actually, it is specifically the belief that there are no deities. Which are gods.

As commonly understood, atheism is the position that affirms the nonexistence of God. So an atheist is someone who disbelieves in God, whereas a theist is someone who believes in God. Another meaning of "atheism" is simply nonbelief in the existence of God, rather than positive belief in the nonexistence of God. ...an atheist, in the broader sense of the term, is someone who disbelieves in every form of deity, not just the God of traditional Western theology.

Basically, you've got it wrong. Or perhaps mixed up with Agnosticism.

The thing is that these "inactive" athiests aren't the ones looking down on religion. It's the small percentage of vocal, active athiests who take these strong stances against religion. The inactive athiests may not even really care or think about the issue of athiesm vs religion, they just simply don't believe and that's that.

Same goes for many theists though. Each side is commonly represented by its most extreme and vocal members. Honestly, it seems you understand what it is I am saying, where the real issue is people just letting other people be.

I've got a guy I work with who's very religious, but I don't tell him I think he's a moron whenever he makes a religious remark. And in fact, I've got a lot of respect for the guy, because a good handful of his religious remarks have had a hint of open-mindedness to the possibility that there is no God attached to them.

Probably because he is a rational person, which the majority of people are to an extent. I've had numerous intelligent conversations with very devout people. At the same time, some atheists I know are among the most ignorant people I know, yet they think they are better than religious people. Of course, the opposite applies - I know ignorant religious people and brilliant atheists.

If people took even a moment to look at it from another's view, I think the world would be a much more tolerant and better place.

Plus, religion's just as good at the whole "holier-than-thou" thing as atheism, if not better...

Oh, quite true. Which amuses me quite a bit when I'm confronted with it, as I've found my understanding of their religion exceeds their own understanding.

Quote this post of mine where I said it did.

I never said you did or didn't, though it was somewhat implied by the nature of that statement. I just wanted to point out tolerance is a separate issue generally.

 

[Lain]

I'm part athiest, part agnostic.

I mostly believe that there aren't any gods, but I remain open-minded to the remote possibility that there might very well be gods. Though I firmly believe that, if there are gods, they're not the gods of any of these man-made religions. Not even remotely similar, either.

 

[niky]

Much as it pains me to close this thread, these last few pages are simply retreading the same ground being covered in the "Do You Believe in God" thread (LINKED).

I was considering merging it, but since it started way back in 2006, that would make a mess of both threads.

Sorry. Please continue discussions there.