As most of my readers know, I am an atheist.
If you're new here, now you know.
Today there was a discussion on the local forums about religion in a group specifically devoted to the topic, of which I am a moderator along with a girl who is a Christian.
We set it up that way so that both sides would be represented, and so that as mods, both views would have a mod to defend them.
But anyway, as an atheist, I often get attacked for my lack of belief in god, and today was no exception, except that some things were said that made me want to pack up and get the hell out of Florida mover NYC style.
Fast and with no way to find me.
Some links to some articles were posted about how most Americans view atheists, and as suspected, the very types of people these articles and polls were talking about, piped up.
"As far as the article is concerned... I think this thread speaks for itself as to why atheist are viewed the way they are."
Someone spoke up in my defense, that in this particular group, I have just as much right to state why I am an atheist, and what I believe in, as the Christian members of the board do.
Try to remember, that I am the moderator of this group, it is my job to not only edit and lock threads, but to keep the conversations going, to post subjects for people to discuss, and I happen to be very well informed on the subject of religion. I know a lot about it, I have studied it, continue to, I know the bible back and forth, old and new testament, and know all the varying versions of the bible, the reasons that there is so much confusion between even believers on just what the bible says.
I'm educated on the subject even though I lack faith in god(s).
Today, being intelligent and well educated on the subject, was thrown at me like being smart is the epitome of evil.
"Unlike some, I don't post in every single religious thread, speak negatively, preach, put people down about their beliefs and call them ignorant, try to make people feel stupid, write an entire book in posts in attempts to get my point across, quote "facts"... etc. No matter what anyone says in any religious thread, "You're the almighty one that knows it all." I find that really amusing."
Not once in all of my time on any part of the local forums, have I called anyone any names, told them they are ignorant, I don't preach, I don't speak negatively, and I don't set out to make anyone feel stupid.
If people feel stupid, that is on them, I have no control over how anyone else feels, I cannot control their emotions.
Eleanor Roosevelt said it best, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
Do I write a lot?
Yeah, sure I do, because it is a subject I know a lot about, I type very, very fast, and it is a subject I am extremely interested in.
Am I the "almighty one who knows it all"?
No, but what I think upsets them is that I know more about the bible than they do, and that is not allowed apparently.
Atheists, according to that article, are supposed to be stupid, drug abusers and dealers, criminals, prostitutes, the dregs of society, we are not supposed to be smart.
Atheists are not supposed to know more about god and the bible than believers, it's against the rules or something, and from then on out, in other threads, I was accused by other Christians, no matter what I said, of making personal attacks on people, of calling them names, even if I didn't even come remotely close to anything of the sort.
Christians often say they are persecuted for their beliefs.
I have to doubt that very much.
I would love to have any one of those people who say they are persecuted, spend a single day living as an "out" Atheist.
Wear the shirts and when asked what it means, answer, and then they'll feel what real persecution is.
Try looking at the world from an atheists view.
There are signs on telephone poles telling people to repent, teachers openly talk in your child's public school classroom, that we live in a Christian nation.
The president declared a national day of Christian prayer, and every year on that day, television stations nationwide tune in to pray, as a nation.
We are told that this country was founded by our Christian forefathers, it's on all of our monies, it's in the freaking deli department at our local grocery stores, take a number from atop the book rack full of Christian book titles.
Wanna feel persecuted for what you believe?
Look at it through the eyes of someone who believes differently from 98% of the rest of the country.
I am proud to be a freethinker, I am proud to be an atheist, no one needs to feel sorry for me because I lack faith, "I feel sorry for people that have no faith but I'd rather spend my time more productively elsewhere." just try to accept me as your fellow human being who treats you the exact same way I treat everyone else in my life, and want to be treated.
With respect.
====================
If you're new here, now you know.
Today there was a discussion on the local forums about religion in a group specifically devoted to the topic, of which I am a moderator along with a girl who is a Christian.
We set it up that way so that both sides would be represented, and so that as mods, both views would have a mod to defend them.
But anyway, as an atheist, I often get attacked for my lack of belief in god, and today was no exception, except that some things were said that made me want to pack up and get the hell out of Florida mover NYC style.
Fast and with no way to find me.
Some links to some articles were posted about how most Americans view atheists, and as suspected, the very types of people these articles and polls were talking about, piped up.
"As far as the article is concerned... I think this thread speaks for itself as to why atheist are viewed the way they are."
Someone spoke up in my defense, that in this particular group, I have just as much right to state why I am an atheist, and what I believe in, as the Christian members of the board do.
Try to remember, that I am the moderator of this group, it is my job to not only edit and lock threads, but to keep the conversations going, to post subjects for people to discuss, and I happen to be very well informed on the subject of religion. I know a lot about it, I have studied it, continue to, I know the bible back and forth, old and new testament, and know all the varying versions of the bible, the reasons that there is so much confusion between even believers on just what the bible says.
I'm educated on the subject even though I lack faith in god(s).
Today, being intelligent and well educated on the subject, was thrown at me like being smart is the epitome of evil.
"Unlike some, I don't post in every single religious thread, speak negatively, preach, put people down about their beliefs and call them ignorant, try to make people feel stupid, write an entire book in posts in attempts to get my point across, quote "facts"... etc. No matter what anyone says in any religious thread, "You're the almighty one that knows it all." I find that really amusing."
Not once in all of my time on any part of the local forums, have I called anyone any names, told them they are ignorant, I don't preach, I don't speak negatively, and I don't set out to make anyone feel stupid.
If people feel stupid, that is on them, I have no control over how anyone else feels, I cannot control their emotions.
Eleanor Roosevelt said it best, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
Do I write a lot?
Yeah, sure I do, because it is a subject I know a lot about, I type very, very fast, and it is a subject I am extremely interested in.
Am I the "almighty one who knows it all"?
No, but what I think upsets them is that I know more about the bible than they do, and that is not allowed apparently.
Atheists, according to that article, are supposed to be stupid, drug abusers and dealers, criminals, prostitutes, the dregs of society, we are not supposed to be smart.
Atheists are not supposed to know more about god and the bible than believers, it's against the rules or something, and from then on out, in other threads, I was accused by other Christians, no matter what I said, of making personal attacks on people, of calling them names, even if I didn't even come remotely close to anything of the sort.
Christians often say they are persecuted for their beliefs.
I have to doubt that very much.
I would love to have any one of those people who say they are persecuted, spend a single day living as an "out" Atheist.
Wear the shirts and when asked what it means, answer, and then they'll feel what real persecution is.
Try looking at the world from an atheists view.
There are signs on telephone poles telling people to repent, teachers openly talk in your child's public school classroom, that we live in a Christian nation.
The president declared a national day of Christian prayer, and every year on that day, television stations nationwide tune in to pray, as a nation.
We are told that this country was founded by our Christian forefathers, it's on all of our monies, it's in the freaking deli department at our local grocery stores, take a number from atop the book rack full of Christian book titles.
Wanna feel persecuted for what you believe?
Look at it through the eyes of someone who believes differently from 98% of the rest of the country.
I am proud to be a freethinker, I am proud to be an atheist, no one needs to feel sorry for me because I lack faith, "I feel sorry for people that have no faith but I'd rather spend my time more productively elsewhere." just try to accept me as your fellow human being who treats you the exact same way I treat everyone else in my life, and want to be treated.
With respect.
Christians preach love and tolerance and respect, and it's a bunch of crap, because if you don't believe in God, you're the worst sort imaginable.
And yet, none of them can actually give me a VALID reason as to why I SHOULD believe in God.
I don't, I never have...even when I was forced to go to CCD and all of that crap, and I never will.
Just because we don't believe in God doesn't mean that we're bad people!
We really gotta meet up sometime, as you and Mike could have a seriously interesting discussion. He's not religious, doesn't go to church or anything. He considers himself a Christian, I guess, but he's not a fanatic about it.
But he has read the bible from cover to cover, as you have, and knows more about it than most of the bible-thumping fundies out there do. And he disagrees with said bible-thumping fundies. I learned more about the bible from him than I ever did in my nine years of catholic school.
He knows that I'm agnostic, and it doesn't bother him.
Maybe someday, if the Red Sox ever put their Spring Training facility in Sarasota. Then we'll have all the more excuse to go there!
If books written as total truths are based around many lies .Would we expect honesty from those who read and believe them ? .
I understand how tough your situation is in dealing with these religious types , its not easy but just try to let the nastiness flow right over you and run off like water off a ducks back .
We must never expect total kindness , from those who`s guru teaches much nastiness and hate.
As an upside to this , the youth of today are not so easily led and many will see right through the crap .Be able to see quite plainly that religious love is no more than skin deep .
So its happening for a good reason .