Atheism vs. Antitheism

[SNOWBALL]

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I would like to hear from the antitheists how their approach to faith (or antifaith) is any different than the religious fundies. The fundies try to argue that others beliefs are wrong if they aren't aligned with theirs. How is this different than the antitheists trying to convince others their theistic views are wrong?


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b/c we're right, and they're wrong obv. Also, we're not trying to enslave anyone, or tell them how to live their lives, or make $$$ from them.

[vhawk01]

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The primary reason I pose this question is that it seems to me the biggest beef of many athestists is the fundies trying to force their beliefs on them.

I hear/read it time and again. Something to the effect of, "I don't care what you believe or don't believe, just be respectful of my beliefs."

Anyone else see the irony here?

I'm all for healthy debate on the topic. And as some have said, that's what this forum is about.

I just haven't seen that many intelligent arguements. It's all finger pointing and, "you're wrong," or "prove this, if you can't then your point is invalid," etc.

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Then you must have some amazing powers of selective memory/reading. There are plenty of legitimate debates that go on here, although whether they can be called intelligent is, I suppose, a question of taste.

[SNOWBALL]

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The primary reason I pose this question is that it seems to me the biggest beef of many athestists is the fundies trying to force their beliefs on them without evidence

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FYP

[MaxWeiss]

Would you be vocal about the silliness of astrology if wars and laws and moral ethics were derived from people claiming the position of the planets/sun/whatever was somehow an authority on these topics??? What if astrologers taught your children that the rotation of the earth says homosexuality is a sin???

We have become louder lately because the bad actions of people of faith, combined with technology, are an immediate and devastating threat to humanity's continued existence.

I don't care what silly notions people have UNTIL they start making laws based on those notions which actively go against what morality and law should be derived from, survival and quality of life. Not just laws, but big wars. Not just wars, NUCLEAR WINTERS.

I believe war is inevitable, but the immediate threat of humanity's extinction via religious war is what keeps me awake at night. During the cold war, as close as we got to actual nuclear war, both sides kind of understood that nuclear war was VERY BAD and wanted to avoid it, even though we were on the edge. Many fundamental theists would view the complete destruction of a set of people, or the world, as a good thing. This is disastrous and intolerable.

That is not the only reason, but for me, it is the main one.

[vhawk01]

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Would you be vocal about the silliness of astrology if wars and laws and moral ethics were derived from people claiming the position of the planets/sun/whatever was somehow an authority on these topics??? What if astrologers taught your children that the rotation of the earth says homosexuality is a sin???

We have become louder lately because the bad actions of people of faith, combined with technology, are an immediate and devastating threat to humanity's continued existence.

I don't care what silly notions people have UNTIL they start making laws based on those notions which actively go against what morality and law should be derived from, survival and quality of life. Not just laws, but big wars. Not just wars, NUCLEAR WINTERS.

I believe war is inevitable, but the immediate threat of humanity's extinction via religious war is what keeps me awake at night. During the cold war, as close as we got to actual nuclear war, both sides kind of understood that nuclear war was VERY BAD and wanted to avoid it, even though we were on the edge. Many fundamental theists would view the complete destruction of a set of people, or the world, as a good thing. This is disastrous and intolerable.

That is not the only reason, but for me, it is the main one.

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Imagine if McNamara was an Armageddonist.

[m_the0ry]

I'm antitheist because 'theology for the masses' ruins society.

[speedfreek]

Theism becomes a problem for mankind when people like Bush and Blair, when questioned about having the mess in Iraq on their conscience, reply with statements like "I will let God be my judge", and will answer no further questions on the subject.

Blair said this in an interview - basically implying that it doesn't matter what the people think, he only answers to God. Err, thanks for that Tony! Nice way to run peoples lives there!

Is it a fatuous question to ask how many crimes on humanity have been committed in the name of theism, and how many have been committed in the name of atheism?

[diebitter]

No, I wouldn't say so. Most atheists are what I'd call apatheist. Like me. I really don't care, and if I go to heaven or end up as carbon, nitrogen and so on in the food chain, it's all okay by me. And you can believe what you like, as long as you don't hurt anyone else.

[chezlaw]

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No, I wouldn't say so. Most atheists are what I'd call apatheist. Like me. I really don't care, and if I go to heaven or end up as carbon, nitrogen and so on in the food chain, it's all okay by me. And you can believe what you like, as long as you don't hurt anyone else.


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Dead on for me too. We also realise that if god is good it doesn't matter if we care or not and if god is bad it doesn't matter if we care or not.

Not that it wouldn't be very nice if lifes a fairy tale and we all live happily ever after.

chez

[Nielsio]

How can I believe X does not exist if I have no theory of what X is supposed to be?