Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

Religion, its purpose in society, whichever denomination or brand of religion, and atheism itself, ultimately are issues that only matter to those that care about the existence or nonexistence of God.

To the other members of society, it simply isn't that important an issue as to dominate all other issues in society. Religion's good and harmful effects on society(and for the same token atheism) are simply no more or less significant than issues such as organized crime, drugs, pornography, gambling, etc etc.

Discuss.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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Religion's good and harmful effects on society(and for the same token atheism) are simply no more or less significant than issues such as organized crime, drugs, pornography, gambling, etc etc.

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i don't see how you can compare "religion's good and harmful effects" with "organized crime, drugs, pornography, gambling." religion's effects are very relevant to those issues as well.

there aren't very many social "issues" that aren't affected by religion in some way.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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there aren't very many social "issues" that aren't affected by religion in some way.

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There also aren't very many social issues that aren't affected by, for example, Television and the media and the images they portray. I don't believe in God nor do I have a thing against those who do, so I'm neither religious nor atheist, and really to me, religion if not for the wars that have involved religions, is no bigger or less an issue than say drugs in society or the influence of media. I'm not talking about whether religion is good, bad, or whether drugs are bad, or media is good or bad. I'm talking about the significance of the issue itself.

Which, to RELIGIOUS FANATICS or ATHEISTS, is just not the case. They live or breathe this religion stuff and shove it down everyone's throats.. take a look at the board it's nonstop religion topics one after another. I'm not taking sides, just making an observation.

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I don't believe in God nor do I have a thing against those who do, so I'm neither religious nor atheist...

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You have a unique definition of "atheist".

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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I don't believe in God nor do I have a thing against those who do, so I'm neither religious nor atheist,

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Ok, I give up.
1) you don't believe in god
2) you're not an atheist.

Do you have a theory that to be an atheist a person must no believe in god AND where a red hat, or what?

luckyme

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

Saying one doesn't believe in God doesn't mean one doesn't believe in the possibility of the existence of some other-being that is all-powerful. It simply means one doesn't subscribe to the present options available in organized religion. It is very different to those who are against God.

And interesting that, PREDICTABLY, the religous are focusing on labelling here instead of looking at the issue being raised, which is that religion simply is not the No.1 overriding dominant social issue that the fanatics on both sides would want to shove down our throats and have us believe.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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I don't believe in God nor do I have a thing against those who do, so I'm neither religious nor atheist,

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Ok, I give up.
1) you don't believe in god
2) you're not an atheist.

Do you have a theory that to be an atheist a person must no believe in god AND where a red hat, or what?

luckyme

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Please learn to use correct spelling and grammar if you want to critique, otherwise you come across as very stupid.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

It doesn't matter whether he is technically an atheist or not. He's making the point that he is seeing this from an objective point of view.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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It doesn't matter whether he is technically an atheist or not. He's making the point that he is seeing this from an objective point of view.

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Thank you very much sir.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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Religion, its purpose in society, whichever denomination or brand of religion, and atheism itself, ultimately are issues that only matter to those that care about the existence or nonexistence of God.

To the other members of society, it simply isn't that important an issue as to dominate all other issues in society. Religion's good and harmful effects on society(and for the same token atheism) are simply no more or less significant than issues such as organized crime, drugs, pornography, gambling, etc etc.

Discuss.

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To most members of society, none of the issues you mention are significant. Who won American Idiot, or does Paris Hilton wear panties on wednesday is the main topic at starbucks.

That leaves very few people to think about AIDS in africa, stem cell research, science lessons, rescuing the holy land so we can have the Rapture, religion in the court room, etc.

Maybe if some religious people killed some doctors, or committed mass suicide, or sexually abused young girls in forced marriage, or flattened the odd building then people would change channels ... but what's the chance religious people would do any of that stuff ... IN THE NAME OF RELIGION.

Now, it possible that an atheist could do harmful acts too, but it's not IN THE NAME OF ATHEISM. Just as a person with a Red Hat may do criminal acts, but not IN THE NAME OF RED HATTERY.

Unless that support/instigation role of religion is understood then any category you want fits in as 'fat people do X bad deeds too'. Religion is a special category, a stronger version of a political affiliation in inciting actions.

My neighbor is an atheist .. what position does that tell you he holds on any issue that he will state, "well, I have to do it, I'm a atheist".

luckyme

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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Saying one doesn't believe in God doesn't mean one doesn't believe in the possibility of the existence of some other-being that is all-powerful. It simply means one doesn't subscribe to the present options available in organized religion. It is very different to those who are against God.

And interesting that, PREDICTABLY, the religous are focusing on labelling here instead of looking at the issue being raised, which is that religion simply is not the No.1 overriding dominant social issue that the fanatics on both sides would want to shove down our throats and have us believe.

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What I'm focusing on is definitions. If you define an atheist as a militant, God-hating fanatic, as you apparently do, it's important to understand that. That's just not the standard (or correct) definition.

So your point is what? That other people put too much emphasis on religion (or the lack thereof) in their lives? Because you don't think it's a big deal, nobody else should either? That doesn't seem like a very insightful or interesting point to me.

Using words like "fanatic" to describe every position but your own also seems unnecessarily antagonistic.

Finally, your failed to meet your own standard of "correct spelling". Anyway, perfect spelling can't cover up an incoherent argument.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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Please learn to use correct spelling and grammar if you want to critique, otherwise you come across as very stupid.

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It would only concern me if it were true, hhhhmmm...not even then, because there's nothing I can do about it nor likely recognize it.
Until I decide, feel free to challenge and correct any argument I make that you are able to follow.

thanks for the heads up, luckyme

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

u have no idea what the word atheist means.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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u have no idea what the word atheist means.

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What now?! I go out for a mocha and they go and change another word on me.
This morning it meant "does not believe god(s) exist". Have they added to that? and they have to be three headed???

luckyme

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

i was referring to the OP.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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There also aren't very many social issues that aren't affected by, for example, Television and the media and the images they portray.

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yes, and for that reason comparing "the effects of television and the media and the images they portray" and "pornography" wouldn't make much sense either.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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I don't believe in God nor do I have a thing against those who do, so I'm neither religious nor atheist

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Since when is it a requirement to dislike theists to be an atheist? Whether you'd like to own up to it, you're a nontheist. And what you're saying sounds a lot more like atheist than agnostic to me.
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
Not that it matters of course.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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It doesn't matter whether he is technically an atheist or not. He's making the point that he is seeing this from an objective point of view.

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I want to make an objectively better point.

He needs to vent against atheists and religious fanatics, so he came to this forum of course. He got like 90% hits, which is pretty good compared to his Counterstrike scores. But it's funny that he tries to distance himself from the "not-good" atheists using labeling. Almost eerily similar to how Catholics and Protestants refer to each other, although they really believe damn near the same thing. Isn't that funny?

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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Please learn to use correct spelling and grammar if you want to critique, otherwise you come across as very stupid.

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This statement comes across as very stupid. Korrekt speeling isn't necessary to make a damn point.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

Going back to what the original post was asking about... I think your observation is very real and I have noticed that in many people's lives everything else besides religion is more important.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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I don't believe in God nor do I have a thing against those who do, so I'm neither religious nor atheist,

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Ok, I give up.
1) you don't believe in god
2) you're not an atheist.

Do you have a theory that to be an atheist a person must no believe in god AND where a red hat, or what?

luckyme

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Please learn to use correct spelling and grammar if you want to critique, otherwise you come across as very stupid.

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This is an incredibly weak dodge. luckyme has a very good point and you appear to be confused.

Re: Religion vs Atheism vs Everything Else
 

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Saying one doesn't believe in God doesn't mean one doesn't believe in the possibility of the existence of some other-being that is all-powerful. It simply means one doesn't subscribe to the present options available in organized religion. It is very different to those who are against God.

And interesting that, PREDICTABLY, the religous are focusing on labelling here instead of looking at the issue being raised, which is that religion simply is not the No.1 overriding dominant social issue that the fanatics on both sides would want to shove down our throats and have us believe.

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Atheists are not "against God" or against those who believe in God, and its a little sad to see that the propaganda campaign has been so effective on you.

Take a minute to try to reason out why this is an absurd position.