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Question Details	Asked By	Asked On
Trickle-Up Atheism	Itsdb	05/01/07
With thanks to Perc for referring us to "Daylight Atheism." Atheism is only going to grow from here on out. Don't get the idea from my last post that I don't think we are on the move. We are. One day in the next hundred years, the average American will look around at the few, small religious groups left, and see nothing but cults. I don't think there will be a big fight to the finish, I just think that people are getting smarter, and getting smart leads to stronger reasoning skills and fewer irrational beliefs. The Institute for Humanist Studies reports that the number of nonreligious 18-25 year olds has risen from 11% to 20% in the last 20 years. That's encouraging news? Also, I thought it was intolerant to refer to a religious group as a "cult." Let's continue... I don't think we need to make this a heated exchange. We should be the parent that calms the child down from an irrational temper tantrum with calm, reasonable words -- not by losing our own temper and bullying the fight out of them. The more rational thought we inspire into those that are already on the slippery slope, the more we are greasing up the slope. Sam Harris has a new article in the LA Times today, in which he describes the spectrum of the religious as concentric circles of diminishing reasonableness. The moderate and liberal believers are the outer rings, and are standing between us and the maniacal fundamentalists and suicide bombers in the middle. Their existance protects and excuses the fundamentalists. If we start with the moderates and liberals, even by ignoring the fundamentalists altogether, we are still eroding their support. The more religious liberals we get sliding down the slope, the more will deconvert into free thinkers. The stronger our numbers, the weaker theirs. Without the support of these liberals, and then the moderates, fundamentalists will eventually just go POOF in a cloud of logic. Now I want to refer you to Perc's The Necessity of Atheism (3) and some of his points: "Atheism offers the freedom to live your life as you see fit." Apparently "fundamentalists" aren't to be allowed that same right. "Atheism offers the freedom to make up your own mind." Apparently it offers you the freedom to make up other's people's minds, too. "Atheism offers the freedom to tolerate others." Except of course, people that believe in God, especially those "maniacal fundamentalists," they need to "just go POOF in a cloud of logic." "Atheism offers respite from feelings of worthlessness and guilt." As in freedom from the guilt of being intolerant of Christians. "Atheism offers the ability to view yourself and others as equals." Again, except of course people who believe in God. Wouldn't atheism be much simpler to understand if atheists would just list all of the exceptions to their rules right up front? How does this effort to "grease the slope" toward the ultimate extinction of people of faith differ from evangelism? How does any of this atheist nonsense exhibit even the least bit of tolerance? Steve
Clarification/Follow-up by tropicalstorm on 05/01/07 8:06 pm: YEP itsdb I DID ask about a week ago about false prophets and cults and how there can be any when they seem to say are roads lead to heaven (or the grave) and nobody (outside of Toms, MD, and Peddles) could tell me any distinctions cause its all the same :) Clarification/Follow-up by kindj on 05/01/07 8:30 pm: MS: Demonstrate for me, if you will, any episode of "dishonesty" on my part. Personally, I feel that I have been quite up front about whatever trials and tribulations I care to share. Since I am a Christian, should I not take antibiotics when I have a sinus infection? Should I not take cough syrup when I have a chest cold? If I were diabetic, should I not take insulin? Inasmuch as it matters to you, I have been off of them for about a year now, give or take, and am doing fine. Come to find out, it appears that the root was a bit of PTSD that I picked up from events earlier in my life. You gonna hold THAT against me, too? DK Clarification/Follow-up by MarySusan on 05/01/07 8:39 pm: k, I was talking about Pericles and It, the people involved in the latest discussion. :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Everyone knows that I dislike you two stupid extremist Texas moron-sht kickers, and, also, I love to occasionally shout at stupid people for fun. :D Clarification/Follow-up by belle33 on 05/01/07 8:56 pm:* Kindj What is PTSD>? Clarification/Follow-up by Itsdb on 05/01/07 9:11 pm: Dennis, MarySueChoux can't demonstrate any dishonesty from either of us. Just look at her latest followup and everything will be crystal clear. Clarification/Follow-up by MarySusan on 05/01/07 9:21 pm: k, you argue like a woman...I don't know what you did before you showed up here at AW as a radical right wing propagandist, so don't throw everything but the kitchen sink into your clarifications, girl!!! I have to admit that I don't have a distinction in my mind between you and It...you and he come across to me as the same kind of person. I do know you are the one who has/had depression, a mental illness. Everything you and It have said recently is in print here and on the Politics Board for all decent people to see. Propaganda and lying by omission **ARE LIES*. Go read all your lies if you want proof...and anyone else can too!! So long, lyin' sht kickers. Clarification/Follow-up by kindj on 05/01/07 9:29 pm: Aaaaah, I do love learning "tolerance" from you, MS. In fact, one of these days the lesson may be learned so well that I can demonstrate the same "tolerance" toward you. >>Everything you and It have said recently is in print here and on the Politics Board for all decent people to see. Propaganda and lying by omission **ARE LIES. << In this here America, the burden of proof is on the accuser. So if you expect to be taken seriously by anyone with a lick of sense, I'd suggest you set about demonstrating those alleged "lies." Until then, there is really nothing to discuss with an accusatory, back-biting, intolerant, hateful, vitriolic, racist, bigoted person such as yourself. DK Clarification/Follow-up by kindj on 05/01/07 9:33 pm: Belle, PTSD is "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder." It can be kinda sneaky sometimes, but once it's discovered for what it is, it can be dealt with easily enough. Well, most of the time. DK Clarification/Follow-up by Itsdb on 05/01/07 9:56 pm:** >>So long, lyin' sht kickers.<< So you're you promising to relieve us of your arrogant accusatory, back-biting, intolerant, hateful, vitriolic, racist, bigoted* yankee presence ... now THAT's good news.

Summary of Answers Received	Answered On	Answered By	Average Rating
1. You've heard (read) my stuff on this supposed "toleran...	05/01/07	kindj
2. "How does any of this atheist nonsense exhibit even ...	05/01/07	Professor
3. Pericles was just stating one atheist position on several ma...	05/01/07	MarySusan
4. The reason that the antiChrists are so upset and loud today ...	05/01/07	drgade

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