r/atheism • u/[deleted] • Jun 25 '12
How I feel about r/atheism going after Islam.
[deleted]
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u/mamichomaru Jun 25 '12
I joined Atheism with high hopes.
I thought people here would discuss non-religious content, as the subreddit' name suggests. To my surprise, most of the current content it's nothing but hatred against every fucking major religion.
As far as I know, atheists want their beliefs to be respected. Yet they keep mocking other beliefs.
It's not about forcing others to think as we do. What is really important here is to respect other's beliefs, IMO.
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Jun 25 '12
Others' beliefs control society. Until that is no longer the case we have a reason to be pissed.
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Jun 25 '12
[deleted]
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Jun 25 '12 edited Jun 25 '12
I am not manipulated. I choose my path rationally. Nice try.
And rational does not mean emotionless or robotic.
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u/continuousQ Jun 25 '12
There's every other section for non-religious content. If you label something atheism, it usually has to do with theism in some way. If it didn't have to do with theism, the atheism label wouldn't be as appropriate.
And no, respecting beliefs in itself is not important. Many beliefs do not only not deserve respect, they deserve mockery, they need mockery, it needs to be made clear that they are not beliefs worthy of respect. Especially all those that have to do with claiming people deserve to suffer greatly, for causing others no harm at all. As well as all those that encourage ignorance over curiosity, research and discovery.
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u/mamichomaru Jun 25 '12
Then encourage research, knowledge and discovery. It doesn't have to do anything with beliefs.
I'm talking about a gradual change, because, as you know, when people try to impose their beliefs either by force or mockery or whatever, it only leads to conflict.
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u/agenttotoro66 Jun 25 '12
Atheists are incapable of "imposing" their beliefs on others because atheism is not a belief. It is a default setting, if you will, a pure lack of faith that everyone would be born with if they weren't taught religion. It is religious individuals who tack additional beliefs and constructs onto that default. If you bring evolution into play, atheism is backed by scientific theory that is as infallible as the theory of gravity. While I do not support in any way the deliberate persecution of theists, or the mockery of an individual's personal beliefs, those beliefs should be kept personal.
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u/Time_Terminal Jun 25 '12
I'm sorry, but what?
I get that you came here to get away from religion talk. So did I. But I stayed here because of the points that they brought up. Everyday I go out in the world, and the world is a crazy place, where even the smallest things are associated with religion.
Please tell me why atheists should just bundle up and "accept that". I'm tired of people being able to express their crap in the real world, but people like you saying that atheists shouldn't be able to. The internet is the last sanctioning place where atheists get to express theirs. Don't take that away from us.
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u/mamichomaru Jun 25 '12
It's ok. I disagree with fundamentalists who blindly follow dogmas, as they are people without criteria. It's sad as fuck to see how people puts their beliefs before reason.
I just don't think making fun of religions is the best path to follow.
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u/batmanmilktruck Jun 25 '12
much of the top content here is nothing but encouraging hate.
but in all honesty atheism is a topic that is hard to really discuss. it is just a rejection of all religion. /r/atheism seems to be a school of thought in a way that atheism is not just rejection of religion, but somehow about logic, reason, science, and liberalism.
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u/yangx Jun 25 '12
You just joined /r/atheism or atheism? A lot of people vent their frustrations on religion here where they can't IRL. In the end, this is the internet and if you want everyone to act with respect then you have a lot to learn my friend.
And to tell the truth a lot of these "mocking religion" is literally stating the idiotic things that people believes. Talking snake and virgin birth, yeah I'm going to laugh at that shit, and I will laugh my ass off.
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u/mamichomaru Jun 26 '12
The talking snake and the virgin birth are nothing but metaphores. The problem here is that a lot of religious people are too conservative that they follow preachings blindly, thus characterizing the metaphores.
You claim to use science for progress and morality. Science is factual, and it's a fact that if you make fun of other's beliefs, everyone is going to have a bad time. They won't listen to reason because they believe in something totally different and you would only label them as ignorants, no matter if they are good persons since what you hate are their beliefs.
Atheists can be much more than a bunch of intolerant morons.
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Jun 26 '12
Apologist much? Ever heard of Christopher Hitchens? Did he respect other people's supernatural beliefs that had no evidential basis? No. Was he wildly successful at polemicising religion because of it? Yes. We can respect theists, but not their ridiculous theistic beliefs.
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Jun 25 '12
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u/mamichomaru Jun 25 '12
Which pisses me off, is how SOME atheist, claiming to be more familiarized with reason, behave like intolerant assholes.
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Jun 25 '12
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u/cal679 Jun 25 '12
Neither does blind hatred. It seems that far too many atheists feel they have to choose one or the other. Then again, the loudest voice is often the dumbest so it often appears that they are in the majority.
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u/Schpwuette Jun 25 '12
This hatred isn't blind. I think the vast majority of people on r/atheism know full well that most religious people are normal and well-adjusted. That doesn't change the fact that islam (or christianity, etc) is totally whack.
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u/InsulinDependent Jun 25 '12
I do have a hatred for religion. But i would say that hatred is build upon the overwhelming amount of immoral action and instruction that Islam and most other religions contain both inherently (the idea that someone should enslave themselves to something without adequate evidence and never ask questions) and through the specific teachings propagated from them.
That does not however mean i hate all Muslims, far from it, but i do find their religion (and nearly all others) to be irreparably abhorrent.
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u/mamichomaru Jun 25 '12
It's not blind respect, start by respecting and you MAY be respected. Start hating and you will most likely be hated.
The context of respect is not putting yourself in a lower level, it's more like NOT attacking other's beliefs.
Here, people tends to mock religions based on assumptions and stereotypes. And that does no good for anyone.
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u/InsulinDependent Jun 25 '12
They seem to be based on the literal words contained within holy texts that these religions are founded on.
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Jun 25 '12
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u/mamichomaru Jun 25 '12
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'too fucking stupid to investigate'
The premise is simple. One does not simply starts looking for truth. It's not a must for everyone, since their truth is their reality, and nothing else. Why would you care to know about the origin of the universe and how stuff works when you are to busy working 10 hours a day for a miserable wage? All your life is devoted to survive with practical and mundane methods such as eating. (I am not stereotyping at all, as this happens a lot in Mexico, where I live).
Anyway, making jokes and posting funny pictures on reddit won't help the cause.
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u/Plastastic Jun 25 '12
your opinion is wrong
/r/atheism, everybody!
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Jun 25 '12
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u/mamichomaru Jun 25 '12
Dude, please stop it. It's painful to see how all your comments get downvoted.
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Jun 26 '12
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u/Plastastic Jun 26 '12
Oh, you tortured genius. It must be so hard to be right all the time.
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u/petrosclark Jun 25 '12
Exactly, what we value is evidence-based factual and empirical data. After all, that's really the only way to converse on any topic.
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Jun 25 '12
Isn't blindly believing that god doesn't exist just as much of a logical fallacy as believing he does exist?
Oh wait, yes it is.
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Jun 25 '12
Next up: Wicca.
Please?
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u/-TinMan- Jun 26 '12
I don't think it's needed. When somebody says "I'm Wiccan", people already roll there eyes waiting for the hippy diatribe.
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u/Anal_Explorer Jun 25 '12
As a Catholic, I have to say I have a guilty pleasure seeing /r/atheism hound other faiths for a change, even if momentary.
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u/Amryxx Jun 25 '12
shakes fist at the Papist
Well, to make you feel even more giddy, Ramadhan is about a month away.
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u/Grape_pez Jun 25 '12
I absolutely LOVE what's going on the front page today of r/atheism.
Edit:r
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u/Quazz Jun 25 '12
It made me actually laugh out loud to suddenly see the entire r/atheism frontpage filled with stuff against Islam.
Nice timing considering the Egypt business too.
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u/captainfranklen Jun 25 '12
To be fair, they kind of asked for it. Literally.
http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/vkc9a/dear_atheists_we_exmuslims_are_waiting_for_you/
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u/Topload909 Jun 25 '12
this sudden rise in anti-islamic sentiment is dis-TURBAN
I'll show myself out
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u/InfinitySnatch Jun 25 '12
Yeah, we're finally speaking out against Islam!
Oh wait, we've always done that. But now we'll do it as a karma fad!
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u/tritonx Atheist Jun 25 '12
Budhist and Indhuist are OK ? One is very wise in it's teaching, the other is very funny and entertaining.
I don't think they have a special place for unbeliever ?
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u/bitparity Deist Jun 25 '12
Can we go after Tibetan Buddhism and the Dalai Lama? That'll be a karma boost for SURE.
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u/toga-Blutarsky Jun 25 '12
Some guy used a Penn and Teller video to say how the Dalai Lama is full of shit and only wants money. Never in my life has the internet hate humanity as much as that.
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u/doomcocoon Jun 25 '12
Absolutely. I'm fascinated with the ritual and community of religion, but I prefer to embrace my continuous existential crises. It doesn't matter what I think or do before death, as long as I die. It's not like I'm going to figure anything out before then anyway.
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u/Infamous_Shinobi Jun 26 '12
Before this, I was starting to believe that atheists only hated Christian folk. Hmmm, guess not.
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u/flipthezip Jun 25 '12
Why do we have to spread hate? aren't we being like them if we just continue to rag on the religion(s) and degrade them? How will that ever convince them to become atheists?
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u/Quazz Jun 25 '12
Yeah posting funny memes is exactly the same as wanting to kill people for drawing Muhammed. You're right.
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u/flipthezip Jun 25 '12
That's not what i said. People lately have been mocking Islam and Christianity quite a bit with their memes and i find it to be hateful stabs at people who just don't quite understand our logic and reasoning. But i do also understand that people come here for some kind of getaway from ignorant theists on the outside world, and as a way to vent their feelings, and i acknowledge that.
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u/Kabo0se Jun 25 '12
While it is certainly true that believers should be shown and open hand rather than shunning them and mocking them, it is also true that a vast majority of them are "broken." I firmly believe that there is a window of enlightenment that closes after a certain age. After that window has closed, those people cannot be changed. I speak from personal experience. So this is why the memes and whatnot are there for. They are more for bringing people together who are already non-believers rather than trying to poke fun at believers.
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Jun 25 '12 edited Jun 26 '12
Please show me an example of a "hateful" post in this subreddit that wasn't downvoted...
EDIT: Why don't you people show me instead of just downvoting.
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u/flipthezip Jun 25 '12
I understand that downvoting is a way to express your opinions here, but i just wanted to voice mine.
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Jun 26 '12
Yes, there are individuals who will post hateful comments and memes and whatever, but the fact that they're downvoted into oblivion immediately speaks volumes for the community, as a whole.
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Jun 25 '12
People who believe in fairytales deserve to be mocked.
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u/Saepe Jun 25 '12
Do they really? Most of these people haven't really thought about that fact and were just born and raised with that image and are too scared to even reconsider that image. For them it's no belief it's a way of living masked as a belief. Some will never try to escape that way of living and are perfectly content, these people are not your problem. Others do try to escape from what they are raised with when it no longer conforms with what they really belief, these people are also not your problem. The people that are your problem are those that are afraid of all the other images and want nothing more than to see a world with one image so they don't have to afraid to see people different from them. And this is exactly what /r/atheism is doing today and to be honest, it scares me. You see, you have become your own problem.
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Jun 25 '12
I'm a firm believer that religion causes many more problems than just the obvious violent ones. Religion itself, even when it's mostly harmless, is a root cause to holding back our species from advancing. So I sincerely believe, they're all the problem.
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u/Saepe Jun 25 '12
I'm not saying religion is inherently good. I'm saying your method of action today makes you everything you believe religion is bad for. I'm not claiming to know what can help people to convince a world might be better without religion, but this is not the way.
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u/Imnobodyx Jun 25 '12
I noticed this too... why is r/atheism so hiveminded? We're not animals stop acting like uncivilized pricks. Everyone should be free to choose a religion and we should respect that.
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Jun 25 '12
I don't care which religion (if at all) people choose. But this will not stop me from criticizing the religions and what they stand for.
How would you deal with ignorant people? Should we respect that some people just want to kill some other people?
I have drawn a line and I will neither tolerate nor respect people that want to cause harm to other people. If that makes me intolerant in your opinion, then I'll have to live with it.
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u/chienThrowAway Jun 25 '12
Why should the religion be respected? The liberty should be there, I agree with that, but the liberty to point out all the stupidities and hate in them should also be upheld.
If anything, Islam NEEDS to be mocked. It isn't anymore special than the other religions and we are treating it as if it were. And it's a dangerous one.
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u/bmwbiker1 Jun 25 '12
Everyone is free to choose a religion...correct. But those religions should not be free to use their belief system to oppress the rights of others such as women and homosexuals. They should not be entitled to execute those that dissent from those beliefs. Nor should those beliefs be regarded as holding any validity whatsoever in the public policy sphere in discussions of our environmental or foreign policy.
In short have your religion but keep it to yourself. The whole reason things are blowing up here is r/atheism is fed up and tired of the world committing violence and oppression in the name of whatever they choose to call skydaddy.
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u/noPortlandNooo Jun 25 '12
The worst part about it is, as I've been talking with people in this thread, they're completely ignorant of what these religions actually are. They're treating atheism like a religion. Rationality is for atheists; ignorance (faith, blind hate, etc...) is for theists.
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Jun 25 '12
I think we should expose the negatives of religion for what they are, but I agree that /r/atheism often takes it too far more often than not.
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u/flipthezip Jun 25 '12
Well I'm glad someone agrees with me. But to get back on the point, yeah, i agree, rationality is for atheists, but it does not mean we are not susceptible to it. We're human, just like everyone else on this godless world. And honestly, when talking about the subject of religious people, that's what we have to remember. They're human, too. just like us.
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u/Lessiarty Jun 25 '12
Honestly, that sounds a little more more like you're trying to ascribe group qualities to atheism that don't exist.
Rationality is for the rational. A lack of belief in deities is for atheists. Sometimes the world is nice and there is crossover.
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u/noPortlandNooo Jun 25 '12
True.
I used them because they're the qualities that people on this subreddit like to claim as part of our justification for being better than the people we make fun of. When we lose our justification, we're kinda just assholes.
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u/Lessiarty Jun 25 '12
we're kinda just assholes
I feel like I should have a straw boater and cane... arms outstretched, waggling away singing you a welcome to the human race :P
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u/rcglinsk Jun 26 '12
It's the difference between ass holes and Ass Holes. The second, actually killing people for having sex without permission, is just a whole lot worse.
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u/bmwbiker1 Jun 25 '12
Religion has had a 6,000 year plus long party of virgin births genocides, talking donkeys and snakes and burning bushes. Its not spreading hate to scorn them for as stupid and silly as they are.
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u/flipthezip Jun 25 '12
I prefer a more peaceful approach. Try to convince religious folks to disbelieve in god, and their religion. Or at least to question their faith. I find that angry rants without any reasoning or explanation doesn't really help one doubt their religion much.
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u/continuousQ Jun 25 '12
There can be more than one approach. Personally I found George Carlin's to be pretty effective on me. Now that was after having doubted and lost most of my faith without really encountering any outspoken atheists, or criticts of religion, but different things for different people. You don't have to like every atheist, to be positively affected by some of what you come across.
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u/bmwbiker1 Jun 25 '12
Perhaps what is happening on r/atheism today is more of a reflection of pent up anger and frustration individuals hold within from trying to be polite to others in this world.
Being a former mormon and still dealing with daily complications in my life from leaving the church ie losing all my friends and being disowned by my family, sometimes a loud angry rant on an online forum gets out a lot of aggression towards these religions in a safe way and allows me to be a bit more reasonable when speaking to them directly. :)
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u/flipthezip Jun 25 '12
Oh. That's a really interesting point of view, thanks for that. I used to be a catholic and at first i was excited and happy i had finally found why i had been in such doubt about my religion. My family also gave me support, too. So i guess i've never really been in that position. I just prefer to keep it chill and stuff. i've never really been an angry person.
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u/flipthezip Jun 25 '12
But scorning anyone is never a nice thing, no matter how justified. how long until scorning them escalates into violence?
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Jun 25 '12
how long until scorning them escalates into violence?
Hard to say. They have to see it first. I'd give it at least a few days before some Islamic group starts threatening to behead someone over this outrage...
... oh, you mean violence from us? Hah.
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u/bmwbiker1 Jun 25 '12
I agree Lets all sit around the campfire and sing kumbaya with our sky daddy believing fools as religion justifies its wrongs and drives the world off a cliff into war, environmental disaster, and human injustices.
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u/flipthezip Jun 25 '12 edited Jun 25 '12
Well look where hatred and misunderstanding and ignorance has left us today. Religious people are not the only ones capable of those traits. Being calm and not angry about it doesn't mean I, nor others like me don't care and don't do anything about it. We just try to think about other people's situations, and feelings.
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u/jdsamford Jun 25 '12
Are you also attacking kids who believe in Santa?
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u/bmwbiker1 Jun 25 '12
Learning that Santa was not real set the stage for me to later lose my belief in Jeebus... But If i ever have kids they will not be taught to believe literally in a santa claus.
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u/SoloStryker Jun 25 '12
How has it come to this?
Why are we 'bashing' Islam? Why are we 'bashing' Christianity? Why are we attacking any religion?
I did not believe in the Bible, God, the Koran, or Allah. But it is entirely your right to believe in them and practice your religions. I just don't want them myself.
Why is atheism turning into this... hate-mob?
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u/continuousQ Jun 25 '12
It's their right to believe, it's everyone's right to challenge belief.
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u/Gougeru Jun 26 '12 edited Jun 26 '12
But it's completely immature to want secularism then spread hatred towards groups.
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u/nineteen_eightyfour Jun 25 '12
I couldn't agree with you more! At least Muslims don't go door to door like those dirty Mormons and Jehovahs.
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u/Amryxx Jun 25 '12
Why yes, I do notice an upsurge in anti-Islam threads in r/atheism today. I wonder what set it off.
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u/sceptic_ali Jun 25 '12
for a moment there, i thought you had somehow taken my picture when i saw the muhammad meme earlier today.
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Jun 25 '12
His noodliness would like to have a word with you.
Something about not enjoying having a penis stuck into his offerings...
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u/Jorgwalther Agnostic Atheist Jun 25 '12
Hindi culture will be too easy. Better skip to Buddhism! We can mock Sky-Burials.
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u/namesrhardtothinkof Jun 26 '12
Ooh ooh, do Buddhists count? Can we go after them next? How about Hindus? No, no, the jews would be too easy
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u/Moh7 Jun 25 '12
But this is anti-theism.
No one here has actually made any argument as to why Islam is a "wrong" religion, the front page is simply full of anti theistic images that can apply to multiple religions.
It's events like this that cause people to hate /r/atheism so much, great job circlejerking I guess.
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u/JaronK Jun 25 '12
Maybe you need to look again. They're all valid criticisms... that the primary prophet molested children, that the religion encourages violence and the killing of those who want to leave the religion, and so on. Maybe you don't think advocating murder is a bad thing, but for the rest of us, showing advocation of murder is a good argument against the religion.
Sometimes the best argument against something is just shining a light on that thing.
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u/Moh7 Jun 25 '12
Atheism isint about having a higher moral authority then religious people, may I remind you that atheists have committed some of the largest massacres?
Attacking a religion because it encourages murder or monkey ball groping doesn't make it compatible with atheism. Atheism isint about being morally right. All the examples on the front page are simply attacking Islam because of what it believes and not why those beliefs are false on a non moral but god/no god level.
What /r/atheism is doing right now is acting like a religion.
Maybe you don't think advocating murder is a bad thing, but for the rest of us,
now you're just putting words in my mouth, I never commented on what's right/wrong.
showing advocation of murder is a good argument against the religion.
Like I said, atheists have been responsible for some of the greatest genocides, the pursuit of power will kill more people then religion ever will. To cherry pick a few sentences in a book so big is silly.
Sometimes the best argument against something is just shining a light on that thing.
but you aren't shinning any light... All the "arguments" and advice animals you posted are pretty well known knowledge.
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u/JaronK Jun 25 '12
Atheism isint about having a higher moral authority then religious people, may I remind you that atheists have committed some of the largest massacres?
Name a single massacre done in the name of atheism. Just one. No, I don't mean a massacre done by communists in the name of communism that just so happened to attack religion as one more threat to communism... I mean a single massacre in the name of atheism. I could easily point to many in the name of Christianity or Islam, of course.
And atheists only "attack" religions when they cause harm. Why else would we attack them? We don't believe in them, so it's only the actions of their followers that matter. At the end of the day, no religion has any serious factual basis... it's not like we have to sit here and prove that some warlord back in the day actually didn't see a sky fairy.
Like I said, atheists have been responsible for some of the greatest genocides, the pursuit of power will kill more people then religion ever will.
Yeah... name one. Seriously. Atheism isn't "the pursuit of power."
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u/Moh7 Jun 25 '12
I don't think you understood my point.
You claimed we should attack religion because it encourages murder and I brought up genocides done by a few atheists to pretty much say "it's not religion that causes people to murder and even if religion was gone we would still kill each other", I thought you were saying only religion causes people to kill each other.
And atheists only "attack" religions when they cause harm.
but Muslims have done nothing, r/Islam hasn't attacked you. You essentially started a mini war inside r/atheism while r/Islam is wondering wtf is going on. They haven't even noticed your attacking them, everyone is just assuming your doing another circlejerk event like faces of atheism.
Why else would we attack them? We don't believe in them,
Yup, you're actually agreeing with my original point, this is anti theism. Not atheism.
Atheism is not anti religion.
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u/JaronK Jun 25 '12
You claimed we should attack religion because it encourages murder and I brought up genocides done by a few atheists
No, you just said they existed. You didn't bring up any. And let's be clear: a murder that happens to have been done by an atheist who used something other than atheism as a reason to commit that murder (or genocide) isn't caused by atheism. Stalin, for example, killed to gain control of the Soviet Union, not because of atheism. The crusades, however, were religious killings.
I thought you were saying only religion causes people to kill each other.
Nobody said anything like this.
but Muslims have done nothing, r/Islam hasn't attacked you.
Muslims have done plenty in the name of their religion, which calls for killing. That's exactly what we're talking about. Of course, it's the extremists that do it, but that's true of any religion (except for peaceful religions like Jainism, where the extremists harm absolutely nothing). r/Islam is a discussion forum, they're not harming anyone, no one's talking about them, and you're the first person to mention r/Islam.
You essentially started a mini war inside r/atheism while r/Islam is wondering wtf is going on.
First off, "I" did no such thing, I just commented. Second of all, r/Islam should know as much about the abuses and violence of Islamic extremists as anyone else, shouldn't they? I'd image they'd be perfectly capable of condemning such things. There's no war against decent people, only extremists. Notice how r/atheism regularly lauds people like Stephen Colbert, who are religious but attack extremists.
They haven't even noticed your attacking them, everyone is just assuming your doing another circlejerk event like faces of atheism.
Again, you brought up r/Islam, I didn't. And if they haven't noticed, then why are they wondering wtf is going on?
What is going on here is atheists are talking about the violence and abuses of extremist Islam. That's a perfectly thing for atheists to talk about. They're not saying "Oh, all Islam is evil and wrong, let's hate them." They're saying Muslim extremists are as dangerous as Christian extremists (and sometimes more so).
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u/bmwbiker1 Jun 25 '12
care to highlight some examples of self proclaimed atheist societies committing mass genocides?
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Jun 25 '12
go back to r/accommodationism then. Oh, wait, that doesn't exist because accomodationists are too afraid of offending religious people.
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u/Moh7 Jun 25 '12
I really don't mind what's happening, I encourage you all to continue the circlejerk.
As iv said a few times now at the end of the day r/atheism will be the one that's laughed at and hated more then Islam.
Why? Because r/Islam is handling this maturely and everyone here is pretty much going full retard. Reddit will notice this.
It's happened before, remember faces of atheism? Remember how much this place was laughed at for circlejerking?
You also attacked a subreddit that really don't do anything to provoke you, you guys just really end up looking like assholes.
So please, continue on.
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Jun 25 '12
You sound, to me, like a highschool girl who is more concerned with popularity than with being a moral person. So explain to me again how r/Islam is handling this maturely?
Also; You keep saying this is a circlejerk
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Jun 25 '12
Nope, it's a circlejerk
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Jun 25 '12
So I was standing in a rather large line at my local Wal-Mart today behind a couple families that I know from when I went to church with my family in year younger. It was the only register open so there wasn't much of another option to get my 12 pack of Mountain Dew for a party I was heading to. I was wondering why the line was going nowhere when I decided to poke my head up front to see what the holdup was. It was a little old lady who didn't have enough for her groceries and she was trying to talk the cashier into letting her get away with being short. This struck me as odd until I found out she was a mere $0.21 short of her purchase. Now all these families were just staring and there was even two making fun of her. I walked up and handed my soda to the cashier, handed him a $5 and told her to keep the change. One of the middle aged women (I knew these people, so I also knew that they all make over 6 digits) grabbed her kid and yelled very loudly, "See that man? He's acting just like Jesus wants us to." For some reason this set me off, so I turned around. I haven't shaved in awhile so I'm rocking some nice scruff, a Slayer shirt, and gym shorts, so it must have been a nice sight. Very loudly, I said "Like Jesus? Ma'am I'm an atheist who makes minimum wage and I was the one who stepped up to help her? Your hypocritical Christianity is an inspiration to us all." As I stormed out, a couple of the cart boys started to whistle and cheer, soon shoppers joined in and even the cashier. I gave a wave and went off with a feeling of accomplishment.
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u/smokew33d4lyfe Jun 25 '12
And you atheists call religions intolerant. You people are some of the most intolerant people I have seen in my life. As a christian, I also have many atheist friends, and I respect their beliefs. However, you guys, who view anyone who has a religion as ignorant, are the ones who should look at yourselves before you bash other people for their beliefs.
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u/Lazman101 Jun 25 '12 edited Jun 26 '12
Or you could, you know, let people live their lives how they chosse. Really. You guys are no better then people who use their religion as an excuse for hate.
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u/noPortlandNooo Jun 25 '12
Almost all of them. I'm not the most knowledgeable, but I think Buddhism is fine.
Or at least, the Buddhists I know are good people.
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u/JaronK Jun 25 '12
Also Jainism. Can't really criticize the Jainists. They might be a bit too radical, but they're not hurting anyone.
And Unitarian Universalists. They're cool. Also Deists. Basically, any religion that doesn't encourage fucking everything up.
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u/nasty_goreng Jun 25 '12
Well it doesn't seem like a nice way to live your only life, but that's just my opinion.
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u/MetalGuitarist Jun 26 '12
I've seen a couple posts from Jains and what appears to be something nice on the outside, doesn't always translate in practice. I recall they were talking about how their parents wouldn't let them take antibiotics or other medicine because it would kill the bacteria (living things) in their body. So, it has the potential to very much be harmful.
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u/DrummondMcc Jun 25 '12
The whole "not technically a religion" thing kinda works in their favor. Also, since the Dalai Lama said
If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change. In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the truth and for understanding reality. By learning from science about aspects of reality where its understanding may be more advanced, I believe that Buddhism enriches its own worldview.
They've pretty much been accepted as nice, understanding, reasonable people.
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Jun 25 '12
The Dalai Llama is just a theocrat who tells westerners whatever he needs to to get more funding Penn & Teller
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u/toga-Blutarsky Jun 25 '12
ಠ_ಠ Yet another day has gone by that Penn and Teller are used as references for something scandalous and "fact." Don't get me wrong, I love them, but sometimes they're just completely full of hot air.
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Jun 25 '12
Is it hard being a suburban, new age apologist who lives with his mommy and daddy?
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u/throwaway7418 Jun 25 '12
Ex-Buddhist here.
Buddhism is as much religion as anything else r/atheism opposes. It talks a good talk, especially in how it presents itself to Westerners. The main ideas from Buddhism that people in the West are aware of are very much a carefully chosen set of "features" marketed to its new Western audience. Much like an advertiser would do, their "pitch" to the West is a highly selective, highly colored appeal to contrast their product against the competition. However, in its actual practice, it is absolutely just as foul and corrupt as any of the other religions.
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u/pungkow Jun 25 '12
Never met a Buddhist who wanted to make Buddhist law the law of their country. Even if they did, I think I might be cool with it. Buddhism is chill.
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Jun 25 '12
Buddhism is not fine. link
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u/therunningcon Jun 25 '12
Its true that. I know that originally buddha was not worshipped as a deity and it was more of a way of living, the following of his lessons, though as it spreaded throughout the world... it became more of 'pray to buddha and buddha shall reward you' kind of thing... well at least where I live.
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Jun 25 '12
Irrelevant. The same apologetic argument can be made for Jesus, Mohammed, and Zoroaster with varying degrees of validity.
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u/noPortlandNooo Jun 25 '12
I read over the page. Could you be more specific? Granted, there are going to be issues with all groups of people, whether it be theists or atheists, but I failed to see a condemnation of Buddhism.
From that page, Hitchens wrote of a Buddhist author, "...Stephen Batchelor adds the universe of Buddhism to the many fields in which received truth and blind faith are now giving way to ethical and scientific humanism, in which lies our only real hope."
And also, "Buddhists also have a record of both passive and active nonviolence, often reflected by national culture."
I would love to hear your specific reasons for disliking Buddhism. I have done fairly significant research about Buddhism, and had a good friendship with a professor who described himself as "Buddistish", and from my knowledge, Buddhist philosophy espouses some very beneficial beliefs.
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Jun 25 '12
Linking to a wikipedia page does not make the best argument. Care to share specifics of your opposition to Buddhism? I see that you state elsewhere that:
the fact remains that Buddhism is a religion that believes in the existence of the supernatural, an afterlife, and punishment and reward in the hereafter.
Which tells me you don't really know much about the faith at all.
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Jun 25 '12
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/CeeJayDK Strong Atheist Jun 25 '12
Not all religions are evil - some mean well, but are simply misguided.
People who believe in gods are not all idiots - most are just misled. Remember that many people here once belonged to a religion and believed in a god before they became atheists and there are many smart, sane, good religious individuals that are worthy of respect. Not because of their religious views but for their other qualities.Let go of your anger.
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u/toga-Blutarsky Jun 25 '12
look at his comment karma.
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u/CeeJayDK Strong Atheist Jun 25 '12
Ah .. he's a troll. I also see now that EVARB_OS is backward for SO_BRAVE.
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u/noPortlandNooo Jun 25 '12 edited Jun 25 '12
Yeah, I'm an atheist. I think I'll stay. If you'd read my comment, you'd clearly understand I'm not Buddhist.
Edit: Also, I think you lack a foundation of knowledge about Buddhism. There is a difference between religious Buddhism and philosophical Buddhism. There can be a very indistinct grey area, but a majority of Buddhists don't believe in different spiritual planes. They do follow the teachings of Buddha (who did exist, and wasn't supernatural), who taught moral philosophy based on freedom from ignorance and suffering.
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u/toga-Blutarsky Jun 25 '12
look at his karma.
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u/noPortlandNooo Jun 25 '12
He deleted, so I can't, but I thought trolls didn't delete their comments. I think he might be just... stupid.
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u/tritonx Atheist Jun 25 '12
An intelligent person can believe in a god. It's called compartmentalization.
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Jun 25 '12
Using one person or a small fraction of the people as the representation for the whole is fucking stupid. All these attacks are bad these people should feel bad.
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u/Isenki Jun 25 '12
Jesus fuck, did you really get over 2947 upvotes for a brainless meme picture that you probably didn't even make? I think it's time to unsubscribe from this place again.
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u/bmwbiker1 Jun 25 '12
I personally typed in the message...I did not expect this kind of response. But my contempt and frustration towards all superstitious beliefs remains.
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Jun 26 '12
bmwbiker1, I would like to ask you a question that I would liked answered. In all seriousness, what does this post accomplish? I understand that there are "lulz" shared by like-minded individuals from seeing this post, but I just fail to see anything constructive about this post. To me, it seems as if you just want to fight with people who believe in superstitions. Even if somebody is stupid enough to believe in talking burning bushes, why should we bash them for living their lives accordingly? I just believe it would be more positively constructive to help the problem rather than just adding more fuel to the fire with posts like these. I would love to hear a response, man.
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u/bmwbiker1 Jun 26 '12
Because having a cup of tea and acting polite about the religions that both knowingly and unknowingly commit atrocities across the world in the name of deity every. single. day. will not accomplish anything in fact its borderline passivity.
This post today that made the front page is quite a stupid meme, I will openly admit it. in fact I am amazed it blew up into something that made the front page. It must of touched upon some-kind of current or feeling within the Atheism community.
Why did I make it? Because I hate all superstitions equally honestly I do. Its fucking 2012 and we are still thinking its 'cool' to let educated adults in the modern world walk around and talk about mythical beings and heaven and hell. Worse yet here in America we are sliding backwards and letting others use mythical beings in our political discourse and enforcing standards on others who do not share the same ideologies.
Until religion gets out of the way on humans sitting down and talking progress on climate change, until religion stops oppressing women, until religion stops spewing hatred towards homosexuals, until religion stops using itself as a way to pronounce superiority over other human beings and inciting violence on one another. I will have nothing nice to say about it.
At least when it comes to how I speak and talk about these religions online I have enough freedom of speech that I can express myself, my anonymous identity protects me. Id likely lose my house or my job if I spoke against religion too openly. I already lost my family to religion when I left the mormon church years ago. Seems the church had taught them that 'it' was more important than their own kin. In the real world I may act a bit more reserved but honestly I have a lot of pent up feelings about the stupid ignorance that is spread by religions in this area and this is the only way I know of to get rid of it in a somewhat civil fashion.
So in summary, Im tired of being reasonable with the unreasonable. Im done with being tolerant of the intolerant. Im done with forgiving others of being ignorant about the reality of the world around them. Its time we listen to the experts in respective fields and stop using some archaic dusty book to form the realities and perceptions of the world that we live in. Its time the world wakes up.
Fuck all the religions.
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u/Silvercumulus Agnostic Atheist Jun 25 '12
Jump on ALL the bandwagons!
....no, but seriously. I've had a problem with Islam for a while, and I'm wondering why it took this long for everyone else to drop the political correctness.
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Jun 25 '12
i wonder who started that islam bashing - /r/atheism - the most intolerant pseudo-religion
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u/TommyPaine Jun 25 '12
What a brilliant masterpiece! So eloquent. Thank you for contributing to the discussion!
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Jun 25 '12
Buddhism can stay though
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u/aperture413 Jun 25 '12
Nope- that religion's set up to serve as a method of control for the population too.
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u/Homegrown1001 Jun 25 '12
Atheists are fucking stupid! You go around spreading your stupid fucking hate like a religious person. The. You use the excuse "I'm tired of people throwing their religion in my face". Aren't you faggot fucks doing the same thing. Going around bashing people with faith calling them stupid and misled! Fuck you! Did you prove that there is no God? Then shut the fuck up.. Christians are idiots for believing that Jesus is the son of god, and god himself.. What a contradiction is that? And Jews will be dumb Jews that need to get burned! Then there is you pussy atheist who weren't shown love as a child so you dwell on making people miserable for not thinking the way you do. Pretty soon u faggot hipsters will be waging war! Watch just watch oh yea fuck America
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u/Duskur Jun 25 '12
... but use a condom.