I could try to put together a list of assumptions for Atheism, but I would rather have y'all do that, and I might compare to what my guess would have been.
That's good of you not to stereotype what you probably know nothing about. Correct atheist assumptions:
* Atheism is the LACK of belief in a god or gods, not the "denial" of these gods' existence (very important)
* Atheists don't "hate" god and are not "mad" at god, nor to they worship the devil...see point above.
* Atheists don't lack morals; in fact, ours are often superior to a religious person's because our morals are based on things that make SENSE (not "some book told me so").
* Atheism isn't a religion; it's the lack of religion, in fact. When nonfundie religious folks are just living their normal lives, being secular, not doing anything religious in the moment...that's how atheists live all the time.
I'm sure there many more I'm forgetting to mention, so consider this the appetizer.
You are incorrect in a few of your points:
Positive Atheists (also called strong/hard) absolutely assert that no god exists. Negative Atheists (weak/soft) do not believe in the existence of a god, but do not absolutely state there to be none.
Atheism is indeed a religion and has even been recognized as one in US courts (ninth circuit and The Supreme Court to name two).
You make reckless generalizations on others:
Subjective morality is a dangerous thing and leads to such evils as "for the greater good" and "for the good of mankind/country/etc" and things like infanticide and gender based infanticide, redistribution of wealth through forceful theft, etc. When a person is allowed on their own to decide what is good or bad or a consensus of people are allowed to decide such things there is no end to the horrendous deeds that will follow. People become numb in time to nearly anything and popular culture often can reflect such a tendency. I am sure that cannibal tribes never viewed their actions as immoral.
"Horrendous deeds?" Once again, you display your fine sense of comedy. You're a funny guy, but maybe you should open a history book every once in a while.
Do you have any knowledge of the torture and burning of so-called witches and so-called heretics all across Europe during the middle ages? Have you ever heard of the Crusades and the sacking of Constantinople in 1204?
"The Crusaders looted and vandalized Constantinople for three days, during which many ancient and medieval Roman and Greek works were either stolen or destroyed. The famous bronze horses from the Hippodrome were sent back to adorn the facade of St Mark's Basilica in Venice, where they still remain.
The Library of Constantinople was destroyed. Despite their oaths and the threat of excommunication, the Crusaders systematically violated the city's holy sanctuaries, destroying, or stealing all they could lay hands on; nothing was spared.
It was said that the total amount looted from Constantinople was about 900,000 silver marks. The Venetians received 150,000 silver marks that was their due, while the Crusaders received 50,000 silver marks. A further 100,000 silver marks were divided evenly up between the Crusaders and Venetians. The remaining 500,000 silver marks were secretly kept back by many Crusader knights. Latin residents of Constantinople, meanwhile, took revenge for the Massacre of the Latins of 1182." (from Wikipedia)
It's also possible that you never heard about the Spanish Inquisition and the torture and forceful conversion of Jews and other "heretics?" In fact, the forced conversion of native people all across the planet. The 30 Years War and numerous other wars of religion. How about the Salem witch trials?
I could go on and on, a very long history of thoroughly barbaric acts, these are just a few examples of your christian "love" and "charity." You can keep all that for yourself and your fellow christians.
Community Forum
Topic: Let's discuss Christianity versus Atheism (or others) (Read 6756 times)
September 15, 2010, 01:26:17 pm
