A question for Anti-Theists

[Meridiani Planum]

What definitions of God make you uncomfortable and why do you think you feel most uncomfortable with this definition?

Anti-theists aren't uncomfortable with the definition of God. They are uncomfortable with widespread religious belief.

[Sedikal]

I really don't get anti-theism. I mean to there own right? I personally just don't see the need to hate something as its really just a waste of time.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I thought this was clear but I was mistaken. No, not all Anti-Theist people are assholes. Some can be, but not all are.

And some only become assholes when people declare them to be assholes as an opening move.

Also, your current flag terrifies me. I am a sad, frightened, little dinosaur.

Quite so.

Mission accomplished. :]

[Crystal Spires]

Krishna wasn't bloodthirsty? Spires, you've obviously never read the Mahabharata or Bhagavad Vita.

Are you mistaking Krishna and Shiva? I haven't seen Krishna go out all insane-like in the case of Ares and other warlike brutal gods, but those are very long holy texts, doubtless I have missed some of the tales.

[Meridiani Planum]

I really don't get anti-theism. I mean to there own right? I personally just don't see the need to hate something as its really just a waste of time.

Anti-theists believe that religious belief has been a source of many problems in the world. That is why they oppose that belief.

It's like being opposed to racism.

[Anachronous Rex]

I really don't get anti-theism. I mean to there own right? I personally just don't see the need to hate something as its really just a waste of time.

Why conflate opposition with hatred?

[The Steel Magnolia]

Because it's exactly the same thing as homophobia or misogyny, except biased against religion?

You're right, criticizing a doctrine, and criticizing people for the way they were born are exactly the same. I guess you win this one.

Uh, yeah. Actually, it is incredibly similar.

You can criticize institutions without criticizing people's personal beliefs.

[Crystal Spires]

Anti-theists aren't uncomfortable with the definition of God. They are uncomfortable with widespread religious belief.

Ah, that seems like a more fair assessment, but... why? What does it matter that other people believe in a fairy tale? I mean... kids believe in Santa up until prepubescence with astounding prevalence. Santa.... doesn't exist.... sorry guys.

[The Steel Magnolia]

I really don't get anti-theism. I mean to there own right? I personally just don't see the need to hate something as its really just a waste of time.

Anti-theists believe that religious belief has been a source of many problems in the world. That is why they oppose that belief.

It's like being opposed to racism.

It's like being racist.

[Avenio]

Because belief without evidence should be seen with a due amount of skepticism, irregardless of how many philosophical problems one waves away or how impotent and nebulous it is?

The topic is about Anti-theism, not Atheism. I am an Atheist and thus don't think there is evidence at all, but this doesn't merit hostility toward the concept of a God.

Sure it does. That sort of thinking can easily justify an 'anti-theist' belief system. One can argue that a belief in god detracts and distracts from real, tangible problems in the world, since believing in God or gods generally correlates to a belief in an overriding, universal system of divine justice that will offer retribution in the end. If God repays all in kind, then why worry about the child dying of cancer?

One could also argue that theism naturally leads to magical thinking, which opens the door to faith healing, miracles and other such nonsense that can actively harm both the person and those around them. The recent troubles where preachers in the UK insisted that prayer and holy water could treat and cure HIV or the recent death of a teenage boy in the US due to the fact his parents believed in the power of prayer come to mind.

etc etc. I'm not quite understanding where you get the idea that anti-theism is necessarily an emotional, visceral response from.

[Seitonjin]

Dominance via evidence.

It's just that. Anti-theists show with fervor that there is no god(s) because they have the evidence to do so.

Basically trying to prove a relatively valid point.

There's no evidence, there's a lack of evidence either which way, and no, that's not the same thing. Burden of proof is still a thing, yes, but it doesn't mean what all y'all think it means.

Look. Evidence and no evidence aside, being unsure at the moment fits the bill.

And Anti-Teism sometimes does not mean anti-religion. They aren't all jerks too.

[The Steel Magnolia]

I really don't get anti-theism. I mean to there own right? I personally just don't see the need to hate something as its really just a waste of time.

Why conflate opposition with hatred?

Because it's one and the same.

[Meridiani Planum]

Anti-theists believe that religious belief has been a source of many problems in the world. That is why they oppose that belief.

It's like being opposed to racism.

It's like being racist.

Is it? I don't think that's a good analogy. Please explain.

[Nationalist State of Knox]

You're right, criticizing a doctrine, and criticizing people for the way they were born are exactly the same. I guess you win this one.

Uh, yeah. Actually, it is incredibly similar.

You can criticize institutions without criticizing people's personal beliefs.

So it's bigoted to criticise a homophobe for being homophobic because it's their "personal belief"?

Anti-theists believe that religious belief has been a source of many problems in the world. That is why they oppose that belief.

It's like being opposed to racism.

It's like being racist.

It's not though, because race/ethnicity isn't a choice, unlike one's religious beliefs.

[Anachronous Rex]

Krishna wasn't bloodthirsty? Spires, you've obviously never read the Mahabharata or Bhagavad Vita.

Are you mistaking Krishna and Shiva? I haven't seen Krishna go out all insane-like in the case of Ares and other warlike brutal gods, but those are very long holy texts, doubtless I have missed some of the tales.

He's actually right about this (amazing, I know.)

In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna basically says, "If you're ever tempted to think that the soldiers on the other side might not actually be bad people, and that you don't really have any quarrel with them, and that all of this killing is wicked... ignore that, and slaughter them anyway."

He's also the one who says, "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."

[The Steel Magnolia]

Because it's exactly the same thing as homophobia or misogyny, except biased against religion?

Except that religion is a choice, and antitheism acts to criticise religion not just mindlessly attack it like a misogynist would slander women.

Except that religion is just as if not more important to people than sexuality is, and "hurr durr stupid xtians" bullshit is nothing more than facetious and egotistical posturing.

[Seitonjin]

Why conflate opposition with hatred?

Because it's one and the same.

Not all the time.

I'm in opposition to socialism. Does that mean I hate socialists or socialism?

[Wolfmanne]

Honestly, anti-theists are a pain in the arse. I mean, nowadays you can't say that you're religious on the internet without some smart guy offering their own little criticism.

[Anachronous Rex]

Why conflate opposition with hatred?

Because it's one and the same.

You can't oppose something without hating it? That's kind of disturbing.

Seek help.

[Nationalist State of Knox]

Why conflate opposition with hatred?

Because it's one and the same.

op·po·si·tion
/ˌäpəˈziSHən/
Noun
1. Resistance or dissent, expressed in action or argument.
2. A group of adversaries or competitors, esp. a rival political party or athletic team.
Synonyms
resistance - contrast - antagonism - objection

ha·tred
/ˈhātrid/
Noun
Intense dislike or ill will.
Synonyms
odium - enmity - loathing - animosity - detestation


I'm not seeing the similarity, here.

[The Steel Magnolia]

Uh, yeah. Actually, it is incredibly similar.

You can criticize institutions without criticizing people's personal beliefs.

So it's bigoted to criticise a homophobe for being homophobic because it's their "personal belief"?

I wasn't aware that religious people were homophobes. I wasn't aware that believing in a God was hateful.

It's not though, because race/ethnicity isn't a choice, unlike one's religious beliefs.

And why, just because it's a choice, do you somehow get the idea that it's not important?

[The Grey Wolf]

Krishna wasn't bloodthirsty? Spires, you've obviously never read the Mahabharata or Bhagavad Vita.

Are you mistaking Krishna and Shiva? I haven't seen Krishna go out all insane-like in the case of Ares and other warlike brutal gods, but those are very long holy texts, doubtless I have missed some of the tales.

Shiva isn't bloodthirsty, he just destroys the world so that it can be reborn. Is Time bloodthirsty even though it kills stuff?
Krishna on the other hand. Kills his uncle, Kamsa, first. Second, on the battlefield at Kurukeshetra, where Arjuna will have to fight his own flesh and blood he extols violence as Arjuna's duty and says he won't be really killing his relatives, just disembodying their souls. Arjuna kills his grandfather Bhishma by hiding behind a transexual, helps deceive his guru so he'll lay down his arms and be easier to kill, kills his own half-brother when his back is turned, and a bunch of other stuff.
Basically Freddy Kruegar if Krueger was blue and existed 5,000-6,000 years ago.

[The Steel Magnolia]

Because it's one and the same.

op·po·si·tion
/ˌäpəˈziSHən/
Noun
1. Resistance or dissent, expressed in action or argument.
2. A group of adversaries or competitors, esp. a rival political party or athletic team.
Synonyms
resistance - contrast - antagonism - objection

ha·tred
/ˈhātrid/
Noun
Intense dislike or ill will.
Synonyms
odium - enmity - loathing - animosity - detestation


I'm not seeing the similarity, here.

We call people who are merely "opposed" to gay people hateful and homophobic, because they are.

[The Steel Magnolia]

Because it's one and the same.

You can't oppose something without hating it? That's kind of disturbing.

Seek help.

Because it's one and the same.

Not all the time.

I'm in opposition to socialism. Does that mean I hate socialists or socialism?

Is context something that is hard for you to understand?

[Meridiani Planum]

Anti-theists aren't uncomfortable with the definition of God. They are uncomfortable with widespread religious belief.

Ah, that seems like a more fair assessment, but... why? What does it matter that other people believe in a fairy tale? I mean... kids believe in Santa up until prepubescence with astounding prevalence. Santa.... doesn't exist.... sorry guys.

Because beliefs have consequences on personal behavior, and that can have social consequences. An example is the Taliban.