Atheism= southern end of a north-bound horse?

[Person012345]

I think the reason so many atheists feel persecuted is the fact that a few act like total assholes and create a bad reputation for the whole group.

I think the reason so many Christians feel persecuted is that fact that a few act like total assholes and create a bad reputation for the whole group.

See? I can easily make the same argument about Christianity. Or any religious group, for that matter.

Or absolutely any group ever in the history of the world.

[The USOT]

is the belief that there is no god and that it science is the one truth.

This is a huge misunderstanding, but I can see why you would think it.

First of all the default atheist position is not so much that there is NO God. But not beleiving in a God.
The key difference here is that it is not inherrantly a position in which the individual beleives there is definatly no god, but that they do not know if a God exists or not/Beleive it is unknowable by modern standards. This can be known as Agnosticism, or Agnostic atheism depending on view.

Now what you are describing is more what is called "Hard" or "Absolute" atheism, which is indeed the stance that there is no God at all.

As for the whole science thing? Whilst it is common for atheists to highly respect science for various reasons, it is not neccesarily an atheist position that science is the one truth. I for instance value science greatly, but think it is useless without the philosophy which actually gives it meaning in terms of knowledge.

Likewise there are interesting trends in atheism around the world and in various cultures which often give differing views on certain perspectives within atheism. Atheism in India for instance often takes on a very different strand to atheism within the UK due to atheist themes within the Vedas, and often takes a more "rationalist" perspective as opposed to an "empirical" one.

[Ifreann]

I think the reason so many Christians feel persecuted is that fact that a few act like total assholes and create a bad reputation for the whole group.

See? I can easily make the same argument about Christianity. Or any religious group, for that matter.

Or absolutely any group ever in the history of the world.

The only group of humans that does not contain at least some utter arseholes is a group strictly defined as containing only people who are not utter arseholes. And even that's a bit iffy.

[Nordengrund]

I do not think I know any Atheists. My dad and grandpa both used to be Atheists, but they became Christians. So I do not know any RL life Atheists at the present moment.

[Not Safe For Work]

I do not think I know any Atheists. My dad and grandpa both used to be Atheists, but they became Christians. So I do not know any RL life Atheists at the present moment.

You could know a lot of them, and just not know it. Despite how they are presented in Chick tracts, most Atheists show no outward manifestations of the affliction. They're just normal people, like anyone else. No horns. No constant creepy smile. No lacquered hair.

Seriously. What is it with the creepy smiles and the lacquered hair in Chick tracts?

Next time you're in a room of ten people, look around you. One of those people is probably an Atheist.

[Samuraikoku]

Being an asshole has nothing to do with religion or atheism. People use that - or any other ideology - as an excuse.

[Person012345]

Or absolutely any group ever in the history of the world.

The only group of humans that does not contain at least some utter arseholes is a group strictly defined as containing only people who are not utter arseholes. And even that's a bit iffy.

That's complicated by the fact that the definition of asshole is subjective.

[Ovisterra]

It doesn't. You can be a non-religious theist.

Explain.

Basically, you believe in some sort of higher power but don't actually subscribe to the teachings or rituals of any one religion.

Irreligious =/= Atheist

[Person012345]

Explain.

Basically, you believe in some sort of higher power but don't actually subscribe to the teachings or rituals of any one religion.

Irreligious =/= Atheist

Additionally there are atheistic religions.

[Ovisterra]

Basically, you believe in some sort of higher power but don't actually subscribe to the teachings or rituals of any one religion.

Irreligious =/= Atheist

Additionally there are atheistic religions.

Yep. Certain Buddhist sects are atheistic, I believe.

[The USOT]

Additionally there are atheistic religions.

Yep. Certain Buddhist sects are atheistic, I believe.

Tbh the Vedic faiths have never really had any conflict with atheism. I breifly touched upon it earlier with the Vedas supporting concepts of No God or God as an all encompassing deity (e.g. Brahman) who`s nature is just the universe.

[Ovisterra]

Yep. Certain Buddhist sects are atheistic, I believe.

Tbh the Vedic faiths have never really had any conflict with atheism. I breifly touched upon it earlier with the Vedas supporting concepts of No God or God as an all encompassing deity (e.g. Brahman) who`s nature is just the universe.

I'll take your word for it. I'm no expert on them.

[Suel]

I bet blacks feel persecuted because some of them really are thieving drug addicts who subsist on a diet of watermelon, KFC and white women.

Please dont generalize. Must be few who go for burgerking and asian chicks

[Not Safe For Work]

Additionally there are atheistic religions.

Yep. Certain Buddhist sects are atheistic, I believe.

I've met Atheist Wiccans - who believed that there was some influential power they were tapping into, but that 'gods' were a metaphor. i.e. the 'power' they connect with is like electricity - it's energy, not intelligence.

I assume there's far more prevalence of overlap between 'religion' and Atheism than it initially seems.

[Suel]

Or absolutely any group ever in the history of the world.

The only group of humans that does not contain at least some utter arseholes is a group strictly defined as containing only people who are not utter arseholes. And even that's a bit iffy.

But even in a group of one, there would still be an arsehole.

[Ovisterra]

Yep. Certain Buddhist sects are atheistic, I believe.

I've met Atheist Wiccans - who believed that there was some influential power they were tapping into, but that 'gods' were a metaphor. i.e. the 'power' they connect with is like electricity - it's energy, not intelligence.

I assume there's far more prevalence of overlap between 'religion' and Atheism than it initially seems.

Yeah, people often assume that all religions are theistic, which is just wrong.

[Divair]

I do not think I know any Atheists. My dad and grandpa both used to be Atheists, but they became Christians. So I do not know any RL life Atheists at the present moment.

You probably know a few, but they won't show it/admit it.

[Raeyh]

I've met Atheist Wiccans - who believed that there was some influential power they were tapping into, but that 'gods' were a metaphor. i.e. the 'power' they connect with is like electricity - it's energy, not intelligence.

I assume there's far more prevalence of overlap between 'religion' and Atheism than it initially seems.

Yeah, people often assume that all religions are theistic, which is just wrong.

The one thing that ties all religion together is mysticism.

[Arkinesia]

To be fair, athiests can be dicks too.

Christians being dicks doesn't mean you should be dick, or else Christians can just say, "get over it"

This.

I'm actually tired of anyone crying persecution. This is the US. Unless you're a Muslim or atheist living in the Southeast I don't really think there are people being legitimately persecuted for their beliefs, with a handful of minor exceptions.

[Johz]

I don't think that was what the OP was saying. My interpretation was "Why do atheists complain about being persecuted? Some of them are assholes, therefore they shouldn't complain."

Which, while silly, is not claiming that you are an asshole due to your atheism.

I don't. I think it says exactly what it says. Also, the OP is just ignorant, Atheism isn't believing there's no god, and it has NOTHING to do with science (some atheists believe just as unscientific bullshit as the religious).

I'm not arguing that the OP has any grounding in fact or sense, but rather that the OP didn't in any way infer that atheists are all assholes. Instead, he said that some atheists were assholes, and that other atheists should stop whinging. Which is slightly better than just calling atheists assholes.

Slightly.

[New Hampshire Free State (Ancient)]

I'm an atheist and I agree that I am an asshole, damn superstitions have been holding the world back from real progress. I became a libertarian because I knew the only real way to stop the religious cuckoos from returning us back to the stone age is to reduce the scope of the government host infected by the voodoo-hocus-pocus parasites.

[New Sparta 1309]

I never meant to imply that all atheists are assholes. That is not my opinion; I was just stating that many atheists feel wrongly persecuted because of what they believe. This is true many people are persecuted for there beliefs and that is not fair. My point was that some people use this persecution as an excuse to be rude towards others and claim there faith is justification. This is true of all faiths not just atheists but to paraphrase Gandhi “Be the change you wish to see in the world” that was the point behind the post not to say all atheist where assholes.

[Zanzibarnia]

I never meant to imply that all atheists are assholes. That is not my opinion; I was just stating that many atheists feel wrongly persecuted because of what they believe. This is true many people are persecuted for there beliefs and that is not fair. My point was that some people use this persecution as an excuse to be rude towards others and claim there faith is justification. This is true of all faiths not just atheists but to paraphrase Gandhi “Be the change you wish to see in the world” that was the point behind the post not to say all atheist where assholes.

There. Is. No. Faith. In. Atheism.

FFS.

And if, as you say, this is true of all "faiths", then why are you harping on atheists in particular?

[Ovisterra]

I never meant to imply that all atheists are assholes. That is not my opinion; I was just stating that many atheists feel wrongly persecuted because of what they believe. This is true many people are persecuted for there beliefs and that is not fair. My point was that some people use this persecution as an excuse to be rude towards others and claim there faith is justification. This is true of all faiths not just atheists but to paraphrase Gandhi “Be the change you wish to see in the world” that was the point behind the post not to say all atheist where assholes.

But you said atheists were persecuted because some of them were assholes, which is blatantly incorrect. It's the other way around.

[New Rogernomics]

Now I would like to start this by stating I do not hate Atheists. My Fiancée is an Atheist; my brother is one, I was one, my roommate is one. Im just pointing out an observation Ive made. I think the reason so many atheists feel persecuted is the fact that a few act like total assholes and create a bad reputation for the whole group. Atheism, as I understand it, is the belief that there is no god and that it science is the one truth. It does not mean you have to be an obnoxious dick about it and mock those who do believe in a higher power. The whole flying spaghetti monster is a prime example of this. Just because you don’t believe in something does that mean you have to mock and disrespect there cherished beliefs and then hide behind the persecution angle. Im not saying all atheists act this way im just sharing my observation of a few bad apples ruining the bunch.

Well people usually do not change just because they wear a different hat,

Some like to create the illusion that people change into better people by adopting a particular ideology or world view; in truth most stay the same i.e. evangelical preacher becomes a 'militant atheist' or the nice Mormon down the street becomes the nice Atheist down the street. Visit a few forums on the web run by atheists or believers and you can find total asses on them, I wouldn't get rapt up about it.