Atheism a creed that needs the same religious protections of Christianity and Islam:

[Cliffy]

I really don't understand why some atheists think they need to define themselves. I can see the possible need to organize to protect their rights from those religious factions who think it is their duty to imose their will on everybody else, though. I think most agnostics feel the same way. But atheism as a creed is pure nonsense.

 

[karrie]

But atheism as a creed is pure nonsense.

Well, since atheism is just people, the same as the rest of the world, it's not immune to nonsense.

 

[Goober]

I really don't understand why some atheists think they need to define themselves. I can see the possible need to organize to protect their rights from those religious factions who think it is their duty to imose their will on everybody else, though. I think most agnostics feel the same way. But atheism as a creed is pure nonsense.

Yes I have noted Press Gangs patrolling the streets on Sundays, gathering up itinerant Atheists and forcing them, really throwing them thru open Church doors. No injuries reported as yet, but someone could lose an eye if they are not careful.

Please note the PG's are well informed and will not bother Jews or Muslims.

 

[Cliffy]

Yes I have noted Press Gangs patrolling the streets on Sundays, gathering up itinerant Atheists and forcing them, really throwing them thru open Church doors. No injuries reported as yet, but someone could lose an eye if they are not careful.

Please note the PG's are well informed and will not bother Jews or Muslims.

Perhaps I should have stated "imposing their will through political pressure, as in banning abortions, religious symbols in public venues and prayers at the beginning of public events or nonsense like "God Bless America".

 

[Goober]

Perhaps I should have stated "imposing their will through political pressure, as in banning abortions, religious symbols in public venues and prayers at the beginning of public events or nonsense like "God Bless America".

Perhaps we as adults could discuss the limiting of late term abortion-
Nah that won't happen.

Perhaps we as adults could not get all bent out of shape about non denominational Prayers at events -
Nah that won't happen.

Perhaps we could have a discussion where we would understand that a persons religious beliefs are just that-
Their belief.
Nah that won't happen.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

What makes you think I disapprove of the brights or any other atheist organization exactly?

See, that's the rub of it. When I say that atheists shouldn't have to justify themselves, define themselves, or answer to people as to what they think and believe, by the following forward of that logic, why should I have to define atheism to say atheists have the right to define themselves?

I'm not going to search your past posts to find the exact places where you've objected to a certain stridency among people who identify themselves as Brights, but you have done it and that's what makes me think you disapprove of them. I don't agree that atheists shouldn't have to justify themselves, if they're going to put atheism forward to others as part of a sensible way to understand the world, then they DO have to justify themselves. You're right that you don't have to define atheism to say atheists have the right to define themselves, but if you're going to talk about it further it would be useful to know what you think it means, particularly when you seem to think it means something it doesn't. And BTW, I just searched the official Brights web site for atheist and atheism. They understand atheism the same way I do, not as a set of beliefs but as merely one possible component of a larger naturalistic world view.

 

[karrie]

The only times I have ever put forward The Brights Dexter, was to illustrate atheists involved in behaviour that someone was telling me they were not involved in, such as attempting to convert others, etc. Simply to illustrate that any organization is made up of humans with a similar set of beliefs about the world. I've gotten very fed up with the nitpicking about language.

The Brights, by that standard, need to 'justify' their stance, as an atheist organization, but being an atheist doesn't mean one belongs to an organization anymoreso than being a theist does, or needs to justify what they think or feel, to anyone.

 

[Nuggler]

"Karrie sayeth: " I've gotten very fed up with the nitpicking about language. "

yup.

We could start the Canadian Atheist Forum.............But would we be a religion ?? No taxes ??

wooohoo.

Already is one ? Brights ?

whatever..................hooooocares.

I'm always amused by the people who babble about "the sanctity of human life." Human life is the cheapest commodity on the planet. Dirt is gold by comparison.

Trade you some dirt for some people..........

 

[WLDB]

This is where the problems always begin. Some religious people tend to insist that everyone MUST follow their dogma. While I fully support anyones right to go pray to what ever they want and abide by whatever foolish rules their cult believes I do not want their beliefs forced on me and mine.

Exactly. Unfortunately a number of them are even willing to kill people for disagreeing with them on this subject. So long as that threat exists remaining silent isnt an option. If everyone became content to live and let live on this subject life would become a lot easier for both atheists and theists.