Atheism is/is not a religion II: The Return

My point is that what atheists do does not define atheism. You should be caring about what people do in general - if someone does the same kind of things you're (legitimately) objecting to but they happen to believe in a god they should be equally condemned and if someone happens to not believe in any gods but doesn't do any of the bad things, they shouldn't be lumped in with the militants.

This is basically no different to implying all blacks are criminals, all Muslims are terrorists, all Americans are gun nuts or all Christians are homophobes.

As I said, atheism is not a belief system. Radical atheists have no more connection with me than radical Muslims have with you. My only connection is atheism, your only connection is theism. Alone, neither of those concepts are hugely significant.

Some atheists do, some atheists don't. I'm among the section who don't and I'm also among the section of people who think those who do are complete idiots. All of that goes much deeper than atheist and theism though. It's about individual human beings, not convenient labels.

 

According to scripture there is no "degree" of sin. The murderer and the angry person are equally guilty.
If the argument of taking the Lord's name in vain is valid, who delivers the message is irrelevant. It sounds like you are simply avoiding your gaff.

 

So far you are the only one.

I have seen many of those so-called contradictions and on careful examination the seemingly contradictions disappear.

Maybe you should inform your fellow atheist here on this board because if you are correct it means they don't have a clue. Or maybe they are just pretending to be atheist and have someone personal agenda against Christianity or something.

 

It's just an example. But my point from the beginning was that the Bible is not about a Christian religion. But what Christians believe and what the Bible says are not always the same things.

 

Actually, there is one unforgivable sin... And that is blasphemy.

 

There are thousands of gods, yet you condemn atheists for believing in one less than you do.

 

My gaffe? I didn't do anything that would be considered a gaffe.

I wasn't aware of scripture saying that there is no degree of sin; that doesn't even pass the smell test. You sure you aren't taking an allegorical sentence out of context some where?

Clearly some sins are more serious than are others.

 

Thousands of Gods.

K.

 

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_gods_and_goddesses_are_there

According to The English Dictionary, god is defined as, "a supernatural being, who is worshiped as the controller of some part of the universe, some aspect of life, or is the personification of some force." Included in this definition are all deities, goddesses and supernatural beings.

Since the beginning of recorded history, which is defined by the invention of writing by the Sumerians around 6000 years ago, historians have cataloged over 3700 supernatural beings, of which 2870 can be considered deities. Those numbers are probably a very conservative estimate because we have no accurate information before 4000 B.C. ...

 

Don't forget FSM.

 

No he isn't. You just don't notice those of us not shouting about it.

 

Thousands of gods? I only know of one......and what specifically did I say that was condemning of atheists?

 

They must be in hiding because I never saw them calling out the other the atheists who were saying for sure that God does not exist. I did not see them saying, hold it man, you can’t say that, because we don’t know for sure. The only ones that usually say that are the agnostics.

 

Atheism is like a religion in many ways, especially the more zealous strains of atheism.

 

Why should I be expected to? If I had to call out everyone I have a vague connection to who posted something I personally disagree with, I'd never have time for anything else. Some British people post rubbish too but I'm not expected to call out each and every one of them,

I will (and have) mention it where it's relevant to a wider conversation but I have no urge to seek out that specific statement over and above any other. It's worth noting that most people who do believe in gods are the same. It's far from the only thing to talk about.

Incidentally, I am also agnostic. "Weak" atheists (those who don't definitively state gods don't exist) and pretty much agnostic by definition.

 

I'll make sure I tell those other so-called atheist when they make emphatic statement when they say that God does not exist.

 

I think god would consider you calling him "fu$%ing God" a gaff.

Show your evidence for the ranking of sin. Don't state it. Show it. Verse please.
Jesus says you have already committed adultery if you just stare with lust. No difference.
Don't tell me the sins you particularly don't like are worse than the ones you regularly participate in. Show me the verse.

 

Tell them what? That Honest Joe is an agnostic atheist?
Why should that interest them?
What point are you making here?

 

You're confusing me with another poster. I didn't say that.

I have a question - because I don't have the time or inclination to go Bible mining for you: why, exactly, would adjectives be used to describe various sins, if there was to be no discernable difference? For instance: the sin of homosexuality is called "an abomination" - not all sins are described equally in the Bible.

If that makes sense to you - and you do not think allegory or alliteration is used in the Bible to make points - then you feel free to gouge out your eyeball when you're guilty of said infraction.

God gave me common sense for a reason. Employ yours.

 

Upon intellectual dishonesty, they disappear.

Many atheists and agnostics really DON'T have a clue.

http://atheism.about.com/od/aboutagnosticism/a/Atheist-vs-Agnostic-Difference.htm

Again, you ignore this. I assume it's because you know I'm right, but you don't want to admit it:

 

So, anything attributed to 'atheism' is invalidated because there is, undoubedtly, at least one atheist who disagrees with it. THerefore ALL atheists are exempted from responsibility. Of course, that same thing occurs in religion, but nevertheless, religion in general can be held accountable for the Crusades.

Conversely, as happened just yesterday, we are all also guilty of 9-11, and Osama Bin Laden (modern Hitler) is representative of ALL us religious people, rather than an example of a few extemists who believe the earth is flat, eh?

Again, one standard for atheism, another fo everyone else.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/us/27atheists.html

I am just curious, if atheism is JUST one sentence - one that atheists disagree is even a statement apparently, then why do you guys need Chaplains for unique spiritual needs?

Notice the picture there, of a group of one sentencers (maybe?) who are congregating in an atheist house of worship to talk about absolutely nothing.

Not a religion, eh?

 

That's exactly what OMFG means. You are perfectly aware of that. Don't plead ignorance. Just apologize to your god and move on. Don't compound the sin by bearing false witness as well.
The verse I referenced is neither an allegory nor is it an excellent, effervescent example of alliteration. It is straight prose. The cure that Jesus suggests would be a heinous and horrific hyperbole.
Your common sense is unfortunately not matched by your knowledge of rhetoric.

 

My point was about the definition of religion, that you posted.

Why do you think the examples provided just so happened to be two which are commonly referred to as religions, rather than some boy scouts association etc?

Dusty

 

Really? So far, there's only one atheist in my poll who actually denies the existence of any god. The other 8 take my stance.

http://www.politicalforum.com/relig...-no-god-exists-do-you-simply-lack-belief.html