Pat Robertson, The 700 Club, January 14, 1991

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"The theory that you should always treat the religious convictions of other people with respect finds no support in the Gospels."

Arnold Lunn (1888-1974), British author

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CHRISTIANS WANT ME TO HAVE RESPECT FOR THE MEMBERS OF A RELIGION WHO HAVE BEEN HARASSING, PERSECUTING, TORTURING AND MURDERING WE ATHEISTS FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS?

NO WAY JOSE!

There are STILL States which have laws which discriminate Against Atheists.

We Atheists are STILL attacked, beaten and/or killed JUST because we are Atheists.

As late as 2006 (in Ok,) Christians were STILL subjugating Atheists TO WITCH TRIALS!

MOST Ameriicans would NOT vote for an
Atheist NO MATTER how other wise well qualifed they are.

STILL TODAY, MANY, TO MOST, Americans who are Athiests ARE AFRAID to make it public knowledge they are Atheists!

Did YOU know Chuck Norris wants to BRAND ALL Atheists Foreheads with the words "In God We Trust"?

Isn't Norris just a shinning example of Christian Love? (Well, it is rather typical.)

THE FACTS ARE:

1. As long as BLACKS went along with the shabby way they were being treated, they did NOT make any progress toward being treated equally.
They did NOT get equal treatment UNTIL they STOPPED being "nicey nice" and started raising some hell!

2. As long as WOMEN went along with the shabby way they were being treated, they did NOT make any progress toward being treated equally.
They did NOT get equal treatment UNTIL they STOPPED being "nicey nice" and started raising some hell!

3. As long HOMOSEXUALS went along with the shabby way they were being treated, they did NOT make any progress toward being treated equally.
They did NOT get equal treatment UNTIL they STOPPED being "nicey nice" and started raising some hell!

And ONLY IDIOTS who do not learn from history would NOT know the ONLY way we Atheists are going to be treated as well as any, and all, religious people are, IS BY RAISING SOME HELL!

ildi, you are right. I have not explained a lot.

That's an understatement right there.

What I found was Atheists protecting their own dogma...

What dogma does a rejection of dogma entail?

What I found was intolerance, insults and profanity.

No, what you found was dissent which you were unable to separate from your personal feelings of being disagreed with. I'm sorry your little ego got hurt, but asking you to back up your assertions - which you admit you have not done - is not the same as what you are trying to make it out to be. You can't back up your assertions, so you try ad hominem and strawmen instead.

Minds just as tightly closed as those of fundamentalists.

Except we are willing to change our minds given some evidence and rational argumentation, neither of which you have provided. Trying to guilt/shame us into agreeing with you and then complaining when it doesn't work isn't the way to proceed. In fact, if we agreed with you simply because you acted tough, then we would be acting the way you claim we are acting.

There are lots of other topics that interest me Ebonmuse.

I have a feeling they all involve how awesome you think you are.

I posted my honest thoughts and opinions. What I found was intolerance, insults and profanity. Minds just as tightly closed as those of fundamentalists.

No, just people who disagree with you. You have a world view that you present (repeatedly) but don't justify. When you are questioned you take umbridge or snipe.
In general the debate on this site is polite and informed. I think you started the ad hominems right at the start making assumptions about the ages of people commenting on you bald assertions. Some people here enjoy a scrap (no names no pack drill) but they all know what they're talking about. Address the arguments and we'll all have a good debate.
Oh, and most of us don't parade our pet philosophy on every thread.

[I post]... "The religions we have, for the most part, are not conducive to living together in huge numbers on a planet running out of resources. I honestly think the idea of somehow magically converting everybody to Atheism or Humanism is doomed from the start. Therefor, I must work with what I have and seek a hybrid. Religious creatures in need of a "religion" that preserves us instead of destroying us."...

[ I get back]... "First of all, quit using "religion" to mean whatever the fuck you want, kay?"..

I was looking for discussion. What I found was Atheists protecting their own dogma with the fervor of Liberty students protecting their inerrant gospel. Don't question..... Just believe what you are told.

I have been an Atheist all my life Ebonmuse. I posted my honest thoughts and opinions. What I found was intolerance, insults and profanity. Minds just as tightly closed as those of fundamentalists.

There are lots of other topics that interest me Ebonmuse.

If all the goods are on your side.... Why have you not wrapped this mess up yet?

You're shitting me, right? Did anybody even set a time frame here, or do you just love you some strawman? First of all, quit using "religion" to mean whatever the fuck you want, kay? If you mean superstitious behavior, that's one thing; if you mean defense mechanisms, that's another; if you mean people have to be crazy (i.e. dissociative behavior) to survive, well, you're going to have to flesh that one out just a little bit more. You want to focus on Liberty University and Islam like you've made some incredible point, fine. However, let's take the big picture and tell me at what point in recorded human history we've even had secular governments, when it's been ok not to be religious w/out risk of being executed for heresy, where slavery is at least acknowledged to be an evil even though it's not eradicated, where women have legal rights in many countries.

You seem to have a small mind and a narrow vision. That's your "belief," your "religion," your "problem."

Am I wasting my time on a troll?

someone who posts inflammatory extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

Let's see... inflammatory... primary intent of provoking emotional responses... no substance to comments...capitalizes atheist..., smells like a troll.

ildi, you are right. I have not explained a lot. But I am not alone. Why don't you explain why, with science, all the evidence, logic, common sense..... Liberty University is growing so fast they can't build buildings fast enough... Islam is the fastest growing religion (last time I looked) and it is almost impossible for a person to even run for office in America without going on and on about their relationship with God?

If all the goods are on your side.... Why have you not wrapped this mess up yet?

What is stopping the rest of humanity from seeing your point?

I didn't say the answer is MORE religion.

Liar, liar, pants on fire! From your very first comment:

The answer, in my opinion, can only come from more... (wait for it)... religion. Until and unless a culture can be fashioned that successfully denies or softens the inevitability of death while simultaneously providing a "reason" to live, mankind is destined to destroy itself. As Atheists we must construct and feed that "culture".

You've never satisfactorily explained why mankind isn't more likely to destroy itself given a belief in heaven/hell/immortality. You've never explained why believing that we were created by a deity gives us more of a reason to live than, say, the concept that the evolution of intelligent life is a how the universe observes and studies itself. Btw, putting words in "quotes" doesn't mean you can make up your own personal definition for them.

Oh, and I didn't say that I have "all the right answers". You keep swatting that strawman all you want.

Also, quit getting sore when people disagree with you. It only makes you look peevish and unworthy of dialogue.

WHAT are you waiting for?