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RIS

Bible Student
Joined
Dec 19, 2024
Messages
160
Location
New Pangea
Gender
Mechanical
Basic Beliefs
Theoretical Skeptic
I was going to post this in my status, but I don't think anyone pays any attention to that. I figured a title like that in this forum would get attention like blood in a shark tank. I like this forum and I'd like to stay. Though we disagree and to be honest you think my beliefs are stupid and I think yours are stupid, I think it's a good thing if we hash things out to better understand one another. I've done this enough to know that to many atheists on atheist forums visiting theists are just scapegoats. I get it. Blow off steam. But it can be overwhelming and I can't read, much less respond to all of it, especially if doing so is just redundant.

SO, if I've missed something that you actually would like for me to respond to and I haven't done so, please let me know by mentioning me or private message - whatever means you see fit - and I will respond as soon as I can.
 
Out in the wold we are all free to believe or not believe as we please, a cornerstone of western liberal democracy. Outside of this I do not dissuade anyone of beliefs.

Here on the forum people debate, attack, and disagree often strongly on all topics not just religion.

Most of s here have s a dim view of Christianity. It is pernicious and has a long history of vle4nce and oppression.

Here in the Pacific North West Native Americans are still alive who were taken form reservations away from flammables as kids and out in Christian schools.

Christianity is intuitive, Christians derive a mandate from the NT to p[proselytize the world. It is annoying. Finding Christian literature on my desk at work or being approachable on the street. Kind of pathetic. When I was kid Jehovah Witness went door to door proselytize.

Zealots like Evangelicals paint us atheists as agents of Satan, evil.

I could go on.

So when you post what we generally consider a self delusion you get what you get.

The onus is on you to make your case.

In the 80s I hug around with a guy who grew up a Jehovaha Witness. He was shunned by the community. His mother and sister could not talk to him. To see them he could sit next to them at a service, but nobody would talk to him.

His crime? Leading what we take as a normal life. Dating and having sex outside of marriage.

Christians demand attention and respect their beliefs, yet do not generally tolerate other beliefs. Intolerant. Then they loudly play the martyr, criticism is an attack on Jesus.

They demand we all follow what they say is a god given morality in the bible, yet are no better than others.


So that being said, make your case.
 
...to be honest you think my beliefs are stupid and I think yours are stupid...
Don't assume you speak for all believers. I don't think that atheism is stupid, nor do I think that atheists are stupid. And there have been very few people here who have ever said that my beliefs were stupid or that I was.

...visiting theists are just scapegoats.
I have been a member of this forum for years now, and it is very rare that any of the members have treated me as a scapegoat - maybe because I don't tell them they are stupid. As a matter of fact, there are several members here who have come to my defense when a fellow atheist crossed the line with me.

Your attitude towards these fellow board members determines your fate here. If you want to stay around and actually engage in respectful conversation you will find these people are very welcoming. I am more comfortable on this board than I am (or was) on typical Christian boards or discussion groups.

Ruth
 
Don't assume you speak for all believers.

I don't. Ever.

I don't think that atheism is stupid, nor do I think that atheists are stupid.

Nor do I. Nor did I say that. I said we think each other's beliefs are stupid. And we're right. Stupid meaning willfully ignorant.

And there have been very few people here who have ever said that my beliefs were stupid or that I was.

Let this be the first. Your beliefs are stupid. My beliefs are stupid. Everyone's beliefs are stupid, that's why they call them beliefs. That's why atheists who haven't thought it through think they don't believe in anything. Don't believe in anything and you will fall (or fell) anything. Being aware of this prevents you acting upon it. Like murder, rape, theft, etc.


I have been a member of this forum for years now, and it is very rare that any of the members have treated me as a scapegoat - maybe because I don't tell them they are stupid. As a matter of fact, there are several members here who have come to my defense when a fellow atheist crossed the line with me.

Great. Wonderful story. Give me your favorite post where you disagree with atheism.

Your attitude towards these fellow board members determines your fate here.

No it doesn't. It was predetermined long before I got here. It's the same on every forum. Disagree, you're a troll. Reciprocate brutal honesty without the attendant ideology and you are history.

If you want to stay around and actually engage in respectful conversation you will find these people are very welcoming. I am more comfortable on this board than I am (or was) on typical Christian boards or discussion groups.

They are always welcoming. Until they get to know your beliefs. If they disagree with theirs, no welcoming. I started posting before I introduced myself. Look at the welcoming I got. Not much. You know I'm not going to be here because I disagree with the ideology.

But, to demonstrate the veracity of this - I will take your advise and be totally mushy. Warm and fuzzy. Sickeningly so.

But, I will disagree.
 
...to be honest you think my beliefs are stupid and I think yours are stupid...
Don't assume you speak for all believers. I don't think that atheism is stupid, nor do I think that atheists are stupid. And there have been very few people here who have ever said that my beliefs were stupid or that I was.

...visiting theists are just scapegoats.
I have been a member of this forum for years now, and it is very rare that any of the members have treated me as a scapegoat - maybe because I don't tell them they are stupid. As a matter of fact, there are several members here who have come to my defense when a fellow atheist crossed the line with me.

Your attitude towards these fellow board members determines your fate here. If you want to stay around and actually engage in respectful conversation you will find these people are very welcoming. I am more comfortable on this board than I am (or was) on typical Christian boards or discussion groups.

Ruth
See, I never even really knew you much as a "Christian" before now. You don't bring it up much, we don't argue, and neither of us calls each other stupid. Over a decade in these forums and we barely interact!

Btw, I think you're pretty alright.
 
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The asymmetry here is ridiculous. A self appointed master flame baiter shows up spewing broad brush insults against "atheist" and other of what some here call outgroups, playing contrarian word games ad nauseum. And they garner sufficient attention to begin claiming Groupthink on those picking on them...
A veritable Sir Lancelot, slaying demons left and right while barely lifting a finger, with imaginary dragons to slay in overabundant supply courtesy of The Atheist Conspiracy of Mindless Ideologues.

This is the shit our "information age" has brought us.
 
RIS is a bible student the kind of biblical scholar we have come to know.

He said something like ' I did not have to be told when a book of the bible was written, it just came to me'.
 
When it comes to the supernatural, atheists don't have beliefs, we have a lack of belief in supernatural entities. Atheists might embrace humanist philosophy, Unitarianism, etc. or they may not embrace any particular philosophy, but the one thing we do have in common, is a lack of belief in gods or garden fairies or gargoyles, angels etc. as being anything other than mythology. I personally like some aspects of religious mythology, but I also understand that it's mythology and for some people it fulfills a need in their lives. I don't have a problem with that, as long as they use it for good.

These days, sadly, an awful lot of believers from different religions use their beliefs to do harm, to judge and threaten others, etc. In the US, we have a political movement that desires making our country into a Christian theocracy. Even my more reasonable Christian friends are scared of this, as like me, they embrace the concept of the SCS and want it to survive. I never try to persuade my friends to give up their beliefs as I think what one believes should be a personal journey.

I've also met quite a few atheists and agnostics who still attend church. They enjoy the community and opportunity to do charitable works, but they don't believe in the supernatural elements. I get it. It's hard to herd atheists because we don't always see things the same way. So, I have both atheist and Christian friends who share political and moral values with me. That is what is most important imo.

I've also discovered some atheists in the closet, including the most wonderful person who works at our local senior center. We discovered that we are each nonbelievers, but she asked me to keep that a secret or she would be condemned by others. She was raised as a JW and was abandoned once she left that religion. Since most people in our center are Christians, she has to stay in the closet, although I felt privileged that she was open to me, when I told her I'm an atheist.

It's not always easy being an atheist in the Bible Belt, but I've been successful at making new Christian friends and when necessary defending myself here for many decades and it helps believers understand that one can be a good, caring person without any belief in any gods.

It appears to me, based on that one thread that I partially read, that the author of this OP came to try and convince us that he is right and we are lacking something in our lives because we don't believe that gods exist, other than in the minds of believers. Losing my belief in all gods was what set me free to be a caring person without any fears of the unjust invisible entity I was told was true as a child. I searched for other gods, but eventually realized they were all mythological entities. So, anyone who likes this place shouldn't make nasty generalizations about atheists.
 
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That is nit entirely true, like Christians their is no singular atheist.

There are many versions of atheist. Generally atheist means a rejection of gods(A-Theist), but that does not preclude a belief in the paranormal or an afterlife.

I align generally with naturalism, anything that exists is by definition natural.

If I see a ghost and it is real then there is a causal link between the ghost and my brain, even if I cantt discover it.
 
Nor do I. Nor did I say that. I said we think each other's beliefs are stupid. And we're right. Stupid meaning willfully ignorant.
While you redefine words all you want, but the common interpretation of “stupid” is lack of intelligence.

I am an atheist. I know plenty if theists who are not stupid in either in the common vernacular sense or in your idiosyncratic sense.
 
RIS, you haven't said anything that would qualify as discussion or rational argument.

You HAVE talked about how you don't expect to be heard if you did.

That's either some sort of special pleading or an attempt to pre-emptively apply the guilts.

Either make the case you are here to make or acknowledge you are here to pick a fight.
 
There are almost as many types of atheists as there are theists, IMO. If we examine atheistic views closely, I doubt that any two of us have exactly the same type of unbelief. Therefore, trying to paint each and every one of us with the same brush just doesn't make sense and leads to little enlightenment and a poor discussion. Only generalizations can apply, and where only generalizations hold, those generalizations will fall short for almost everyone.
 
I disagree with the ideology.
Tell me what it is PLEEASE! I want to disagree too!

Oh, don't bother, just keep making smart ass remarks.

But what is this atheist ideology?
It’s “don’t make smart ass remarks ( that RIS is unable to address)”

Seriously - have you never encountered a creo in rat’s clothing? When they accuse you of housing boogeymen of their own creation (e.g. ‘atheist ideology’), you don’t ask them to explain or they lapse into insult mode. Very predictable.
The disappointing thing for me, is when ya get these C-grade creos who have learned to erect the same wall of sophomoric bullshit in response to every challenge.
BOOOoooring!
 
That is nit entirely true, like Christians their is no singular atheist.

There are many versions of atheist. Generally atheist means a rejection of gods(A-Theist), but that does not preclude a belief in the paranormal or an afterlife.

I align generally with naturalism, anything that exists is by definition natural.

If I see a ghost and it is real then there is a causal link between the ghost and my brain, even if I cantt discover it.
Sure Steve. Atheists come in many flavors just like godders. But the anti- atheist crusader need not concern themselves with such matters. The atheists and even heretical other godders, all get lumped together as “atheist ideologues”, which any of God’s white knights knows they must attack without preference.

If you truly align with naturalism, and hold that anything that exists is by definition natural, then you must confer the same upon the myriad gods that “exist” (as RIS has painfully reduced their rhetorical existence to accommodate a second grade level of understanding).
Even a naturalist/materialist can benefit by carrying around one or more of these newfangled Pocket Gods. 🤗
 
As I said before, 'atheist' is a Christian bogeyman. A convenient foil to rear up and preach against. How we respond on the forum feeds their narrative.

Personalty I am a nuoveau quasi neoclassical atheist. We ere small in numbers but we are growing.
 
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