Atheism to Defeat Religion by 2038

[scaritual]

It aint necessarily so wrote:

<quoted text>
Nice new avatar. What's that under the eye? Eye shadow?

Thanks. I took the idea from Mylan and created a few avatareyes with the background fixed to blend with the topix green.

Yeah, the shadow is from the sun, it's like this 24/7 in the teapot.

[rio]

NightSerf wrote:

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In post 11982, you wrote,'There is room for everyone, and we should tolerate each others religious beliefs, or lack of, without engaging in hostilities, verbal or else...' How is the above consistent with that, especially when you begin by calling someone a moron and end by telling him not to be "so f*cking smugg (sic)"? I don't think you're being honest about your beliefs.

Out of irritation, I probably used profanities against someone who slandered me or keep insinuating something I am not. Nothing to do with religious beliefs or atheism.
Some people here keep insisting that I am christian, bla, bla, bla... when I ma NOT!

I may be tolerant of others' opinions, but I am not a doormat ready to be insulted by someone else!

[It aint necessarily so]

rio wrote:

No, there will be religions as long as some people want them. What's your problem in tolerating them? After all, they have to tolerate you!

How do you figure that the religious tolerate us? Secular governments do. The church would burn us today if it could. I asked inisedsecrets this question two days ago, but I guess he elected to evade it. Maybe you could try:

"Can you name one society in history where Christians had the power to burn or impale unbelievers with impunity, but elected not to use it? Can you name one instance of Christians saying, "Yes, we could burn people alive that we don't approve of, but we choose not to do it, because that would be barbaric and sadistic"?"

I used to ask for five. Now I ask for one. How about you? Can you name one?

[It aint necessarily so]

rio wrote:

It's your intolerance which isn't harmless. I come to think that religionists are more tolerant than atheists like you. You are worst than an Ayatollah !!

You have no basis from which to speak to an American about religion in America, which has a much worse case of Christianity that the UK.

Did you grow up in a closet because your beliefs were deemed outside of the limits of decent society. I did. In my lifetime, American atheists have been called unfit to adopt, coach, teach, serve as jurors or witnesses, hold various elective offices.

Do I resent that? Yep. Do I feel like kicking religion back a little now it's down. Guilty. In the teeth.

You're a Golden Rule kind of guy, right? Then surely you understand that what comes 'round goes 'round.

[It aint necessarily so]

rio wrote:

Sources of conflicts are mostly social, economic, geographical, politic, etc.... Very rarely religious these days

This is a source of conflict:

"No, I don’t know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God.”– George H. W. Bush

[rio]

It aint necessarily so wrote:

<quoted text>
You have no basis from which to speak to an American about religion in America, which has a much worse case of Christianity that the UK.
Did you grow up in a closet because your beliefs were deemed outside of the limits of decent society. I did. In my lifetime, American atheists have been called unfit to adopt, coach, teach, serve as jurors or witnesses, hold various elective offices.
Do I resent that? Yep. Do I feel like kicking religion back a little now it's down. Guilty. In the teeth.
You're a Golden Rule kind of guy, right? Then surely you understand that what comes 'round goes 'round.

You are right about that; I don't know enough about American society to understand how atheists are resented there.

But this thread is on the British forum too, and when I speak about atheism and religion, I mean it's worldwide, and not just in the US.

I have never see such discrimination in UK, certainly not. Nor in other European countries.

I take it that the US are socially backwards compared to Europe. Or is it an exageration?

[It aint necessarily so]

rio wrote:

crimes committed by atheists have nothing to do with their philosophy

It depends what their philosophy is. If it's Stalinism, maybe. If it's secular humanism, no. Atheism is not a philosophy.

[rio]

It aint necessarily so wrote:

<quoted text>
This is a source of conflict:
"No, I don’t know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God.”– George H. W. Bush

Well, that is definitally uncool, prejudiced and bigoted. It's almost beyond belief (no pun intended) to hear that in the 21st century in a modern country.

I can tell you that an European leader making such statement would be committing political suicide.

We are very PC here, and discrimination on religious ground would not be supported by the public at large.

I agree with you.

[It aint necessarily so]

rio wrote:

I am not religious

Then you won't mind seeing religion fade away.

rio wrote:

I just cannot see why many atheists want to impose their views on others

We don't. We want the tentacles of that obnoxious church that reach out into polite society severed.

rio wrote:

There is room for everyone, and we should tolerate each others religious beliefs, or lack of, without engaging in hostilities, verbal or else...

Have you seen what the Christian bible says about unbelievers? You can find one in just about any hotel or motel room.

When they stop spreading that hate speech, we can talk about tolerance again.

[It aint necessarily so]

rio wrote:

I have plenty of example in my families and relatives of the treatment of believers in the hands of the soviet apparatus, of persecution of church goers, of summary executions, etc...

Sorry, but that has nothing to do with secular humanism.

rio wrote:

Many priets were executed

Oh.

rio wrote:

Many church building were demolished, the others converted into barns, schools, cinemas, barracks, etc... or just left in ruins. Church attendance came to nil. Believers met in secret in each others house; some were denounced, and arrested for it. For many, their fate is still unknown. That, I can tell you from family recollection. My grand mother had her hand pierced with a bayonet by a soviet soldier because she didn't want to give him a small religious icon she was keeping.

So, don't tell me about the "innocence" of atheism!

Then let me; Atheism is innocent.

Tell it to Communists. We're humanists.

[rio]

It aint necessarily so wrote:

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Then you won't mind seeing religion fade away.
<quoted text>
We don't. We want the tentacles of that obnoxious church that reach out into polite society severed.
<quoted text>
Have you seen what the Christian bible says about unbelievers? You can find one in just about any hotel or motel room.
When they stop spreading that hate speech, we can talk about tolerance again.

In many parts of the world, religion will fade away, I expect it and I don't mind at all.

I can see the number of follower decreasing in the Church of England and the catholic church in most European countries. That will affect the finances, reduce the funds for the propaganda machine, etc...
In Germany, where people pay taxes to go to church, the attendance is minimal.

In other parts it will survive for quite a long time. One can expect Islam to grow in strength in Africa and Asia, even Russia and Europe.

[rio]

It aint necessarily so wrote:

<quoted text>
You have no basis from which to speak to an American about religion in America, which has a much worse case of Christianity that the UK.
Did you grow up in a closet because your beliefs were deemed outside of the limits of decent society. I did. In my lifetime, American atheists have been called unfit to adopt, coach, teach, serve as jurors or witnesses, hold various elective offices.
Do I resent that? Yep. Do I feel like kicking religion back a little now it's down. Guilty. In the teeth.
You're a Golden Rule kind of guy, right? Then surely you understand that what comes 'round goes 'round.

Well, unlike many here, you are the first atheist on this thread who really pitch his tent and explain exactly where he comes from.

I salute that!

[It aint necessarily so]

Khatru wrote:

Perhaps Marx was inspired by the Bible.

Groucho?
http://snipurl.com/26as5yh [image]

[It aint necessarily so]

http://www.topix.com/forum/religion/atheism/T...

rio wrote:

I think you project too much what happens in the US on the rest of the world.

Maybe. Why do you say so?

rio wrote:

Atheists and gays persecuted in America? Tell me more because that's news to me

That's a long subject. Here's a little on atheophobia

http://www.topix.com/forum/topstories/TOCO8TE...
http://www.topix.com/forum/religion/atheism/T...

rio wrote:

you seem to be the avant-guard of the gay movement as witness your gay parades, etc...

You seem to be out of touch.

rio wrote:

what "church" are you talking abou?

The Christian church

rio wrote:

I cannot figure out who is behind that persecution you mentioned. Catholic? Evangelist? Protestant? Pentacostal? etc....

Yes.

rio wrote:

if you mean the Pope by the Holy Pigeon

Spiritus Sancti

[rio]

It aint necessarily so wrote:

That's a long subject. Here's a little on atheophobia
http://www.topix.com/forum/topstories/TOCO8TE...
http://www.topix.com/forum/religion/atheism/T...

I really didn't know it was that bad over there.

We don't have that problem here, and in fact religious subjects are rarely mentioned in public. You could live near to someone or work with him for years without knowing his religion or lack of. Unless that person wants to display or or try some proselytism on you.
We have plenty of politicians who say they are atheist and that's OK. Why not?

Come over here and smell the coffee, as you say ...

[Khatru]

rio wrote:

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Didn't look like it ...

You may want to check out what the Bible has to say about Ananias and Sapphira:

Like I said, the principle of killing those who don't conform to the collectivisation of goods/property was a biblical one. This was nearly two thousand years before the advent of Marx and Engels.

Ananias and Sapphira were killed for failing to comply with the collective.

How very communist.

[insidesecrets]

Khatru wrote:

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Really?
"before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me"
Isaiah 43:10
In other words, there was nothing before your god because that's exactly what the Bible tells us was there before him.
By your own definition, your religion is a philosophy of absurdity.

Taking things out of context is an old atheist trick.

"Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me."

This means that the Lord is the only God...none before Him or after.

[insidesecrets]

It aint necessarily so wrote:

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Stalin's moral upbringing was the work of his church, which had him into his young adulthood. If humanists had had him first, he would likely have been a better man.

Until he met Darwin, that is. Like all atheists, he figured he could do anything as long as there was no God in heaven keeping score.

[Khatru]

insidesecrets wrote:

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Taking things out of context is an old atheist trick.
"Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me."
This means that the Lord is the only God...none before Him or after.

So why does your god talk about a time before him when there was no god?

Not just that, but he also says that after his time there will be no god.

I guess your god isn't eternal after all.

[Bob of Quantum-Faith]

rio wrote:

<quoted text>
That's right, I do not live in the USA, thanks god for that !(pun intended to annoy you!!)
What on hearts the "hategodbots" have forced on you in America?
So, for you tolerating someone is agreeing with him? To me it's just being plainly civilised.
Wow, I am so glad to live in a tolerant country!
Anti-religion fanatics soiund just as bad as religiuous fanatics.
Smell the coffee and get a life!!!

You continue to sound like a lying god-botherer.

Nothing you have said so far, indicates you are anything but a hateful god-pusher.

Your condescending and patronizing tone to me, only makes it worse.