Dawkins to atheists: 'Show contempt' for faith

About 20,000 atheists gathered within shouting distance of the Washington Monument on Saturday for a Reason Rally hell-bent on damning religion and mocking beliefs -- and believers, too.

[P_Smith]

Religion deserves contempt because religion is contemptible.

[EdSed]

I think it is important to distinguish between contempt for someone's beliefs and contempt for their person.

I wouldn't choose the word contempt. I would say that it is fine to find some beliefs totally unacceptable. Should beliefs of racial superiority or prejudice against blacks or Jews be acceptable?

Sometimes, some views are found unacceptable by society.

Superstitious views are harmful and unacceptable, though the mechanisms and precise means by which they do harm aren't always easy to articulate.

One cannot oppose one superstition (e.g. witchcraft) while supporting beliefs in Abrahamic gods. One cannot support Christianity and oppose Islam without hypocracy. Christians, Muslims.. in fact all religionists and atheists are capable of the same empathy and human values. One's religion or lack of religion is not important in determining whether one is good or bad. That is determined by one's nature and nurture.

Better to be raised in an atheist household with humanist values than in a religious household with lower standards - and vice versa - but the superstition, dogma, suedo-ideologies (such as Zionism and Islamism) and tribalism has to go.

Religous division and beliefs in the supernatural harm our society which flourishes most when we reject them.

Secular society (i.e everyone) will decide what is right and what is wrong, not religious dogma. Never be afraid to speak up for a secular society and universal human values like love, truth, justice, equality and honesty.

We are not all equal in the sight of some silly Abrahamic god. We are just all equal.

[Epicurus]

In superstition we trust

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

If Atheists Acted Religious

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

[Epicurus]

Our civilization is not Christian. It does not come from the skies. It is not a result of "inspiration." It is the child of human invention.

My respect for the Abrahamic religions went up in the smoke and choking dust of September 11th. The last vestige of respect for the taboo disappeared as I watched the 'Day of Prayer' in Washington Cathedral, where people of mutually incompatible faiths united in homage to the very force that caused the problem in the first place: RELIGION.

It is time for people of intellect, as opposed to people of faith, to stand up and declare to respect people for what they individually think, rather than respect groups for what they were collectively brought up to believe.

[wrongrighter_win s]

P_Smith wrote:

Religion deserves contempt because religion is contemptible.

sounds like a clear case of intolerance to me.

[EdSed]

wrongrighter_wins wrote:

<quoted text>
sounds like a clear case of intolerance to me.

Not in itself, or necessarily. That is just a brief expression of opinion in a free country. If one reads other comments by the same contributor, I think you might agree he is reasonable enough?

Religion is based on superstition. It has harmed science (Muslims who are medical students walking out of lectures because evolution is mentioned and leaving Muslims leaving UK schools accepting creationism but rejecting evolution); Politics (e.g. unelected Bishops in the UK upper house and 'In God We Trust' on coinage, in courts etc); it is damaging morally and socially (e.g. prejudice against atheist, women and gays); it resists one law for law (religious courts). Religion even invades schools (& in the UK it sometimes segregates our children according to their parents' religious delusions). From that perspective, it is reasonable and natural to feel contemptuous of such nonsense Intolerance need not automatically follow from that.

Respect, like contempt, is earned. There is still an established Church in England; people promoting ID in schools; religous courts; child mutilations for purely religous and sectarian motives; Zionism; Islamism; etc,- these continue which suggests a certain amount of tolerance despite the disgust and contempt of people like myself for the consequences of superstitions in human society. Peaceful opposition to religion and candid opinions can be positive contributions to the community of ideas.

Christians might consider that one cannot get rid of superstitions like Islam or witchcraft whilst trying to maintain another fiction (Christianity).

That there is no specifically Abrahmic god should now be clear to all in the 21st Century (at last!) That was just one idea amongst many...
http://www.godchecker.com/

This song is funny...
http://www.atheismuk.com/2012/03/31/atheism/y...
(contains bad-language)

[P_Smith]

EdSed wrote:

<quoted text>Not in itself, or necessarily. That is just a brief expression of opinion in a free country. If one reads other comments by the same contributor, I think you might agree he is reasonable enough?

Persecution complexes are rampant among the simple minded.

Nobody is trying to ban religion, despite his Goebbelian claims to the contrary. What he's facing is mockery, the same mockery aimed at NASCRASH fans, at Justin Bieber fans, at disco fans. At least those three things can be proven to exist, unlike the thousands of mythical "gods", including his.

If he didn't pretend to be a victim, he'd have to admit his religion is all pretend.

>> Religious apologists complain bitterly that atheists and
>> secularists are aggressive and hostile in their criticism of
>> them. I always say: look, when you guys were in charge, you
>> didn’t argue with us, you just burnt us at the stake. Now
>> what we’re doing is, we’re presenting you with some arguments
>> and some challenging questions, and you complain."
— A.C. Grayling

[QUITTNER]

11:07 am Sunday, January 13, 2013:
RE: Dawkins to atheists:'Show contempt' for faith
..... There are very many belief systems all over this planet and anyone can invent another one. Some of them appear to be just money-making schemes, but apparently some were started by idealists who came up with various ways to improve the behavior of followers. But the world is still ruled by lawbreakers; BEHAVIOR is important, never mind religions, never mind beliefs!

[meh]

Dawkins will write another book and you anal roaches will buy it without question and accept whatever dribble without thinking

Atheism sounds like a cult to me

[Jeff]

Gotta love Richard. Talk about contempt? Let's look at some of his absurd comments:
"Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose." The Blind Watchmaker

[wrongrighter_win s]

EdSed wrote:

<quoted text>Not in itself, or necessarily. That is just a brief expression of opinion in a free country. If one reads other comments by the same contributor, I think you might agree he is reasonable enough?
Religion is based on superstition. It has harmed science (Muslims who are medical students walking out of lectures because evolution is mentioned and leaving Muslims leaving UK schools accepting creationism but rejecting evolution); Politics (e.g. unelected Bishops in the UK upper house and 'In God We Trust' on coinage, in courts etc); it is damaging morally and socially (e.g. prejudice against atheist, women and gays); it resists one law for law (religious courts). Religion even invades schools (& in the UK it sometimes segregates our children according to their parents' religious delusions). From that perspective, it is reasonable and natural to feel contemptuous of such nonsense Intolerance need not automatically follow from that.
Respect, like contempt, is earned. There is still an established Church in England; people promoting ID in schools; religous courts; child mutilations for purely religous and sectarian motives; Zionism; Islamism; etc,- these continue which suggests a certain amount of tolerance despite the disgust and contempt of people like myself for the consequences of superstitions in human society. Peaceful opposition to religion and candid opinions can be positive contributions to the community of ideas.
Christians might consider that one cannot get rid of superstitions like Islam or witchcraft whilst trying to maintain another fiction (Christianity).
That there is no specifically Abrahmic god should now be clear to all in the 21st Century (at last!) That was just one idea amongst many...
http://www.godchecker.com/
This song is funny...
http://www.atheismuk.com/2012/03/31/atheism/y...
(contains bad-language)

everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Christianity is based on LOVE.
superstition would be belief in rabbits foot, charms, luck, etc etc. There is no superstition in the Holy bible.
it is history, prophecy, and statutes that BENEFIT ones life in morality, prosperity, health, and eternal security.

[wrongrighter_win s]

meh wrote:

Dawkins will write another book and you anal roaches will buy it without question and accept whatever dribble without thinking
Atheism sounds like a cult to me

it is a cult, and the leader is satan.

[Hedonist]

wrongrighter_wins wrote:

<quoted text>
everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Christianity is based on LOVE.
superstition would be belief in rabbits foot, charms, luck, etc etc. There is no superstition in the Holy bible.
it is history, prophecy, and statutes that BENEFIT ones life in morality, prosperity, health, and eternal security.

You really should try actually reading the Bible from cover to cover at least once, instead of just reading the parts you've been told are okay for you to read.

The bible describes a world where a flood can cover the whole earth and leave no trace.

That's the world where man was made from mud and woman was grown from his rib like an off-cut from a plant?

The world where a snake and donkey talked, where giants lived in the land, where dragons, unicorns and cockatrices exist and where people live to be over 900 years old?

The world where a woman was turned into a pillar of salt, where a pillar of fire led people by night, where the sun stopped moving across the sky or could even back up, where an axe head can float on water, where a star could point down to a specific home, where people could instantly speak in foreign languages and where someone's shadow or handkerchief could heal you and where you can genetically alter sheep by floating slivers of tree bark in water?

The world where a man could walk on water, turn water into wine, calm a stormy sea, be swallowed by a big fish and live to tell about it?

The world that is full of demons that could create chaos on earth as well as make people sick?

The world where you find idol worship and where human and animal sacrifices pleased God. It is a world where God lives in the sky and people who die go down to the dark recesses of the earth?

The world that is full of visions, inspired dreams, prophetic utterances, miracle workers, magicians, diviners, etc. Man is not in control of his life. Evil spirits may possess him and Satan may inspire him with evil thoughts?

It is all, of course, complete and utter nonsense. It's absolutely amazing that people in this day and age really do believe such rubbish.

[Thinking]

Meh.

meh wrote:

Dawkins will write another book and you anal roaches will buy it without question and accept whatever dribble without thinking
Atheism sounds like a cult to me

[wrongrighter_win s]

Hedonist wrote:

<quoted text>
You really should try actually reading the Bible from cover to cover at least once, instead of just reading the parts you've been told are okay for you to read.
The bible describes a world where a flood can cover the whole earth and leave no trace.
That's the world where man was made from mud and woman was grown from his rib like an off-cut from a plant?
The world where a snake and donkey talked, where giants lived in the land, where dragons, unicorns and cockatrices exist and where people live to be over 900 years old?
The world where a woman was turned into a pillar of salt, where a pillar of fire led people by night, where the sun stopped moving across the sky or could even back up, where an axe head can float on water, where a star could point down to a specific home, where people could instantly speak in foreign languages and where someone's shadow or handkerchief could heal you and where you can genetically alter sheep by floating slivers of tree bark in water?
The world where a man could walk on water, turn water into wine, calm a stormy sea, be swallowed by a big fish and live to tell about it?
The world that is full of demons that could create chaos on earth as well as make people sick?
The world where you find idol worship and where human and animal sacrifices pleased God. It is a world where God lives in the sky and people who die go down to the dark recesses of the earth?
The world that is full of visions, inspired dreams, prophetic utterances, miracle workers, magicians, diviners, etc. Man is not in control of his life. Evil spirits may possess him and Satan may inspire him with evil thoughts?
It is all, of course, complete and utter nonsense. It's absolutely amazing that people in this day and age really do believe such rubbish.

I read the bible through EVERY year,
I begin in Jan 1 and read it ALL......... every day til the yr ends.
cover to cover.
PLUS i attend church PLUS i attend classes.

the flood did leave it's mark.
the land mass is not as it was in the begining of history.
archeologists have proven that time and time again.

a 'snake' didn't take.
satan is refered to as THE SERPENT.
and God didn't curse that serpent to crawl on his belly UNTIL AFTER he had deceived Eve

as for the Donkey, you are clueless about the POWER OF GOD.
when God anoints a donkey to talk, IT WILL TALK.

you just showed you have not read the bible
God said He created man from the dust of the earth, and then blew into his nostrils LIFE thus creating a LIVING soul.
God took 'a'rib from adam and used it when he created eve for the purpose that she would be 'flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone'.
really? questioning the POWER of God is futile and foolish.

[Thinking]

12 step classes?

wrongrighter_wins wrote:

<quoted text>
I read the bible through EVERY year,
I begin in Jan 1 and read it ALL......... every day til the yr ends.
cover to cover.
PLUS i attend church PLUS i attend classes.

[Lincoln]

meh wrote:

Dawkins will write another book and you anal roaches will buy it without question and accept whatever dribble without thinking
Atheism sounds like a cult to me

Dawkins is respected, well educated, and seems a convinced atheist rather than the agnostic many atheists prove to be when discussion is low key.

Professor Dawkins has proved Nothing about atheism other than it sells books.

[-Skeptic-]

Lincoln wrote:

<quoted text>
Dawkins is respected, well educated, and seems a convinced atheist rather than the agnostic many atheists prove to be when discussion is low key.
Professor Dawkins has proved Nothing about atheism other than it sells books.

Stupid uneducated theist who doesn't understand atheism. Try proving your god before typing and embarrassing yourself foolish troll.

[-Skeptic-]

Lincoln wrote:

<quoted text>
Dawkins is respected, well educated, and seems a convinced atheist rather than the agnostic many atheists prove to be when discussion is low key.
Professor Dawkins has proved Nothing about atheism other than it sells books.

I give you another month of this trolling before you f*ck off and come back again for more.

[Lincoln]

QUITTNER wrote:

11:07 am Sunday, January 13, 2013:
RE: Dawkins to atheists:'Show contempt' for faith
..... There are very many belief systems all over this planet and anyone can invent another one. Some of them appear to be just money-making schemes, but apparently some were started by idealists who came up with various ways to improve the behavior of followers. But the world is still ruled by lawbreakers; BEHAVIOR is important, never mind religions, never mind beliefs!

Seems to have a bit of money in his pocket :-)