Becoming that which you dislike

[statichaos]

From an outsider's perspective, I've generally found most atheists to tend to be more tolerant, open, and friendly, if only because they don't have carte blanche from God to be assholes.  There are the rather nasty minority who express nothing but scorn and contempt not only for all religion (understandable if unfortunate), but for all believers (which I obviously have a difficult time dealing with).  I'm especially disturbed when I find elements of cultural bigotry underlying some of the comments that I've heard and read.  However, these people are not representative of atheists as a whole (who is?), so it's just a matter of calling them out when you see them.

[Reprobate]

After seeing quite a few comments I'd consider inappropriate coming from the admins of a popular humanist fb page...it got me thinking.  As labels such as "humanist" and "secular" become something people are less afraid to wear; what keeps it from becoming just as bad as some of the religions those same people claim to dislike?  Comments in question are things like stereotyping a whole class of people then acting like it's okay to do that.  Why are some people feeling the need to promote unrelated ideas under the banner of secularism and humanism when they should just let it be what it really is?

I find it a bit frustrating...especially since I try to help promote an understanding of atheist/humanist/secular that is pure rather than mixing politics and humor into it that I know not all other people who fall under that label would necessarily support just by their being an atheist/humanist/secular.

edit:  the post on the fb page that sparked me making this comment was taken down (along with 50+ comments) ...same happened with other questionable posts from the same page (there have been more that I didn't approve of that I later saw gone...but can't remember what they were specifically off hand) http://www.facebook.com/GSHMP The post had a picture of an obviously Muslim couple both holding guns and the caption was something like "valentines around the world"  I have removed the page from my "likes"

Atheism is just not believing in god(s). Other than that, we atheist are not guaranteed to have anything at all in common. Joseph Stalin and Mao Tse-Tung were atheists. They are not what I would consider to be open-minded and tolerant people.

[Whitney]

Atheism is just not believing in god(s). Other than that, we atheist are not guaranteed to have anything at all in common.

Yes, which is part of my complaint...or perhaps it's just a pet peeve....the promoting of atheist/secular/humanist (each which are defined differently) in a way that goes beyond what those labels are intended to mean.  Basically, I wish people would start anti-theist groups (or something similar) when their main focus is obviously going against religions.

[Crow]

Yes, which is part of my complaint...or perhaps it's just a pet peeve....the promoting of atheist/secular/humanist (each which are defined differently) in a way that goes beyond what those labels are intended to mean.  Basically, I wish people would start anti-theist groups (or something similar) when their main focus is obviously going against religions.

I absolutely agree with you on that.

[DeterminedJuliet]

Atheism is just not believing in god(s). Other than that, we atheist are not guaranteed to have anything at all in common.

Yes, which is part of my complaint...or perhaps it's just a pet peeve....the promoting of atheist/secular/humanist (each which are defined differently) in a way that goes beyond what those labels are intended to mean.  Basically, I wish people would start anti-theist groups (or something similar) when their main focus is obviously going against religions.

I definitely see why you are frustrated. It'd be nice if everyone who wanted to be the next poster-child for atheism had a sense of tact.

[Stevil]

Controversy is good.

Atheism, secularism, humanism need people discussing and thinking through what they mean.
It does us no good to lurk in the shadows, we need to stand up and be noticed. From what I hear, it seems Americans in particular have an extremely warped understanding of what Atheism is. I mean how can Atheists be one of the most hated groups in the country? What is it that Americans are afraid of?

I think it is the unknown that creates this fear.

Even if some bad publicity comes out, at least it gets people talking, discussing and thinking about the topic. It doesn't take long to realise that Atheism does not incite violence or oppression. It is actually a very passive stance in that we don't organise ourselves against anyone.

[Sweetdeath]

I suppose I can be a bit angry.
It's mainly because hearing people pray outloud or put faith into an imaginary being is anoyinning. Also,,religion seriously opresses women, and is violent towards homosexuals.
So yeah, that kinda grinds my gears .  I try to be nice, but when they start spewing feces from their mouth, it's hard to be sweet.

[statichaos]

I suppose I can be a bit angry.
It's mainly because hearing people pray outloud or put faith into an imaginary being is anoyinning. Also,,religion seriously opresses women, and is violent towards homosexuals.
So yeah, that kinda grinds my gears .  I try to be nice, but when they start spewing feces from their mouth, it's hard to be sweet.

I'm afraid that I have to take issue with that.  There are religions that do this, yes.  However, religion in general does not.  My former church actually sponsored a march in favor of the repeal of California's Proposition 8, and we were joined by several other faith groups from the area, including the United Church of Christ, the Methodists, several Episcopalians, and the Metropolitan Community Church.  I have no issue with you not believing in a God, or not belonging to a religion.  However, to state that religion as a whole oppresses women or is violent towards gays is not true.  Better to say that specific religions and followers of these religions do so.