The God Delusion

[philosoraptor]

I'll admit-I've never read The God Delusion.  I also tried giving God is Not Great a shot, but couldn't get into it.  My interest in atheist writing came mostly from philosophical essays by Sartre, Nietzsche and the other existentialists.

I do need to read it (The God Delusion), though.  Finding that in a library around here though might be a task.

[Sandra Craft]

I'll admit-I've never read The God Delusion.  I also tried giving God is Not Great a shot, but couldn't get into it.  

Ah, Hitchens.  A very bright man but no better with people than Dawkins.

We don't promote understanding or calm discussion or anything positive by mocking people, showing contempt for them, etc. That's just counter productive.

I wonder if that's actually his goal at all, maybe all he wants to do is preach to the choir?  Because if that's so, then he's doing a great job.

Sigh. Despite my issues with Dawkins, I see my post count title on HAF is now 'The Dawkinator'. Oh joy. 

I think that's delicious.

[Guardian85]

I'll admit-I've never read The God Delusion.  I also tried giving God is Not Great a shot, but couldn't get into it. 

We don't promote understanding or calm discussion or anything positive by mocking people, showing contempt for them, etc. That's just counter productive.

I think the purpose of these books and the ensuing media attention was more of an awareness raising thing then a conversion effort. It was a way to say to the christians "We are here!" rather then "come with me, my friend...".
It's like the book version of a gay pride parade. It's the litterary version of marching down main street with a pink feather boa and ass-less Chaps.

You must admit that the topic of atheism got firmly placed in the national debates of several countries after the appeerance of "The Four Horsemen".

[The Magic Pudding]

In Aus we had conflict between Catholics and protestants up until the 1960s.  What form was the conflict?  Discrimination for employment, mixed marriages were frowned upon, actively opposed, participants shunned.  I wasn't a concious citizen for this phase of our history, it seems ridiculous and yet it happened.  Contraceptives arrived and the keepers of truth told people not use them but they did. 

Homosexuality would get you a stay in jail, if you're gay and a guy winks at you in a public toilet, you have to hope he's not a cop.  Gay characters appeared on TV and my mother would laugh but she never accepted them.  Actually she blamed them for all manner of societies ills.  She rejected the church when it refused to bury her 24 old cancer victim sister because she'd married a protestant. 

The church was loosing ground, they were fading away but we got some inflow of the evangelist Billy Graham type crap.  I lost some friends to that, they were never any fun after they found the light and categorized me as wrong.

Few people attended church but they still sought to influence our behaviour and our thoughts.  I'm not happy at all about that.  Woman are unfit to hold office in the church yet their wombs are church property. 

Ye so I'm angry about a lot of this stuff.  Dawkins the great evolutionary biologist is pissed at creationist buffoonery being taken seriously, who could blame him?

I've seen atheist extremists at work and I want no part of it.

I think we're all more or less delusional, if your delusion can be classified Christian and it evokes goodwill for others in you, bravo.  If you've joined a club that encourages you to embrace ancient ignorance and enforce your prejudices, I'm not going to be friendly when we meet.

[Sweetdeath]

Wow, that's powerful , Puddin.
I can't believe anyone would have an issue with mixed marriages.... (marriages of any human x human in general.)
The sheer ignorance and hatred these people spew are like a virus.

[keithpenrod]

I've seen atheist extremists at work and I want no part of it.

Just for clarification, what do you mean by "atheist extremists"?  In your mind, what classifies an atheist as an "extremist"?  Do you consider Dawkins to be an extremist?  Hitchens?

[Asmodean]

I can't believe anyone would have an issue with mixed marriages.... (marriages of any human x human in general.)

I have an issue with the whole ritual in the first place, but I wouldn't want to legislate my personal preference.

[keithpenrod]

I can't believe anyone would have an issue with mixed marriages.... (marriages of any human x human in general.)

I have an issue with the whole ritual in the first place, but I wouldn't want to legislate my personal preference.

I do think there's evidence that 1. some people want to a have long-term, committed (either poly- or monogamous) relationships and 2. children raised in a stable environment are better adjusted to society and less likely to commit crime.  For those two reasons, I think the concept of marriage is beneficial.  Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing marriage be completely discarded, as far as the civil aspect is concerned, and to make it a purely religious ritual.  But, I'd also rather have all of the legal benefits that go along with being married, which is why I advocate legalization of gay marriage.

[The Magic Pudding]

Just for clarification, what do you mean by "atheist extremists"?  In your mind, what classifies an atheist as an "extremist"?  Do you consider Dawkins to be an extremist?  Hitchens?

I don't consider Dawkins or Hitchens extremist.
I've seen forum discussions where christians are accused of supporting child abuse if they remain in a church where it has occurred.  I don't think they should silently accept it but the leave or your complicit in the crimes attitude is extreme I think.  There are atheists who don't concede a place for anything but the rational, they practice a kind of zealotry.  Charities with a link to religion, well they're only in it for the proselytising.  I would like it if religion went away but meanwhile it's probably wise to find common ground where we can with moderate theists.

[Sweetdeath]

I can't believe anyone would have an issue with mixed marriages.... (marriages of any human x human in general.)

I have an issue with the whole ritual in the first place, but I wouldn't want to legislate my personal preference.

Trust me, i'm the first person for ebolishing marriage as a whole. It is annoying, but people do it mostly for green card reasons, money , or benefits ( I think tax break?)
Anyway, I think there is a society pressure for couples to marry because it's suppose to mean "love and commitment" but I don't believe it at all.
Marriage s just as out dated as jesus himself.

[Guardian85]

Trust me, i'm the first person for ebolishing marriage as a whole. It is annoying, but people do it mostly for green card reasons, money , or benefits ( I think tax break?)
Anyway, I think there is a society pressure for couples to marry because it's suppose to mean "love and commitment" but I don't believe it at all.
Marriage s just as out dated as jesus himself.

Ebolishing? A new word I haven't heard about yet? Or did you possibly mean abolish? 

(Sorry. Bored and couldn't resist.)

[Amicale]

Trust me, i'm the first person for ebolishing marriage as a whole. It is annoying, but people do it mostly for green card reasons, money , or benefits ( I think tax break?)
Anyway, I think there is a society pressure for couples to marry because it's suppose to mean "love and commitment" but I don't believe it at all.
Marriage s just as out dated as jesus himself.

Ebolishing? A new word I haven't heard about yet? Or did you possibly mean abolish? 

(Sorry. Bored and couldn't resist.)

Yup. That's when you abolish ebonics.  (Couldn't resist, either!)

[Tank]

To Ebolish

To delete any electronic media file such as an email of Jpg image etc.

[Sweetdeath]

To Ebolish

To delete any electronic media file such as an email of Jpg image etc.

Ahahaha!!!
This is why I need more than 4 hours of sleep
I am on a roll this week. Man, I promise I am actually good at writing and English. XDD

[Ali]

I usually say atheism is a religion the same way not smoking is a habit.

Can I put this in my signature?