The central tenant of Christianity, like most religions, is "be one of us or else". What do you think sin, judgment by a god, and hell are all about? If you are a Christian yourself, then you are supremely deluded.
Oh, sure -- I think the political action (protest/voting/simply getting a higher profile for atheism) is really important. But I still don't see how any of it is furthered by engaging in the Condell-esque/PZ Myers-style excess of pure name-calling. Because persuasion is still a crucial aspect of furthering a political agenda, unless there are already enough atheists and people sympathetic with them to achieve all your political goals (and I highly doubt there are).The name-calling is just self-gratification. Certainly 'debating them online to expose their hypocrisy' is self-gratification -- the only people to whom their hypocrisy ever gets 'exposed' by this method is yourself or others who already agree with you. For believers and people in the middle of the road, it just reinforces what they've already heard about atheists: they're shrill and angry and so unreasonable in this anger that they see nothing wrong with tearing down something as sweet and beneficial as religion. Have you really persuaded yourself that indulging your SIWOTI syndrome aids in the furtherance of a great and noble cause?
That is correct. Without God your life is meaningless and pointless. Your entire existance is no more significant than 2 lifeless hydrogen atoms joining together.
great point. Anyone that agree's with rocknog should check out the skeptics guide to the universe podcast. However, I'd like to add the fact that you can also be agnostic and have critical thinking skills.
omicronnineDec 1, 2009
The central tenant of Christianity, like most religions, is "be one of us or else". What do you think sin, judgment by a god, and hell are all about? If you are a Christian yourself, then you are supremely deluded.
scaryukDec 1, 2009
@regeya - well, where to start?
dinnerDec 1, 2009
Oh, sure -- I think the political action (protest/voting/simply getting a higher profile for atheism) is really important. But I still don't see how any of it is furthered by engaging in the Condell-esque/PZ Myers-style excess of pure name-calling. Because persuasion is still a crucial aspect of furthering a political agenda, unless there are already enough atheists and people sympathetic with them to achieve all your political goals (and I highly doubt there are).The name-calling is just self-gratification. Certainly 'debating them online to expose their hypocrisy' is self-gratification -- the only people to whom their hypocrisy ever gets 'exposed' by this method is yourself or others who already agree with you. For believers and people in the middle of the road, it just reinforces what they've already heard about atheists: they're shrill and angry and so unreasonable in this anger that they see nothing wrong with tearing down something as sweet and beneficial as religion. Have you really persuaded yourself that indulging your SIWOTI syndrome aids in the furtherance of a great and noble cause?
dulllyDec 2, 2009
That is correct. Without God your life is meaningless and pointless. Your entire existance is no more significant than 2 lifeless hydrogen atoms joining together.
dc7407Dec 4, 2009
great point. Anyone that agree's with rocknog should check out the skeptics guide to the universe podcast. However, I'd like to add the fact that you can also be agnostic and have critical thinking skills.
5dollarhoodyDec 6, 2009
You don't need to be an 'aggressive atheist' to condemn politicised religion.