Religion

MineralMan

(147,576 posts)

58. Anyone who pretends to be a spokesperson for atheism is a fraud.

Tue Jan 15, 2019, 09:23 AM

Jan 2019

There is no uniformity to atheism - except for disbelief in deities. There are a few people who make their livings talking about atheism, but I've never understood what more there is to day about it than "I don't/can't believe that any supernatural entities like deities exist." Once you've said that, you've covered the entire subject.

It's interesting to discuss religion from that point of view in places like this group. And individual atheist's perspective is always useful in such discussions. However, atheists spend a lot of their time in such discussions explaining that atheism isn't a system of thinking. It's just a simple disbelief. We, as individuals, end up doing that mostly, really, in such discussions.

I cannot speak for any other atheist, and no other atheist can speak for me, no matter how prominent such an atheist might be.

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Michael Shermer, Scientific American, Sept. 1, 2007: Rational Atheism [View all] highplainsdem Jan 2019 OP

There are some particularly--and intentionally--ill-informed people who won't see the point of #1 Pope George Ringo II Jan 2019 #1

Perhaps you missed this one? guillaumeb Jan 2019 #23

Do you think Shermer is an acceptable atheist? trotsky Jan 2019 #2

Sigh. I've made it clear I have nothing against atheism and atheists. I thought posting an example highplainsdem Jan 2019 #3

No. You've *said* you have nothing against atheism. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2019 #5

Confirming a pattern that I noted months ago. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #22

Congratulations. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2019 #55

Gotta go with the others on this one. Pope George Ringo II Jan 2019 #6

Ad hominem is one way to demonstrate superiority? guillaumeb Jan 2019 #24

Oh I understand that. trotsky Jan 2019 #7

Just what we need. A good lecturin' from a date rapist. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2019 #4

Bingo! Guess nobody noticed that part of his C. V. MineralMan Jan 2019 #46

It could be much worse. Mariana Jan 2019 #54

I don't actually remember that person. MineralMan Jan 2019 #61

#5 violetpastille Jan 2019 #8

Repeats the strawman that starts with atheists really giving a shit what someone believes Major Nikon Jan 2019 #11

Yes, that's why we're so irrational and totally the same as religious fundies. trotsky Jan 2019 #14

Atheists do care, they give it a lot of thought violetpastille Jan 2019 #18

I haven't met a single one that does Major Nikon Jan 2019 #21

By "care" do we mean "want to change" what someone believes? violetpastille Jan 2019 #30

By "believes" I mean religious belief Major Nikon Jan 2019 #36

I got that violetpastille Jan 2019 #38

Dawkins writes books that promote atheism and against religion marylandblue Jan 2019 #31

He has been quite clear on his motivation Major Nikon Jan 2019 #32

A distinction without a difference. marylandblue Jan 2019 #33

You haven't changed my belief Major Nikon Jan 2019 #35

It's not about your personal belief on every possible issue. marylandblue Jan 2019 #39

Analogy Major Nikon Jan 2019 #40

Dawkins really doesn't seem to be doing that marylandblue Jan 2019 #41

Changing their mind doesn't mean you have to change their belief Major Nikon Jan 2019 #42

I don't think there is difference between changing minds and changing beliefs marylandblue Jan 2019 #43

Or maybe the interest is exactly the same Major Nikon Jan 2019 #44

Sure, but somehow you think a religionist will "decide" that evolution is compatible with religion marylandblue Jan 2019 #48

Many do exactly that Major Nikon Jan 2019 #51

But I think we can agree there is a difference between making a persuasive argument... Act_of_Reparation Jan 2019 #56

Yes. marylandblue Jan 2019 #57

I tend to see it this way, if I'm honest. Pope George Ringo II Jan 2019 #34

A shit ton of liberals and progressives write books that promote liberalism. trotsky Jan 2019 #62

Yes that's my point, although some people object to the word "proselytize" marylandblue Jan 2019 #64

It frustrates me greatly that somehow voicing negative opinions about religion... trotsky Jan 2019 #66

I hear you, it's a hazard of being in the minority marylandblue Jan 2019 #70

From the article: guillaumeb Jan 2019 #25

Thanks for the non-sequitur Major Nikon Jan 2019 #27

Thank YOU for illustrating how humans behave as humans. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #28

You keep repeating that as if there was the least bit of sense behind it Major Nikon Jan 2019 #29

As long as we agree what "threaten(s) science and freedom." trotsky Jan 2019 #12

I agree. violetpastille Jan 2019 #16

"As long as religion does not threaten science and freedom..." Pope George Ringo II Jan 2019 #13

I agree violetpastille Jan 2019 #15

In all candor, this is why some of us don't view religion as harmless. Pope George Ringo II Jan 2019 #17

Of course it's not harmless violetpastille Jan 2019 #19

There are positives associated with religion. There really are. Pope George Ringo II Jan 2019 #20

"Atheists cannot simply define themselves by what they do not believe" Major Nikon Jan 2019 #9

That one really does give me a fit of the giggles. Pope George Ringo II Jan 2019 #10

Amazing example of becoming what one claims to hate? guillaumeb Jan 2019 #26

Why do you hate atheists? Major Nikon Jan 2019 #37

Another poster asked me the same ridiculous question a year or 2 ago. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #47

I don't believe it Major Nikon Jan 2019 #50

You have "revealed" only your opinion of me. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #69

Actually it's a fact that I don't believe you Major Nikon Jan 2019 #71

But you are responding to the other posters in the same exact way. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #72

I didn't say that about any other poster Major Nikon Jan 2019 #73

Yes, the "evidence" claim. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #74

It's familiar because that's exactly your game Major Nikon Jan 2019 #75

You do sound as if you are convinced. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #76

More evidence of diversion Major Nikon Jan 2019 #77

Do you mean your avoidance of the question? guillaumeb Jan 2019 #78

I feel no obligation to answer irrelevant questions Major Nikon Jan 2019 #79

The words "irrelevant" and "uncomfortable" are not synonymous. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #80

You seem to be uncomfortable discussing the topic Major Nikon Jan 2019 #82

One of us is. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #83

More diversion Major Nikon Jan 2019 #84

Amazingly enough, I waas thinking the same thing. eom guillaumeb Jan 2019 #85

Funny you should say that Major Nikon Jan 2019 #86

That type of leading question is on a level with the ever popular.. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #87

Since when has that ever mattered to you? Major Nikon Jan 2019 #88

The choir is a metaphor, guillaumeb Jan 2019 #89

Yeah, the one you use to dehumanize those you assign to it Major Nikon Jan 2019 #90

Your "explanation" of my goal is noted. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #91

As is yours Major Nikon Jan 2019 #92

So my behavior preceded my posting here? guillaumeb Jan 2019 #93

No Major Nikon Jan 2019 #94

Dude doesn't represent me. MineralMan Jan 2019 #45

That's a deal-breaker for a guy who didn't need any deal breakers. Pope George Ringo II Jan 2019 #49

There are a few "professional" atheists around. MineralMan Jan 2019 #59

Dawkins doesn't speak for me either Major Nikon Jan 2019 #52

Anyone who pretends to be a spokesperson for atheism is a fraud. MineralMan Jan 2019 #58

Well, I've heard atheists themselves refer to a movement marylandblue Jan 2019 #81

It's a symptom of religious privilege. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2019 #60

I am so sick and tired of the term "atheist" trixie2 Jan 2019 #53

In that, you are like most non-believers. MineralMan Jan 2019 #63

Language is a system for labeling things marylandblue Jan 2019 #65

I would hope we moved past labels trixie2 Jan 2019 #67

So don't use the word atheist. Mariana Jan 2019 #68