Religion

MineralMan

(147,576 posts)

81. Perhaps so.

Wed Jan 16, 2019, 10:35 AM

Jan 2019

I do searches regarding religion on Google from time to time. Just today, I searched for Atheists in Churches. One of the most interesting thing I found was several stories about an atheist minister at a United Church. After proceedings designed to decide whether she could continue serving as a minister, a positive decision was reached.

The surprise was that the United Church leadership decided that she could. Now, there's some good news that never found its way into the Religion Group. Since it's from late last year, I won't post any of the stories, but I have to wonder why they didn't find their way here.

Several putative Christians post regularly in the Religion Group. I use the word "putative," because at least one of those is always hesitant to describe beliefs in any detail at all, leaving me to wonder what they actually are.

There are positive stories with a religious emphasis. We don't see them, though, except as a poke in the eyes of the atheist members of the Group or with the obvious message that only religious people do good things. That's why I suggested to that person that he or she post some positive stories that demonstrate tolerance and acceptance by religious organizations.

I will wait to see if such stories appear.

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This has been interesting... [View all] highplainsdem Jan 2019 OP

OK. MineralMan Jan 2019 #1

No, atheists posting against religion aren't the same as religious fundamentalists... trotsky Jan 2019 #2

And you might consider this group, which is increasing in numbers: highplainsdem Jan 2019 #5

Largest. Voting. Bloc. trotsky Jan 2019 #7

Never said one word about atheist arguments scaring voters away. I just think it looks silly highplainsdem Jan 2019 #8

So you're saying it's silly, but admit it's effective Major Nikon Jan 2019 #10

Oh no, you've explicitly threatened everyone who has posted in response to you... trotsky Jan 2019 #13

This entire thread is exactly about not addressing individual arguments Major Nikon Jan 2019 #23

Bingo. n/t trotsky Jan 2019 #24

Continuing a long established pattern. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #29

Your obsession with me is again noted. n/t trotsky Jan 2019 #33

A pattern stretching back years. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #34

That's been your claim, but you've never substantiated with anything approaching scientific rigor. trotsky Jan 2019 #35

A familiar meme. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #38

You'd love it to be. trotsky Jan 2019 #59

Why do you think that group is expanding? Major Nikon Jan 2019 #11

All you've really managed to do is drag out the old tropes which never found much traction Major Nikon Jan 2019 #3

I read a study once on the role of ridicule in political debate marylandblue Jan 2019 #4

Agree completely. Which is why it's appropriate in forums promoting that group's views, highplainsdem Jan 2019 #9

It isn't helpful when someone suggests others should just shut up and leave Major Nikon Jan 2019 #14

Never suggested anyone shut up and leave. Just suggested a style of argument highplainsdem Jan 2019 #16

Sure sounded that way Major Nikon Jan 2019 #17

If only DU had some sort of system where you could call attention to a post you found unacceptable. trotsky Jan 2019 #21

Helps to keep the 18th commandment in mind Major Nikon Jan 2019 #22

There is no "style of argument" prohibited by this group's SoP. trotsky Jan 2019 #19

Christianity is privileged - and spoiled rotten Bretton Garcia Jan 2019 #52

The old saying that appears a lot here, because it's fucking spot on: trotsky Jan 2019 #60

This group is open to discussion from multiple viewpoints. Mariana Jan 2019 #20

Which was not the author's point at all. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #30

Yes, people who disagree with you get to post here, too. Mariana Jan 2019 #31

Missing the point and pivoting to a familiar meme guillaumeb Jan 2019 #39

Exactly. I'm so glad you've arrived at this Voltaire2 Jan 2019 #36

... Mariana Jan 2019 #37

Christians condescend - inevitably. Intrinsically Bretton Garcia Jan 2019 #53

Did you ever come up with any actual examples to illustrate your point? Mariana Jan 2019 #6

Sounds a lot like "some people are saying" Major Nikon Jan 2019 #15

Miss me? sprinkleeninow Jan 2019 #41

I have missed you actually Major Nikon Jan 2019 #42

I dislocated my left shoulder Nov. 1 evening with a body slam to the front hall floor. sprinkleeninow Jan 2019 #45

Sorry bout all the bad news Major Nikon Jan 2019 #48

Yes, it's funny the places where you feel you could be yerself. 😉 sprinkleeninow Jan 2019 #49

Wow. I hope your audience brought casseroles over later. Mariana Jan 2019 #50

😄 casseroles...All up and down asked if we needed anything, just say the word. sprinkleeninow Jan 2019 #51

Wise momma. nt. Mariana Jan 2019 #100

She was dat. Her daughter? Ehh, not so much. 😊 sprinkleeninow Jan 2019 #101

I have to ask, how did you happen to splat on the slab? nt? Mariana Jan 2019 #102

I'm a klumjatska! I race around like still 30, 40, 50... sprinkleeninow Jan 2019 #104

Flip flops in January? Mariana Jan 2019 #106

Our heat is on near blast-off. No, not really. 😁 I keep it comfortable here in order for sprinkleeninow Jan 2019 #116

I've missed you, too. Mariana Jan 2019 #44

I wrote a dissertation above to thee Major. sprinkleeninow Jan 2019 #46

You know what would help this forum? Act_of_Reparation Jan 2019 #12

True in many other cases as well Major Nikon Jan 2019 #18

Fewer bad ales being bad ales. sprinkleeninow Jan 2019 #47

I once mentioned to the future pope, Joe Ratzinger ... Bretton Garcia Jan 2019 #55

I was up then down on my shoulder. Hit my eyebrow bone and kinda sprained my left thumb. sprinkleeninow Jan 2019 #88

Looks like we have some agreement ! Bretton Garcia Jan 2019 #97

I get where you are coming from. MarvinGardens Jan 2019 #25

"calling someone stupid is going to piss them off and not convince them one bit" trotsky Jan 2019 #26

Like I said, I assume folks in the Religion group can handle it. MarvinGardens Jan 2019 #40

Some of the interactions that get complaints Mariana Jan 2019 #27

Pretty much nailed it right there. trotsky Jan 2019 #28

Recommended. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #32

They should feel that because it is Major Nikon Jan 2019 #43

Guillaumeb embraces "eye for an eye" justice, but demands his opponents "turn the other cheek." trotsky Jan 2019 #62

Christianity is always condescension Bretton Garcia Jan 2019 #54

All I will say HopeAgain Jan 2019 #56

It was the reverse of that for 2,000 years Bretton Garcia Jan 2019 #57

Whataboutism? HopeAgain Jan 2019 #58

You are right, and not a very good discussion of atheism marylandblue Jan 2019 #61

There are TWELVE different groups on DU where believers can avoid opinions that upset them. trotsky Jan 2019 #63

Not speaking for Hope Again, but she has a point marylandblue Jan 2019 #64

"This is not just the fault of atheists here." trotsky Jan 2019 #65

I'm not blaming any point of view HopeAgain Jan 2019 #68

Then target the individuals and posts you think are a problem, instead of making group attacks. trotsky Jan 2019 #69

This is it... HopeAgain Jan 2019 #71

I'm not always "hankering for an argument," but I *will* call out hypocrisy when I see it. trotsky Jan 2019 #73

C'mon Trotsky, you must be hankering for an argument. Mariana Jan 2019 #112

Oh yeah, of course! trotsky Jan 2019 #113

Well, it's obviously your fault, then. Mariana Jan 2019 #115

And yet here you are Major Nikon Jan 2019 #75

The general topic interests me and the group is lively marylandblue Jan 2019 #82

So perhaps we aren't as irredeemable as was suggested Major Nikon Jan 2019 #83

Of course you are not irredeemable, the Great Nothing saves all who believe or don't believe. marylandblue Jan 2019 #85

I don't think emotion really plays into it. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2019 #86

Criticize anything that people are emotionally attached to, and marylandblue Jan 2019 #90

"Human Nature" is a phrase that always sets off my skeptic alarm. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2019 #91

I understand your point about human nature marylandblue Jan 2019 #92

It was a tad hyperbolic, as is my style. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2019 #93

Well, there was that one time, when the guy playing trumpet MineralMan Jan 2019 #94

I was in the band in the fifth grade and we weren't very good marylandblue Jan 2019 #95

Oh, the horror of the elementary school band teacher! MineralMan Jan 2019 #96

So should we overlook the nonsense and irrationality and pretend there must be a better point Major Nikon Jan 2019 #87

Well, if you don't think there is a better point to religion marylandblue Jan 2019 #89

Perhaps there is a better defense Major Nikon Jan 2019 #99

For some things, an emotional defense is the only kind available marylandblue Jan 2019 #107

Sure, and that works on a personal level Major Nikon Jan 2019 #108

Better defenders are hard to come by in general. Mariana Jan 2019 #105

I think they want nicer disagreements. marylandblue Jan 2019 #109

They're not likely to get it Mariana Jan 2019 #114

Opinions don't upset me HopeAgain Jan 2019 #66

The arrogance of wanting to silence opinions is worse, I think. n/t trotsky Jan 2019 #67

Be as athiest as you want. HopeAgain Jan 2019 #70

Another group attack. trotsky Jan 2019 #72

So predictable. nt. Mariana Jan 2019 #74

Lost count of how many times we've seen this play out. trotsky Jan 2019 #80

It's more like a partial group attack Major Nikon Jan 2019 #77

Nasty believers who dismiss the RCC's sex abuse scandals, or are homophobic, or transphobic. trotsky Jan 2019 #78

But asking people with rational objections to just drop them Bretton Garcia Jan 2019 #98

Mote in your Brother's eye... uriel1972 Jan 2019 #111

Then, I suggest that you start some pleasant threads about religion. MineralMan Jan 2019 #76

Seems like it's just easier to drop a giant turd in the punch bowl, trotsky Jan 2019 #79

Perhaps so. MineralMan Jan 2019 #81

That isn't unique to this group Major Nikon Jan 2019 #84

Atheism is not a religion... uriel1972 Jan 2019 #110

My dad would get on his knees and pray he'd always be an atheist. Beakybird Jan 2019 #103