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BecomingV -> RE: What do the atheists get right? (5/13/2014 3:20:07 AM)
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Atheists - that's a word that means "not" a theist. It's like "not" a pedophile. In both cases, it refers to not-ness. Not being a pedophile does not mean that the person is normal. They could be lots of things. Same with an atheist. You'd need to inquire more to know what that person actually is. Or, what about non-white. What does that tell you? Only, that a person is non-white. You would have to ask to know more beyond that.
So, BM, stating "Atheists are..." is going to be a concept that alludes. You only know what atheists aren't - theists.
Second point. I don't think atheists are getting enough right yet. I'd love to see improvement in my lifetime. The exploration of designating theists as mentally ill - delusional type, can't happen quickly enough. The implications of what this means politically are dire. Religions just inspire conflict and violence and terror. These people should not be in positions of governmental trust.
Third point. Atheists are beginning to make progress towards eliminating tax breaks for those whom live as if they have an imaginary friend whom is real. State-funded delusions are not okay.
Final point. You asked why no one was "biting" at your provocative, albeit, irrational soap-boxing. Here's a clue. The posts are mean and disjointed and crazy, really. Any atheist whom has engaged in theological conversations knows that MOST believers have stopped questioning because they know the answers. Having a debate is rarely an option. It becomes an argument - and that's just how the institutions of religion that wage war, get to express more of the same on a smaller and more intimate scale. Atheists want no part of it.
So, common ground?
Both believe that the other is wrong.
Both believe that the other may benefit from a bit of new knowledge.
Both are human beings.
Both can choose to treat others kindly, respectfully, or not.
Take a look at this thread. BM - some very nasty posts you put out there. And, yes, I didn't like it when someone questioned your virginity. That kind of attack happens when people have no substance to offer, so they attack the other speaker/poster. Pathetic. Same when you did it, too.
My personal stuff - born Catholic, educated Catholic, and educated kids and grandkids Catholic. I like the education. I became a Wiccan High Priestess. Later, I became an agnostic. Which does not mean that I think there is a god, it means I'm open to proof. Right now, the proven bit is that there is no proof of the existence of a god, only of the unknown.
My closest friends truly are family. One is a Sicilian, 53 yr. old virgin - never married, Catholic and devout. Crucifix-wearing, rosary bead carrying and Missal carrying Catholic! She volunteers reading to the blind. She takes care of her elderly, sick, impaired, mother. She gives out Communion at Mass, which she attends almost daily. Her brother is gay. She supports his life, loves and respects him and enjoys all of the musicals. :) She teaches children while they are hooked up to dialysis machines. This also means that she attends children's funerals - a lot, and these are kids she taught one -on -one, for years and grew to love. So, yeah, some Catholics rock!
Another friend is an "old Jew" as he puts it. He got between me and a physical assault. It was his boss whom attacked me and it cost him. His life partner for years was a black actress with a daughter. He's a tan, white guy and back then, it was a hostile environment for inter-racial couplings. He got involved in their culture, religion and lifestyle. He stood by me, vouched for me at work, when I was the only female and it cost him to speak up about that (that's a REAL man), and later, he married my childhood friend.
She is a Goddess- worshipping, bisexual, feminist, recovering Catholic. She pioneered and worked to provide abortions for the community (as well as birth control education and access). She's a highly educated woman whom used her birth into economic advantage for the betterment of others, including the elderly, the infirm and the outcast.
Then there's my eldest friend. We met as one year olds. He became an elder in the Methodist Church. He fought for human rights as a minister, for decades. For women and for gay people in the Church. He created a protocol for Church-goers to support child-molesters whom wished to live differently and within the religious community. (the protocol was based on protection of children first and then on protection of him) My friend, he's very, "how would Jesus love this person?"
What these 4 have in common (besides their decades-long friendship with yours truly) is a love of others. No matter what others were living or believing in terms of dogma, these four recognized a need to treat others with respect. In addition to being huge-hearted, these 4 are also INTELLIGENT. That means, when I said, I no longer believe in God. This feels so weird (in time, that feeling disappeared). What all 4 of them did was ask questions. They didn't judge, cajole or postulate. So, they knew what I was experiencing because they were open to knowing.
^^^ You, BM, are not offering posts which sincerely express a desire for understanding anything beyond that which already fills your own head. This is why so many posts here are between others whom comment upon YOUR non-responsiveness.
This thread is, I'm now sure, an example of what I've read about here. A flamer. A troll. An example of a need for attention.
Most of all, it's the opposite of all of God's children (varied tho they may be - such as my friends), getting along and showing the others what it feels like to be in contact with God's love.
This thread, is about postulating - which is why atheists don't engage.
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