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In reply to the discussion: DU religion survey [View all]

muriel_volestrangler

(101,157 posts)
122. I think "presumably, not describe herself as an atheist" is wrong
Fri Nov 28, 2014, 12:51 PM
Nov 2014

and your own sentence calls her 'the atheist' before that.

As far as the 'burden of proof' goes, consider what FLPanHandle was replying to:

"non-practicing pantheist here...

...many levels of consciousness, many gods. Each blind man holding onto a different part of the elephant. Oh sure, on good days I might still muster up a little dishwater agnosticism...

The gods hear and answer all prayers. ... Sometimes when the gods want to punish us, they give us what we ask for, and to reward us, they don't. "

Notice that viewpoint is far beyond agnosticism, as it explicitly says.

DU religion survey [View all] Prophet 451 Nov 2014 OP
Jewish-ish. Behind the Aegis Nov 2014 #1
Alas, the polling didn't allow for multiple entries :) Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #2
LOL! Yeah, that's the obligatory "other." Behind the Aegis Nov 2014 #4
Not bad, thanks Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #16
As my friend Rachel said when I caught her eating bacon Recursion Nov 2014 #9
I have said something like that too...a lied a few times. Behind the Aegis Nov 2014 #13
India has opened my eyes to dietary laws Recursion Nov 2014 #17
How so? mahina Nov 2014 #128
Or Woody Allen's answer to the "What religion" question: "Jewish, with an explanation" (n/t) Jim Lane Nov 2014 #41
I am a Jew and proud of it. But, it's more of a cultural thing mucifer Nov 2014 #51
You, and half of all Jews MannyGoldstein Nov 2014 #87
Between the humor and the food, we can't stop being Jews. mucifer Nov 2014 #92
There's also the genetics MannyGoldstein Nov 2014 #97
Someone once said: Brigid Nov 2014 #131
that's like saying "I'm White and proud of it". 2banon Nov 2014 #240
No. okasha Nov 2014 #286
Native American? No. If he was a Palestinian on the other hand, that would compare accurately. 2banon Nov 2014 #287
Second that (or thirds or fourths, lost count) Half-Century Man Nov 2014 #284
K & R !!! WillyT Nov 2014 #3
Under Construction AndyTiedye Nov 2014 #5
Ha! Love it. nt ZombieHorde Nov 2014 #7
I'm an atheist, agnostic, Buddhist, Neo-Pagan, nihilist, ZombieHorde Nov 2014 #6
LMAO! WhiteAndNerdy Nov 2014 #12
Your loved ones are nicer than mine. Behind the Aegis Nov 2014 #14
I knew I liked you for a reason. cordelia Nov 2014 #125
Man after my own heart. lindysalsagal Nov 2014 #288
No room for Hindu? (nt) Recursion Nov 2014 #8
Only room for ten entries Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #11
It's the third largest religion in the world Recursion Nov 2014 #15
Altered it Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #85
Thanks! Sorry if I was an ass about that (nt) Recursion Nov 2014 #95
No problem Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #96
No room for Muslims, either, apparently~!! nt MADem Nov 2014 #108
Damn, how did I miss that? (nt) Recursion Nov 2014 #114
Yeah Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #160
You should have worked for the British Foreign Office in 1947. rug Nov 2014 #185
Ha! Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #187
This message was self-deleted by its author WhiteAndNerdy Nov 2014 #10
The "One And Only True One"™, but I'm not telling you which. You have to find your own path ;P Electric Monk Nov 2014 #18
Hrumph! Where's the profit in that? Enthusiast Nov 2014 #20
Reformed Omnian? nt Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #63
SPLITTERS! Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #71
We are the People's Front of Judea! (nt) Recursion Nov 2014 #104
If TRUTH were told..... DeSwiss Nov 2014 #19
Sadly, true Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #28
Very true of this country's culture.... YoungDemCA Nov 2014 #227
Bow down before me.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #21
I know Satan, Satan is a friend of mine Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #22
Atheist.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #23
"Don't feel like Satan / but I am to them" Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #24
Fairy tales vs. science/reason. You decide. blkmusclmachine Nov 2014 #25
No need to insult other's beliefs Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #27
Teach yourself the difference bvf Nov 2014 #30
Likening to a fairy tale is an insult Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #31
Why is that? bvf Nov 2014 #32
Don't go thinking that a petty insult is some masterful challenge Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #33
I have yet to see bvf Nov 2014 #35
Why are you straight or gay? Why do you like some foods and not others? cbayer Nov 2014 #132
Why are you male or female? skepticscott Nov 2014 #248
Because if people choose to be something, then clearly it's wrong Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #282
That's not an insult. rug Nov 2014 #191
There's another one! rug Nov 2014 #189
Would you prefer phil89 Nov 2014 #49
Better but still not quite right Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #56
Fairy tale sounds right to me. HERVEPA Nov 2014 #69
Let me try! rug Nov 2014 #188
Why would anyone think they're "compatible" skepticscott Nov 2014 #241
No, the only people forcing others to choose between science and faith Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #243
In other words, my question puts an uncomfortable truth skepticscott Nov 2014 #250
This edgy crap is why I don't call myself an Atheist, anymore. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #84
There's quite a few like that on DU Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #91
Stay classy. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #199
people are crappy towards each other here whether it is about religion or any other topic. liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #202
The religious dogfight is supposed to be constrained to the religion forum. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #204
I disagree. There are many including myself enjoying this thread and are being respectful. liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #209
You don't call yourself an atheist... MellowDem Nov 2014 #141
Particularly on an anonymous chat board skepticscott Nov 2014 #251
The value of loving your neighbor as yourself versus atomic bombs. You decide. cbayer Nov 2014 #134
Oh snap! Odin2005 Nov 2014 #151
The value of beheading apostates vs using the internet. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #208
UU - Deist JustAnotherGen Nov 2014 #26
non-practicing pantheist here... alterfurz Nov 2014 #29
Atheism is "far too problematic"? FLPanhandle Nov 2014 #45
Well, that's an interesting thing Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #59
Burden of proof falls on you for active statements? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #100
... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #105
I think it simply goes back to the 'nature' of a God. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #107
Hence, there is no burden of proof. rug Nov 2014 #193
The burden of proof falls on the one who... stone space Nov 2014 #113
I think "presumably, not describe herself as an atheist" is wrong muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #122
The late physicist and philosopher Victor Stenger hifiguy Nov 2014 #234
Without readin it, I would disagree Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #237
"Without readin it, I would disagree" nt. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #269
This is mainly a problem in the definition of the words Atheist and Agnostic DireStrike Nov 2014 #267
You're not even getting the basics right. phil89 Nov 2014 #50
in fairness many of these arguments assume the "gnostic atheist" position, Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #273
Atheist atheist here. stone space Nov 2014 #34
Me too. FLPanhandle Nov 2014 #46
That's about the mildest declaration of militant atheism I've seen. rug Nov 2014 #194
where's the born-again hedonist catagory belzabubba333 Nov 2014 #36
Only room for ten categories. bvf Nov 2014 #37
my only 2 religions.d'oh belzabubba333 Nov 2014 #38
LOL! n/t. bvf Nov 2014 #39
UU deutsey Nov 2014 #40
UU as well CanonRay Nov 2014 #72
Another UU here. 3catwoman3 Nov 2014 #112
Pagan & UU Chemisse Nov 2014 #178
UU & Pagan LiberalEsto Nov 2014 #285
I'm proud to see the high percentage of atheists here. FLPanhandle Nov 2014 #42
Many believers are smart too Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #61
That attitude is why I don't call myself an Atheist, anymore. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #90
I wonder what a "new atheist" is? MellowDem Nov 2014 #142
The militant anti-theist followers of Hitchens, Harris, and Dawkins. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #148
Sounds incredibly subjective.. MellowDem Nov 2014 #157
. rug Nov 2014 #196
I'm curious what your take on morality is then DireStrike Nov 2014 #271
This message was self-deleted by its author Codeine Nov 2014 #168
Maybe the "New Atheists" are sick of being called skepticscott Nov 2014 #255
There is zero correlation between intelligence and religiosity. cbayer Nov 2014 #167
Except of course that there is. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #203
Like hell there isn't. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #257
Clicking that button is extraordinarily difficult. rug Nov 2014 #195
There are smart believers here! I may not be one but I assure you there are. hrmjustin Nov 2014 #238
I believe in a great Universal Energy, but reject the dogma of religion RiverLover Nov 2014 #43
"And I don't need a guide book to know the difference btn right & wrong." 3catwoman3 Nov 2014 #115
The Creative Energy of the Universe Thirties Child Nov 2014 #169
None of the above. rogerashton Nov 2014 #44
Atheist (nt) bigwillq Nov 2014 #47
Weird. A faith that worships money isn't even listed HereSince1628 Nov 2014 #48
Well, there's only ten slots Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #62
They should add the worship of Mammon. bluedigger Nov 2014 #139
We are all capitalists now... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #144
Buddhist. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #52
I do strongly admire the noble eightfold path Recursion Nov 2014 #70
I'm technically an Atheist, too, but... Odin2005 Nov 2014 #73
It's funny, I was in a play last year about Swami Vivekenanda Recursion Nov 2014 #74
A lot of the spiritual movements that emerged in the Axial Age were "Humanist" or "Atheistic". Odin2005 Nov 2014 #83
Huh. Jeremiah was in that period too. Recursion Nov 2014 #93
All of the Old Testament Prophets were from that period, too. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #98
Ah, yes, I do know that. But Jeremiah was... well, I'm sure you know Recursion Nov 2014 #99
You should check out Amos. Brigid Nov 2014 #117
Amos and Malachi are my two favorite prophets Recursion Nov 2014 #118
My pastor preached on this the Sunday after the election: Brigid Nov 2014 #138
Plato and Aristotle, also Recursion Nov 2014 #101
And Pythagoras. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #102
That was an amazing generation; it also possibly produced Lao Tzu (nt) Recursion Nov 2014 #103
People have demonized the word atheist... MellowDem Nov 2014 #143
The New Atheist crowd has successfully made themselves into a joke Odin2005 Nov 2014 #146
What is new atheism? MellowDem Nov 2014 #152
By "New Atheism" I mean the simplistic anti-theism popularized by... Odin2005 Nov 2014 #155
So three people? MellowDem Nov 2014 #159
What's "simplistic" is the attempt skepticscott Nov 2014 #258
Here is the top entry if you google it... goldent Nov 2014 #171
If that's new atheism.... MellowDem Nov 2014 #175
Or maybe because most of the loud atheists are dicks... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #183
As noted above, the people you refer to skepticscott Nov 2014 #259
I guess... MellowDem Nov 2014 #261
Link's dead, btw Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #246
You switched from atheist to Buddhist? Can I ask when and why? liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #179
The teachings of the Buddha have made me a better, happier person. dawg Nov 2014 #222
That's fair enough Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #231
I have often thought that the teachings of Buddha and Jesus are very similar. liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #239
really? How so? Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #274
Other. Hindu. It's the third largest religion in the world. Just saying. Recursion Nov 2014 #53
Ran out of slots Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #64
That was me, not a co-religionist :) Recursion Nov 2014 #66
Jewish is a culture. Hari Seldon Nov 2014 #54
Sure, I understand that Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #65
Other H2O Man Nov 2014 #55
Skeptical agnostic or atheist? wyldwolf Nov 2014 #57
Seems very intellectually dishonest? Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #75
Nah, it doesn't wyldwolf Nov 2014 #89
YES, it is intellectually dishonest: Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #109
NO, it is not. wyldwolf Nov 2014 #110
I think most atheists would reverse their beliefs if God came down from heaven goldent Nov 2014 #174
Most of the first group would be fundies Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #182
I have this image in my mind goldent Nov 2014 #276
Sounds about right :) Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #279
I'm not an atheist. I am a Buddhist. I guess you could say I'm an agnostic Buddhist. liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #233
Well there is Biblical precedence for this position... goldent Nov 2014 #278
The position challenged was to state they were for something when they were not. Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #262
LOL, because of the way most of us were raised I understand that. nt Logical Nov 2014 #77
I Picked Other ProfessorGAC Nov 2014 #58
Why does this list exclude Hindu people while including 'Reconstructionists' which last time I Bluenorthwest Nov 2014 #60
+1 Recursion Nov 2014 #67
Different kind of recon Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #68
So Dominionists and other fundies would call themselves recons. Bluenorthwest Nov 2014 #80
Edited it to clarify that Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #86
What's with the à la carte "religious" beliefs? Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #76
OK, I'll have a tilt at it Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #82
I concure regarding the experiential nature of spiritual gnosis. Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #116
But which version of Christ and whose interpretation? CJCRANE Nov 2014 #120
That suggests, the "church" has no authority, it's all chimera Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #123
Which church? CJCRANE Nov 2014 #133
All "churches" Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #170
For the reassurance of a shared community, tradition and culture. CJCRANE Nov 2014 #172
So churches are just social clubs? Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #264
Sure but... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #149
Thats fine grist for the mill, but.... Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #173
Former atheist, now a Christian Shrek Nov 2014 #78
That's interesting Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #127
I don't mind Shrek Nov 2014 #161
Thank you for responding Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #163
Christian meow2u3 Nov 2014 #79
Clicked 'atheist', but technically more 'militant agnostic'. *L* Rhythm Nov 2014 #81
How can one be a militant agnostic? Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #88
Yeah... "I don't know... AND NEITHER DO YOU!" Rhythm Nov 2014 #135
Cultural Christian. Otherwise... freshwest Nov 2014 #94
Christian.n/t. hrmjustin Nov 2014 #106
Then there are the atheists who pretend they are agnostic Android3.14 Nov 2014 #111
I hadn't noticed many doing that Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #129
Oh yes Android3.14 Nov 2014 #153
I can kinda see someone coming in both camps Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #156
I am an agnostic atheist OriginalGeek Nov 2014 #229
and then there are religious people who commit evil in the name samsingh Nov 2014 #213
recovering catholic spanone Nov 2014 #119
Christian. dawg Nov 2014 #121
Yet those "good things" are self-evident. Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #124
Self-evident? YoungDemCA Nov 2014 #225
My husband is agnostic. He gets asked all the time by evangelical Christians liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #235
I would agree with that Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #130
Christian. Brigid Nov 2014 #126
Islam is the second largest religion in the world ....? etherealtruth Nov 2014 #136
Oy Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #150
Chrisbuddish. CJCRANE Nov 2014 #137
That sounds like my son. He finds the stories from all religions interesting, but I do liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #180
Most of it's believers died out Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #184
That's a nice coincidence, I was brought up on Greek mythology. CJCRANE Nov 2014 #186
Follow one sarisataka Nov 2014 #140
Raised Presbyterian. I keep the label in honor of those who died for the faith. riqster Nov 2014 #145
That's fair enough Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #158
Atheist and agnostic are not mutually exclusive.... MellowDem Nov 2014 #147
No, they aren't Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #162
It seems you agree with me? MellowDem Nov 2014 #177
Sort-of Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #181
Gnostic atheists then... MellowDem Nov 2014 #254
Hmm, not sure that's true Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #256
It's for the gods that have specific claims... MellowDem Nov 2014 #268
Scientific atheist/secular humanist now. hifiguy Nov 2014 #154
I find voodoo fascinating Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #165
I'm a non-believer, but I find too many atheists too obnoxious to identify as one. Comrade Grumpy Nov 2014 #164
Fair enough Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #166
Former christian, now an atheist Bryce Butler Nov 2014 #176
Religions of the world! yortsed snacilbuper Nov 2014 #190
Seen that before Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #201
Wiccan Hatchling Nov 2014 #252
Hard to believe you included Sikh but not Muslim. Blue_In_AK Nov 2014 #192
The story with that is... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #198
Surprising to me that we have no Muslims here Blue_In_AK Nov 2014 #260
If you ever do another poll like this LostOne4Ever Nov 2014 #197
Atheist and agnostic are distinct Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #200
They are distinct and do overlap LostOne4Ever Nov 2014 #207
Aren't you the person who recently did a long screed on how you should be cbayer Nov 2014 #219
I agree and it doesn't matter how often some say they are not distinct, they still are. cbayer Nov 2014 #218
I love it that Unitarians are always "other" even on a site like this one full of progressives. redstatebluegirl Nov 2014 #205
Well, as I understand it... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #210
There are a few of us rogerashton Nov 2014 #266
I worship Henny Youngman olddots Nov 2014 #206
you missed 'muslim' samsingh Nov 2014 #211
The story with that is... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #212
missing 'spiritualist' samsingh Nov 2014 #214
missing 'scientologist' samsingh Nov 2014 #215
Knock it off Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #216
ok samsingh Nov 2014 #230
i could have said festivus samsingh Nov 2014 #232
Atheism and agnosticism are not mutually exclusive MillennialDem Nov 2014 #217
No, but they are distinct Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #226
I am a Christian. trueblue2007 Nov 2014 #220
Shinto~Buddhist. (Jodo Shinshu) yuiyoshida Nov 2014 #221
"Intellectually, I'm a Deist. Emotionally, I'm a Christian!" Thom Hartmann LongTomH Nov 2014 #223
That's interesting Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #228
Christian. n/t YoungDemCA Nov 2014 #224
I was born an atheist, then I was raised with being taught the Catholic religion. logosoco Nov 2014 #236
Other. okasha Nov 2014 #242
"Process"? n/t Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #244
Process theology rogerashton Nov 2014 #265
I'm an agnostic, dyslexic insomniac. panader0 Nov 2014 #245
rimshot please! Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #247
As a lifelong bricklayer, I have laid over two million units. panader0 Nov 2014 #249
I thought that was a type of chipboard! LongTomH Nov 2014 #277
I am Christian.. mvd Nov 2014 #253
Ethnically Jewish but atheist. Would describe myself as a secular humanist LeftishBrit Nov 2014 #263
I know but the poll software doesn't allow that Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #280
I said atheist madokie Nov 2014 #270
Taoist Agnostic Atheist Pagan intheflow Nov 2014 #272
Sounds familiar Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #281
Other: All of the above options and all the others not included. Contrary1 Nov 2014 #275
Wise words, IMO Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #283
Locking. This is against the Statement of Purpose. William769 Nov 2014 #289
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