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NYC Liberal

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89. Where is the atheist "holy book" commanding non-believers to kill or convert

Sat Jan 17, 2015, 10:52 AM

Jan 2015

those who disagree? What tenet of atheism compels it? What punishment is prescribed for atheists who don't follow?

There is NOTHING telling atheists to do anything. On the other hand, you have the Bible or the Koran which define and guide Christianity and Islam. Those religions have books that tell their followers what to believe and, more importantly, do. Christianity and Islam (and many other religions) have in their official doctrines the belief that those who don't do as their leader (God) commands will be punished. Nothing similar exists for atheism, because "atheism" is merely a descriptive term for a lack of belief in gods, not a set of tenets and beliefs.

And THAT is the difference.

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What do DUers that defend mocking religious beliefs think of these pictures? [View all] onenote Jan 2015 OP

...that MLK Jr. spread dangerous superstitions, I suppose jberryhill Jan 2015 #1

All I can say is . . . Brigid Jan 2015 #2

Pictures of people participating in innocuous religious rituals Bonx Jan 2015 #3

+1 nomorenomore08 Jan 2015 #18

yes, i'm an atheist and i like putting up a christmas tree JI7 Jan 2015 #51

Same here. My immediate family is mostly secular, but we celebrate Christmas wholeheartedly. n/t nomorenomore08 Jan 2015 #222

Right! There's nothing in these photos to mock. Demit Jan 2015 #104

The OP is essentially a strawman that pretends if someone mocks religious ideas... Major Nikon Jan 2015 #156

+1000 nomorenomore08 Jan 2015 #223

People can believe what they want. cyberswede Jan 2015 #4

THANK YOU THANK YOU Skittles Jan 2015 #6

And that's the way it should be. LuvNewcastle Jan 2015 #9

Yeah, that's where I'm at. Warren DeMontague Jan 2015 #62

Yep. What cyberswede said. Arugula Latte Jan 2015 #108

Yup. Agschmid Jan 2015 #115

that does seem pretty simple fishwax Jan 2015 #127

Except it's never that simple pscot Jan 2015 #165

It IS that simple. Frank Cannon Jan 2015 #211

Is that a Natural Law? pscot Jan 2015 #212

+1 HuckleB Jan 2015 #150

But why is free speech only for those who mock? kcr Jan 2015 #161

People can criticize what they want, too. cyberswede Jan 2015 #162

I'm glad you think so. Tell it to the rest of DU. kcr Jan 2015 #163

Is DU, actually, silencing anyone? Warren DeMontague Jan 2015 #164

Did I claim DU was silencing anyone? kcr Jan 2015 #168

"Why is free speech only for those who mock"? Warren DeMontague Jan 2015 #169

I wasn't actually proposing we turn it around kcr Jan 2015 #171

That was the first sentence in your post. Warren DeMontague Jan 2015 #174

Okay then it wasn't in front of my sentence. You removed whatever made it clear. kcr Jan 2015 #175

We're talking past each other. Maybe you meant the thing about "yes butters"? Warren DeMontague Jan 2015 #177

How about don't ascribe positions to them they don't have in the first place? nt kcr Jan 2015 #178

You're saying there wasnt a big flood of "yesbut yesbut yesbut" here, after Charlie Hebdo? Warren DeMontague Jan 2015 #179

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying kcr Jan 2015 #180

Hence the but. Warren DeMontague Jan 2015 #181

No kcr Jan 2015 #183

And I saw a lot of posts which I categorize that way, because it is what they did. Warren DeMontague Jan 2015 #184

Maybe there are different corners of DU that you and I frequent kcr Jan 2015 #185

People can anything they want. Eg, they can walk under moving trains. But most people think sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #176

I don't really see a comparison between mocking something and walking under a moving train. cyberswede Jan 2015 #182

It depends. Eg, would you poke a tiger just for fun? Some people are in a position of power or sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #190

Which group does "religion" fall under? cyberswede Jan 2015 #194

Many times it is the most vulnerable people who cling to religion. So mocking them for the only sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #201

Except Israel and Judaism are not to be mocked. Octafish Jan 2015 #207

Simple and true.. mountain grammy Jan 2015 #209

I still think their beliefs are silly OriginalGeek Jan 2015 #5

Nothing. Just what am I supposed to think? dissentient Jan 2015 #7

+1. Over my head. cheapdate Jan 2015 #126

me either rurallib Jan 2015 #206

all religious people are racist and homophobic and support racist and homophobic ND-Dem Jan 2015 #8

... nomorenomore08 Jan 2015 #19

no need to play your little fiddle; i'm not in need of your sympathy and didn't ask for it. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #23

The religious are the majority. They're not persecuted or oppressed, overall, in any meaningful way. nomorenomore08 Jan 2015 #29

the "point" is completely irrelevant, as the conversation was about DU. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #31

Okay, maybe the "violin" smiley is a bit much, but think of how many people out there in the world nomorenomore08 Jan 2015 #32

thank you for backing off a bit. there are surely some people like that, and i have nothing ND-Dem Jan 2015 #36

... TransitJohn Jan 2015 #68

... NuclearDem Jan 2015 #70

Strawflowers in the pocket. Nice! cheapdate Jan 2015 #131

That's just 'punching down' to blame the victims and cover up for the racism and homophobia to Bluenorthwest Jan 2015 #71

Which victims are you talking about? I'm sick of the blanket "population segment" talk ND-Dem Jan 2015 #102

There are a lot of gullible people in the world 4now Jan 2015 #10

You want my honest opinion? Cartoonist Jan 2015 #12

"there would be good people if religion didn't corrupt their mind and replace reason with bullshit" ND-Dem Jan 2015 #30

simply because they suffer from a lack of reason Cartoonist Jan 2015 #91

It's easy to go against the government but not against God? LOL. Sure thing. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #101

"and religion gives people power over others? in what sense?" Politicalboi Jan 2015 #134

key words: "by making LAWS" The religion doesn't give the power, those who control ND-Dem Jan 2015 #138

Now who's believing in fairy tales? nxylas Jan 2015 #35

indeed. people don't persecute each other because of religion, or politics, or anything else. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #38

who said ANYTHING about "officially sanctioned idology?? Skittles Jan 2015 #43

Atheism isn't an ideology. beam me up scottie Jan 2015 #46

It was a tenet of Soviet Communism, which was an ideology nxylas Jan 2015 #47

But that's quite different, isn't it? beam me up scottie Jan 2015 #48

OK, got it nxylas Jan 2015 #56

Can you describe what the "atheist ideology" actually is? cleanhippie Jan 2015 #77

scientific materialism, a.k.a. logical positivism. . . . n/t zazen Jan 2015 #122

One needs to subscribe to those ideas to not believe in a god? cleanhippie Jan 2015 #125

Atheism is the absence of belief in gods. beam me up scottie Jan 2015 #159

Where is the atheist "holy book" commanding non-believers to kill or convert NYC Liberal Jan 2015 #89

Nicely done. beam me up scottie Jan 2015 #160

Nice double standard there Prophet 451 Jan 2015 #199

No. Again, "atheism" is not a system or an organization. NYC Liberal Jan 2015 #202

That's just asserting your double standard again Prophet 451 Jan 2015 #203

Not really. beam me up scottie Jan 2015 #157

I would dispute the Wikipedia definition of religion nxylas Jan 2015 #210

Theism is defined as the belief in deities, religion is more than that. beam me up scottie Jan 2015 #213

Me too. Much more civilised. nxylas Jan 2015 #214

I prefer to use a broad inclusive definition. beam me up scottie Jan 2015 #215

Yes, probably more sense than I did nxylas Jan 2015 #216

Seems like a good one to go with. beam me up scottie Jan 2015 #217

I don't think it's intolerance nxylas Jan 2015 #221

That certainly seems to be the standard Prophet 451 Jan 2015 #191

The Spanish Inquisition Cartoonist Jan 2015 #90

our own government injures more people than just about any force on earth. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #24

It still has a lot of catching up to do Cartoonist Jan 2015 #94

You think Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was "gullible"? thucythucy Jan 2015 #69

where was his "god" when he was shot and killed?nt m-lekktor Jan 2015 #80

you sound like the charlie gang ND-Dem Jan 2015 #100

That has to be hands down the most callous thing I've read today, thucythucy Jan 2015 #123

The same place as 'free' speech. Nonexistant here on earth for sure. bravenak Jan 2015 #130

This very forum is an example of free speech. cheapdate Jan 2015 #132

Free speech ain't always free. There are folks getting arrested in France right now for free speech. bravenak Jan 2015 #135

I'm talking about what the government allows, cheapdate Jan 2015 #141

Free speech is not free here either. bravenak Jan 2015 #142

Have never heard anyone making the points you just posted. So accurate. Unforgettable. Thanks. n/t Judi Lynn Jan 2015 #144

Thank you for being rational. I am suprised at DU right now.nt bravenak Jan 2015 #146

Lovely folk. Shame they're wasting their time, energy and money wickerwoman Jan 2015 #11

so are citizens of every government on earth. i'll take my local church over george bush's ND-Dem Jan 2015 #39

Exactly shenmue Jan 2015 #152

I have those thoughts too when I see pictuers like this. Arugula Latte Jan 2015 #109

Yes, that Martin Luther King.... philosslayer Jan 2015 #208

That we have freedom of religion Sherman A1 Jan 2015 #13

We think of these pictures. Eko Jan 2015 #14

This message was self-deleted by its author ND-Dem Jan 2015 #25

And then these pictures. Eko Jan 2015 #15

I think these pictures deliberately tell one side of a story DFW Jan 2015 #16

... nomorenomore08 Jan 2015 #20

I cannot but agree. Well said. Shrike47 Jan 2015 #44

+1 Pacifist Patriot Jan 2015 #59

Not to mention the KKK Eko Jan 2015 #17

Exactly, they want to decide after the fact who qualifies as a True Christian. beam me up scottie Jan 2015 #37

And you did the same upthread Prophet 451 Jan 2015 #192

Um, yeah, except no, I didn't. beam me up scottie Jan 2015 #193

Um, yeah, you did Prophet 451 Jan 2015 #195

Atheism is the lack of belief in gods; it's not responsible for anything other than that. beam me up scottie Jan 2015 #197

That just shows your double standard some more Prophet 451 Jan 2015 #198

Atheism is not a religion, the definitions are not even comparable. beam me up scottie Jan 2015 #200

Freedom of religion without freedom *from* religion isn't worth a whole lot... Just saying... nomorenomore08 Jan 2015 #21

Pretty. Iggo Jan 2015 #22

https://floridamemory.com/fpc/reference/rc02189.jpg blkmusclmachine Jan 2015 #26

Think the first two pictures are ironic in that lexington filly Jan 2015 #27

http://thatsmyphilosophy.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/7-mountains.jpg blkmusclmachine Jan 2015 #28

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Ted_Cruz_by_Gage_Skidmore_4.jpg blkmusclmachine Jan 2015 #33

I wonder what some of those pictured (and certainly many not pictured) would think of... Behind the Aegis Jan 2015 #34

+1 ChosenUnWisely Jan 2015 #40

Love love wins! JustAnotherGen Jan 2015 #54

This Christian thinks they're adorable. dawg Jan 2015 #98

oy vey Hari Seldon Jan 2015 #41

In this particular instance it is that some only think the Christian religion is picked on ChosenUnWisely Jan 2015 #42

+1 Pacifist Patriot Jan 2015 #60

Excellent point. /nt Marr Jan 2015 #118

I sometimes envy those who believe. Life would be so simple... I don't mock rational people. Shrike47 Jan 2015 #45

I don't understand the point of the op gwheezie Jan 2015 #49

most of those are nice pictures but religion can still be mocked JI7 Jan 2015 #50

I think that all religious people are wrong, but most of them are not bad people. Donald Ian Rankin Jan 2015 #52

none of those pictures involve someone shoving their religion down your throat. hobbit709 Jan 2015 #53

oh, the false equivalency gambit! KG Jan 2015 #55

Bingo! It's a favorite strategy of those QC Jan 2015 #72

Silly GeorgeGist Jan 2015 #57

This is absurd. Pacifist Patriot Jan 2015 #58

+1 Pooka Fey Jan 2015 #74

I think they show some beautiful expressions of faith. NaturalHigh Jan 2015 #61

All of your pictures make me wonder if any of those people... countryjake Jan 2015 #63

Your logical fallacy: Augustus Jan 2015 #64

+1 Pooka Fey Jan 2015 #143

A little background glare in the 1st three? muriel_volestrangler Jan 2015 #65

I do not care for the exploitation of Dr King and other good people in an apparent defense of Bluenorthwest Jan 2015 #66

They're a buch of people TransitJohn Jan 2015 #67

technically iron age, but same point. Warren Stupidity Jan 2015 #76

I think this thread is a clumsy, transparent attempt at manipulation, QC Jan 2015 #73

+1 Pooka Fey Jan 2015 #75

yep. I could post a slew of "christian" pictures that would tell a completely different story. m-lekktor Jan 2015 #78

No, it's drawing attention to the massive double standard here Prophet 451 Jan 2015 #196

Coretta King had a long drawn out battle with the black clergy over lgbt rights. Warren Stupidity Jan 2015 #79

None of those people are killing people. So what? These pics don't do what you want them to. Autumn Jan 2015 #81

What do DUers defending religion think of these pictures... SidDithers Jan 2015 #82

That montage should be called Fleecers of the Flock. LiberalAndProud Jan 2015 #158

Or this one... (a Canadian, no less) countryjake Jan 2015 #166

Yup. Lots of Canadian nutters out there too...nt SidDithers Jan 2015 #170

Didn't Canada kick him out or something? countryjake Jan 2015 #173

Oh man! You absolutely have to include the "farting preacher" in this group. longship Jan 2015 #205

We tend to forget that in Europe the first hospitals, universities, schools and orphanages ucrdem Jan 2015 #83

This message was self-deleted by its author dawg Jan 2015 #84

I think those pictures don't depict the underlying issues we "mockers" have with religious PeaceNikki Jan 2015 #85

But what do you think about wedding ritual and priest's blessing? LiberalAndProud Jan 2015 #153

The op literally accused me of being Nazi sympathizer, forgive me for my cynicism. PeaceNikki Jan 2015 #154

I missed that exchange. LiberalAndProud Jan 2015 #155

Ummm....were you trying to make a point? That religion can inspire people to good? alphafemale Jan 2015 #86

what some get wrong kpete Jan 2015 #87

You can mock religious beliefs and respect peoples' right to believe at the same time. chrisa Jan 2015 #88

this guy said he was a Christian so not always haters lunasun Jan 2015 #93

So you're saying that without religion they would all have led immoral lives? brooklynite Jan 2015 #92

I don't think anything about them. SamKnause Jan 2015 #95

Yes. the op thinks if you support criticizing and mocking religion, you support genocide PeaceNikki Jan 2015 #96

atheists and believers are similar in that neither have any facts to back up their claims seveneyes Jan 2015 #97

what is an atheist claim? whatthehey Jan 2015 #107

atheist claim there is no god seveneyes Jan 2015 #111

Not believing in a god is not the same thing as asserting there is no god. Marr Jan 2015 #119

Keyword being "Belief" seveneyes Jan 2015 #140

A *lack* of belief. Marr Jan 2015 #186

I figure using practicality and imagination seveneyes Jan 2015 #189

This message was self-deleted by its author wavesofeuphoria Jan 2015 #145

Do you have proof that unicorns DON'T exist? Arugula Latte Jan 2015 #110

Agnostic until proven otherwise seveneyes Jan 2015 #112

"The jury is out on the existence of unicorns." Arugula Latte Jan 2015 #113

And yet, I expect you don't consider the existence of unicorns to be equally likely Marr Jan 2015 #120

Actually, there may be more chance of unicorns than not seveneyes Jan 2015 #137

Yes, but the people who say there is a god are making a claim. Marr Jan 2015 #187

The problem with existence raises too many questions to rule out any missing answers seveneyes Jan 2015 #188

Okay, I get it. Neon Gods Jan 2015 #99

I don't think much one way or another. LWolf Jan 2015 #103

What should be said? What do they say to you? whatthehey Jan 2015 #105

The mocking I'm not even much on but the right to do so I am adamant about. TheKentuckian Jan 2015 #106

There's a Star Wars fan club that does charity work. Marr Jan 2015 #114

A total failsauce, 'drive by' thread by onenote, that almost everyone got a laugh out of? Rex Jan 2015 #116

Gee Rex. Sorry to disappoint. onenote Jan 2015 #219

Religion used for political gain is the problem. Kablooie Jan 2015 #117

Religion has harmed me, in some way, every day of my life, simply because Zorra Jan 2015 #121

So disingenuous. All these images are of Christianity after Voltaire and others who during snagglepuss Jan 2015 #124

I'm going to read the other responses and see if I can figure out the point. cheapdate Jan 2015 #128

I reserve my right to support/criticize ANY entity Heidi Jan 2015 #129

mocking specific beliefs and admiring individual believers isn't all that difficult fishwax Jan 2015 #133

Is there a point you're trying to make? notadmblnd Jan 2015 #136

I think they're nice pictures marym625 Jan 2015 #139

Captions: (Thank you, onenote) LiberalAndProud Jan 2015 #147

They make me roll my eyes a bit... Ino Jan 2015 #148

These pictures are of people who are free to believe and voice their opinions. HuckleB Jan 2015 #149

onenote, I see your consistent refusal to discuss the shit you hang on the wall as a lack of ethics Bluenorthwest Jan 2015 #151

They're just pretending to keep voted or gain support. ileus Jan 2015 #167

The OP must worship a Straw Man. nt TeamPooka Jan 2015 #172

I don't have a problem with those pictures. Enthusiast Jan 2015 #204

Since I started it, here's my response onenote Jan 2015 #218

Whatever. bobclark86 Jan 2015 #220