Context helps, not that it matters when everyone's favorite atheist boogeyman is involved. (Reply #15)

In the discussion thread: An End to Arrogant Atheism [View all]

Thu Jan 16, 2014, 11:56 AM

trotsky (49,533 posts)

15. Context helps, not that it matters when everyone's favorite atheist boogeyman is involved.

What Dawkins actually said (in a tweet) was:

"Many people are stupid anyway, and many religious people are not stupid. But religion is an organised licence to be acceptably stupid."

So what he actually said is that some people (believers and non-believers) are stupid, some people (believers and non-believers) aren't, but religion can be used to legitimize stupidity.

For Exhibit A, I offer this.

Exhibits B through ZZZZZZZZZZZ include items like the Creation Museum, Pat Robertson's ministries, Fred Phelps, and so on.

Unfortunately what this article (and many of its type that you love to post) tries to do is to provide a reason to disregard ALL of what someone says because someone else doesn't like HOW they said it. I.e., the tone troll method.

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Replies to this discussion thread

74 replies	Author	Time	Post
An End to Arrogant Atheism [View all]	cbayer	Jan 2014	OP
Valid points. I find arrogant Christians to be quite annoying	JNelson6563	Jan 2014	#1
Agree. I find arrogance in general a turn off.	cbayer	Jan 2014	#2
like demonic possession, for example.	Warren Stupidity	Jan 2014	#5
Good point	shenmue	Jan 2014	#6
Disagree 100%	amuse bouche	Jan 2014	#3
This, of course, is not surprising.	cbayer	Jan 2014	#4
Duck Dynasty thanks you and millions of other good ol 'mercans	amuse bouche	Jan 2014	#14
I will accept no thanks from Duck Dynasty and will actively oppose their bigotry,	cbayer	Jan 2014	#17
But who are you to question their religious beliefs, cbayer?	trotsky	Jan 2014	#22
Ahem. Didn't you JUST post this above?	cleanhippie	Jan 2014	#60
Sounds pretty damned intolerant to me	skepticscott	Jan 2014	#61
Ditto!	Brainstormy	Jan 2014	#52
Ignorant of what?	cbayer	Jan 2014	#53
Ask religious people	skepticscott	Jan 2014	#54
Post removed	Post removed	Jan 2014	#59
I disagree. Critics of religion were all-too-polite for centuries; that allowed delusions to thrive	Brettongarcia	Jan 2014	#7
I don't disagree with you.	cbayer	Jan 2014	#10
Good post. Thanks. nt	ladjf	Jan 2014	#28
Heh...	gcomeau	Jan 2014	#8
Looks good; thanks!	Brettongarcia	Jan 2014	#9
I don't think the author would disagree with you.	cbayer	Jan 2014	#12
Except that your only criterion	skepticscott	Jan 2014	#25
I would agree with this, too.	longship	Jan 2014	#13
Note: he likes Dawkins.	longship	Jan 2014	#11
Actually I think you exemplify a moderated position and that	cbayer	Jan 2014	#16
Well there's one notable person who consistently refuses to listen to a growing list of people...	trotsky	Jan 2014	#18
There is nothing moderate about my atheism, however.	longship	Jan 2014	#19
I realize that, but the way you express yourself and treat others is "moderated", not	cbayer	Jan 2014	#20
ROFL. That I would agree with.	longship	Jan 2014	#21
Context helps, not that it matters when everyone's favorite atheist boogeyman is involved.	trotsky	Jan 2014	#15
It ain't what he says	edhopper	Jan 2014	#23
Sometimes "tone argument" is used to dismiss someone's POV, but	cbayer	Jan 2014	#24
I know JUST what you mean.	edhopper	Jan 2014	#29
Eggsactly.	cbayer	Jan 2014	#30
HEY! NO FAIR!	Brettongarcia	Jan 2014	#31
Its you're prerogrative to type what your thinking.	cbayer	Jan 2014	#32
The religious have been torturing and killing people for milliniums and....	Walk away	Jan 2014	#26
Humans have been torturing and killing each other for millennia.	cbayer	Jan 2014	#27
Well, let's see....	Walk away	Jan 2014	#34
No need. I am perfectly aware of the evils that have been inflicted by some	cbayer	Jan 2014	#35
Putting bandaids on the mortal wounds they cause doesn't impress me...	Walk away	Jan 2014	#39
I don't think there is any objection to you speaking out against atrocities,	cbayer	Jan 2014	#42
Can't wait to hear	skepticscott	Jan 2014	#55
Catholic doctrine has definitely exacerbated HIV transmission, yet it's a multi-factorial picture.	pinto	Jan 2014	#46
In other words	skepticscott	Jan 2014	#56
Your attitude is the same old disgusting refrain. I'm no apologist. I recognize the RCC's role	pinto	Jan 2014	#57
Yes, you claim to recognize the RCC's role	skepticscott	Jan 2014	#58
As expected, you fling poo and call people "despicable"	skepticscott	Jan 2014	#62
I feel I ought to reply one time. I'm not going to hold any discussions with you.	pinto	Jan 2014	#63
No, you'd rather just spew bile and then run away	skepticscott	Jan 2014	#65
Do you have any decency at all? Your posts are beyond despicable.	Starboard Tack	Jan 2014	#66
Yet more ugly and baseless accusations without proof	skepticscott	Jan 2014	#67
I'm done with you. In fact it looks like everyone is done with you	Starboard Tack	Jan 2014	#68
I'm wondering if your message above is an example of the sort of tolerance you are advocating in	Warren Stupidity	Jan 2014	#69
It is indeed. A perfect example.	Starboard Tack	Jan 2014	#70
Got it, so by tolerance you mean insufferable arrogant rudeness. OK.	Warren Stupidity	Jan 2014	#71
No, I mean tolerating others' right to believe what they choose.	Starboard Tack	Jan 2014	#72
Except that you can't show one example	skepticscott	Jan 2014	#73
Don't you just love	skepticscott	Jan 2014	#74
Speaking of "run and hide", how many "religionists" have you put on ignore?	rug	Jan 2014	#64
At the end of the season, which teams go to the bowls? The teams where the players thought	dimbear	Jan 2014	#33
The teams that are 100% convinced they are number 1. But let's look at it another way.	cbayer	Jan 2014	#36
Perhaps we could arrange interviews with the religions which came in second place, the	dimbear	Jan 2014	#37
Second place?	cbayer	Jan 2014	#38
There are many possible comparisons. In America, sports metaphors are the most readily grasped.	dimbear	Jan 2014	#40
How about one where we envision a win-win scenario?	cbayer	Jan 2014	#45
The history of the world is strewn with conflicts, most of which are resolved by complete victory.	dimbear	Jan 2014	#47
What if we have an opportunity to change it.	cbayer	Jan 2014	#48
I'm satisfied to see the board reflect the changes that are coming to the world.	dimbear	Jan 2014	#49
That's fair, except you are such a grumpy, pessimistic bear sometimes.	cbayer	Jan 2014	#50
Would you like to see the religion of Fred Phelps lose, or win?	trotsky	Jan 2014	#43
For all things there is a season	LostOne4Ever	Jan 2014	#41
In terms of making connections with others, I think you are correct.	cbayer	Jan 2014	#44
Even mockery has a place.	dimbear	Jan 2014	#51

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