Religion

LiberalAndProud

(12,799 posts)

136. Atheism is not an act of faith.

Reply to Fortinbras Armstrong (Reply #129)

Thu Mar 20, 2014, 02:53 PM

Mar 2014

If a person evaluates available evidence and comes to the conclusion that it is more likely than not that there is no God, then that is not a matter of faith. I am open to evidence of the existence of God, as is any self-respecting atheist, if you don't ask me to consider a beautiful sunset, the return of Spring or a prayerful coincidence as proof.

I have been, at different times, both a person who believed in a loving, benevolent supreme being and a self-described atheist. Speaking from my own experience, absence of faith is not the same thing as presence of faith. I don't think you're aware of how dismissive you're being of my experience because you can only view this from the prism of your own faithfulness.

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Mother Removes Cross Memorial After Dispute With Atheist Rights Group [View all] rug Mar 2014 OP

yeah, you let one mother grieve and before you know it, theocracy zazen Mar 2014 #1

No, you bow to religious privilege... MellowDem Mar 2014 #15

Great point amuse bouche Mar 2014 #69

I hear what you are saying Dorian Gray Mar 2014 #88

There's some practical reasons to do so.. MellowDem Mar 2014 #97

I guess it's whether we're giving the person special treatment Dorian Gray Mar 2014 #99

Really? Shadowflash Mar 2014 #2

Agreed Stargazer09 Mar 2014 #3

I'm ambivalent.... mike_c Mar 2014 #4

It's on public property... MellowDem Mar 2014 #16

agreed. Cofitachequi Mar 2014 #26

There are many ways to honor the memory of her son. It doesn't have to be a cross No Vested Interest Mar 2014 #5

Wow! hrmjustin Mar 2014 #6

'Wow' indeed amuse bouche Mar 2014 #72

Well we disagree. hrmjustin Mar 2014 #74

Disagree about what? amuse bouche Mar 2014 #75

Magical thinking. hrmjustin Mar 2014 #76

ya..right amuse bouche Mar 2014 #79

As I said we disagree. hrmjustin Mar 2014 #82

hocus pocus Dorian Gray Mar 2014 #89

Too bad amuse bouche Mar 2014 #91

Winning hearts and minds Dorian Gray Mar 2014 #94

Just the truth amuse bouche Mar 2014 #95

Amuse Bouche Dorian Gray Mar 2014 #98

Post removed Post removed Mar 2014 #100

"people should seek out actual human beings to converse with" rug Mar 2014 #96

I have no problem with crosses as memorials as long as they are not permanent installations. SecularMotion Mar 2014 #7

roadside memorials WolverineDG Mar 2014 #8

If I remember correctly, okasha Mar 2014 #20

They allow small displays WolverineDG Mar 2014 #21

Wait until a Wiccan puts up a pentacle as a memorial in Texas Fumesucker Mar 2014 #9

Is that a good reason not to do or allow it? Leontius Mar 2014 #12

Just pointing out the hypocrisy of those who want "religious freedom" Fumesucker Mar 2014 #14

Displaying hypocrisy by inventing an imaginary scenario Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2014 #28

yeah, 'cause similar shit never happens.. EvilAL Mar 2014 #84

sheesh ... what nonsense ... Trajan Mar 2014 #104

No, I said, quite simply and clearly Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2014 #109

You said that, but that doesn't make it true Trajan Mar 2014 #110

I am sorry that you are unable to read simple declarative sentences Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2014 #111

Jesus defied gravity a couple of times EvilAL Mar 2014 #112

Are you really that silly Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2014 #113

Are you really that serious EvilAL Mar 2014 #114

Yes, silly you Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2014 #115

Oh ya, miracles. EvilAL Mar 2014 #125

That's the standard atheist comeback Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2014 #129

Atheism always existed, EvilAL Mar 2014 #130

As I have said at least three timese Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2014 #131

I am not saying EvilAL Mar 2014 #133

Ah, you are waffling Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2014 #134

lol. EvilAL Mar 2014 #135

Atheism is not an act of faith. LiberalAndProud Mar 2014 #136

For at least the fourth time Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2014 #137

I understand you, EvilAL Mar 2014 #138

Let me ask you a question. cbayer Mar 2014 #139

Neither one is an act of faith. EvilAL Mar 2014 #140

But that wasn't my question. Do they say the same thing? cbayer Mar 2014 #143

You asked if there was a difference. EvilAL Mar 2014 #147

and the more I think about it EvilAL Mar 2014 #141

But that is the standard definition for atheism cbayer Mar 2014 #144

It's the wording. EvilAL Mar 2014 #146

Isn't it all just silly semantics? cbayer Mar 2014 #148

It is EvilAL Mar 2014 #149

One says I do not believe. One says I believe. Both seem to be about belief in some way. pinto Mar 2014 #142

I also struggle with the current nomenclature. cbayer Mar 2014 #145

However, if made properly, kentauros Mar 2014 #132

After the WTC thread LostOne4Ever Mar 2014 #10

That's always a wise course, particularly when a story concerns religion. rug Mar 2014 #11

Somtimes I think the atheistis have agent provocateurs in their midst goldent Mar 2014 #13

Most times I think apologists for religious privilege... MellowDem Mar 2014 #17

That was my first thought when I saw this. - n/t Jim__ Mar 2014 #18

The American Humanist Association okasha Mar 2014 #19

We're the least trusted group because of religious privilege and ignorance... MellowDem Mar 2014 #22

No the reason is the self avowed leaders of atheisim are dicks. Leontius Mar 2014 #23

Bullshit... MellowDem Mar 2014 #24

You want to know why religious people despise atheists? Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2014 #29

Yes, it's because religious people have massive privilege.... MellowDem Mar 2014 #30

Here's a simple problem with "atheists" that dwell on burning in hell Leontius Mar 2014 #31

We dwell on it LostOne4Ever Mar 2014 #32

lmao!!! bunnies Mar 2014 #60

It is hypocritical Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2014 #50

Yes, I'm sure Catholics skepticscott Mar 2014 #34

You have a knack for getting things wrong. rug Mar 2014 #40

Despise? That's a little extreme. Curmudgeoness Mar 2014 #44

"Despise" was MellowDem's word n/t Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2014 #49

You show, repeatedly, that you have absolutely no idea what bigotry actually is, mr blur Mar 2014 #67

That's the most disenguous pile of horseshit I've seen on DU in a long time EvolveOrConvolve Mar 2014 #33

Too bad the jury wouldnt hide it LostOne4Ever Mar 2014 #35

I am not surprised that it was left standing. cbayer Mar 2014 #38

Just stop it, cbayer�it's really disgusting skepticscott Mar 2014 #47

I try to call them when I see them LostOne4Ever Mar 2014 #51

The issue, though, is how people only see what they want and miss it when the same thing is coming cbayer Mar 2014 #53

The problem with that LostOne4Ever Mar 2014 #56

Ooohhh!! Japanese. I am truly impressed. cbayer Mar 2014 #58

And what about post #37? is that the 2nd biggest pile of horseshit? cbayer Mar 2014 #39

You haven't been posting much in here lately. rug Mar 2014 #41

I'm having some personal issues that take up a lot of the free time I used to spend on DU EvolveOrConvolve Mar 2014 #48

Oh, they pale in comparison to the leaders of religions. Arugula Latte Mar 2014 #37

The only difference is they have much fewer followers. rug Mar 2014 #42

Point taken and I agree. The statement does cut both ways. Leontius Mar 2014 #46

+1 Dawson Leery Mar 2014 #27

Sad story yeoman6987 Mar 2014 #52

Losing a child is the most horrific thing that can happen to a person. cbayer Mar 2014 #55

It was there for two years. Mariana Mar 2014 #25

They would get all apoplectic in Mexico, cbayer Mar 2014 #36

It's the American Humanist Association. I wonder if the Mexican Humanist Association cares. rug Mar 2014 #43

I would bet that they would not. cbayer Mar 2014 #45

Ordinarily, I'd be fully on her side but that cross... TreasonousBastard Mar 2014 #54

There are places in every city and town Mariana Mar 2014 #57

But they still put them on the roads... TreasonousBastard Mar 2014 #59

I don't mind them being there for a limited period of time. Mariana Mar 2014 #62

Well, few of them are forever. TreasonousBastard Mar 2014 #63

Just anecdote, but here in Mexico there are literally thousands of these on the roads. cbayer Mar 2014 #61

I don't think they do any harm either Mariana Mar 2014 #64

I would be very reluctant to comment on her state of mind and whether she needs cbayer Mar 2014 #65

To the best of my knowledge, okasha Mar 2014 #66

It's probably been done, but they would make a wonderful photo-study. cbayer Mar 2014 #68

I cheer every time amuse bouche Mar 2014 #70

I bet you can't wait for the day when all crosses are removed from veterans' cemeteries. rug Mar 2014 #71

When is 'that day' scheduled and why did you single out Vets? amuse bouche Mar 2014 #73

That day is "every time religious BS is removed from the world." rug Mar 2014 #77

"You really should consider the implications of your snark." amuse bouche Mar 2014 #78

And you have failed to answer the question. rug Mar 2014 #80

No you failed amuse bouche Mar 2014 #81

Uh- huh. Still no answer. rug Mar 2014 #83

No, I just don't get your question amuse bouche Mar 2014 #85

Do you consider the crosses on their graves to be "religious bs" that should be removed? rug Mar 2014 #87

The right thing to do would be to stop wasting our natural resources amuse bouche Mar 2014 #90

Is that a yes or a no? rug Mar 2014 #92

We have a lot of crosses and memorial stuff on the highways here EvilAL Mar 2014 #86

Where did we ever get the idea YarnAddict Mar 2014 #93

i agree... Niceguy1 Mar 2014 #127

Roadside memorials get the red out Mar 2014 #101

Oh, for dog's sake.... KatyaR Mar 2014 #102

I consider myself to be a hard core atheist Trajan Mar 2014 #103

I couldn't agree more. Starboard Tack Mar 2014 #105

The anonymity of the internet. rug Mar 2014 #106

You may have a point there Starboard Tack Mar 2014 #107

It also has the advantage of using Ignore when your ass is getting whipped. rug Mar 2014 #108

A thought experiment - an Atheist Mother el_bryanto Mar 2014 #116

What do you mean by "her thoughts about religion"? cbayer Mar 2014 #117

A few points el_bryanto Mar 2014 #118

I'm not sure why religion would need to be mentioned at all in such a memorial. cbayer Mar 2014 #119

This may be part of religious privilege el_bryanto Mar 2014 #120

Sure, everyone knows that it means that a christian died. cbayer Mar 2014 #121

Offensive to you or offensive to a fundamentalist? a tea-partier? el_bryanto Mar 2014 #122

But I don't think we solve that problem by taking down other symbols. cbayer Mar 2014 #123

If she put up a memorial with goldent Mar 2014 #124

I never understood that action of putting a cross where someone died Drale Mar 2014 #126

To make a memorial. I understand your pov but some might feel it helps them. hrmjustin Mar 2014 #128