Religion

Joseph8th

(228 posts)

81. Scientific language...

Tue Apr 17, 2012, 01:56 PM

Apr 2012

...I think is a convenience -- almost accidental artifact of the politicization of atheism as an antibody to bully fundamentalism. I say this because as an atheist, my path has (like most) been complicated by myriad highly subjective beliefs, which aren't shared by other atheists. It really is a retraction of gullibility for easy answers, one by one, with information and introspection the only known antidote for obsessive curiosity. Atheists will instantly diverge on the details of atheism, but agree with passion that reason, not faith, should inform and guide public discourse and policy. Science, being a universal language, gives us a way to communicate above the noise of the fray.

Whereas science is valueless (and so subject to abuse), atheism implies without encompassing the secular humanist ethos. It's political when expressed outwardly, and philosophical upon introspection. Science doesn't have the political in it's domain, even if it lands in a political range. Atheism does, and is merely informed by science. It isn't a science.

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How sure are you that atheists don't "get" religion? [View all] Silent3 Apr 2012 OP

Okay, I confess I'm stereotyping here... Permanut Apr 2012 #1

Well you might not know why you are here but I know why I am. cstanleytech Apr 2012 #7

I hear ya... Permanut Apr 2012 #9

I wanted to join seminary before I read the Bible, then I read it... Humanist_Activist Apr 2012 #2

"I cannot wrap my mind around the idea..." tama Apr 2012 #17

There are an awful lot of my fellow "religionists" who don't "get" religion. Common Sense Party Apr 2012 #3

There are an awful lot of my fellow "religionists" who don't "get" religion. AlbertCat Apr 2012 #6

Many atheists are former theists longship Apr 2012 #4

My mother, ever the hopeful social-climber HeiressofBickworth Apr 2012 #5

Another former theist here JFN1 Apr 2012 #8

Former theist (Judaism), now agnostic-atheist sakabatou Apr 2012 #10

This message was self-deleted by its author Duppers Apr 2012 #11

I'm an agnostic. BlueMTexpat Apr 2012 #12

Being an atheist doesn't mean the person must deny the possibility of something like a deity exists. eqfan592 Apr 2012 #14

No problem on my part with that. BlueMTexpat Apr 2012 #32

Good post tama Apr 2012 #43

Very well written and thought out post. eqfan592 Apr 2012 #73

What's to get??? bpollen Apr 2012 #13

What proof is needed for non-belief? Silent3 Apr 2012 #18

I totally agree, Silent3 Duppers Apr 2012 #15

No problem Silent3 Apr 2012 #19

It's a common observation tama Apr 2012 #16

Brilliant! Silent3 Apr 2012 #20

needs more quantum. dmallind Apr 2012 #21

MUCH more quantum. cleanhippie Apr 2012 #22

Quantum is like the cowbell of woo Silent3 Apr 2012 #30

More is not better tama Apr 2012 #35

Why are you trying to dominate me? Silent3 Apr 2012 #36

A consciouss and satirical projection! tama Apr 2012 #39

No, let's not Silent3 Apr 2012 #41

Yup tama Apr 2012 #44

Is there a train coming? skepticscott Apr 2012 #45

As said tama Apr 2012 #47

! cleanhippie Apr 2012 #77

Are you admitting that Christianity is an addiction? Fumesucker Apr 2012 #23

Religious and authoritarian needs tama Apr 2012 #29

What about people who believed in thing like edhopper Apr 2012 #25

Since you asked the question at the end of your post Leontius Apr 2012 #24

So why do you think most atheist edhopper Apr 2012 #26

Most? tama Apr 2012 #42

You are questioning my question to Leonitus edhopper Apr 2012 #49

Nitpicked 'most'. Thanks for clarification nt tama Apr 2012 #53

For some because they think they will be perceived as so much more Leontius Apr 2012 #100

That seems agree with the idea that many don't believe edhopper Apr 2012 #102

Actually no to your last sentence Leontius Apr 2012 #103

Ahhh yes, I see it now. eqfan592 Apr 2012 #104

You are quite welcome glad to straighten out your gross ignorance on the issue. Leontius Apr 2012 #106

I was only ignorant of the depth of your own ignorance. eqfan592 Apr 2012 #108

Thank you for clarifying. edhopper Apr 2012 #105

I'm sure you do and I understand your position on my statement and at one time felt the same. Leontius Apr 2012 #107

Agree with you on that. cbayer Apr 2012 #27

So why do you think many atheist don't care for religion? edhopper Apr 2012 #50

What do you mean by "don't care for religion"? cbayer Apr 2012 #51

OP asks: edhopper Apr 2012 #56

Oh, I see where you are coming from now. cbayer Apr 2012 #58

If you read it they way I do edhopper Apr 2012 #60

Most of the atheists I know got there after much thought and contemplation. cbayer Apr 2012 #61

I still want to know why Leonitus edhopper Apr 2012 #62

Well, I certainly can't speak for him. cbayer Apr 2012 #63

That was all my post was about edhopper Apr 2012 #80

Who said that you specifically or atheists in general don't "get" religion? cbayer Apr 2012 #28

How about the man who constantly says that only someone "internal" to the faith darkstar3 Apr 2012 #31

Come on, you have a very good idea of the sort of religion you hate, Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #66

I think a good number (if not most) of the atheists... eqfan592 Apr 2012 #68

There are many paths to wisdom. Religion is just one. Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #82

A lot of atheists or agnostics have not had it easy when it comes to.. eqfan592 Apr 2012 #86

I don't hate religion. I hate what religious people do in the name of their religion, darkstar3 Apr 2012 #69

Patience is a virtue. ellisonz Apr 2012 #99

darkstar3 gave a good example, but this sort of thing comes up all the time... Silent3 Apr 2012 #34

There is difference tama Apr 2012 #37

They are both the same Silent3 Apr 2012 #38

The agenda tama Apr 2012 #40

If it pushes itself skepticscott Apr 2012 #46

That's a fair point tama Apr 2012 #48

If one starts from a negative and dismissive position on either, it is highly unlikely one will cbayer Apr 2012 #52

So, what did I supposedly lose from when I was religious? Silent3 Apr 2012 #54

I have no idea. If you don't know, how in the world could I? cbayer Apr 2012 #55

I don't think I've lost anything, at least not anything I'd want to keep Silent3 Apr 2012 #57

What are you talking about? cbayer Apr 2012 #59

Since I cannot crawl inside your mind--or your heart, which is even more important-- Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #83

It's your reasoning, not mine, however, that leads to the conclusion... Silent3 Apr 2012 #87

Maybe tama Apr 2012 #90

Faith is the belief in something without proof. eqfan592 Apr 2012 #71

This is another good argument for developing a new language to discuss this. cbayer Apr 2012 #72

Ya know, I'm honestly not sure. eqfan592 Apr 2012 #74

The question you really have to ask yourself is, darkstar3 Apr 2012 #75

Probably about two seconds flat sadly, but at least maybe within our own group... eqfan592 Apr 2012 #76

Then I shall be an Asnarliff! cbayer Apr 2012 #78

Thus began the first Snarliff/Asnarliff forum war! eqfan592 Apr 2012 #79

L Ron Hubbard had a real feel for religion. Hard to deny that he got it all too well. n/t dimbear Apr 2012 #33

My guess is they understand a version of religion that few thinking people hold. Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #64

Let me ask you something, Captain Condescend... darkstar3 Apr 2012 #65

There are plenty of thinking people who have no religion. Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #67

What you don't seem to get is that you attribute this "thinking faith" to far more people darkstar3 Apr 2012 #70

I know full well that the majority of religionists do not have the POV I represent. Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #84

Where is the proof? darkstar3 Apr 2012 #85

Start with the religion departments at Yale, Princeton, Harvard, the University of Chicago, Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #88

Oh, I can drop names too. darkstar3 Apr 2012 #89

No thanks. No response will ever be enough to pry open a closed mind. nt Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #95

Actually, he gave you a very simple and explicit request that would open his "closed mind." trotsky Apr 2012 #97

"Five links, and no bullshit." <- Maybe you missed that part? darkstar3 Apr 2012 #98

This week's winner of the Bright Shiny Mirror Award. nt mr blur Apr 2012 #101

What exactly was "toxic" about post #4 in this thread? trotsky Apr 2012 #92

You made a judgement about non-thinking theists; Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #94

Uh, no I didn't. #4 is not my post. trotsky Apr 2012 #96

Scientific language... Joseph8th Apr 2012 #81

While as an ideal tama Apr 2012 #91

"You got your chocolate..." Joseph8th Apr 2012 #93