Religion

MineralMan

(150,911 posts)

36. Just as one can believe that supernatural deities exist,

Mon Jun 11, 2018, 08:51 AM

Jun 2018

one can believe that there is a prototypical atheist who represents all atheists. I believe the OP directs his missives to that prototypical atheist, and dismisses all atheists who do not fit that mold. Call it a straw man or a complete misunderstanding of reality, that appears to be the situation.

However, given that OP's current DU habits, we probably can't expect a response until next weekend.

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Christians are not a monolithic bloc. [View all] guillaumeb Jun 2018 OP

They are too monolithic Cartoonist Jun 2018 #1

Even 8% of atheists? eom guillaumeb Jun 2018 #2

The "spirit" of science,.reason,.seems universal to some Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #5

Interesting attempt to explain what was meant. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #6

Your title suggested this post was about Christianity Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #7

separation of church and state was supported by religions.... ollie10 Jun 2018 #42

So religions supported separation... Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #44

you seem to have a tremendous need to attack ALL religions ollie10 Jun 2018 #47

So which one was the good one? Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #49

That is not for me to say ollie10 Jun 2018 #51

So you now, in this way, criticise NO religions? Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #57

I don't criticize atheism and I don't attack religions ollie10 Jun 2018 #59

But the Founders did shut "religion" - all of it - out of government. Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #66

True enough. And I support separation of church and state ollie10 Jun 2018 #68

Democrats attack religious beliefs all the time marylandblue Jun 2018 #71

From the 2016 Democratic Party Platform.... ollie10 Jun 2018 #72

That has nothing to do with what I said marylandblue Jun 2018 #73

I support the platform. Do you? ollie10 Jun 2018 #74

It's irrelevant to the point marylandblue Jun 2018 #77

My point was that the Democratic Party does not attack religion(s) ollie10 Jun 2018 #78

I call myself Democrat because I checked the D box on my voter registration marylandblue Jun 2018 #79

I think you alluded to something ollie10 Jun 2018 #81

Still irrelevant to my point marylandblue Jun 2018 #83

The unaffiliated are now the largest "religious" voting bloc in the country. trotsky Jun 2018 #103

Settle down McCarthy Lordquinton Jun 2018 #80

yes or no, do YOU support the Democratic Platform of 2016? ollie10 Jun 2018 #82

Since when was McCarthyism a democratic principal? Lordquinton Jun 2018 #84

was that a yes or a no? ollie10 Jun 2018 #85

What is this trait among theists Lordquinton Jun 2018 #86

ok. I see you won't answer a simple question ollie10 Jun 2018 #88

Well, I'd be more worried about the person on a McCarthyesque hunt Lordquinton Jun 2018 #100

Theists like to change the subject a lot marylandblue Jun 2018 #108

This sounds like a purity test. Is it? marylandblue Jun 2018 #107

Please tell us about the myths Mariana Jun 2018 #14

And both options were referenced, guillaumeb Jun 2018 #16

"Or" can mean one, but not the other. Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #46

Gil's making up his own definitions for words again. nt. Mariana Jun 2018 #98

Thread/ Alpeduez21 Jun 2018 #31

It also says that there are as many opinions about how Christians should live as there are Nitram Jun 2018 #3

Christians are humans. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #4

Very few Democrats support Trump Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #8

it is not meaningless.... ollie10 Jun 2018 #43

But all ice creams universally have some characteristics. Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #50

well, religions have similar characteristics too ollie10 Jun 2018 #52

But if most religions are related... Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #58

you are entitled to your opinion ollie10 Jun 2018 #60

But you do oppose theocracy at least? Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #65

I believe in separation of church and state ollie10 Jun 2018 #67

Thank you. Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #69

I believe in freedom of belief ollie10 Jun 2018 #70

There is no "freedom of belief" right. Voltaire2 Jun 2018 #75

.... ollie10 Jun 2018 #76

It's not nice to imply that a fellow DUer is a fascist. MineralMan Jun 2018 #90

Post removed Post removed Jun 2018 #91

One needs no rights to have beliefs. MineralMan Jun 2018 #92

yes or no, do you believe we have a right to have our own beliefs? ollie10 Jun 2018 #93

Beliefs cannot be prohibited, so no "right" is required. MineralMan Jun 2018 #95

I thought I explained it clearly. Voltaire2 Jun 2018 #96

Well, your adversary appears to have left the building MineralMan Jun 2018 #97

I heard the news and had to come explore the damage. trotsky Jun 2018 #101

The thought police are coming for you marylandblue Jun 2018 #109

For example you can still continue to believe that I am an authoritarian fascist Voltaire2 Jun 2018 #99

Very Good Proof of Concept! MineralMan Jun 2018 #102

Ollie, what you are missing is the claim every religion has to being the only true account of what Nitram Jun 2018 #87

not every religion thinks it is the only true account ollie10 Jun 2018 #89

Well, Christianity certainly does, in spite of the many divergent views among Christians. Nitram Jun 2018 #94

Unfortunately, that poster will not be able to reply for an indefinite time. MineralMan Jun 2018 #106

poll is irrelevant. if you believe in a divine presence you are not an atheist lol nt msongs Jun 2018 #9

Thus speaks the decider? guillaumeb Jun 2018 #10

That would seem to fit the definition of atheism marylandblue Jun 2018 #11

The poll does not mention anything about a "divine presence". Mariana Jun 2018 #21

What is a universal spirit? Lordquinton Jun 2018 #12

Ask those who believe in one. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #13

So it's completely open to interpretation? Lordquinton Jun 2018 #15

Obviously some people who identify as atheists guillaumeb Jun 2018 #17

Previously you used the term "divine presence" in reference to this poll marylandblue Jun 2018 #19

So, why did you compare one person's number of posts to another's percentage? Lordquinton Jun 2018 #22

Well the poll did not ask how the participants define "universal spirit" marylandblue Jun 2018 #18

Speculation. Understood as such. eom guillaumeb Jun 2018 #40

But gil, *you're* the one speculating that it means a divine presence. trotsky Jun 2018 #45

You are once again assigning motivation to others. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #53

I have no idea what your motivation is, and really don't care. trotsky Jun 2018 #63

More exposure of tactic, guillaumeb Jun 2018 #112

Yes, my secret tactic of calling you on your bullshit. trotsky Jun 2018 #115

Who is speculating? I'm not. marylandblue Jun 2018 #48

Gil doesn't know what was meant. Mariana Jun 2018 #20

Pew data stinks Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #24

And then someone dishonest can jump on that apparent discrepancy Mariana Jun 2018 #25

Christian logic, apologetics, "work" that way Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #37

That's the natural progression when the initial premise is untrue. MineralMan Jun 2018 #38

Speaking of initial premises, guillaumeb Jun 2018 #41

That premise was not a simple assertion Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #105

If that is how you define rational discussion, guillaumeb Jun 2018 #113

Most of my responses are not addressed by you Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #116

Some here rarely present anything substantive. MineralMan Jun 2018 #117

Change is possible. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #118

Apparently, it's equivalent to a "Divine presence" or something. MineralMan Jun 2018 #27

You seem to be correct Lordquinton Jun 2018 #29

Well, see, our DUer switched the wording MineralMan Jun 2018 #30

Tries a big gotcha moment Lordquinton Jun 2018 #32

Oh, well... MineralMan Jun 2018 #33

That's for sure Lordquinton Jun 2018 #39

Of course Christians aren't a monolithic bloc. Mariana Jun 2018 #23

Odd. Your op hijacks itself. Voltaire2 Jun 2018 #26

Well, why wait, when you can change the topic right in the first post? MineralMan Jun 2018 #28

Again I wonder who you're speaking to. trotsky Jun 2018 #34

Just as one can believe that supernatural deities exist, MineralMan Jun 2018 #36

This message was self-deleted by its author ollie10 Jun 2018 #61

You say the OP directs his missives to "that prototypical atheist" ollie10 Jun 2018 #62

"8% of those who call themselves atheists also say they believe in God or a universal spirit." trotsky Jun 2018 #104

Whatever you say, man. Act_of_Reparation Jun 2018 #35

Freedom enid602 Jun 2018 #54

Kick for effect. MineralMan Jun 2018 #55

Some theists also claim to be deists Major Nikon Jun 2018 #56

Ah but when you reserve for yourself the right to define any word the way you want... trotsky Jun 2018 #64

Pretty sure that's the "12th commandment" Docreed2003 Jun 2018 #110

*snort* trotsky Jun 2018 #114

There's a word for that... Major Nikon Jun 2018 #111