Religion

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)

153. Zero gap between those parents and the tenets of their particular religion.

Wed Jul 24, 2013, 07:18 PM

Jul 2013

And that's the problem. How to dance politely around one and not another, when all of them boil down to the same thing.

Religious tenets intersecting with politics/morals/society.

Must I be silent when I see such things? The author of the OP suggest being calm and polite in the face of BIGOTRY. Why?

"When right-wing religious assbags come at me spewing bigoted garbage (a.k.a. TUESDAY #isthisthingon), it is extremely difficult for me not to fire something back about their "magic book" or their "special sky friend" or some dismissive, infantilizing shit like that. Sometimes I don't manage to restrain myself, and I feel bad about it because it's a cheap shot about a thing that means a lot to a lot of people. It's not my nice neighbor's fault that some Twitter troll called me a baby-murderer."

Since when is being polite to a bigot effective? Some ideas are flat out worthy of ridicule. Ripe for dismissal. Unworthy of common courtesy.

People are worth being courteous to. Bigoted ideas are not.

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How to Be an Atheist Without Being a Dick About It [View all] rug Jul 2013 OP

always best to be respectful of others beliefs RedstDem Jul 2013 #1

Why, exactly? Even when you think those beliefs are laughable nonsense? mr blur Jul 2013 #3

QED rug Jul 2013 #5

Really? Theists love it when you are a dick? cbayer Jul 2013 #9

I don't feel persecuted by anyone thank you! hrmjustin Jul 2013 #30

It's pretty clear that you especially hate that part of several religions' tenets that kestrel91316 Jul 2013 #52

Creationism? Goblinmonger Jul 2013 #14

Even when you think their beliefs are *evil* nonsense? n/t Old Union Guy Jul 2013 #76

Define "respectful". gcomeau Jul 2013 #131

So well written... russspeakeasy Jul 2013 #2

I'm not sure which came first for me.... being a dick or being an atheist. Evoman Jul 2013 #4

Respecting dicks is just too freaking hard. rug Jul 2013 #6

Screw you buddy...who are you to deny my self appointed label, lol. Evoman Jul 2013 #7

Hello, Evoman! cbayer Jul 2013 #11

Wow! She's is really pissed cbayer Jul 2013 #8

Im not the type who cares what others think LostOne4Ever Jul 2013 #10

And you are a great example of someone who feels strongly about cbayer Jul 2013 #12

Thank you LostOne4Ever Jul 2013 #21

Agree with what you say here. cbayer Jul 2013 #22

Just substitute "catholic" for "atheist". Nt. Warren Stupidity Jul 2013 #13

"Atheism�especially in its incarnation as a movement�can so easily transform into smug hostility and rug Jul 2013 #15

You can substitute anything for it. cbayer Jul 2013 #17

The truth is a lot of people can be rather mean and holyier than thou about their beliefs. hrmjustin Jul 2013 #31

in my personal experience, it isn't the atheists who are the dicks, but the believers. atheists niyad Jul 2013 #16

So, you have never met an atheist that is a dick? cbayer Jul 2013 #18

no, I haven't. niyad Jul 2013 #19

Have you checked out the Reddit atheist forum? cbayer Jul 2013 #20

I'd say a lot of what's on /r/atheism is venting. backscatter712 Jul 2013 #27

I understand that, though I think that the overt hostility is diminishing and cbayer Jul 2013 #39

Those guys don't reserve their hatred for atheists, lol. kestrel91316 Jul 2013 #55

please note that I specifically said, IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. I don't give a toot about niyad Jul 2013 #28

Again, I openly and fully acknowledge the damage that the christian right does cbayer Jul 2013 #38

So you don't think that the things she says skepticscott Jul 2013 #47

totally my experience arely staircase Jul 2013 #160

It's curious, isn't it. cbayer Jul 2013 #161

I think the general anonimity of the internet allows all sorts of people to arely staircase Jul 2013 #162

I have one atheist friend who does the following. cbayer Jul 2013 #163

I've met plenty of atheists who are dicks right here on DU. You must not be paying attention. kestrel91316 Jul 2013 #53

as I said, in my personal experience. I don't read every thread or every forum on DU niyad Jul 2013 #67

Can I say "Amen" to that? nt raccoon Jul 2013 #128

Another hack who can't distinguish skepticscott Jul 2013 #23

I think part of what needs to happen is to acknowledge the anger. backscatter712 Jul 2013 #24

Excellent points and worth keeping in mind. cbayer Jul 2013 #25

I'm just guessing here okasha Jul 2013 #26

I think you are correct to a significant degree. cbayer Jul 2013 #40

great post. Consider starting a thread with this. nt raccoon Jul 2013 #127

Another terrible strawman article... MellowDem Jul 2013 #29

That's a fine piece. The key is that the author was once a fundamentalist Christian, dimbear Jul 2013 #32

Thanks for posting that skepticscott Jul 2013 #33

Another article that disregards evidence. rug Jul 2013 #35

They didn't make the claim skepticscott Jul 2013 #42

For starters, your post. rug Jul 2013 #69

One would almost think that you were more interested in being a dick yourself AlbertCat Jul 2013 #74

I was more or less accused of being a dick here edhopper Jul 2013 #34

You are not at all. rug Jul 2013 #36

Thanks edhopper Jul 2013 #37

Fuck the Pope skepticscott Jul 2013 #41

What a dick! nt EvilAL Jul 2013 #43

I'm sure she'd object to that characterization skepticscott Jul 2013 #44

Total '(un?)holier that thou' atheist. EvilAL Jul 2013 #45

Not to be rude, but did you even read the article? cbayer Jul 2013 #46

I don't see it, she gets to decide what being a dick is. EvilAL Jul 2013 #48

I don't think she is confused at all. cbayer Jul 2013 #50

And there is more than sufficient reason to question skepticscott Jul 2013 #54

It's up to the person whether or not they think someone is being a dick to them. EvilAL Jul 2013 #57

A supposed hypocrisy which she clearly addressed in her article, but cbayer Jul 2013 #58

I read it earlier, didn't agree with it and usually EvilAL Jul 2013 #60

I'm glad you read it and truly appreciate this exchange. cbayer Jul 2013 #62

No, the hypocrisy was not addressed skepticscott Jul 2013 #63

The irony has gone right over your head, cbayer skepticscott Jul 2013 #49

religious institutions that threaten the rights of others AlbertCat Jul 2013 #75

Well, yes, Albert. There are lot of them. cbayer Jul 2013 #77

No squirming at all.... AlbertCat Jul 2013 #79

No, you are doing quite a bit more than that. cbayer Jul 2013 #81

You are making a broad brush and unsupportable statement AlbertCat Jul 2013 #87

Oh, gosh. That was a question! cbayer Jul 2013 #88

An entirely sincere question in which you were honestly seeking an answer. AlbertCat Jul 2013 #89

I did answer it but you had already formulated the answer, cbayer Jul 2013 #90

The article is spot on. AlbertCat Jul 2013 #91

And the author would completely agree with you. cbayer Jul 2013 #92

Ah, this is the same person you called "another hack" upstream, isn't it? rug Jul 2013 #70

For someone who writes so incoherently and hypocritically skepticscott Jul 2013 #71

No, she makes valid points. rug Jul 2013 #72

Nice that you think you can tell the difference skepticscott Jul 2013 #73

Reading context and knowing one's history is hardly mindreading. rug Jul 2013 #84

How can you tell that her points are the result of thought muriel_volestrangler Jul 2013 #78

If you read her article you read her thoughts. rug Jul 2013 #85

As I said, only what I've heard or read from a new Northern Irelanders muriel_volestrangler Jul 2013 #86

There should be an article titled "How to be a Christian without being a dick about it." Apophis Jul 2013 #51

I agree and I think that she makes that case quite well. cbayer Jul 2013 #56

I'm sorry, but this part in particular is incorrect... Humanist_Activist Jul 2013 #59

She didn't say the whole bible told people to be nice. cbayer Jul 2013 #61

The point is that it's hypocritical skepticscott Jul 2013 #64

To be honest, Christians can't follow the precepts of the Bible, they are too contradictory... Humanist_Activist Jul 2013 #65

I agree. The contradictions make it impossible to take the position that the cbayer Jul 2013 #66

The point is that the WAY they pick and choose skepticscott Jul 2013 #68

They could find a moral guide without any contradictions in it. Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #93

Do you know of any moral guides without contradictions? cbayer Jul 2013 #94

Truth is an absolute defense to slander. Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #95

For every point you make, counterpoints can be made that cbayer Jul 2013 #96

Bradshaw is a former priest. Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #98

Bradshaw is a theist who sees that religion can be a negative thing. cbayer Jul 2013 #100

Christians don't believe they need to be saved? Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #115

Like I said before, you might need to get out more. cbayer Jul 2013 #116

So tell me. Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #117

I can tell you about my own experience. cbayer Jul 2013 #118

Definition of baptism. Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #119

That's a single definition and not applicable to all. cbayer Jul 2013 #120

so? Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #121

Agree. Religions can be very dogmatic. cbayer Jul 2013 #122

Why are the basic beliefs bad? Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #123

I'm seeing a whole lot more us vs. them mentality between cbayer Jul 2013 #124

I was a Christian for quite a few years. Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #132

That was just your experience. cbayer Jul 2013 #133

Logic lesson: Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #164

Your theology is as misinformed as what you think you have gleaned from legal circles. rug Jul 2013 #165

Duress in this case is an imaginary threat. Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #167

There aren't any "official creeds" that all christians recite and accept. cbayer Jul 2013 #168

If it's imaginary, it's no threat. rug Jul 2013 #169

You just said turning away from God is a mortal sin. Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #170

The separation is the consequence. rug Jul 2013 #171

Please don't school me. cbayer Jul 2013 #166

Uh, no...the problem with literalism and fundamentalism skepticscott Jul 2013 #97

And they think they're superior to you--they come across like "I'm perfect, and you're an idiot." raccoon Jul 2013 #129

I don't know who said it TlalocW Jul 2013 #80

Lol, great point. cbayer Jul 2013 #82

Next time you have a "New Atheist" skepticscott Jul 2013 #99

Hopefully... TlalocW Jul 2013 #112

+1000. nt raccoon Jul 2013 #130

I've been treated very well by unbelievers, and very badly by believers BUT carolinayellowdog Jul 2013 #83

Where's the thread for "How to Be an Evangelical Without Being a Dick About It" LonePirate Jul 2013 #101

There have been those and she definitely makes the case that she is speaking cbayer Jul 2013 #102

Maybe when the bible isn't looked at Politicalboi Jul 2013 #103

I don't think being a dick is going to further any of those objectives. cbayer Jul 2013 #105

I'm an atheist and not a dick. bravenak Jul 2013 #104

The vast majority of atheists aren't dicks. cbayer Jul 2013 #106

I try to love dicks in spite of themselves. bravenak Jul 2013 #107

I try as well, but I am not always successful. cbayer Jul 2013 #108

I've thought about being Super AtheistTM but i have no motivation. bravenak Jul 2013 #109

That's funny. It's great to find bonds. cbayer Jul 2013 #110

Thank you. bravenak Jul 2013 #111

"It's also great to just let people be who they are without judging or mocking them." defacto7 Jul 2013 #113

Yes, it is me saying that. cbayer Jul 2013 #114

It's also very difficult skepticscott Jul 2013 #126

I think the article goes too far . . . MrModerate Jul 2013 #125

Bullshit. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #134

Can you kindly point out the barricades? rug Jul 2013 #135

US vs. Windsor a recent example. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #137

Feel free to be rabid. rug Jul 2013 #138

How about the Kitzmiller trial? AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #141

That had a very good outcome. rug Jul 2013 #145

He did. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #146

If I have to be respectful of internet memes and sterotypical descriptions of religion in place of rug Jul 2013 #147

I disagree. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #149

Hmmm, not much of a gap between murdering parents and religion, is there? rug Jul 2013 #151

Zero gap between those parents and the tenets of their particular religion. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #153

Bigotry is blaming a group for the actions of individuals within that group. rug Jul 2013 #154

I identified only their religious peers. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #156

And so will many religious people who are also secularists. cbayer Jul 2013 #140

They are inseparable. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #143

Of course you do, and she is not talking about that at all. cbayer Jul 2013 #136

That's the problem. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #139

See, the thing is that the ones that are reading and embracing the nice parts cbayer Jul 2013 #142

But do they VOTE? AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #144

Of course they vote. cbayer Jul 2013 #148

RELIGION dominates some states. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #150

I don't disagree with that and that is where the religious left cbayer Jul 2013 #152

I don't see the bright line dividing the two. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #155

If the line were bright, it would be easy. cbayer Jul 2013 #157

I will re-read the OP and see if maybe I am missing something. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #158

Ok, I hope you do. cbayer Jul 2013 #159