Hostile to atheists

by d 281 Replies latest members politics

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  still thinking

  My comment was only about the poll by the way...overall...I agree with New Chapter.
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  FlyingHighNow

  Thank you, Still Thinking. Honestly, in quoting the 40 % statistic, it sounds awfully like Dawkins is giving into the stereo-typing of believing Americans.
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  FlyingHighNow

  I see extremist views in both camps.
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  NewChapter

  Like the inaccurate sweeping statement that Dawkins is naive and sensationalist because he used one piece of data among many to illustrate a point? Isn't that what a sweeping statement is? You have judged me naive for taking in a sensational statement by a person that said a hundred things, only one of which was a poll generally respected as useful?

  Frame your argument anyway you like---and I will frame mine.

  Hostility toward Atheists? I would say offering an atheist only tiny sliver in which they can express themselves is pretty hostile. We can't cite polls. We can't discuss religion's role in holding people ignorant (again, just because YOUR religion does not, does not remove the fact that it is almost always religion motivating such).

  We live in a country where we are marginalized, where our civil rights are withheld by the religious, where we have to remain ever vigilant about education, where we cannot hope to hold higher elected office, where organizations use religion as an excuse not to cover women's health care, where our doctors are forced to lie to us, where are doctors are allowed to lie to us, but we should never, ever speak about religion in a way that would be offensive. We are not allowed to speak in generalities, and must make sure that all discourse is prefaced with "this may not be YOU or YOUR church, but" when the entire thread, in context, and over and over stated by me in posts, that I understand this is not all religion, and I am focusing on certain types---and yet still---I am required to preface every single comment with that acknowledgement---even though I just said it repeatedly.

  Goodnight.
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  still thinking

  We all do it don't we FlyingHigh....Dawkins is no exception...he is human after all.

  But I wouldn't dismiss everything else he has to say just because of that. So often I agree with both sides of a discussion on here. I think you all make valid points.
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  tec

  Is america 40% fundamentalist?

  I think this is a great question. Is it? Because that is a huge number. peace, tammy
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  FlyingHighNow

  I want to say, I am often annoyed by very fundamentalist religious beliefs. I am very annoyed and against using religion to control people. I am very against playing on people's worst fears. I have to check myself when it comes to how I talk about and view the more fundamentalist types of beliefs and believers. Not too long ago, I was called out for using the term redneck. No one had a problem with me using the term fundies. But that thread made me rethink the derogatory term and my habit of throwing it around. I was being disrespectful. I can be a smartass, but then I'm not telling you anything you don't know already. I'm not always a smartass, but yes, I let the words fly sometimes. Hey, we can all use some self-checking, it's late and my brain will not find a better way to say self-checking.

  New Chapter, I think you're one of the more intelligent people on this forum.
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  FlyingHighNow

  Dawkins is naive and sensationalist

  Only in using that poll statistic, dear NC. Not in everything.
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  FlyingHighNow

  Oh yes and naive about Americans and how they line up on the age of the earth, due to their religious leanings.
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  FlyingHighNow

  But I wouldn't dismiss everything else he has to say just because of that.

  I wouldn't either.