Hostile to atheists

by d 281 Replies latest members politics

• 

  THE GLADIATOR

  In order to make sense of this thread I have gone back to the beginning, where ‘d’ stated:

  ‘ I realized when you tell people that you are an atheist they get hostile especially family members I feel like what is the big deal if someone does not believe in God. ’

  Perhaps the answer is that, birds of a feather flock together. In order to maintain an un-provable belief, it is essential that member of a group share a common - Group Identity. Anyone that does not demonstrate loyalty to the supported belief system, must be made to feel like an outsider. This acts as a warning to the rest of the group and encourages group thinking.
• 

  FlyingHighNow

  If they are born into a fundamentalist family, then the world will likely be deprived of their gift as they are pressured to reject scientific fact.

  I believe that very staunch fundamentalism can work towards the opposite, too. Don't lose heart.

  A fundamentalist childhood can work hard to turn a child with a more scientific mind, or as Gladiator mentioned, the left brain dominant child, off to to the Bible. And enough good scientists are believers, though not in the fundamentalist sense.

  Gladiator, I understand what you mean about the right and left brain. Your right brain dominance shows in your ability with words and prose. Beautiful.
• 

  THE GLADIATOR

  FlyingHighNow Thank you for that - but you do pretty well yourself.
• 

  d

  Thank you Gladiator. I feel that people are expected to fall in line and atheism is a belief that does not do that.This shows the danger of groupthink.
• 

  d

  I got into a huge debate with some people I know over the issue of atheism .It is sad to think that some people still cling to such beliefs.Some people no what you say will stay, will still cling to their most irrational beliefs.I stated the question who created God?.
• 

  NewChapter

  I wonder if all times of transition went like this. Like when the Norse decided to give up belief in elves, if those that still clung to such beliefs viewed those that had moved on with suspicion or distrust---or a need to try to pull them back in. Like how did their laws work? Did elf believers have more rights than non-elf believers? And did the balance switch eventually where non-elf believers had more rights?

  I wonder what the hostility level was? But maybe giving up one myth for another softened the blow. Maybe the thing that brings the most discomfort is giving up all belief in myths.

  NC
• 

  d

  I was told I was a follower. But ask are not scholars and scientists just influnced by other works? it is not bad to be influenced by other writers.
• 

  NewChapter

  knowledge is accumulative---we are all followers.
• 

  d

  This is true.We are followers of evidence.
• 

  d

  http://youtu.be/-j8ZMMuu7MU