Reply #13: The RS article is pretty absurd on its face [View All]

[Atman]

Atheists are "whackjobs" because they demand proof, the refuse to accept tales of supernatural beings and floating ghosts. That is just another flavor of intolerance, imo. Conversely, I'm not intolerant of religion at all. My quiant little New England town has churches on practically every street corner. Some PUBLIC roads turn one-way on Sundays to accomodate church traffic. I couldn't buy beer on Sunday even if I wanted to, out of "respect" for someone else's god. I pay a fortune for cable teevee which features at least a dozen God channels. If you ask me, this is FORCED on me. Yet I don't protest, I don't demand "no God!" simply because I believe the floating ghost stories are supernatural poppycock. I tolerate it (someone will undoubtedly write back that I am not even allowed to express my view that it's poppycock, because it shows disrespect), but I often ask myself why? Because these religious folks don't ever seem to want to accomodate MY beliefs. I'm a "whackjob" because I don't believe in floating ghosts and a boat full of paired-up animals and flaming talking bushes. No, I'M the whackjob. But more and more, I see that these people are demanding that my voice and my beliefs be silenced. They want the schools, which I pay taxes to support, to teach their floating ghost stuff. They think THEY are persecuted by my NOT believing in their supernatural tales, for not rubbing ashes on my forehead and carrying palm leaves around in the spring, for not getting all weepy when a former Nazi in a purple cloak blows smoke on a mass of similarly weepy Italian pilgrims. I'M the whackjob.

Even though I do NOTHING but live my life morally and expect others to do the same. I don't do so out of fear of burning in hell forever and ever, nor out of fear that their "just God" will smite me. I do so because treating people right is...well, right. I was raised in the Catholic church, so I used Catholic imagery in my post. But I was also a part-time Protestant (mom's side) who tried Lutheran-ism, and even joined a Unitarian church after birth of my first son, because I was willing to give the whole supernatural powers thing a second chance. I lasted about six months, six months of teas with the reverend, Sunday pot-lucks with the congregation, bible study...before my intellect got the better of me. Before the thinking side of my brain screamed out in agony "THIS IS FUCKING NUTS!" I just wanted PROOF of something, anything they were telling me. Why was this benevolent God killing millions in Africa, yet watching basketball games to annoint the winners? I needed more than "faith" and the all-encompassing "God works in mysterious ways!" What a load THAT is...how CONVEEEEEEENIENT, as the Church Lady says. If something doesn't fit the story, just say "We aren't supposed to know!"

Horse patooty.

I don't drink, and I stopped without praying to "higher powers." I'm a moral person, I do volunteer work, my kids have never been in trouble, I live by "the golden rule" and strive to hurt no one, and to treat others as I wish to be treated. But the Christians say that's not good enough. I'll burn if I don't accept their savior. Which is another angle which has always baffled me...why do you care at all if I don't sit next to you on the big white bus to heaven? Why do you care if I don't want to go? And why do you demand -- yes DEMAND -- that I respect your belief system while refusing to respect mine?

Fairness, respect? Gosh. Just call me a whackjob, I guess.

(ON EDIT: Okay, I realize that technically I'm not of the "extremist" variety this RS article claims to be addressing. But that is actually a bit of nonsense, too, when you get into the article. The author says he is only referring to the "extreme" atheists, the militants who refuse to even consider the religious beliefs of others. But that's a bit of poppycock, too. Because the article still wants atheists to accept the whole floating ghost stuff as a possibility just because the floating ghost believers do, and their beliefs should be respected...but again, they still won't respect the non-believers. How is this considered "fair." It's just intollerance lite.)