Atheism

We have different backgrounds.

I get yours, and you probably remember some of mine (the rosary crusade, Father Peyton, Miracle of Fatima, the LA radio program I forget the name of this minute that had many stars volunteering, all of which my father was involved with).

Well, in general, though, we had that same Catholic thing to deal with. Perhaps the main difference is the reaction of our respective families.

I think I got rid of the repetitive post.

I am not sure that I would tell the prosyletizers that I was not interested but instead I would share the truth with them. How else are they going to know the truth.

If we do not share it with them than I do not see how we are any different then them. At least most of the people that come to you are sincere but yet mislead.

Personally, i don't feel any obligation to enlighten the benighted. I also consider it futile to attempt to make a dent in the adamantine beliefs of the religiously convinced.

You sound like you got your ethics from the catholic church and they have stuck with you to this day!

I certainly did, and had to work forward. I'm not sure that Setanta got that particular wallup.

I twist them back. I've read very widely on italy, and my dismay re my former church only balloons.

However, this doesn't address this particular thread.



I'd like to hear about family christmases.

This is the first thread quote: I know there are other threads about atheism, but they tend to be focused somewhat specifically to some argument or subtopic. I'd like this thread to be open for constructive conversation, sharing of ideas and resources, etc.

One big issue that some friends and I feel is weird is that religious people seem to feel that we are persecuting them. I can't see how that could be given that we represent such a small minority of any population. If anything, it is we who are persecuted


Now we have people that come and say that others [theist] are not open for constructive conversation, sharing of ideas and resources, etc Please help me to understand how atheist ideas are more constructive than that of a theist!
I do realise that a theist is more creative but why disrespect them? They are here to gather our view points but yet it seems that we have fellow atheist that want to run them off. It makes me wonder if it is the church that is involved in keeping them away!

I got my ethics from a carefully nutured cynicism, tempered by a basically optimistic outlook. Rather like a small, delicate violet which needs assiduous and constant care, but also needs to be put in a sunny window.

Please help me to understand how a theist is more creative.

Can you make yourself believe in a god? If you can than you are more creative than I am and I solute you.

There are those, myself among them, who would regard that as less evidence of creativity than of self-delusion. Quite apart from that, it is likely that the majority of theists have imbibed their theism from a time before they can remember, so there's precious little reason to consider that evidence of creativity.

So you are saying that when one lives within a make believe world that they are not able to to substain their idea's when confronted by opposing ideas? They do not have the Ability to produce something new through imaginative skill, whether a new solution to a problem, a new method or device, or a new artistic object or form?
Then how else are they able to keep their faith? They seem pretty good at it to me.

Strawman--i said nothing of the kind. Do you habitually twist what people say in order to have something to argue about?

YES Dont you?

No. I am more than sufficiently entertained by dealing with what people have actuallywritten.

Then start listening to them instead of telling them what a thread is about!

I do listent to them, you arrogant flannel-mouthed son of a bitch. I tell them what the thread is about because i get tired of a bunch of theistic gobshite trampling all over the thread, like a pack of univited guests with muddy boots trashing the living room carpet.

I am sorry I did not know that this was your house! I have a mind controll class to attend so I have to go but you are more than welcome to join me If you can behave yourself!

http://www.youtube.com/user/TZMSocialEvolution#p/f/8/CqTCCYbBY4U

I surely misspoke. I never meant to make this yet another of the many threads of religion/no religion argueing.

The constructive conversation I was talking about was to fellow atheists.