Anti-Christian Bigotry?

Moonlight Graham · September 23, 2013

Duly noted, I'll order emergency "Layton the Legend" bumper stickers and stash them in our glove boxes in case I break down.

Haha I couldn't stand that guy either, and no I'm not a Justin Trudeau fan. Just stick with the jesus fish haha.

dre · September 23, 2013

A 2007 poll of American adults found that only 45 percent would vote for a "generally well-qualified" presidential candidate nominated by their party who happened to be an atheist. The numbers were considerably more favorable for hypothetical candidates who happened to be black (94 percent), Jewish (92 percent), women (88 percent), Hispanic (87 percent), Mormon (72 percent)

I wonder.... Are the 55% of Americans that would not vote for an atheist even if he was well qualified, bigots?

I cant help wondering because non-believers make up roughly 2% of the worlds population, and they are the most distrusted minority in existance today.

A 2006 study by researchers at the University of Minnesota involving a poll of 2,000 households in the United States found atheists to be the most distrusted of minorities, more so than Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians

THIS is the group of people that you guys are going to use as a justification to whip out the victim card? Really? Non-believers are a tiny group, that is hated and distrusted world-wide.

A group of atheists in the US put up a simple billboard that said "Dont believe in God? Youre not alone".

http://www.examiner.com/article/death-threats-force-removal-of-atheist-billboard

It had to be removed because of a barrage of death threats.

A UBC study found that believers trust atheists as much as rapists.

http://www.united-academics.org/magazine/sex-society/believers-distrust-atheists-as-much-as-rapists/

Bonam · September 23, 2013

Yes, the cries of victimhood and bigotry by the believers in regards to atheists are pretty laughable given the reality of the situation.

Mighty AC · September 23, 2013

Thinking active members of the KKK are a-holes doesn't make you a bigot. Their purpose, their intent, their actions, their beliefs are all intolerable. Furthermore, the members of the KKK are a select group; it's not comprised of millions of people worldwide, all with a varying degree of beliefs even within the same religion, and a wide degree of different beliefs among the different religions. It's not unfair or intolerant to judge the KKK members negatively while it is unfair and intolerant to judge all religious people because of their belief in a God.

Interesting. At one time slavery was a normal, acceptable practice but it is considered intolerable by most now. Would it have been considered bigotry to be critical of slavers in the past?

If you consider it bigotry to be critical of ideas held by the majority then we have bigots to thank for many of the rights and freedoms we have today.

Edited September 23, 2013 by Mighty AC

Mighty AC · September 23, 2013

That's your opinion, your view. Others see evidence of a God.

No, evidence doesn't work that way. People attributing natural phenomena to a god they want to believe in, despite better explanations is not evidence...it is just belief.

Here's the thing - people don't just "decide" to believe in a higher power. They do believe in it. It's ludicrous to say that someone can simply change that.

I disagree. Like many ideas, including racism, most religious people are indoctrinated into their belief system as children. These beliefs will weaken if there is a lack of reinforcement and exposure to knowledge. Noted sharp declines in racism and religious participation over time show that many people do "decide" to drop an indoctrinated belief.

It's the mindset of the fundamentalists who expect everyone to change their beliefs to theirs. So why should the religious be the ones to change their beliefs and not you? - How is that expectation any different from yours?

The difference is I am not advocating for a belief, I am doing the opposite. I am stating that holding a belief without evidence is foolish. Making decisions based upon said belief can go beyond foolish to dangerous.

If actual, verifiable proof of a universe creating Gummy Bear was found tomorrow I would accept it. However, today it would be foolish to demand that gummy cosmology be taught in science class. It would be foolish to demand that my gummy belief be respected. And, today it is completely acceptable to question the intelligence of someone that does believe in an omnipotent gummy bear, even if that view was forced on him/her as a child.

BubberMiley · September 23, 2013

I also think rabid atheists are nutjobs, as are political partisans, monarchists, cat owners, motorists, cyclists, facebook users, the elderly, and Internet commenters in general. No one tops me for bias and bigotry.

The_Squid · September 23, 2013

What is a "rabid atheist"?

BubberMiley · September 23, 2013

An atheist with rabies, obviously.

Mighty AC · September 23, 2013

An atheist with rabies. I can't stand those guys either. Seriously, if they are smart enough to suspend belief in an unproven magical god, they should have the good sense to get the shots.

BubberMiley · September 23, 2013

It's not that I can't stand them; it's just that I think they're nutjobs. Thelonious Monk was the nuttiest nutjob of them all, and I'm quite fond of him. Although I don't think he had rabies.

Mighty AC · September 23, 2013

The Jazz musician? I didn't know he was an atheist or a nutjob. Somehow both attributes make him more interesting now.

BubberMiley · September 23, 2013

I don't think any musicians are atheists (because music is the language of the spheres), but he was certainly a nutjob.

Edited September 23, 2013 by BubberMiley

kimmy · September 24, 2013

I wonder.... Are the 55% of Americans that would not vote for an atheist even if he was well qualified, bigots?

I cant help wondering because non-believers make up roughly 2% of the worlds population, and they are the most distrusted minority in existance today.

THIS is the group of people that you guys are going to use as a justification to whip out the victim card? Really? Non-believers are a tiny group, that is hated and distrusted world-wide.

A group of atheists in the US put up a simple billboard that said "Dont believe in God? Youre not alone".

http://www.examiner.com/article/death-threats-force-removal-of-atheist-billboard

It had to be removed because of a barrage of death threats.

A UBC study found that believers trust atheists as much as rapists.

http://www.united-academics.org/magazine/sex-society/believers-distrust-atheists-as-much-as-rapists/

A poll done last year or the year before found that Tea Partiers had replaced atheists as the most disliked group in America.

We're #2! We're #2! :lol:

And they better not mess with us, because...

-k

Mighty AC · September 24, 2013

Outstanding remix! We're number two? That's great news. Time to celebrate with a sacred atheist baby sacrifice.

Moonlight Graham · September 24, 2013

Interesting. At one time slavery was a normal, acceptable practice but it is considered intolerable by most now. Would it have been considered bigotry to be critical of slavers in the past?

If you consider it bigotry to be critical of ideas held by the majority then we have bigots to thank for many of the rights and freedoms we have today.

No, evidence doesn't work that way. People attributing natural phenomena to a god they want to believe in, despite better explanations is not evidence...it is just belief.

I disagree. Like many ideas, including racism, most religious people are indoctrinated into their belief system as children. These beliefs will weaken if there is a lack of reinforcement and exposure to knowledge. Noted sharp declines in racism and religious participation over time show that many people do "decide" to drop an indoctrinated belief.

The difference is I am not advocating for a belief, I am doing the opposite. I am stating that holding a belief without evidence is foolish. Making decisions based upon said belief can go beyond foolish to dangerous.

If actual, verifiable proof of a universe creating Gummy Bear was found tomorrow I would accept it. However, today it would be foolish to demand that gummy cosmology be taught in science class. It would be foolish to demand that my gummy belief be respected. And, today it is completely acceptable to question the intelligence of someone that does believe in an omnipotent gummy bear, even if that view was forced on him/her as a child.

Well said. Really couldn't agree more.

Moonlight Graham · September 24, 2013

Belief in God is not a requirement for love, kindness, happiness etc.

Michael Hardner · September 24, 2013

Belief in God is not a requirement for love, kindness, happiness etc.

So says the Pope anyway.

GostHacked · September 24, 2013

So says the Pope anyway.

Must be those militant radicalized atheists.

Mighty AC · September 24, 2013

The Pope also says you can win time off Purgatory by following his tweets. Now that's a sweet deal!

The_Squid · September 24, 2013

The Pope also says you can win time off Purgatory by following his tweets. Now that's a sweet deal!

Not worth it...

Moonlight Graham · September 24, 2013

The Pope also says you can win time off Purgatory by following his tweets. Now that's a sweet deal!

Purgatory is a scientific fact. Studies have shown it's actually not that bad though, it just has a lot of uncomfortable furniture and lukewarm meals served by mediocre department store restaurants.

September 24, 2013

You know what I think would be really interesting - but seems to be impossible? A discussion without the disrespect. I doubt it'll ever happen though, at least not on MLW, which is why I so seldom post in the threads about religion.

Bob Macadoo · September 24, 2013

You know what I think would be really interesting - but seems to be impossible? A discussion without the disrespect. I doubt it'll ever happen though, at least not on MLW, which is why I so seldom post in the threads about religion.

So only disrespect with regards to religion should be considered the "original sin"?

sharkman · September 24, 2013

The Pope also says you can win time off Purgatory by following his tweets. Now that's a sweet deal!

Yeah, uh, link on that?

September 24, 2013

Yeah, uh, link on that?

This is the jist of it -

Aware that some Catholics may not be able afford to travel to Brazil, where World Youth Day is being held from July 23-28, and perhaps also in an effort to modernize himself, Pope Francis is making this first-time offer to the faithful who follow the events in Rio de Janeiro online.

Under Catholic belief, after confessing and being absolved of sin, the indulgences granted reduce the amount of time one spends in purgatory....

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57594227/vatican-get-time-off-in-purgatory-by-following-pope-on-twitter/

So no, it's not as it was presented.