God This Makes Me Laugh...Atheists vs Christians.

[Babs34]

We are fighting each other. it takes 2 to tango, Babs.

I'll remember that when we waste money making frivolous billboards.....kill the atheist.

 

[sarah22]

Oh... Okay...some see pink elephants...you see energy. Got it.

meh. you dont get it and im not about to argue with you. if you would like to discuss the belief aspect of it i suggest that you perhaps start a thread of your own to open up discussion of belief. this thread isnt for that. thank you

 

[Babs34]

Ur not quite all there....are you babs.

CJ, get a life. Have some respect for the OP. Having a paid subscription is not entitlement for making EVERY thread about you.

 

[CrackerJax]

meh. you dont get it and im not about to argue with you. if you would like to discuss the belief aspect of it i suggest that you perhaps start a thread of your own to open up discussion of belief. this thread isnt for that. thank you

I'm sorry, but what's the title of the thread?

What did you expect? Mormons?

Babs.... jumps on any passing band wagon.... typical.

 

[sarah22]

I'm sorry, but what's the title of the thread?

What did you expect? Mormons?

Babs.... jumps on any passing band wagon.... typical.

the title is "god this makes me laugh...atheists vs christians" and in the original post im referring to an article i read, and im noticing the similarities in the way these 2 different groups conduct themselves. this thread is meant to be a discussion of the article and the methods of the 2 groups. not what they believe...just the methods they're taking to get their points across.

did you read the article or my original post? or did you just come into the thread with an assumption about what this was about? this is NOT a discussion about belief.

 

[c0untry.boy]

i absolutely agree with the political aspect, wanting to keep religion out of the law and out of government, politics, etc. i completely agree with standing up to religious groups when they try to get power and impose their religion on everyone. but...this article is about atheists putting up billboards to impose their message on the rest of the people, simply to have some sort of competition with the christians. their one billboard is "“Are you good without God? Millions are.” thats got nothing to do with a political view at all, if it was mentioning something about "keep religion out of politics" thats different. that billboard is just as preachy as some christian ones i've seen. and thats why i think its funny hehehe

well imagine that

 

[Johnnyorganic]

so i was just reading this article on a thread over at ATS, or above top secret for those that may not know the site. http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/culture/family/2941-heathens-retaliate-against-christian-billboards

anyway...i guess that a christian group of people put up billboards referring to the separation of church and state and how bad it is...so then a group of atheists are putting up a bunch of their own billboards to get people thinking about their side.

is it just me...or do these 2 groups behave in the exact same manner, just supporting opposing extreme ends of 1 spectrum? this is hilarious. who cares what other people want to believe! haha. god, atheism is starting to look like the very thing it hates...a religion.

and im sorry to the religious and atheist folks here, im not intending to be offensive, and im really sorry if my post comes off that way. im just noticing and pointing out some similarities in the 2 very opposing groups...

First you must consider the source. The New American is a publication of the John Birch Society.

Accusing the Atheist movement of being a religion is nothing new to evangelicals. They have been making that claim since the rise of Atheism in American culture.

By their logic, the NRA, the NAACP, the ACLU, and NORML are religions, too.

But what is most telling about the article is the conflicted nature of the Christian's argument. They do not like the Establishment Clause so they put up a few billboards exercising their First Amendment right to free speech. Then they object when an opposing group does the same thing in order to advance their argument.

In other words, they are seeking to end the protections of a right they enjoy. And I am certain they intend to exclude themselves should they get their way. Dumbass or hypocrite: It's their choice on which they would become should they succeed.

And you will notice that only the Atheist billboards have been vandalized (or desecrated if you cling to that ridiculous 'Atheism is a religion' canard). Only the owner of Atheist billboards has been threatened.

 

[doc111]

First you must consider the source. The New American is a publication of the John Birch Society.

Accusing the Atheist movement of being a religion is nothing new to evangelicals. They have been making that claim since the rise of Atheism in American culture.

By their logic, the NRA, the NAACP, the ACLU, and NORML are religions, too.

But what is most telling about the article is the conflicted nature of the Christian's argument. They do not like the Establishment Clause so they put up a few billboards exercising their First Amendment right to free speech. Then they object when an opposing group does the same thing in order to advance their argument.

In other words, they are seeking to end the protections of a right they enjoy. And I am certain they intend to exclude themselves should they get their way. Dumbass or hypocrite: It's their choice on which they would become should they succeed.

And you will notice that only the Atheist billboards have been vandalized (or desecrated if you cling to that ridiculous 'Atheism is a religion' canard). Only the owner of Atheist billboards has been threatened.

Personally I don't care what anyone believes or doesn't believe. The whole point of the thread was that Sarah was pointing out that Atheism has become very similar in a lot of ways to organized religion. I don't prefer one over the other so I think I'm pretty objective. I tend to agree with her assessment. This isn't to say that every atheist has become like this. Just a general observation that many atheists are becoming the thing that they loathe most.

 

[Johnnyorganic]

Personally I don't care what anyone believes or doesn't believe. The whole point of the thread was that Sarah was pointing out that Atheism has become very similar in a lot of ways to organized religion. I don't prefer one over the other so I think I'm pretty objective. I tend to agree with her assessment. This isn't to say that every atheist has become like this. Just a general observation that many atheists are becoming the thing that they loathe most.

Consider the last paragraph of the propaganda piece. I can't bring myself to call it an article.

In contrast to its anti-religious sentiments, the atheist movement has ironically morphed into a religion of sorts. It has erected foundations, staged marches, and planned retreats — all in the name of … nothing.

NORML has a foundation. NORML stages marches. And NORML has an annual national conference, and several regional conferences throughout the year - retreats.

Would you consider NORML a religion?

Confusing Atheism with a religion is a twisted attempt of the part of fundies like the Birchers to discredit it. How distorted is that?

 

[CrackerJax]

Exactly JO.....

It is a sign of desperation from the religious. They are unable to actually defend their made up beliefs ... and they are made up, and this is a sign of that.

 

[doc111]

Consider the last paragraph of the propaganda piece. I can't bring myself to call it an article.

NORML has a foundation. NORML stages marches. And NORML has an annual national conference, and several regional conferences throughout the year - retreats.

Would you consider NORML a religion?

Confusing Atheism with a religion is a twisted attempt of the part of fundies like the Birchers to discredit it. How distorted is that?

I never said atheism is a religion. Only that some atheists are acting a lot like the religious zealots they are trying to discredit. Is NORML a religion? Of course not but some people in NORML probably treat it like a religion. That's all I'm saying. Stop and take a look at some of the posts here in the religion forum. Look at how some of the atheists are behaving. Can you honestly tell me that some of them aren't behaving an awful lot like that which they loathe? I'm surprised that a couple of seemingly openminded guys like you and CJ don't see what we are talking about. It's not an attack or even as much of a criticism as it is an observation. I could care less what people believe. I have never tried to sway anybody's beliefs. I've only tried to persuade people to keep an open mind. I'm sorry but I don't see the problem with that.

 

[CrackerJax]

I only see it as one group who believes in made up stuff, and the other group simply uses logic and reason.

Yes, there is some ribbing along the way, but you have to expect that when you say there are invisible beings watching everyone taking notes....and say it with a straight face. I mean come on.... it would be hilarious if so many ppl hadn't died because of the fairy tales.

 

[Johnnyorganic]

I never said atheism is a religion. Only that some atheists are acting a lot like the religious zealots they are trying to discredit. Is NORML a religion? Of course not but some people in NORML probably treat it like a religion. That's all I'm saying. Stop and take a look at some of the posts here in the religion forum. Look at how some of the atheists are behaving. Can you honestly tell me that some of them aren't behaving an awful lot like that which they loathe? I'm surprised that a couple of seemingly openminded guys like you and CJ don't see what we are talking about. It's not an attack or even as much of a criticism as it is an observation. I could care less what people believe. I have never tried to sway anybody's beliefs. I've only tried to persuade people to keep an open mind. I'm sorry but I don't see the problem with that.

In my response to you I was addressing the Bircher propaganda that did indeed state that Atheism is a 'religion of sorts.'

I did not say this applied to you specifically.

And I'm Agnostic, so I can't really speak for Atheists anyway.

But I will not take word of the opposition, either. If Atheists say they comprise a religion, I am much more likely to give such an idea credence.

 

[CrackerJax]

You aren't organized DOC ... they are.

I have no problem what so ever with UNORGANIZED religion.

If you truly believe.... you don't NEED anyone else to also.

 

[Leothwyn]

why fight at all?

let their fire burn...eventually it will go out. all fires do at some point.

i just dont understand the fighting part of it. just leave everyone alone to be who they want to be lol. let people make their own choices based on their journey without trying to influence anyone.

I'd like to hope that their fire would burn out eventually. It's been 2000 yrs.. No luck so far. Christianity is where it is because it's an aggressive religion. In the past it used murder, torture, and any other violence it could come up with to 'save' people. Now it has to be more subtle, but hasn't slowed down much.

I can understand people being annoyed at atheists picking up some of the christian tactics... but, there's a part of me that's glad to see someone finally standing up to the bullies.

Preachy atheists would have a LOT of catching up to do to be anywhere close to the christians. Atheists have put signs up in a few cities? Go to ANY town in our country and you can find signs telling us about the lord. On my way home every day I pass a couple of churches with big, billboard sized, banners preaching to me. Almost every church around has at least a small sign telling us about their magic guy. And, like I said, I still haven't had a single atheist knock on my door to try to convince me that their thinking is right.

I'm all for people believing anything they want to, without feeling the need to convert everyone else. But, I don't see christianity going that way any time soon. Maybe in another 1000 years? Unfortunately, saving others seems to be fundamental to many of the christian sects.

 

[doc111]

In my response to you I was addressing the Bircher propaganda that did indeed state that Atheism is a 'religion of sorts.'

I did not say this applied to you specifically.

And I'm Agnostic, so I can't really speak for Atheists anyway.

But I will not take word of the opposition, either. If Atheists say they comprise a religion, I am much more likely to give such an idea credence.

I don't know what the birchers views on atheism are, except for what you've just told us. Their views can sometimes be a little............well, off I guess would be the operative word. People on both sides of the argument will always say that their views are correct. It's interesting to see other people's views on the subject. I, like most people, would like to know if there is a god. In reality though, it doesn't matter. Either there is a god and we have a soul or there isn't and when we're dead, that's it, we're dead. It's interesting to discuss though.

 

[CrackerJax]

I was offered a membership into Brother John Birch. I talked with a few of them several times after they contacted me.

Uhhhh, thanks, but no thanks.

You sure?

Oh yes, very. But you have a good day.

At least they aren't Jehovahs, who just keep coming back....you sure? you sure? we have a book!

 

[mindphuk]

Personally I don't care what anyone believes or doesn't believe. The whole point of the thread was that Sarah was pointing out that Atheism has become very similar in a lot of ways to organized religion. I don't prefer one over the other so I think I'm pretty objective. I tend to agree with her assessment.

Yea, sure, really objective...

Please detail the similarities as it relates to religion. Because atheists want to let others know there's no shame in not believing and that there are others out there like them, that makes it a religion?
C'mon, you and the OP have to do better than that.

 

[sarah22]

Yea, sure, really objective...

Please detail the similarities as it relates to religion. Because atheists want to let others know there's no shame in not believing and that there are others out there like them, that makes it a religion?
C'mon, you and the OP have to do better than that.

yea, they're letting people know that theres no shame in not believing. and the religious are telling people that theres no shame in being a believer. they're resorting to the same tactics. billboards, ads on buses, "shock" value tactics like the students at that one school who were exchanging bibles for porn. i think that atheists and religious people should just leave the rest of us ALONE. i dont really care if they want to get a message across. thats not their job. its not someone elses job to encourage me to follow one side or another. thats MY job to decide for myself...to search out the info myself. one thing about religious groups that bothers me, is the fact that they're always wanting to be in your face with "their message" and now atheists are doing the SAME thing. pushing "their message" in our faces. everyone should just back off with "the message" lol.

 

[Brazko]

What Message? Oh, God..who rides the Magic Carpet, and The Amazing Crocoduck