Where do atheists come from?

[GeistFaust]

That sounds more like the modern deist position than the agnostic position.



The good thing about religion, IMO, is the sense of continuity of tradition, ritual, and community that it fosters. The unfortunate aspects of religion, IMO, are the fanaticism, dogmaticism, and anti-intellectualism it seems to foster in certain quarters and among certain people. In this day and age, the more unfortunate aspects of religion seem to be gaining the upper hand, even though more people today are probably not religious than at any other time in history. Although this could change radically. We are passing through a very turbulent time in history.

This is true I like certain things about religion but usually most people like the fundamental side of religion. They like it because they know they can manipulate a larger amount of people better when they come from a more radical point of view. A moderate point of religion that is expounded in a rational way never seems to take root in the conscious of the masses. Fanaticism, Dogmaticism, and Anti-Intellectualism are the means through which religious elite are capable of controlling and subduing the masses to pure idiocy and lunacy. I think the more moderate a religion the less tension and conflict it produces the more freedom it allows as well as civility and order.

[Logan]

I always thought that Atheism was the denial of there being any divine creator that made all things that is why I am not an Atheist. I am more of an agnostic theist with some sympathy for religious ideals. An Agnostic theist aknowledges that it is most probable that a divine being exists but that its relation to this world and our connection to it is not capable of being determined thematically. Than again I have a distaste usually for semitically inspired religion because they tend to lack a purely European mindset. Basically the European has fooled himself that in the more Eastern inspired religions that there is anything authentically European contained within them.

Regardless of fine distinctions, little more than clever nonsense. In the real world it's either yes, no or perhaps.

[GeistFaust]

Regardless of fine distinctions, little more than clever nonsense. In the real world it's either yes, no or perhaps.

I do not know understand who or what you are referring this to if you are referring it to fanatical, fundamentalist, and dogmatic oriented religious institutions I would agree that a lot of is cleverly developed theological nonsense.

[Logan]

I do not know understand who or what you are referring this to if you are referring it to fanatical, fundamentalist, and dogmatic oriented religious institutions I would agree that a lot of is cleverly developed theological nonsense.

To Atheism, Agnosticism and Theism.

[GeistFaust]

To Atheism, Agnosticism and Theism.

In a sense it is in another its another necessity for people to concoct unnecessary belief systems because it serves as there way to cope with reality and their environment.

[Logan]

It all comes out in the wash.

[Apollonaris]

This is true I like certain things about religion but usually most people like the fundamental side of religion. They like it because they know they can manipulate a larger amount of people better when they come from a more radical point of view.

It also allows people, who otherwise would have no rational reason, to justify their dislike and hatred of certain groups of people (e.g. Jews, Muslims, etc).

A moderate point of religion that is expounded in a rational way never seems to take root in the conscious of the masses. Fanaticism, Dogmaticism, and Anti-Intellectualism are the means through which religious elite are capable of controlling and subduing the masses to pure idiocy and lunacy. I think the more moderate a religion the less tension and conflict it produces the more freedom it allows as well as civility and order.

I don't know. I live in Canada, so maybe my experiences are not common, but religious extremism here is rare. You still run into the odd fundamentalist here and there, but it's the exception and not the rule. In general, Canadians are very tolerant and respectful of religious differences and of those of us who aren't religious.

[GeistFaust]

It also allows people, who otherwise would have no rational reason, to justify their dislike and hatred of certain groups of people (e.g. Jews, Muslims, etc).



I don't know. I live in Canada, so maybe my experiences are not common, but religious extremism here is rare. You still run into the odd fundamentalist here and there, but it's the exception and not the rule. In general, Canadians are very tolerant and respectful of religious differences and of those of us who aren't religious.

I think it also allows people with no rational people to feel empowered in their justification of hating any rational person in general. I live in the deep south where fundamentalism and radicalism run amok. Try living in my boots for a day its like hell when you try to argue with them on anything especially if its rationally oriented.

[Apollonaris]

I think it also allows people with no rational people to feel empowered in their justification of hating any rational person in general. I live in the deep south where fundamentalism and radicalism run amok. Try living in my boots for a day its like hell when you try to argue with them on anything especially if its rationally oriented.

My encounters with fundamentalists have been decidedly unpleasant. You have my sympathy, sir.

[Neanderthal]

My encounters with fundamentalists have been decidedly unpleasant. You have my sympathy, sir.

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