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jollyjeff - what else can it be?
A couple of days ago I had a blogger pleading with me to open the bible and follow Jesus before it is too late. (wasn't sure if "too late" was for him or myself...maybe he had a quota). Reasoning with this person reminded me of the frustration I experienced when I was 7 years old and I was trying to teach my dog to talk. During the exchange I sensed that what was being presented as a devout commitment was rife with doubt.
posted by
gomedome
on November 9, 2005 at 8:20 AM
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I think you're right on the money
when you suggest that the overzealous are trying to convince themselves.
posted by
jollyjeff
on November 9, 2005 at 7:43 AM
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kooka_lives - the reason I reserve judgement on this is only because
when one runs in a circle of upper middle class people, it is very easy to find one's self insulated from the day to day economic problems that most people must deal with. Crime of any type, is completely absent from my circle as well and it is fair to say that of the atheists I know and consider friends, they are positive contributors to society. Still, a sampling of several people is very small but on the other hand I have never run into anyone in my life that comes close to the religious, propaganda derived, stereotypical atheist. I am convinced that the "anti-social detriment to society atheist" is as fictional as the God these people worship. I can't say that this mythical representaion does not exist, as there are good and bad in all groups ...but I haven't met one yet.
posted by
gomedome
on November 8, 2005 at 12:57 PM
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gomedome
Right now most of my friends are not well off( No one of the working class is doing well now here with the Conservatives running things in the gutter as they are.), and most of them are also atheists. None of them have criminal records. Like me they got it all out of their systems when they were younger and are now very responsible adults. No matter how bad things get they are not about to commit crimes to get by.
I've said it before, the best and most morally centered people I have known have been atheists and the least morally centered people I have known have been Christians. While not all atheist have been that great or all Christians that bad, my life experiences very clearly have shown me that belief in God has nothing at all to do with one's moral code and how they live their lives.
posted by
kooka_lives
on November 8, 2005 at 12:37 PM
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Gome
I'm only in here for a little while longer, but I shall certainly take a look later on this evening. Thanks
posted by
ariel70
on November 8, 2005 at 8:43 AM
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ariel70 - here's a link that is worth looking at
Now I was born at night but it wasn't last night, so I am a bit skeptical of any selective use of statistics for any agenda but this is worth a read. If nothing else, it attempts to legitimately refute a common misconception.
CLICK HERE
posted by
gomedome
on November 8, 2005 at 8:39 AM
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Gome
It's a pity that such a sampling hasn't been done.
If you refer to the perceptions of atheists that so many Christians propagate, I have to say that it certainly be in the high nineties incorrect.
It's sad that they don't accord us the same respect that we, in general accord them, altho' I have a cordial relationship with most of them in Blogit, as I think do you.
posted by
ariel70
on November 8, 2005 at 8:27 AM
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ariel70 -- I have often wondered if there is any sampling large enough to
support what I believe to be true about atheists in general. In that collectively, they make up a fine group of citizens. I know this to be true of my friends and associates and for the most part, those professing non belief here on Blogit seem to be pretty decent folk but must concede that my sampling is too small. Social-economic factors play a part as well as all of my friends seem to be well off...but I wonder. How much of religion's propoganda towards non believers is absolute bunk? 98%, 99% or 100%?
posted by
gomedome
on November 8, 2005 at 8:21 AM
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Gome
Yep, most of 'em are, sure enuff
posted by
ariel70
on November 8, 2005 at 8:15 AM
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ariel70 --- yeah -- like where are all of the atheist fundies?
Probably out sacrificing chickens to Mithra, making them too busy to interfere with the lives of others. Actually of the few that I know and call friends, I know exactly what they are out doing...being upstanding citizens.
posted by
gomedome
on November 8, 2005 at 8:08 AM
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Ariala - glad I could be of service
posted by
gomedome
on November 8, 2005 at 8:06 AM
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Gomedome
Intolerance and bigotry are deplorable, wherever or whatever engenders them. and I'm afraid to say that religions/s have a major part in this.
I mean, where are all the atheist fundamentalists? ( apart from you, of courseLOL)
And where is there church? And why don't they proseltize like the other religions?
Questions! Questions! Shall we ever know the answers? Do we even want to know the answers?
posted by
ariel70
on November 8, 2005 at 7:58 AM
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Gome, I couldn't help but laugh at this line:
So another crazed bible thumper comes out of the woodwork like a
termite on acid. ROFL
posted by
Ariala
on November 8, 2005 at 7:46 AM
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sannhet -- Now I wish I had included those words in this post
Fear is definately a root factor when someone behaves this way.
posted by
gomedome
on November 8, 2005 at 7:45 AM
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Gome -
Fear sure has a lot of masks, doesn't it?
posted by
sannhet
on November 8, 2005 at 7:42 AM
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