Freethought & Rationalism Archive

07-30-2003, 02:51 PM

Excuse the rant thread.

At work the other evening, I was talking with a lady perhaps ten to twelve years older than I (which would make her about forty). We were discussing the fact that we were both brought up as Catholics, and she made some comment about that childhood usually churning out nonreligious adults. And then she looked at me sheepishly and said, "But I'm NOT an atheist! I'm an agnostic! There's a BIG difference between the two!" The implication was that atheism was not something that she wanted to be associated with, and apparently she has no idea that I am one.

WTF?

Why do people have such negative associations with atheism? It's not as if there has ever been a huge association of atheists going out and causing mayhem and making speeches and stuff. Why does this sort of thing happen?

asgardhaven · 07-30-2003, 03:03 PM

My guess is she just uncomfortable with the baggage that's been added to the stereotypical image of atheist. Of course most of this baggage originate from usually the more dogmatic theist, so one would hope she would consider the source more. I would maybe hazard that she doesn't really unerstand what either term really means outside of that baggage.

And by the way as an agnostic I can assure you that I'm not out to get you

Shadowy Man · 07-30-2003, 03:13 PM

Tell her you are an atheist and an agnostic - that will cook her noodle!!

Sunfair · 07-30-2003, 03:31 PM

I would guess that some people see atheism as being as indefensible as theism, in that there really is no proof either way, and by going to one extreme or the other you can appear to have closed off other possiblities.

To be more accurate, I probably should have said deism instead of theism, because the existence of the individual personal god of various religions is more unlikely than the god type of being that is described in deism (at least as I understand it).

I hope that made sense.

07-30-2003, 03:54 PM

Another thing is if she was in her fourties +/-, she may associate atheism with cold war communism - and for some ppl that is a BIG no no.

pariah · 07-30-2003, 04:09 PM

umm...i think 100% of the people on this board fit under the category agnostic-atheist. except the people who dont =P

atheist in that they are not theists. by definition, an agnostic is an atheist.

agnostic in that they offer no positive proof against a "supreme being". although the christian god (and all others..) is easily refuted by most here as complete and utter bullshit.

your friend is an atheist. prove it to her by asking her if she is a theist.

Shadowy Man · 07-30-2003, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pariahSS

your friend is an atheist. prove it to her by asking her if she is a theist.

No, prove it to her by asking her if she believes in a god. If she says "I don't know", you say "you don't know if you believe?".

SiliconWolf · 07-30-2003, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Relative Newcomer
Another thing is if she was in her fourties +/-, she may associate atheism with cold war communism - and for some ppl that is a BIG no no.

What he said.

MzNeko · 07-30-2003, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by asgardhaven
And by the way as an agnostic I can assure you that I'm not out to get you

But I am! It's all part of my Evil Plan! Muwahahahaha!

asgardhaven · 07-30-2003, 08:04 PM

MzNeko

Evil Plan?

Hey I'm looking for a career change, are you looking for any Evil Henchmen types?

In which case HazyRigby I am out to get you, but nothing personal just business.

07-30-2003, 02:51 PM	#1
HazyRigby Guest Posts: n/a	Are even the Agnostics against us? Excuse the rant thread. At work the other evening, I was talking with a lady perhaps ten to twelve years older than I (which would make her about forty). We were discussing the fact that we were both brought up as Catholics, and she made some comment about that childhood usually churning out nonreligious adults. And then she looked at me sheepishly and said, "But I'm NOT an atheist! I'm an agnostic! There's a BIG difference between the two!" The implication was that atheism was not something that she wanted to be associated with, and apparently she has no idea that I am one. WTF? Why do people have such negative associations with atheism? It's not as if there has ever been a huge association of atheists going out and causing mayhem and making speeches and stuff. Why does this sort of thing happen?

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07-30-2003, 03:03 PM	#2
asgardhaven Regular Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Memphis, TN USA Posts: 129	My guess is she just uncomfortable with the baggage that's been added to the stereotypical image of atheist. Of course most of this baggage originate from usually the more dogmatic theist, so one would hope she would consider the source more. I would maybe hazard that she doesn't really unerstand what either term really means outside of that baggage. And by the way as an agnostic I can assure you that I'm not out to get you

07-30-2003, 03:13 PM	#3
Shadowy Man Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Shadowy Planet Posts: 7,585	Tell her you are an atheist and an agnostic - that will cook her noodle!!

07-30-2003, 03:31 PM	#4
Sunfair Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: USA Posts: 110	I would guess that some people see atheism as being as indefensible as theism, in that there really is no proof either way, and by going to one extreme or the other you can appear to have closed off other possiblities. To be more accurate, I probably should have said deism instead of theism, because the existence of the individual personal god of various religions is more unlikely than the god type of being that is described in deism (at least as I understand it). I hope that made sense.

07-30-2003, 03:54 PM	#5
Relative Newcomer Guest Posts: n/a	Another thing is if she was in her fourties +/-, she may associate atheism with cold war communism - and for some ppl that is a BIG no no.

07-30-2003, 04:09 PM	#6
pariah Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: الرياض Posts: 6,456	umm...i think 100% of the people on this board fit under the category agnostic-atheist. except the people who dont =P atheist in that they are not theists. by definition, an agnostic is an atheist. agnostic in that they offer no positive proof against a "supreme being". although the christian god (and all others..) is easily refuted by most here as complete and utter bullshit. your friend is an atheist. prove it to her by asking her if she is a theist.

07-30-2003, 08:04 PM	#10
asgardhaven Regular Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Memphis, TN USA Posts: 129	MzNeko Evil Plan? Hey I'm looking for a career change, are you looking for any Evil Henchmen types? In which case HazyRigby I am out to get you, but nothing personal just business.

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