Mageth

I will still take my vacation, enjoy my lunch today, and think very little of it.

Don't be so hypersensitive and desperate for everyone to accept you. Do you need acceptance? Does it bother you that one of those vile xians holds a view you don't like? lol!

The irony of xian's posts on this thread are killing me.

If that's really your attitude, then why the posts on this thread railing against some atheists' desire, need, interest, or just plain hobby of discussing Christianity? Why should it even concern you? Why spend your time on it? Do you need acceptance? Does it bother you that those vile atheists like to discuss religion?

Also note that on this board, at least, Christianity is obviously not the only thing we atheists talk about.

And adding to the topic at hand: I'm an atheist in a sea of theists (mainly christians). I'm a lone atheist in a large family of theists (with the possible exception of one sister, who's a bit on the new agey side). I live in a country that's somewhere around 90% theists, with the majority, and quite vocal majority, Xian. I hear theism/Christianity all the time.

Here at II is one of the few places that I can openly discuss theism/atheism without feeling threatened or at least looked down upon. I can't really talk to my family, including my Christian wife, about my atheism; from their theistic standpoint, there's something seriously wrong with me, and my atheism is considered a kind of anti-Christianity, which it is not. This is one of the few places I feel free to talk to theists, as well as other atheists, about religion. Part of that, I reckon, is because this site attracts theists willing to discuss religion with atheists, some with openness, inquisitiveness,, a positive attitude, and generally non-jugdmental.

In other words, this place is where I come to find an outlet for my feelings, emotions and thoughts concerning the religion that is so prevalent in our society, and that looks down upon my lack of belief.

And some theists, unfortunately, come here to attack, negatively and judgmentally, as xian displays here.

xian

"Why should it even concern you? Why spend your time on it? Do you need acceptance? Does it bother you that those vile atheists like to discuss religion? "

I find it a point of psychological intrigue why someone who expects to cease to exist upon death would spend so much energy on a meaningless unicorn.


"Christianity is obviously not the only thing we atheists talk about. "

not the only...just the majority. another point of fascination. my reasons for being here are recreational only. i understand i will convert no one.

Melkor

The reason why so many atheists go on the offensive against Christianity (in the US, anyway) is because many of us are sick and tired of Christians turning their religiously-spawned morality into LAWS that affect us ALL, regardless of our beliefs.

Homosexuals are forbidden BY LAW in most states to marry. Heck, in some states, even same-sex cohabitation is forbidden (North Dakota comes to mind).

In my state (MN), liquor stores are forbidden BY LAW to sell alcohol on Sundays. Why Sundays? Why not Tuesdays? Or Saturdays?

Prostitution is illegal in most states (a consensual act between adults for an agreed upon exchange of money).

Drugs of most kinds are illegal on a Federal level.

Compared to most industrialized nations, the US has a pretty prudish notion of what can and can't be allowed on television.

Christians are CONSTANTLY attempting to get the government to grant them favoritism over other religious or non-religious affiliations in the U.S., via laws they are constantly proposing (occasionally passing), via public schools, via public moneys.


And that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Maybe some atheists seem like they're going a bit overboard in their attacks on Christianity... but with the kind of treatment most of us in the U.S. are getting at the hands of this Christian majority, can you really blame some of them for getting upset, frustrated, and lashing out?

Mageth

I find it a point of psychological intrigue why someone who expects to cease to exist upon death would spend so much energy on a meaningless unicorn.

Similarly, I find i a point of psychological intrigue why someone, anyone, would expect to have eternal life after death in light of the fact that there's no evidence for such except for some words and myths recorded in a book written 2000+ years ago. And that I, because I do not believe their myths, will have eternal life suffering in hell. That's another reason I like the religious discussions found here.

not the only...just the majority. another point of fascination. my reasons for being here are recreational only. i understand i will convert no one.

Apparently you consider criticizing, baiting and annoying us as you've done here and elsewhere as "recreational."

xian

why would you find that intriguing? religion is all over the world. people believe all kinds of crazy things. Its quite ordinary to encounter someone who believes in the supernatural. nothing surprising about it. Take Nuy'kak...an Eskmo who worships some water spirit up in the north. SUrely that has to be much more fascinating than the stale, boring xians. Will you now make a forum and devote hundreds of hours...days...months....of your ever passing finite life to countering the water spirit? Very bizzare usage of your precious time, it is!

xian

welcome to diversity. there are plenty of laws I DONT LIKE. Basically....every single one passed by democrats. I live in one of the more liberal states in the US- Washington- in the Olympia area (capitol). I can't stand all the crap they pass. I am surrounded by anti-christian, anti-semitic, anti-bush, collegiate, corduroy wearing, alcholol-binging, starbucks drinking, party-wasting, war-protesting liberally brainwashed bipedal automotans. But I just do not give them the notice they want me too. They are hardly worth 2 neurons of mental energy.

If they are PASSING laws, and you don't like it, then what does this forum do to help? What does arguing against "Pascals Wager" or coming up with little cliches like "I just believe in one fewer Gods than you", or a 25 point response to Anselm do to help you politically? lol

write your congressmen(lady).

Mageth

why would you find that intriguing? religion is all over the world. people believe all kinds of crazy things. Its quite ordinary to encounter someone who believes in the supernatural. nothing surprising about it.

I get the feeling that you're only here to see how much you can annoy us. You're rapidly approaching "troll" status in my opinion.

On this board, we often discuss supernatural and other weird (e.g. pseudoscientific beliefs, cryogenics, etc.) beliefs independent of Christianity. If you've spent much time here, you would know that.

And, indeed, I find all such "weird" beliefs interesting. It fascinates me that people can belief such weird stuff. That's one reason I like to discuss them.

Take Nuy'kak...an Eskmo who worships some water spirit up in the north. SUrely that has to be much more fascinating than the stale, boring xians.

Haven't seen Nuy'kak posting on this site yet. If you know him, get him to post his beliefs here and we'll be glad to discuss them with him.

Will you now make a forum and devote hundreds of hours...days...months....of your ever passing finite life to countering the water spirit?

For serious discussion, he'd be free to post his beliefs on the Non-Abrahamic religion forum, or perhaps even in "General Religious Discussions" or "Elsewhere."

Very bizzare usage of your precious time, it is!

As bizarre as you spending your time here apparently just to troll?

Mageth

xian's response to melkor only serves to reinforce my opinion of him as a troll. He's not here to discuss; he's here to irritate.

Jamie_L

Short answer: because Western atheists are surrounded by Christianity. It is the theism of our culture to which we apply the "a" in most cases.

A note about websites: The web is a place where anonymity and physical isolation breeds speech and behavior that is much bolder than what often happens in real life. People's speech on the web can a poor indicator of their typical behavior. I may seem obsessed with Christianity on this sight, but 99% of the people who meet me in real life have no idea I'm an atheist. Religion is mostly a non-issue for me in daily life. I come here to give release to that small part of me that wants to scream to the rafters about how nonsensical all this superstition is. But I don't do that anywhere else.

With that said, there are good reasons for some atheists to feel the need to actually rail against Christianity in their daily lives. This belief, which atheists view as superstition, permeates our society - socially and politically. People make decisions that effect other people's lives based on these religious views that atheists think are just plain wrong.

As a concept, people who live their lives based on false premises are scary. We all want people making decisions based on the actual facts of the world, not on incorrect information. To the atheist, a religious outlook of the world is frought with error, and masses of people acting on those errors can be a disturbing thought, if not outright terrifying.

As atheists, we do think life is short. Thus, everything in it is important, for us and for everyone else. Fighting to make that one life better for yourself and others is therefore a most noble pursuit, something to give one's life great meaning. If that's your thing.

Jamie

xian

but as I cited earlier, many people who grow up in western culture with the same exposure to Christianity hardly give Christianity a glancing thought throughout their day. These people are truly FREE from Christianity, while the Dan Barkers are enslaved...bound hand and foot, chained to the Cross on bended knee. He couldn't escape it if he wanted to. Until his death, his life will be inexorably tied to Christianity. The man is fully engulfed, never to return.