Atheists - the most hated minority

[_EAllusion]

A bigot is someone who harbors bigoted notions.

Then we all are.

I don't think that is true. But if you want to play with distinctions, I think we can qualify a bigot by the degree of bigotry they hold. A white person who feels a brief tinge of fear when they see a black teenager with their pants around their knees might not be worth calling a bigot, but someone who believes that person is likely up to no good certainly is. You can't excuse your blatantly bigoted ideas by claiming everyone is a bigot in some way. Even if that were true, and its not, that doesn't excuse your own failings nor wash over their magnitude.

With the track your own now, you seem to think that a misogynist is insulated from criticism, because hey, we're all a bit bigoted. That's the apologetic of the bigot and you should be ashamed for making it.

[_Hoops]

I don't think that is true. But if you want to play with distinctions, I think we can qualify a bigot by the degree of bigotry they hold.

Okay. Then where is that line? And do you get to decide where it is? I'd rather not decide for someone else. You, apparently, have some higher order morals.

A white person who feels a brief tinge of fear when they see a black teenager with their pants around their knees might not be worth calling a bigot,

But might be? I suppose, when it crosses over into hate - which, as we've learned, is not really hate, but... what was it again? - then he will be a bigot?

but someone who believes that person is likely up to know good certainly is.

Hmmmm.... who has said this? Certainly no one on this thread.

You can't excuse your blatantly bigoted ideas by claiming everyone is a bigot in some way.

Not looking to do that. I'm looking for you to claim your blatantly bigoted ideas and toss in your pretentious moralizing.

Even if that were true, and its not, that doesn't excuse your own failings nor wash over their magnitude.

Just what is their maginitude anyway? Assuming you have even a clue what they are.

With the track your own now,

OH, I doubt my track is much different than yours. And, I would be willing to bet I'm at least as tolerant and inclusive as you if not more so. Just not in the way that you approve of.

you seem to think that a misogynist is insulated from criticism,

There you go again. Who has said this?

because hey, we're all a bit bigoted.

Well, you certainly are.

That's the apologetic of the bigot and you should be ashamed for making it.

Actually, it's being honest without that usual liberal nitwittery. But I recognize your self righteous finger waving in my face. Oh, that we were all as enlightened as you.

You were saying something about tolerance?

[_Blixa]

...without that usual liberal nitwittery...

wat?

Hoops. what. the. hell.

I have to say. I just don't get you at all.

[_Hoops]

...without that usual liberal nitwittery...

wat?

Hoops. what. the. hell.

I have to say. I just don't get you at all.

You do. I am terribly confident that we would be fast friends. And I think you're wonderful.

[_Jersey Girl]

Hoops...maybe just walk away from it. You're wasting your time.

[_Hoops]

And I will add:

Why does it make me a bigot to limit the extent of my relationships with those who self declare as having a different value system than I do? (assuming that's what I do).

but, yes, in the classical sense, it does. But it does for you to.

[_Jersey Girl]

Hoops

Why does it make me a bigot to limit the extent of my relationships with those who self declare as having a different value system than I do? (assuming that's what I do).

Everyone self selects their relationships on that basis.

Don't they?

[_EAllusion]

Not looking to do that.

You could've fooled me what with your unapologetic distrust in atheists as a general outlook seemingly defended by your argument that, hey, everyone is a bigoted. You certainly aren't apologizing here for harboring bigoted views about atheists.

I'm looking for you to claim your blatantly bigoted ideas and toss in your pretentious moralizing.

What are my blatantly bigoted ideas? The one thing you talked about in this thread is asserting that all religious people are dumb. I replied by saying I think that idea is bigoted. So clearly I don't think that. You read me as endorsing that idea because you were so utterly determined to get an aha! moment, but that doesn't change what I said.

And, I would be willing to bet I'm at least as tolerant and inclusive as you if not more so. Just not in the way that you approve of.

It's like I'm talking with Boyd "I'm already diverse!" Packer here.

Actually, it's being honest without that usual liberal nitwittery.

Apparently liberals include encompass all of decent society now. But no, I'll reiterate that defending one's bigotry by arguing that everyone holds bigoted views - such as the racist defending his racist comments by insisting we all really are racists at the end of the day - is shameful.

[_EAllusion]

And I will add:

Why does it make me a bigot to limit the extent of my relationships with those who self declare as having a different value system than I do? (assuming that's what I do).

but, yes, in the classical sense, it does. But it does for you to.

Let's quote you earlier in this thread:

So, okay, as a general rule I would distrust an atheist more than one with religious worldview. But that presents several problems that the atheists have to addrress before they can claim bigotry. Namely, I have no idea how I would know if that guy with whom I'm about to enter a business relationship is an atheist. I don't ask. He may offer, but if he does, then it's his problem what my reaction is. It's not as if I would offer that I'm a Christian (I'm hopeful he would figure that out all on his own). And if he decides to not work with me because of that - that is fine with me.

I'm quite confident that I am not unusual. So what is the point?

Notice that you say that you would as a general rule distrust an atheist more than someone who is religious. You know why that is bigoted? A person being an atheist doesn't actually tell you enough about their trustworthiness to prejudge them in this way. It's unreasonably negatively prejudging a person based on their belonging to a class of people. Since there isn't even reason to think atheists as a group have a correlation with being more untrustworthy, this is in some ways worse than being worried that a black person will commit a crime because they are black.

Your argument here that this shouldn't be considered bigoted is ridiculous. The fact that an atheist can effectively conceal his identity from you and therefore shield themselves from your prejudices doesn't mean you aren't a bigot. The fact that you actually blame the atheist for your own bigoted reactions towards them because they outed themselves is appalling.

[_Hoops]

You could've fooled me what with your unapologetic distrust in atheists as a general outlook

I also explained how that might play out. Which you've conveniently disregarded.

I'm confident that if you had a choice between entering into a business relationship between two people, one of whom relies on experience, data, and advice vs. the other who prays for direction, and acts upon it - that you would choose the former. I suppose that makes you a bigot. Certainly to the same degree that I am one.

seemingly defended by your argument that, hey, everyone is a bigoted.

No, it was not to defend my alleged bigotry. It was to quash your insufferable moralizing.

You certainly aren't apologizing here for harboring bigoted views about atheists.

What views are those? Can you cite them? I don't think so.

What are my blatantly bigoted ideas?

That people who make value judgements are bigots.

The one thing you talked about in this thread is asserting that all religious people are dumb. I replied by saying I think that idea is bigoted.

And I noted that you were careful not to call your brethren bigots - that's too harsh - just that they have bigoted ideas.

So clearly I don't think that. You read me as endorsing that idea because you were so utterly determined to get an aha! moment, but that doesn't change what I said.

Hmm.... no I didn't. I read you as cherry picking what hills you will defend. I have yet to see you stake out any ground apart from the atheist camp.

It's like I'm talking with Boyd "I'm already diverse!" Packer here.

Actually, it's nothing like that. If tolerance is the height of social responsibility, then I've got plenty of currency.

Apparently liberals include encompass all of decent society now.

You were asking about bigotry? You seem unable to countenance that loving, responsible, caring, people see it different than you. That makes you a bigon.

But no, I'll reiterate that defending one's bigotry by arguing that everyone holds bigoted views -

Actually, I'll state that in this respect I'm not a bigot.

such as the racist defending his racist comments by insisting we all really are racists at the end of the day - is shameful.

Yep. Be sure to flame it. That's always a clue about how firm the ground is you stand on.