Atheists - the most hated minority

[_EAllusion]

Mote/Beam.

Yes it clearly is hypocritical of me to say unreasonable, discriminatory prejudice is immoral. Because what I'm saying is it is always wrong to negatively judge people's thinking.

Wait a minute. I'm not saying that at all.

Jersey, you seem to think that if someone says, "But my religion teaches this!" then whatever "this" is automatically gets a free pass. Well, you probably don't actually think that. All we would need to do is substitute something you find appalling and you'd drop that defense. I'm not so inclined. I don't care if the source of Hoops bigoted ideas about atheists is religious or secular in nature. I care that it exists. If the source of his bigoted views is his religion, then he's got a bigoted religion. It would be no different if his religion thought blacks were inferior and to be segregated. That's not an excuse. It's a criticism of his religion and him for believing it.

[_MCB]

I love agnostics.

















They are just as pissed off at sick religion as I am.








I get irritated with militant atheists.

[_Jersey Girl]

EA

I don't care if the source of Hoops bigoted ideas about atheists is religious or secular in nature. I care that it exists. If the source of his bigoted views is his religion, then he's got a bigoted religion.

Of course, you care if the source of his "bigoted ideas" about atheists is religious or secular. Were that not so, you wouldn't have been so quick to determine that not all Christians have to abide by a prohibition against engaging in business relationships with atheists, which is the exact hypothetical that Hoops used and I addressed on point referring to the Bible.

You are attempting to single out Hoops for a perspective that ALL Christians are tasked with holding.

EA, with regards to the Bible and what it directs Christians to do/not do regarding atheists, your response demonstrates that you are out of your depth.

Hoops has not disclosed the motivation for his statements regarding business relationships with atheists. I offered Biblical direction as a possible explanation. I continue to offer it as a likely explanation.

Your attempt at "shaming" Hoops for his so-called bigotry is hysterical in light of your attempts to manipulate the words that I've posted on this board.

Again, mote/beam. Look it up, it's in the book.

[_Jersey Girl]

I love agnostics.

















They are just as pissed off at sick religion as I am.








I get irritated with militant atheists.

The only thing worse than an Agnostic is a Christian Agnostic! Gosh, what a screwed up bunch those folks are!

For sure!

[_Jersey Girl]

EA,

A question if you will. What was your former religion prior to becoming atheist?

[_Stormy Waters]

Again, mote/beam. Look it up, it's in the book.

Oh, is that in the same book as this? "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass." Sorry but I don't think that anyone should be getting their morals from such a book.

[_EAllusion]

What you are referring is ambiguous and isn't just atheists; it's non-Christians. It seems to hold about as much cache among modern Christians as does the Biblical endorsement of divine right of kings or slavery. That is to say, not much at all. We should rejoice in that fact. Not that it matters, as asserting that your religion compels you to hold some view doesn't automatically disqualify that view from being bigoted. Why would it?

[_Ceeboo]

I still hate atheists!




Peace,
Ceeboo

[_Jersey Girl]

What you are referring is ambiguous and isn't just atheists; it's non-Christians. It seems to hold about as much cache among modern Christians as does the Biblical endorsement of divine right of kings or slavery. That is to say, not much at all. We should rejoice in that fact. Not that it matters, as asserting that your religion compels you to hold some view doesn't automatically disqualify that view from being bigoted. Why would it?

Who are you writing this to, EA?

[_Hoops]

Happily, I had posted on this before you wrote this post.

You explained that so long as the atheist keeps his mouth shut about his beliefs, you won't discriminate against them. This, apparently, is supposed to make you enlightened and not a bigot. It doesn't. It kinda makes you awful.

If an atheist chooses to describe what does or does not form his value system, are you saying that I should not consider what obviously is important to him? Shoot, you wouldn't do that, why do I have to?

Whether someone relies on experience, data, and advice or prayer to make business decisions has a concrete impact on the the potential quality of their decisions. It isn't irrational to go with the former over the latter. Bigotry is obstinate prejudice. The word obstinate matters.

And it's one you've added to buttress your argument. What I've described comports perfectly with the above, it is you that morphs it into bigotry. You're so eager to find fault with religious people that one could easily and with evidence accuse you of being a... what was it again?

I'm happy to inform you that I don't think that. I think people who make bigoted value judgements, such as your distrust of atheists, are bigoted.

Which is a determination you get to make. But to do so invites examination of your motivation.

This doesn't make me a "bigot against bigots" or whatever you it is you think. Again, it's obstinate prejudice - not any old disapprobation.

Of course it doesn't. But it does make you a bigot against religious people. Claiming otherwise, which you've done, is contrary to your explanations.

Well, you're highly limited reading of a few of my posts on a message board dedicated to religious discussion clearly represents the entirety of my writing and behavior.

You've had ample opportunity to do so on this board. You don't. One is allowed to evaluate what is valuable to you based on what you defend - or don't defent.

Your reading comprehension isn't the best.

Yes. I'm sure.

I'm not liberal nor is my argument a particularly liberal one.

Maybe not. But it is flawed.

It's straightforwardly the decent position to hold

Maybe. Maybe not. It's not terribly convincing to me.

And you say you're not a bigot. See below.

No, I accept that loving, responsible, caring people can hold bigoted views. Racists generally don't spend their free time eating babies. People are complicated like that.