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Such as the holocaust – evil fruit of 1500 years of anti-jewish pogroms. Can anyone point to ANY crime of significant scale that was committed IN THE NAME OF atheism? That rules out Stalin and Mao and as we know Hitler was Catholic and what he did was endorsed by the church. If God is the source of morality then why are atheists incarcerated at far lower rates than Christians?
Conversely, when I ask if one can think of a crime committed in the name of religion, you thought of one before I finished the question. Absurd? Indeed. And it does grave injury to our dignity as humans to accept the slur that the absurd laws promulgated as “god’s laws” are somehow responsible for the hard won gains and civilizing influences of our continuing evolution.
In modern times, I think of Jim Jones and David Koresh who led their “flocks” to death in making their “stand” (each of them playing the role of Jesus, if I recall). Then my mind turns to Fred Phelps who wants to spread his message of hate via the living (well, sort of zombies). All of those young people who might have been happy, productive fellow human beings… likely lost forever. And since Phelps is clearly insane, there could be – just sayin’ – could be a mass suicide or suicidal stand by him and his followers.
These are just pockets of misguided religionists, though. It gets worse; far worse in the historical and modern religious world.
But as you say, the likelihood of atheists ever instigating or even condoning activities such as those described or things such as terrorism & suicide bombings is on a microscopic scale.
During the Dark Ages, the Church even bullied kings with threats of excommunication. The advancement of human progress was stunted by the church’s insistence that anyone with an independent thought be burned at the stake. Atrocities were committed to protect the absurdity of religious doctrine. Even today, the Religious Right tries to shape politics to their favor. Individual believers embrace the absurdities, and may not personally commit atrocities, but they do provide safe haven for the extremists in their midst. The extremists can claim legitimacy through their association with religion, even to commit terrorist actions, because most people refuse to see the absurdity of blind faith. Most people do not contemplate such issues, and truthfully, most atheists know as much or more about the bible than believers do. Atheists have a reason for their skepticism, but most believers just go along with the crowd.
Isn’t it odd that one of the believer hominids on this site is obsessed with homosexuality even as he publicly denounces it? Which brings to mind another quote:
Must be non-sequitur day in the mind control camps. Nonetheless, it’s a good quote, h t k a, even if you mis-quoted it.
“Those Who Stand For Nothing, Fall For Anything” – Alexander Hamilton
He also said “The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and, however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true to fact. The people are turbulent and changing, they seldom judge or determine right. ”
And you are plainly wrong – people with guns CAN and DO force people to do things that are against their will. To think otherwise is, well, dumb.
“Terrorism & suicide bombings=not the teachings of Islam”
Maybe it’s not in the Quran, but the people doing it certainly think that it is. I doubt anyone reading Robert G. Ingersoll or Carl Sagan’s “The Demon-Haunted World” are going to strap bombs to themselves.
“Terrorism & suicide bombings=humans who posses Atheists hearts”
I possess an atheist’s heart, because I am an atheist. Not going to kill anyone, ever. (Sure, I’d defend myself if someone tried to kill me, but I’m just going to hope that that will never happen.)
“Absurdities=homosexual activities”
That is an opinion to which your are entitled, as I believe completely in freedom of speech, opinion, religion and exrpession. I heartily disagree with you, but won’t force my views on you.
Of course, there have been atheists that have been responsible for some of history’s greater crimes. Stalin and Mao come to mind. But the important thing to remember with them is that, while they claimed not to believe in gods, they sold themselves as saviors, declared their opinions to be infallible, and set up their governments and militaries as forces both unquestioning and unquestionable. In essence, they set themselves up as gods, their policies as scripture, and their supporters as clergy. Their claims of godlessness were false, as they viewed themselves as gods.
They were still guilty of religious thinking, and any reasonable atheist OR believer should reject such people as delusional and dangerous.
I think that Voltaire’s quotation is unassailable.
“You can’t argue over something until you first understand it. There fore there are very few arguments on this site.Just a lot of meaningless gab.”
Htka, what are you talking about? Go ahead and please treat us like we’re fools. We won’t be offended. Spell it out, like we’re the kids in class that just don’t get it. Tell us what we don’t understand, and then please provide examples of our meaningless gab.
Because that’s how I percieve your comment. It addresses nothing in specific, it argues neither for nor against anything, and is, therefore, lacking any real meaning.
Really H t k a? If you understand it so well then please let us have your insights into the quote and maybe even what you think of Voltaire?
The quote is insightful, brave and timeless. Voltaire was a great writer and revolutionary thinker.
Without all the scientific evidence against a god we enjoy today; 200 years ago Voltaire understood the absurdity of religion.
“Light years ago God have known the comings of no religion.” Let’s forget about the “light years” error and instead use:
A long, long time ago “God have known the comings of no religion.”
Do you mean that God foresaw the coming of atheism? I’m just trying to be perfectly clear, as I’m sure that this is nothing more than a language barrier problem.
I was describing the time taken for a certain object to travel at a typical normal speed(bullet train for instance) covering the distance if light would have travelled. So my use of light years is justs if one view it from a different perspective. The founder of the term light years must have bear in mind these relations as he include the word ‘years’ which is a measure of time when introducing the definition of light year.
Those who commit the next act of terror or suicide bombing have to question themselves, are they Muslims?
Cite me one word in the Qoran or Hadith that teaches Terrorism & suicide bombings.
Solomon, I have not read the Quron but I am sure that those Muslims commiting acts of terror consider themself’s Muslim & are using some verse to justify their actions.
May 6th, 2010 at 1:55
How many crimes are commented and how many humans have died for made up god myth? What a waste, a crime and a disgrace!
May 6th, 2010 at 3:10
The quote above – is not only true but predicted the future so accurately. In fact it is still predicting it and still as accurate!
May 6th, 2010 at 4:29
Such as the holocaust – evil fruit of 1500 years of anti-jewish pogroms. Can anyone point to ANY crime of significant scale that was committed IN THE NAME OF atheism? That rules out Stalin and Mao and as we know Hitler was Catholic and what he did was endorsed by the church. If God is the source of morality then why are atheists incarcerated at far lower rates than Christians?
Conversely, when I ask if one can think of a crime committed in the name of religion, you thought of one before I finished the question. Absurd? Indeed. And it does grave injury to our dignity as humans to accept the slur that the absurd laws promulgated as “god’s laws” are somehow responsible for the hard won gains and civilizing influences of our continuing evolution.
May 6th, 2010 at 9:46
Terrorism & suicide bombings=not the teachings of Islam
Terrorism & suicide bombings=humans who posses Atheists hearts
May 6th, 2010 at 10:39
Back to the quote:
absurdities=homosexual activities
May 6th, 2010 at 14:45
CZ, you have nailed it… and eloquently.
In modern times, I think of Jim Jones and David Koresh who led their “flocks” to death in making their “stand” (each of them playing the role of Jesus, if I recall). Then my mind turns to Fred Phelps who wants to spread his message of hate via the living (well, sort of zombies). All of those young people who might have been happy, productive fellow human beings… likely lost forever. And since Phelps is clearly insane, there could be – just sayin’ – could be a mass suicide or suicidal stand by him and his followers.
These are just pockets of misguided religionists, though. It gets worse; far worse in the historical and modern religious world.
But as you say, the likelihood of atheists ever instigating or even condoning activities such as those described or things such as terrorism & suicide bombings is on a microscopic scale.
BAT
May 6th, 2010 at 14:48
During the Dark Ages, the Church even bullied kings with threats of excommunication. The advancement of human progress was stunted by the church’s insistence that anyone with an independent thought be burned at the stake. Atrocities were committed to protect the absurdity of religious doctrine. Even today, the Religious Right tries to shape politics to their favor. Individual believers embrace the absurdities, and may not personally commit atrocities, but they do provide safe haven for the extremists in their midst. The extremists can claim legitimacy through their association with religion, even to commit terrorist actions, because most people refuse to see the absurdity of blind faith. Most people do not contemplate such issues, and truthfully, most atheists know as much or more about the bible than believers do. Atheists have a reason for their skepticism, but most believers just go along with the crowd.
May 6th, 2010 at 15:47
Isn’t it odd that one of the believer hominids on this site is obsessed with homosexuality even as he publicly denounces it? Which brings to mind another quote:
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
May 6th, 2010 at 18:06
No One Can make you do anything even at gun point,I say NO One.You have to stand for something or you will fall for anything.
May 6th, 2010 at 18:30
Must be non-sequitur day in the mind control camps. Nonetheless, it’s a good quote, h t k a, even if you mis-quoted it.
“Those Who Stand For Nothing, Fall For Anything” – Alexander Hamilton
He also said “The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and, however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true to fact. The people are turbulent and changing, they seldom judge or determine right. ”
And you are plainly wrong – people with guns CAN and DO force people to do things that are against their will. To think otherwise is, well, dumb.
May 6th, 2010 at 19:52
“Terrorism & suicide bombings=not the teachings of Islam”
Maybe it’s not in the Quran, but the people doing it certainly think that it is. I doubt anyone reading Robert G. Ingersoll or Carl Sagan’s “The Demon-Haunted World” are going to strap bombs to themselves.
“Terrorism & suicide bombings=humans who posses Atheists hearts”
I possess an atheist’s heart, because I am an atheist. Not going to kill anyone, ever. (Sure, I’d defend myself if someone tried to kill me, but I’m just going to hope that that will never happen.)
“Absurdities=homosexual activities”
That is an opinion to which your are entitled, as I believe completely in freedom of speech, opinion, religion and exrpession. I heartily disagree with you, but won’t force my views on you.
May 6th, 2010 at 20:14
I love it when a quote hits the nail right on the head! Arguing against it is not logical.
May 6th, 2010 at 21:22
Of course, there have been atheists that have been responsible for some of history’s greater crimes. Stalin and Mao come to mind. But the important thing to remember with them is that, while they claimed not to believe in gods, they sold themselves as saviors, declared their opinions to be infallible, and set up their governments and militaries as forces both unquestioning and unquestionable. In essence, they set themselves up as gods, their policies as scripture, and their supporters as clergy. Their claims of godlessness were false, as they viewed themselves as gods.
They were still guilty of religious thinking, and any reasonable atheist OR believer should reject such people as delusional and dangerous.
I think that Voltaire’s quotation is unassailable.
May 6th, 2010 at 22:07
You can’t argue over something until you first understand it. There fore there are very few arguments on this site.Just a lot of meaningless gab.
May 6th, 2010 at 22:54
“You can’t argue over something until you first understand it. There fore there are very few arguments on this site.Just a lot of meaningless gab.”
Htka, what are you talking about? Go ahead and please treat us like we’re fools. We won’t be offended. Spell it out, like we’re the kids in class that just don’t get it. Tell us what we don’t understand, and then please provide examples of our meaningless gab.
Because that’s how I percieve your comment. It addresses nothing in specific, it argues neither for nor against anything, and is, therefore, lacking any real meaning.
May 6th, 2010 at 23:05
Really H t k a? If you understand it so well then please let us have your insights into the quote and maybe even what you think of Voltaire?
The quote is insightful, brave and timeless. Voltaire was a great writer and revolutionary thinker.
Without all the scientific evidence against a god we enjoy today; 200 years ago Voltaire understood the absurdity of religion.
May 7th, 2010 at 0:06
Light years ago God have known the comings of no religion.
May 7th, 2010 at 0:15
“Terrorism & suicide bombings=not the teachings of Islam”
Really? What are the chances of the next act of terror or suicide bombing NOT being committed by a Muslim?
May 7th, 2010 at 0:50
“Light years ago”?
Sol, a light year is a measure of distance, not time. Not sure what other point you were trying to make. Next time turn the “word randomizer” off.
May 7th, 2010 at 1:10
“Light years ago God have known the comings of no religion.” Let’s forget about the “light years” error and instead use:
A long, long time ago “God have known the comings of no religion.”
Do you mean that God foresaw the coming of atheism? I’m just trying to be perfectly clear, as I’m sure that this is nothing more than a language barrier problem.
May 7th, 2010 at 2:04
Dear Capt’n,
“Light years ago”?
I was describing the time taken for a certain object to travel at a typical normal speed(bullet train for instance) covering the distance if light would have travelled. So my use of light years is justs if one view it from a different perspective. The founder of the term light years must have bear in mind these relations as he include the word ‘years’ which is a measure of time when introducing the definition of light year.
May 7th, 2010 at 2:07
Dear Michael,
A long, long time ago “God have known the comings of no religion.”
Yes, God forsee the coming of anything.
May 7th, 2010 at 2:12
Dear MrBig,
Those who commit the next act of terror or suicide bombing have to question themselves, are they Muslims?
Cite me one word in the Qoran or Hadith that teaches Terrorism & suicide bombings.
May 9th, 2010 at 9:01
Solomon, I have not read the Quron but I am sure that those Muslims commiting acts of terror consider themself’s Muslim & are using some verse to justify their actions.