Atheism

[Ravioli]

just thought id share some of my favorite atheism videos

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdVucvo-kDU[/YOUTUBE]


[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HWVkS2g7xo[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Vigilante]

Yay Carl Sagan!

 

[The Monkey]

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_2xGIwQfik[/YOUTUBE]

 

[MiccyNarc]

The 2nd video is a perfect example of the snobbish attitude that many atheists have.

I don't give a shit what your belief or lack of belief dictates, just as long as you are a good person. Don't give you your crap spiel about how much you think because you are an atheist, no one cares.

 

[PvtRyan]

The 2nd video is a perfect example of the snobbish attitude that many atheists have.

I don't give a shit what your belief or lack of belief dictates, just as long as you are a good person. Don't give you your crap spiel about how much you think because you are an atheist, no one cares.

Oh shut up. Take a good look at the number of videos from Christians professing their truth to the world. At least this guy backs it up with argumentation, rather than "evolution is lies, God loves you!". I think there's overwhelmingly more Christians imposing their beliefs or lack thereof on others (proof: there are 2 billion Christians, QED) than atheists.

OT:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgSaTYLYRGI[/youtube]

 

[ktimekiller]

the first video is ****in stupid. I could easily make a similar video that will show atheist who arent exactly the best person, and I could also show many people in similar fashion religious people who were great. The first video is just ****in stupid.

 

[Asknoone]

The 2nd video is a perfect example of the snobbish attitude that many atheists have.

No, listen, I'm a good snob :angel:

 

[PvtRyan]

the first video is ****in stupid. I could easily make a similar video that will show atheist who arent exactly the best person, and I could also show many people in similar fashion religious people who were great. The first video is just ****in stupid.

Read the description of the video:

Atheists aren't that bad. This is NOT an argument for atheism... It's a defense of atheists.

 

[Absinthe]

"Aborted feces" :O

 

[MiccyNarc]

Oh shut up. Take a good look at the number of videos from Christians professing their truth to the world. At least this guy backs it up with argumentation, rather than "evolution is lies, God loves you!". I think there's overwhelmingly more Christians imposing their beliefs or lack thereof on others (proof: there are 2 billion Christians, QED) than atheists.

No shit sherlock, I can't stand mainstream Christianity. I'm just stating my own observation.
If you want me to do a fair and balanced bash of believers and nonbelievers, start a thread about the westboro baptist church. But last I checked, this thread is about atheists, so no, I'm not going to go on an anti-fundy rant.

 

[xcellerate]

I hate atheists, they are easily more annoying than you're average non-extreme Christian.

 

[theotherguy]

My school is apparently doing some kind of "religious forum" now where students get to argue their religious beliefs (as was dictated by the school board to allow evangelist students to preach the ****ing gospel in school). Somehow though, I don't think I'll be allowed to attend because of my atheism. The last time we had a "religious forum" I was pulled aside and told that my beliefs were "hurting people's feelings".

 

[The Brick]

[youtube]bkhQLt1vbWU[/youtube]

 

[Krynn72]

the first video is ****in stupid. I could easily make a similar video that will show atheist who arent exactly the best person, and I could also show many people in similar fashion religious people who were great. The first video is just ****in stupid.

I believe the point was to show that there are atheists who arnt evil, immoral and useless people. He was going against the claim that many religious people make about how ALL atheists are immoral and such.

 

[Absinthe]

ya rly

It started off with showing the biblical accusation that atheists are fools. What more framing of this video do you need to see it's not being unreasonable.

 

[The Monkey]

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ9JMUFIVqE[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Asknoone]

My school is apparently doing some kind of "religious forum" now where students get to argue their religious beliefs (as was dictated by the school board to allow evangelist students to preach the ****ing gospel in school). Somehow though, I don't think I'll be allowed to attend because of my atheism. The last time we had a "religious forum" I was pulled aside and told that my beliefs were "hurting people's feelings".

That would have given me a big ****ing grin if I was told that.

 

[theotherguy]

That would have given me a big ****ing grin if I was told that.

I dunno, apparently I "scared people" also.

The only thing I said was "Yes, I agree, God can only be perceived through faith and not evidence, faith therefore is synonymous with stupidity."

Which greatly offended the Muslim kid in front of me, and gave me dirty looks from the teacher, who said, "that's enough!"

 

[Warbie]

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ9JMUFIVqE[/YOUTUBE]

Dawkins is one clever dude.

I'm half way through the God Delusion at the moment and have never read so much sense condensed into just a few 100 pages - the book is saturated. I've been an athiest since I was old enough to sit down and logically think about religion, science, god etc, but have never been that comfortable openly admitting it - I hate to imagine how hard it must be in some areas of the world - but have no troubles now. Richard Dawkin's books, interviews and seminars are partly the reason for this.

 

[Solaris]

I'd highly recommend Christopher Hitchens God is not Great and End of Faith by Harris.

 

[Warbie]

I was actually planning on checking out the first - Dawkins highly recommended it in a youtube clip I saw the other day - and will certainly check out this Harris chap afterwards. Cheers for the headsup.

 

[Asknoone]

I dunno, apparently I "scared people" also.

The only thing I said was "Yes, I agree, God can only be perceived through faith and not evidence, faith therefore is synonymous with stupidity."

Which greatly offended the Muslim kid in front of me, and gave me dirty looks from the teacher, who said, "that's enough!"

What a crappy school.

 

[Solaris]

I was actually planning on checking out the first - Dawkins highly recommended it in a youtube clip I saw the other day - and will certainly check out this Harris chap afterwards. Cheers for the headsup.

You'll notice that Dawkins quotes Harris's book alot in the God Delusion.

Perhaps he's a bit extreme (harris) but it really opens you eyes.

 

[PvtRyan]

No shit sherlock, I can't stand mainstream Christianity. I'm just stating my own observation.
If you want me to do a fair and balanced bash of believers and nonbelievers, start a thread about the westboro baptist church. But last I checked, this thread is about atheists, so no, I'm not going to go on an anti-fundy rant.

OK, so you agree with me a snobbish "I'm right" attitude is something of all sides? Then why the "bah many atheists are so snobbish" as if it's something exclusive to atheists? Besides, I don't think it was that snobbish, it was a "I'm right and you're wrong and here's why" video not a "I'm right and you're wrong". Of course, the argumentation left a lot to be desired, but it's a video not a book.

 

[mindless_moder]

*walks in ... completely ignores the topic at hand .... shouts "NEIL DEGRASE TYSON IS A GOD AMONGST MEN".... walks out*

edit: i would like to add that you cant form definite conclusive statements about atheists because they do not live up to some kind of generalized standard so being an atheist doesn't not indicate or correlate to any specific trend of behavior whereas being a religious fundamentalist does lend itself to particular groups or types of behavior because of the tenets of such beliefs and the deterministic attitude that it instills in them.

 

[clarky003]

Dawkins makes some excellent points, but he also comes across as a complete souless douche bag. People can believe whatever the hell they want aslong as it doesn't harm anyone else, I for one am fed up of the whole debate and people making money preaching about their point of view. Believing in what we want makes us human, so let people believe, even if it's physically unfounded we can all look beyond that to see what we all have in common.

 

[kirovman]

Dawkins makes some excellent points, but he also comes across as a complete souless douche bag.

Of course he would argue that there's no such thing as a soul... :cheese:

 

[clarky003]

It appears you have spotted the irony in that sentence .

 

[Krynn72]

Dawkins makes some excellent points, but he also comes across as a complete souless douche bag. People can believe whatever the hell they want aslong as it doesn't harm anyone else, I for one am fed up of the whole debate and people making money preaching about their point of view. Believing in what we want makes us human, so let people believe, even if it's physically unfounded we can all look beyond that to see what we all have in common.

I dont think he comes across as a douche bag. He comes across as someone who is angered by the state of theism.

And as for the "let people believe what they want" point you're making... You cant have that WITHOUT debate. If nobody discussed things like this, then everyone would just believe what their parents/community told them to believe, which is a result in opposition to your wish that people should believe what THEY want. I fail to see how debate stops anyone from believing in what they want.

 

[mindless_moder]

Dawkins makes some excellent points, but he also comes across as a complete souless douche bag. People can believe whatever the hell they want aslong as it doesn't harm anyone else, I for one am fed up of the whole debate and people making money preaching about their point of view. Believing in what we want makes us human, so let people believe, even if it's physically unfounded we can all look beyond that to see what we all have in common.

he might come across as being a bit extreme but if you actually read his work and have a look at some of his debates/interviews etc. you will see that he isn't exactly against religion just fundamentalism and if you don't think that sort of ignorance is destructive then you need to take a good look at the world today .

 

[Uriel]

As I've stated time and time again. Not all Christians are the same. I believe in what I believe because I have my own Testimony. My religion has some major differences from mainstream Christianity.

I'm tired of hearing "Christians don't believe in Science"

Bull, look at THIS

Educators, scientists, engineers, etc.

?The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth."

-Boyd K. Packer-

 

[clarky003]

I dont think he comes across as a douche bag. He comes across as someone who is angered by the state of theism.

And as for the "let people believe what they want" point you're making... You cant have that WITHOUT debate. If nobody discussed things like this, then everyone would just believe what their parents/community told them to believe, which is a result in opposition to your wish that people should believe what THEY want. I fail to see how debate stops anyone from believing in what they want.

I'm not saying don't debate it, I'm saying I'm fed up of it all. I'm sure even the cave men were arguing about the same thing except in a more physical stone throwing and maiming manor, it's done to death over history. I'm saying find what we have in common through debate instead of trying to fruitlessly convert people to whatever belief system.

 

[kirovman]

People are free to hold their own personal beliefs, but they cannot impose them on or indoctrinate others, especially young children.

If they are prepared to preach their beliefs to others in the public domain, they must also be willing to accept criticism and not hide behind any sort of protection which prevents them from answering to facts. They must debate on a level playing field, not from their fortress.

 

[Absinthe]

Dawkins makes some excellent points, but he also comes across as a complete souless douche bag. People can believe whatever the hell they want aslong as it doesn't harm anyone else, I for one am fed up of the whole debate and people making money preaching about their point of view. Believing in what we want makes us human, so let people believe, even if it's physically unfounded we can all look beyond that to see what we all have in common.

And a major argument among Dawkins' and his likeminded colleagues is they do harm others. It's difficult to look beyond superstitious beliefs for commonality if the beliefs in question are stabbing you in the fucking face.

A lot of people view Dawkins' critique of religious fundamentalism as valid, but think him a bully when targeting moderates. Such criticism fails to understand that his focus on moderation is two-pronged: To establish that religious moderation is still intellectually indefensible and to demonstrate how moderation enables fundamentalism. He spends a lot of time explaining how the very cherry-picking process that goes into moderation is the same thing that can go into violent extremism. In the absence of an independent standard of validity that holy texts can be measured up against, everybody is free to interpret what they wish and everybody is valid. There is nothing theologically advantageous about moderation, nor can you claim it superior to extremism on a theological level. Attacking fundamentalism alone would be very hollow and utterly fail to recognize and address the inherently flawed thought process that goes into forming these beliefs in the first place.

He's not a douche bag for calling people wrong. He's not a douche bag for pointing out that no matter how noble and morally superior moderation may be from a secular standpoint, it does erect a barrier around extremism.

 

[clarky003]

I agree, my point is essentially we need to concentrate on what we all have in common, because as a people we are weak when we are divided over such trivial matters as what invisible force we want to believe in. The real danger here is there are ruthless intelligent people who stir up racial and religious hatred on purpose in recognition that they can more readily manipulate people into being their own undoing. So instead of them having to lift a finger, We will just end up destroying each other.

 

[Absinthe]

Except this isn't trivial. Religious people around the world want to kill you for their imaginary sky god. At least half of the world would like to impose their faith-based rulings on you. Those that stir up racial and religious hatred would have their powerbase heavily diminished if their constituents didn't already believe this shit in the first place.

There comes a time when appeasements of commonality are of no use, to the point of being deadly and negligent. Sometimes the quickest way to resolve a situation is to tell somebody they are flat-out wrong, not to mention dangerous. For how many more generations are we going to gloss over these irrational fantasies?

 

[clarky003]

Lol, well yeah apart from the extremists, of course that's not trivial. But hey the statistics show it isn't exactly likely I'm going to snuff it by the hands of a bat shit insane Christian or Muslim. I'll probably grow a tumor before that happens, so it is trivial in terms of creating a solid community where most people aren't quite so vulgar, because you can begin to automatically weed out idiots by connecting a diverse community.

 

[Absinthe]

What part of my previous post did you not understand?

There is no logical reason that moderation can be in a position to criticize fundamentalism. There is no way you can logically favor one over the other just because the alternative is more nasty. You have to remember that we are talking about the alleged word of God. That supercedes mankind's notions of laws and morality. Violent extremism has to be seen as just as valid a religious preference as moderation. If moderation can get by without being critically challenged, then the same must be treated of fundamentalism. By being complicit with moderation, you are undermining your position against the literal and often violent preference.

The only reason religious extremism hasn't racked up more kills than cancer these days is because the grand majority of extremists don't have access to nukes. Wanna wait for that to change any time soon?

 

[clarky003]

No I understand the paradigm of living in fear perfectly. I for one will most certainly not allow it to influence or have any weight on my belief in humanity and peaceful society, but you do sound like you've been watching fox news too much bud, I'd take a rain check.

 

[Absinthe]

"LOL you think religious people want to kill you! OMG, like, too much Faux News, buddy! HAHAHA!"

Think of how many people become twisted and violent by their faiths. Think of how many people would love nothing more than to see you die in the cause of their Gods' holy plan. Imagine the numerous people that would torture you due to the way you talk or dress for offending the senses of their revered deities. It doesn't take an entire nation to blow shit up in today's world of modern weaponry. In most places, it actually only takes one individual, usually authoritatively deranged in his beliefs.

We should be thankful that the majority of such types are relegated to financial shitholes and underdeveloped areas beneath the observing eye of others.