Comments on: what you should do if you find an atheist http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/ like a punch in the knows. Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:14:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Randal http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-168731 Randal Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:19:39 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-168731 Robin, I think that you are misusing the terms "atheist" and "agnostic". Atheists do not necessarily believe that there is no god. Atheists that believe this are called "gnostic atheists", and are the group to whom people commonly refer as atheists. Agnostic atheists are atheists that don't think that it is possible one way or the other but choose not to specifically believe in a god. Likewise, gnostic theists are theists that "know" that there is a god. Agnostic theists (who people commonly call "agnostics") are those people that believe that there is a god, but also believe that it is impossible to prove what god exists or even that one does exist. Finally, those that are dead against religion are more properly called "antitheists" or "militant atheists". Robin, I think that you are misusing the terms “atheist” and “agnostic”. Atheists do not necessarily believe that there is no god. Atheists that believe this are called “gnostic atheists”, and are the group to whom people commonly refer as atheists. Agnostic atheists are atheists that don’t think that it is possible one way or the other but choose not to specifically believe in a god. Likewise, gnostic theists are theists that “know” that there is a god. Agnostic theists (who people commonly call “agnostics”) are those people that believe that there is a god, but also believe that it is impossible to prove what god exists or even that one does exist. Finally, those that are dead against religion are more properly called “antitheists” or “militant atheists”.

]]> By: chrisdiclerico.com » Blog Archive » more on atheism http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-127470 chrisdiclerico.com » Blog Archive » more on atheism Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:30:58 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-127470 [...] It’s funny how often Atheists hear the same argument from Agnostics. That Atheism requires faith in and of itself because it espouses that there is definitively no god, and that Agnostism is really the only reasonable belief since it is open to any new evidence of the supernatural. Even the typically very intelligent and very reasonable Robin from our own comments wrote in response to my ‘What to do if you meet an atheist’ post, “because it is so difficut to prove the absence of something, agnosticism albeit lame, trumps atheism.” [...] [...] It’s funny how often Atheists hear the same argument from Agnostics. That Atheism requires faith in and of itself because it espouses that there is definitively no god, and that Agnostism is really the only reasonable belief since it is open to any new evidence of the supernatural. Even the typically very intelligent and very reasonable Robin from our own comments wrote in response to my ‘What to do if you meet an atheist’ post, “because it is so difficut to prove the absence of something, agnosticism albeit lame, trumps atheism.” [...]

]]> By: Mike55 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-127465 Mike55 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:25:22 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-127465 May I propose a fourth way? Call it, if you like, athgnostism. If religion is on the right, and atheism is on the left, with agnostism bang in the middle it's, well, sort of, hanging somewhere above them all. If the right yells: ‘I believe!’ And the left counters: ‘I don’t!’ While the middle murmurs: ‘Erm, I’m not sure…’ Then the athgnostiscs amongst us merely tut. Because, when all’s said and done, we really don’t care. ‘Let the baby have his bottle’, quoth Homer Simpson (the closest we athgnostics have to a prophet). Or not. Tut. Or, if I dare: ‘Do as thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.’ Just leaveth me the fuck out of it. Because what you choose to believe – or not; or disbelieve – or not; what you remain undecided upon – or not. Well, that’s your concern. I really – really – don’t give a shit. Nor should I. And – here’s the kicker, folks – the same rules should apply in reverse. So please, whatever it is you believe in, disbelieve in, or are simply unsure about…it’s all good. Just keep it to yourself. Don’t witness, proselyte, or in any way try and bring me around to your way of thinking. I will, gratefully, return the favour. And then we can all just keep on keeping on. Which, for some of us, will mean being downright evil, racist, bigoted, misanthropic sons (or daughters) of bitches. While others amongst us may rise above it all and reach for the limits of our true potential – at the same time neither believing, disbelieving, nor, frankly, caring whether we should be thanking god for our progress. Just like the bumblebee. And, the above notwithstanding, bumblebees are perfectly aerodynamic. Funny how otherwise well-informed people can be taken in by widely-accepted myth. Read into that what you will. May I propose a fourth way? Call it, if you like, athgnostism.

If religion is on the right, and atheism is on the left, with agnostism bang in the middle it’s, well, sort of, hanging somewhere above them all.

If the right yells: ‘I believe!’

And the left counters: ‘I don’t!’

While the middle murmurs: ‘Erm, I’m not sure…’

Then the athgnostiscs amongst us merely tut. Because, when all’s said and done, we really don’t care.

‘Let the baby have his bottle’, quoth Homer Simpson (the closest we athgnostics have to a prophet).

Or not. Tut.

Or, if I dare: ‘Do as thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.’

Just leaveth me the fuck out of it.

Because what you choose to believe – or not; or disbelieve – or not; what you remain undecided upon – or not. Well, that’s your concern. I really – really – don’t give a shit. Nor should I. And – here’s the kicker, folks – the same rules should apply in reverse.

So please, whatever it is you believe in, disbelieve in, or are simply unsure about…it’s all good. Just keep it to yourself. Don’t witness, proselyte, or in any way try and bring me around to your way of thinking. I will, gratefully, return the favour. And then we can all just keep on keeping on.

Which, for some of us, will mean being downright evil, racist, bigoted, misanthropic sons (or daughters) of bitches. While others amongst us may rise above it all and reach for the limits of our true potential – at the same time neither believing, disbelieving, nor, frankly, caring whether we should be thanking god for our progress.

Just like the bumblebee. And, the above notwithstanding, bumblebees are perfectly aerodynamic. Funny how otherwise well-informed people can be taken in by widely-accepted myth.

Read into that what you will.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-127303 Andrew Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:21:58 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-127303 Robin, and others, if you want to know why atheists come across as grumpy, read this girl's blog entry. I consider religion to be an evil, poisonous man-made method of human control and her excellent writing covers many of the reasons why. http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2007/10/atheists-and-an.html Robin, and others, if you want to know why atheists come across as grumpy, read this girl’s blog entry. I consider religion to be an evil, poisonous man-made method of human control and her excellent writing covers many of the reasons why.

http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2007/10/atheists-and-an.html

]]> By: robin http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-126535 robin Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:35:03 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-126535 grumpy is as grumpy does, and nobody loves a zealot. fanatacism is the evil, not religion per se. and because it is so difficut to prove the absence of something, agnosticism albeit lame, trumps atheism. grumpy is as grumpy does, and nobody loves a zealot. fanatacism is the evil, not religion per se. and because it is so difficut to prove the absence of something, agnosticism albeit lame, trumps atheism.

]]> By: Mark http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-126219 Mark Fri, 12 Oct 2007 21:21:45 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-126219 This obsession over religion is the source of at least 90% of the world's problems, I am convinced of it. Alluh Akbar! This obsession over religion is the source of at least 90% of the world’s problems, I am convinced of it. Alluh Akbar!

]]> By: jason http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-126157 jason Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:50:44 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-126157 You're all goin' to hell. Can I get an evite? You’re all goin’ to hell.

Can I get an evite?

]]> By: jay http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-126129 jay Fri, 12 Oct 2007 06:17:34 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-126129 Well said Andrew. Now let me go finish watching Joel Osteen brainwash thousands of people and get them to buy his new book. Praise Jesus! Well said Andrew.

Now let me go finish watching Joel Osteen brainwash thousands of people and get them to buy his new book. Praise Jesus!

]]> By: christa http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-126089 christa Fri, 12 Oct 2007 01:11:22 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-126089 okay, upon further inspection this site is definitely a parody. you can buy a Mr. Gruff t-shirt and "don't forsake the baby jesus" thong panties (i was on the site and actually bought a pair of those a few years ago) http://www.cafepress.com/objectivemin/561030 http://www.cafepress.com/objectivemin/568765 okay, upon further inspection this site is definitely a parody. you can buy a Mr. Gruff t-shirt and “don’t forsake the baby jesus” thong panties (i was on the site and actually bought a pair of those a few years ago)

http://www.cafepress.com/objectivemin/561030

http://www.cafepress.com/objectivemin/568765

]]> By: christa http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-126088 christa Fri, 12 Oct 2007 01:02:42 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-126088 source: http://objectiveministries.org/kidz/ i really thought it was a parody. i thought, how in the world can this be a serious thing? i'm proud to be Mr. Gruff, the atheist source: http://objectiveministries.org/kidz/

i really thought it was a parody. i thought, how in the world can this be a serious thing?

i’m proud to be Mr. Gruff, the atheist

]]> By: Andrew http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-126080 Andrew Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:18:32 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-126080 "What should they do if they meet an agnostic?" Tell them to stop being a pussy and get off the fence. “What should they do if they meet an agnostic?”

Tell them to stop being a pussy and get off the fence.

]]> By: rob http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-126077 rob Thu, 11 Oct 2007 23:46:10 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-126077 I love how they accuse atheists of "thinking they've got it all figured out." Unlike all those totally open-minded Christians, of course. I love how they accuse atheists of “thinking they’ve got it all figured out.” Unlike all those totally open-minded Christians, of course.

]]> By: Jefe http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-126065 Jefe Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:37:00 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-126065 What should they do if they meet an agnostic? What should they do if they meet an agnostic?

]]> By: Andrew http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-126033 Andrew Thu, 11 Oct 2007 17:28:48 +0000 http://www.chrisdiclerico.com/2007/10/11/what-you-should-do-if-you-find-an-atheist/#comment-126033 "Religious retards." Enough said. “Religious retards.”

Enough said.

]]>