You may well be right about this, I was mostly referring to the modern day and location of the USA. Perhaps I am apt to overlook conflicts amongst "factions" of which I am not a part.Truthfully I believe Theist do have a difficult time with people of "different faith" to a greater degree than do theists and atheists do. For example, How many wars have been fought between the different faiths, verses how many millions have been slaughtered between theism and atheism?
I'll accept your definition for the sake of argument and for lack of better terminology to express what you are saying.Without a doubt we do have our issues. I believe that most of our irreconcilable differences stem from our classification of faith. In that most atheists have been trained to believe that their beliefs are indeed built on solid truths, when in reality their beliefs are built on facts. The difference being is not all facts are true. a fact is merely a statement that can be proved or disproved. For example All criminal court cases are built on facts. If all facts presented in a case could be considered truth, no innocent man would ever be, or have been convicted, likewise no guilty man would ever be acquitted. This is not the case. It is a true fact that the guilty walk free and the innocent are incarcerated.
Again Fact are not synonymous to truth. It is true that fact can be found or proved to be true, but just because someone can classify a statement as fact doesn't mean it is true.
In that we don't believe in him or in that we don't believe in the entire collective of gods (as in lumping them all up in one without giving one presidency over the other)? I'm just trying to clarify this statement to make sure I understand where you're coming from.I say that to underline the following:
Because Atheist have a collective view on God.
I would like to point out that the only "rule" to be an Atheist is that you don't believe in gods. An Atheist who believes they can talk to Elvis via walkie-talkie while he rides around in an alien spacecraft may very well be ostracized from any sort of Atheist community because most people would agree that he's bonkers, but that doesn't change that he's still technically an Atheist.Because Atheists have a set doctrine or "rules" that govern who can be considered an atheist.
I'm not sure about that one. There's been a slew of new ideas about the origins of the universe/multiverse (cyclical, fractal, doughnut shaped, bubble multiverses, flat, the list goes on) and honestly I've just given up trying to pick one until they come up with solid evidence. I'm perfectly content with saying that I don't honestly know. The only thing that I would say most Atheists agree on (I say most because, an origins view is not a prerequisite to being an Atheist) is that at some point there was an event which we refer to as the "big bang".Because Atheist have an a collective account of origins.
I would agree, but also point out that most governing senses of morality come from society. Whether or not you agree is one thing, but I personally tend to think of morality as something that develops personally and is influenced by society. I don't really think it has anything to do with their Atheism.Because Most Atheists have a governing sense of morality.
This is unfortunately true. I try to avoid this because I realize that a lot of people actually do require their religion to function as they do. I also think that people should always come to any philosophical, emotional, political, or religious position on their own as part of a personal journey rather than just accepting what someone else has told them. I think a position held with knowledge, especially come to from the outside, is more respectable than a position held from tradition no matter what that position may be.Because Most atheists seem to have a need to seek out and save the "saved."
In some cases perhaps, I would be cautious of applying that distinction to the entire group though, not only because Atheists are such a diverse group, but also because one of the definitions of faith is belief in something without proof. Faith in something in light of facts seems a bit oxymoronic to me, but I can see where "faith in facts" could be as I said earlier, a position held simply because someone became convinced of it, not entered into in knowledge.That makes Atheism a religious expression. One independent of God, but it is still a faith none the less. We see it as A faith in facts.
I can see where that would be frustrating. I'm not sure you should be saying that we all argue from a tactically religious stand point. I realize many will, and I know I certainly have in the past by the definition that you give above, but I try to refrain from it now in light of new perspective. My main concern now is understanding the religious position, not fighting against it unless a challenge is issued.Now Because you all argue from a tactically religious stand point but will not accept or acknowledge your religious involvement, it makes for a frustrating discussion. It can be like have a fat gym coach shouting at you that your efforts are not good enough from his golf cart, while eating a cheeseburger.
Again you are unfortunately correctOutside of the hypocrisy i have mentioned, I have found that most atheists are genuinely hostile towards those who profess a theistic faith, particularly Christianity. Take some time and read some of those who come here to "seek christianity." It would seem that they are here to destroy the faiths of others rather than to simply explore christianity. I ask how does one explore something he has already made his mind up on?
I think most people are apt to try and convince others of opinions they themselves hold. Most people tend to think that the world would be better if everyone ascribed to their personal beliefs. After all, if you didn't think you had the best set of beliefs for your situation, then you wouldn't hold them. What people don't realize is that there are many different situations, and in some cases the beliefs you hold simply aren't healthy or beneficial to other parties at this moment in time.If this is not the case then why is there such a need to catalog in such great detail the "greater" attributes of one's faith over another's? Especially in a forum that is dedicated to the other person's faith? or more so to the point the exploration of the other person's faith.
Which for me points back to the atheist's version of the "Great commission."
It seems as if some of you are on a mission to seek out and save the "saved." by destroying what the saved believe, and replace it with your faith in "fact." Why?
If Atheists believed that they needed to escape from God's moral code then they would believe in God and thus no longer be Atheists. If I believed in God I don't think I would be so stupid as to deny him.I believe so that it may free you from God's moral code so that you may live in one of your own choosing.
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