Rational Response Squad

[Harpuia]

Am I the only non-fundie slightly uncomfortable about the Rational Response Squad?

I understand that some will tell me that these guys are part of the latest "outdo them all" sensationalistic deals. They remind me of the 700 Club only dealing the other way, that God does not exist.

Another thing that gets me uneasy is that they seem to ONLY want to go after Christianity. Why not other religions, especially the other more well-known religions like Islam, Scientology, and Buddhism?

 

[Ampoliros]

Am I the only non-fundie slightly uncomfortable about these guys?

http://www.rationalresponders.com

I understand that some will tell me that these guys are part of the latest "outdo them all" sensationalistic deals. They remind me of the 700 Club only dealing the other way, that God does not exist.

Well, they're not as crazy as Pat Robertson, at least ...but seriously, I'm not hugely big on them. I doubt calling theism a mental disorder gets you many rational responses.

Another thing that gets me uneasy is that they seem to ONLY want to go after Christianity. Why not other religions, especially the other more well-known religions like Islam, Scientology, and Buddhism?

Atheists here in America are most often confronted with Christianity, meaning arguments against Christianity are what people typically deal with.

 

[levi501]

Am I the only non-fundie slightly uncomfortable about these guys?

http://www.rationalresponders.com

I understand that some will tell me that these guys are part of the latest "outdo them all" sensationalistic deals. They remind me of the 700 Club only dealing the other way, that God does not exist.

Another thing that gets me uneasy is that they seem to ONLY want to go after Christianity. Why not other religions, especially the other more well-known religions like Islam, Scientology, and Buddhism?

It doesn't take an atheist to understand that a theists position is one that requires proof. These guys are nothing like the 700 club. They only seem extreme because they are confronting head on what they despise... fear based manipulation.

With that said... saying religion is a mental disorder either shows their ignorance of mental disorders or is merely an ad hom subtracting from their message.

Now if they had said, 'religion is comfort food for the emotionally and/or intellectually weak' it would've been a more accurate observation many atheists share.

 

[HumanisticJones]

Am I the only non-fundie slightly uncomfortable about these guys?

http://www.rationalresponders.com

I understand that some will tell me that these guys are part of the latest "outdo them all" sensationalistic deals. They remind me of the 700 Club only dealing the other way, that God does not exist.

Another thing that gets me uneasy is that they seem to ONLY want to go after Christianity. Why not other religions, especially the other more well-known religions like Islam, Scientology, and Buddhism?

I must ask, what about us worries you. It's not like we have a legal lobby like the FFRF. We are just out their pushing back with our own arguments, nothing wrong with that is there?

As for why we're after Christianity so hard instead of the others? I don't see Buddhism or Scientology making laws for all of us using their religion as the sole justification. They aren't trying to hijack science education to force in "equal time" for the theories on Xenu and the Galactic federation or put warning labels on psychology books in our classrooms claiming "This book contains information on Psychology, which is only an evil tool used by Lord Xenu. Reading and believing this may keep you from attaining OT3".

There are some way out there religions compared to Christianity, but we have to deal with the one that's in our face and not the ones that are just in the tabloids.

 

[OdwinOddball]

Am I the only non-fundie slightly uncomfortable about these guys?

http://www.rationalresponders.com

I understand that some will tell me that these guys are part of the latest "outdo them all" sensationalistic deals. They remind me of the 700 Club only dealing the other way, that God does not exist.

Another thing that gets me uneasy is that they seem to ONLY want to go after Christianity. Why not other religions, especially the other more well-known religions like Islam, Scientology, and Buddhism?

There are a lot of atheists, agnostics, and other non-religious folk in America who are getting fed up with the increasing influence of the "Christian Right" and its ability to affect public policy for religious goals. As such, the Rational Response squad is just one of many organizations growing in public presence today.

This is just the start. This century is shaping up to be driven less by the nationalism of the last century, and more by the battle between superstition and reason for dominance in the human experience.

So they make you uncomfortable, good, thats the point. Thats exactly the same thing that happened at the start of virtually every social movement in history. This is only the beginning.

 

[Harpuia]

I must ask, what about us worries you. It's not like we have a legal lobby like the FFRF. We are just out their pushing back with our own arguments, nothing wrong with that is there?

As for why we're after Christianity so hard instead of the others? I don't see Buddhism or Scientology making laws for all of us using their religion as the sole justification. They aren't trying to hijack science education to force in "equal time" for the theories on Xenu and the Galactic federation or put warning labels on psychology books in our classrooms claiming "This book contains information on Psychology, which is only an evil tool used by Lord Xenu. Reading and believing this may keep you from attaining OT3".

There are some way out there religions compared to Christianity, but we have to deal with the one that's in our face and not the ones that are just in the tabloids.

You're part of the RRS?

Nothing about what you guys believe in worries me, it's just the way you guys go about it reminds me too much of the Christian fundies, only the other way around and in a slightly lighter attitude. I say slightly lighter because they haven't yet tried to bash the Origin of Species on me and shouting "Deny!" every 2 seconds.

 

[Savage78]

You're part of the RRS?

Nothing about what you guys believe in worries me, it's just the way you guys go about it reminds me too much of the Christian fundies, only the other way around and in a slightly lighter attitude. I say slightly lighter because they haven't yet tried to bash the Origin of Species on me and shouting "Deny!" every 2 seconds.

I am a member of the RRS. You can see the shield behind me in my AV. They are declaring "war" on christianity because christianity is what they are confronted with the most. However a look at their site will show that they will get down and dirty against any other religion because at the core they share the same thing....faith and it is faith that they attack.

 

[Harpuia]

I am a member of the RRS. You can see the shield behind me in my AV. They are declaring "war" on christianity because christianity is what they are confronted with the most. However a look at their site will show that they will get down and dirty against any other religion because at the core they share the same thing....faith and it is faith that they attack.

Ah. Alrighty.

Thanks for the heads-up.

I'm still slightly worried and all, but I guess if they're on every religion I'm not TOO worried about it.

I'm still not a big fan on declaring "war" on anything. I mean, I understand declaring war on the conservative Church but on the religion as a whole?

 

[Savage78]

Ah. Alrighty.

Thanks for the heads-up.

I'm still slightly worried and all, but I guess if they're on every religion I'm not TOO worried about it.

I'm still not a big fan on declaring "war" on anything. I mean, I understand declaring war on the conservative Church but on the religion as a whole?

We see religion as archaic and something that slows down the development of the human society. We see religion as trying to be a dominant force in the world. When they really shouldnt have anything to do with anything.

We believe that religion is a mental illness, but you already know that. It is a crutch that prevents society from moving forward in leaps and bounds and we work to free humanity from the religious concept by going into churches and leaving material like "THE GOD WHO WASNT THERE" a DVD movie. Also Rook has a very interesting time updating us on the fact that Christ never existed and all the evidence to show that up.

Anyway I am not going to repeat this post again, I am just explaning what the RRS is about as I understand it, but if you want toknow more you should really ask them personally.

Yes they are going up against irrational religion, and they are starting withe Christianity.

 

[MaragonEvolved]

I'm from the RRS as well.

It's not that we're against christians more so than any other religion it's just that we come across christianity much more often, and it makes sense to start with what you know.

Many of us are ex-christians, have knowledge of the church, bible, doctrines, ect.

" I'm still not a big fan on declaring "war" on anything."

Christians have declared war on us, and called for a return to fundamentalist religion. We're simply responding.

 

[mrzumm]

i'm from the RRS, as well. i don't believe that the elimination of religion is either possible or necessary. but i do believe, and i'm speaking strictly of america here, that religion needs to be kept out of school science courses and kept in sunday school where it belongs, and kept out of government and away from policy makers and lawmakers.
religion should have no part in international policy, and of course war should never be sought on religious grounds.
there will always be christians, muslims, etc. but no religion should dominate, oppress, or rule.

 

[spblat]

I believe faith without evidence is irrational. This goes double when it comes to making rules and laws which derive from this faith. I also feel that faith is incompatible with peaceful society, because when faiths with differing tenets collide, there's no way to bridge the gap between competing views. All you can do is go to war (if your differences are great enough), and war is bad.

I am unfamiliar with RRS, except for having just browsed their home page and watched the first few minutes of their "highlight video" covering the recent debate between RRS and Comfort/Cameron. My take on them is that they're quite "in your face"--since this doesn't work for everyone as a communications strategy, I expect a lot of people will write them off as wackos. But I do think they're right, and I appreciate their passion for getting the message of reason out there in the best way they know how.

 

[Kaelestis721]

Am I the only non-fundie slightly uncomfortable about these guys?

http://www.rationalresponders.com

I understand that some will tell me that these guys are part of the latest "outdo them all" sensationalistic deals. They remind me of the 700 Club only dealing the other way, that God does not exist.

Another thing that gets me uneasy is that they seem to ONLY want to go after Christianity. Why not other religions, especially the other more well-known religions like Islam, Scientology, and Buddhism?

I actually found this site through a thread on the RRS forums. While I'm not a particularly active member there, I do go to their website about bi-weekly. I do not agree with their seemingly fanatical campaigning and wars against religious things...but they are very intellectual and argumenative...and there are theists that are forum members there as well. I think it is always best to get both sides of the fence so to speak.

Anyways, there are things I like and dislike about them. But they provide a decent home for atheists to go to so I don't mind them so much.

 

[Eudaimonist]

I'm not a member of the RRS, and I think that their approach to things isn't going to improve the relations between "Fundies" and Atheists. They will only generate heat, not light.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[PaddyJive]

I found it all a bit absurd. I've written them off as a one trick pony. Abrasive rhetoric in the poltical arena doesn't impress me and this "In your face" approach is a tad impractical.

The exact kind of people I don't like to be lumped in with, via sterotype.

 

[PaddyJive]

Am I the only non-fundie slightly uncomfortable about these guys?

http://www.rationalresponders.com

No. Promoting T-shirts that say " Jesus is for suckers" with Jesus' head in a sucker, does nothing for civil discourse.

I was unaware that being rational also meant being juvenile.

 

[HumanisticJones]

Impractical yes, but nothing gets people talking more than a controversy. I'll admit we can be abrasive, but sometimes you just have to rip the band-aid off and be blunt. I'm sure there are some Christians here that use such a process from time to time in their own arenas.

Of course its not all flare and flash. On the forums we get into some pretty lengthy debates where people from all walks can come and bring their opinion to the table. We even got a national blood drive effort going on May 3rd.

 

[PaddyJive]

Hey, more power to you. I'm sure I agree with you guys on numerous issues, but I guess it's just not my style.

 

[PaddyJive]

Many of us are ex-christians, have knowledge of the church, bible, doctrines, ect.

And your resident ancient text expert, has a wish list at Amazon.com for vital thesis research?

What exactly does Darth_Josh the Sith Lord, add to your "Think Tank" ?

 

[Pheehp]

he's most likely head of the "Bring down the Jedi religious oppressors" section of RRS

dont go to their level they have numbers and experience that out does any childish controversy you may have as weapons