Are atheists a threat?

[naomi24]

Cardinal Kasper pulled out of the Pope's visit to the UK saying that there is an atmosphere of ''aggressive atheism'' in Britain and Christians are at a disadvantage, and the Pope has in his speech this afternoon associated atheism with Nazism, which to me sounds like a desperate attempt to disparage the non-believer. Are these men really that worried that atheists, no longer afraid to speak up, will succeed in exposing religion for the lie it is?

[jackthehat]

Ooh, I *do* hope so..............:o)

[naomi24]

Haaaaaaaaaa! How did I know you'd say that Jack? By the way - so do I. ;o)

[askyourgran]

Perhaps his conscience is telling him that now the scandals of the Catholic church now exposed to all, the Faith will not be regarded as sacred as it was. People are much more open and aggressive than they used to be. Although I have to say that I was heartened to see the faithful praying with the Pope.
I only hope that the Ayotollah doesn't follow suit.

[jomifl]

conscience?.. do explain gran

[jno]

I am assertive, you are aggressive, he is threatening. Just name-calling, which is common to all creeds and none.

[naomi24]

Whether atheists are assertive or aggressive is irrelevant. The point is both these men seem rather concerned that atheism is wielding an influence.

[jomifl]

The cardinal hasn't quite understood that his bleating on about atheists makes one wonder if the omnipotent being the catholic church has been sucking up to these last couple of millenia might be taking a sabbatical. Still 'spect he'll be back soon.

[ludwig]

Aggressive atheists? they must be the ones who go 'I don't believe in god. Grrrrrrrr'.

[ludwig]

// Why are there no true 'believers' fighting their corner on this thread? It seems to be the converted preaching to the converted. A one sided fight if ever I saw one.//

Not many religious types contribute to this section tonyted. When one ventures in the atheists attack them like sharks in a feeding frenzy, and you never see them again. It's aggressive atheism at work.

[birdie1971]

Tonyted - Probably because the few believers on this site struggle to justify their beliefs and customs of their faith when challenged with a truly logical argument against the existence of an almighty deity. Logic is to religion as sunlight is to vampires.

There are only one or two people on this site who are prepared to justify their religion in the face of logical scepticism but the debates are worth the wait!

[mike11111]

jomifl
The cardinal hasn't quite understood that his bleating on about atheists makes one wonder if the omnipotent being the catholic church has been sucking up to these last couple of millenia might be taking a sabbatical. Still 'spect he'll be back soon

Many a true word spoken in jest.

[RATTER15]

And I have been accused on here as being very aggressive in my stance on religion, Grrrrrrr!!!!!! and Grrrrrrrrr!!! again!!

[ummmm]

Not just that Birdie.....the majority in this section come across as very intelligent and well read. That can be quite intimidating alone. That, and the fact that the atheists do come across as quite aggressive at times would put many off.

[birdie1971]

It's not aggressive to question why someone believes in one thing or another. It is perceived as aggressive by the religious set because they are simply unused to people having the temerity to question their motives and/or logic. They expect people to automatically 'respect' their faith, not question it, regardless of how ridiculous or unlikely that belief may be.

I remember reading a couple of months ago in the back of a TV listings magazine, a letter from a woman who objected to a presenter on a show about guardian angels (not the vigilantes from America – actual guardian angels). The woman's objection was that one presenter was sceptical about the existence of angels whilst all the other presenters accepted their existence as a fact. She said something along the lines of, “I believe in angels and this presenter's comments are ruining the show for me. Why can't the sceptical presenter just keep quiet?”

And that, in a nutshell, is the attitude of many people who believe in God or some other form of spiritualism: if you don't believe, don't criticise or ask questions – just keep your mouth shut and go away.

[RATTER15]

I think we atheists are very passionate about our beliefs, I know I am and yes I do get annoyed and a bit carried away at times.

Just give me a pulpit!!!!!!

[ummmm]

I beg to differ Birdie. The Atheists are Atheists but anyone who believes can be called no end of names depending on who's posting.

[birdie1971]

^^^ You're disagreeing with me. I feel oppressed. Stop being so aggressive about my beliefs ;-)