When Atheism becomes inhumane

[naomi24]

I spent a couple of hours today with a very dignified elderly gentleman who told me practically his life history. Brought up in an orphanage, adopted, and subsequently dreadfully mistreated, he left home at 15 to make his own way in the world. He survived a broken marriage, married again, and is now settled, very respectable, and reliant upon his faith to sustain him psychologically. He is aware of my complete and utter disdain for organised religion, but I have to say I was gentle with him because how can I, as someone who cares desperately about the plight of humanity, justify demolishing with reasoned and demonstrably provable argument this man's very personal shelter from the harshness of reality? Fellow atheists - please - tell me.

[KARL]

I have only dipped into this thread from time to time (not read all of it through), as with my visits to AB generally - this is a curiosity corner for me but if I think I have something to contribute I accasionally do. What strikes me about what I have seen on this one, and many other threads too, is how easy it is to get the impression of intolerance within the posts. Far too many contributors seem to see any hint of a different viewpoint from their own not only as an affront but as an outright attack - and they retaliate with escalation built in. Even when someone very calmly restates an opinion in order to eliminate the possibility of misinterpretation in some way (or to correct a misunderstanding/misinterpretation), the most extraordinary reaction may come back. This includes people being accused of mental disorder and moderators leaping in to chastise the expression of an opinion/explanation that from other indications one deduces goes against their own, even if that opinion is on the subject matter while strings of posts on the same thread go without moderator's comment when wildly off the subject (but still relevant to the OP as it appeared and, in my opinion, justified). Too many seem to me to come on here to fiercely defend their totems/shibboleths/traditions rather than simply exchange opinions (the stuff that is the fertiliser for the learning process of us all).

Naomi, I think I would react much like you - with respect for the individual concerned (as I always try to), sufficiently so as not to mislead him/her into thinking I might agree and have a joint prayer to the god of choice. If the individual is of good character he/she will not be upset that it is known I am not religious (a very common position nowadays, after all) and he/she will feel comfortable in the chosen belief and the manifest fact that I am not an enemy. If he/she wants to discuss the differences then that too will become apparent and I will happily oblige. But then I am a

[KARL]

....an agnostic and not an atheist and the situation is not likely to become so polarised. I will allow anyone their beliefs but draw the line when anyone tries to convert me to their religion. Oh, and I take a dim view of anyone religiously indoctrinating their children (not my place to intervene though) and generally of anyone being targetted for induction into a religion. I reciprocate the good wishes for New Year - to one and all.

[woofgang]

well said KARL I am a believer (not a member of an organised religion). I find these threads quite sad....

[society]

Karl, what a very profound observation! I agree with you 100%, and this happens throughout the entire site, not only in this forum.

[Nadis]

I must admit I had to look aggrieved and affronted up in the dictionary.
As far as I can remember the insults came from you and I did say I was upset.
Isn't that natural?
So what you say to other people to hurt their feelings matters to you not one jot and if I try to comprehend a question you asked but didn't fully understand at the time so you add more things to the list.
I don't feel aggressive, I do not feel troubled but unecessarily told that I am.
But I do think there is something wrong.
I will refrain from being on here anymore because I am not sure why I have to or want to keep trying to answer questions even if i don't fully understand them.
You have a good time Naomi and

[KARL]

Oh, I see that typing errors creep in everywhere, but that surely can be overlooked....*occasionally. Even when reading through before letting go of it one tends to see what one expects/intends. Sigh.

[Nadis]

(oops sorry)
Happy New Year
Thanks KARL

[ummmm]

You've said that before Nadis...!!!

[naomi24]

Thanks Karl.

[naomi24]

....oh, and thanks again to everyone for your contributions.

[mibn2cweus]

Thank you Naomi, for having the courage and fortitude to bring to light these contentious, touchy, and difficult but no less important issues which stand between justice and a lasting peace and the prerequisite mutual understanding and resolution of the facts. Religion, by virtue of its alleged connections to a ‘higher power’ and ‘ultimate truth’ has succeeded only in making its followers and their apologists, enemies of reason, that of others no less than their own.

Religion, with its asserted shortcut to knowledge, faith, threatens our existence as a rational species by promising answers and forestalling the satisfaction of justice to an alleged resolution beyond the grave.
In this day and age where technology has far surpassed our knowledge of how to use it wisely in the pursuit of peace and well-being some of us have been made startlingly aware we can ill-afford the luxury of innocence and the reliance on ancient myth and folklore that enabled us to stumble precariously through a historically perhaps denser albeit possibly less treacherous fog.

Religion by virtue of the countless conflicting derivations of its inherent ambiguity is bound to be confrontational and divisive, both within its own sphere and as it casts its influence over the world at large. What we really need to get along and be of mutual benefit to each other is an overwhelming mutual understanding of the nature of the reality we face. Religion, or any other type of mysticism has always proven a short cut to nowhere in achieving this auspicious yet equally rewarding aspiration.

If you see such pursuits as hopeless than what is the harm in getting and staying out of the way of those who don’t? Surely your God is perfectly capable of picking through and sorting out the pieces of the mess you have made in His name and on His behalf and if you don’t believe that then perhaps you’re worshiping and serving the wr

[mibn2cweus]

. . . wrong delusion. But by all means, if you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask.

[naomi24]

You're welcome Mibs - and thank you for that genuine gem of wisdom. :o)

[Nadis]

Thanks ummmm and I apologise for repeating myself.
It's become a habit.