Why are atheists so mistrusted (despised?) by those who believe?

[birdie1971]

I've often heard it said (mostly by Americans on TV) that they'd rather vote for someone who was religious, regardless of their religion, than they would an atheist.

So two questions:

Question A: Christians, who would you prefer to have as a neighbour - a muslim or an atheist?
Question B: Muslims, who would you prefer to have as a neighbour - a christian or an atheist?

[baza]

I have followed the debate since my first answer to the question posed, the debate has had many twists and turns some interesting some not so, is it not time to get back to the original question?

[birdie1971]

Since Keyplus hijacked it to espouse his 'CIA Taliban' hypothesis this thread's become somewhat derailed.

Thank you for your attempt to get it back on track.

[baza]

I think my" not so interesting " twists refers to that.
How do you get it back to the original very interesting question?

[birdie1971]

Post a new thread? :-)

Care to do the honours?

[Khandro]

birdie; I don't want to increase your wrath, but earlier on I put in this link and as you have not commented on it I am re-submitting it in case you have missed it, I know it is an Islamic publication and will be biased, but so are the other sources. As a special favour to me (maybe you owe me one?) would you please read it in full trying to be impartial and say if you can answer all the questions that it poses. http://www.crescent-o...sh-3412-articles.html

[birdie1971]

Khandro - “... I don't want to increase your wrath...”

Tacit insults make you look foolish.

[birdie1971]

Khandro... “...would you please read it in full trying to be impartial and say if you can answer all the questions that it poses...”

No I will not. I have read your linked article in full and I can counter all the arguments contained within it but it would take me many, many hours if not days and months. One could write a book about this matter – the political, religious and social implications of the murder of the innocents.

But we're on AB. I'm not prepared to start wasting my precious time spending hours and hours answering specious questions for you or anyone else to shrug their shoulders and dismiss me or simply ignore my posts.

However, I will agree to address individual points in the article if you so wish. I don't care which particular points you chose but please be aware that we have only 4000 words on AB with which to answer them.

Read the article again and break it down in to manageable chunks for me and others to have a crack at answering.


Thanks.

[Khandro]

birdie; //Tacit insults make you look foolish.//
I've absolutely no intention of insulting you, if I have I apologise.
I think pursuing this would be fruitless, but it seems to me clear that had this child not been so highlighted she would not have been attacked, by whatever agency.

[keyplus90]

/////would you please read it in full trying to be impartial/////

Birdie and impartial…………….. What are you talking about Khandro.

And I will leave you all to sort your own differences and let this thread be pulled back to the original question asked. Thanks for not taking me seriously.

[keyplus90]

Khandro - By the way I just read your link now and the writer seems to be saying exactly what I have said on this thread. So at least someone else is trying to say what I am saying.

[LazyGun]

How she came to prominence is irrelevant. The facts as we currently understand them are that a Taleban fundamentalist attempted to assassinate her, and that deserves condemnation without reservation or fudge.

All that you 2 seem to want to do is to offer a grudging condemnation, hedged about with mitigating factors. There are no mitigating factors.

[naomi24]

Keyplus, //So at least someone else is trying to say what I am saying.//

Yet another story doing the rounds where you come from.

[birdie1971]

Keyplus - “... So at least someone else is trying to say what I am saying...”

Yes, it would appear that you are not the only delusional fantasist on this planet.

[birdie1971]

Keyplus - “... Birdie and impartial…………….. What are you talking about Khandro...”

I'm actually quite surprised that you understand what the word 'impartial' means. And for your information, I am impartial in that I weigh up the evidence on both sides of an argument before committing myself to one side or another.

Unlike you who just blindly follows your religion's teachings and customs without ever engaging you brain.

[birdie1971]

Khandro - “... it seems to me clear that had this child not been so highlighted she would not have been attacked...”

Or put another way – if this little upstart hadn't had the temerity to want a decent education and had simply kept her silly, disrespectful little mouth shut she might have reached adulthood without being attacked by oppressive, religious bigots.

Is that what you're saying?

[vulcan]

baza, this is a very interesting question but it has asked of Christians and Muslims. Unfortunately those, on this site anyway, are not known for straight forward answering.

[Duncer]

Conversion time.............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJynygnjMC0

[vulcan]

..has been asked..

[baza]

vulcan, yes I tend to agree with your observation however, if you look at my first comment you will see that I did answer both questions.
I took the questions to mean close, next door or in the same street.