As The Tide Turns...

[Snafu03]

I notice on various social media etc, there are a lot of anti religious meme style posts.

Are we now at the point whereby atheism is pushed on us more that religion?

Ironically enough atheist sentiment seems to be more based against Christianity rather than Islam (which is the on the incline) Isnt it about time atheism moved with the times, or is Christianity a soft target?

[Canary42]

Christianity still imposes more on our country than Islam (e.g. Sunday Trading laws) so the continuation of such silly superstition should remain the main target of the more sensible amongst us.

[annie0000]

See if someone today came up with the idea that there was some magical being that lived in a faraway invisible land created everything here on earth and had power over our lives they would, quite rightly, be made a laughing stock.

I think the time of arguing and fighting about which invisible magical being is better or more powerful or more just than someone elses should be past.

Islam is more overtly violent based on current events, but Christianity has had it's moments and maybe it's also the pomposity and feeling of superiority from a lot of Christians that gets on peoples thruppenys?

It's prevalence in the official strands of community such as governmnet and schools in particular is really at odds with it's basis in society so those powers etc should be removed.

Personally I used to be of the view that people could believe what they wanted as long as it didn't harm other people, now I think there is a lot more harm going on and it should be treated the same as cults and it's influence on everyone dealt with as a planet priority.

[jim360]

I suppose the thing is that while atheists, by definition, don't believe in any God, for many the journey would have started by being brought up within one particular religion, which then becomes the focal point of that person's atheism. For some atheists they then research more actively into other religions; others are content to not bother doing that, but the result is that their particular journey to atheism is defined with reference to one specific religion. In the West this is mainly going to be Christianity, so perhaps naturally a lot of the arguments are made in that context. And of course in the UK Christianity remains the "state religion".

If I were brought up Muslim, or if I lived in a Muslim country, then perhaps I'd direct my arguments more against that specifically.

[vulcan42]

Atheism is timeless, it's religion that needs to move with on.

[vulcan42]

"needs to move on".

[keyplus90]

First of all you took your time to realise that. And then the reason I believe why they pick on Christianity more is because most of them were once Christians or were born in Christian families. However they do pick on Islam more on this website at least and you will learn that too.

[sir.prize]

keyplus90 - do you think maybe that Anjem Choudary, who was born and lives on these shores, was born into a Christian family?

[atalanta]

I'm not pushing atheism on anyone. I just want people to think for themselves instead of letting mullahs, priests, imams, rabbis, bishops, brahmins, yogis and all the other appointed and self-appointed officials of religion tell them what to think. We have a colossally sophisticated, deeply complex, profoundly useful and evolutionarily expensive organ in our heads called a brain. I just think we should all use it and not let other people waste it for us with stultifying dogma and nonsense.

[andy-hughes]

Atheism exists in a planet-sized ball of indifference - it's not 'pushed' on anyone.

[naomi24]

Atheist embraces no doctrine so I don’t really understand what you think is being ‘pushed’. In this country Christianity comes in for more criticism than any other religion because we, as a nation, are more affected by its influence, but no religion is, or should be, immune from criticism – which Keyplus, in his usual ‘victimesque’ defence of Islam, calls being ‘picked on’.

Incidentally, Islam is growing primarily due to the high birth rate among Muslims, but millions abandon Islam annually. And it’s a fallacy to imagine that Christianity is declining. It isn’t. Globally its numbers are increasing.

Jim, // [if] I lived in a Muslim country, then perhaps I'd direct my arguments more against that [Islam] specifically. //

You'd be a brave man. ;o)

[jim360]

Would make a pleasant change!

Seriously, I'm glad I am not atheist in a country where that's illegal.

[naomi24]

Those who are keep it quiet. Awful really. What a way to live!

[annie0000]

As for atheism being pushed, I can't say I've ever had atheists at my door giving me leaflets or magazines or pushing invites through my door to attend their meetings or actively going to my child's school and giving them books.

[birdie1971]

Snafu03 - "... Ironically enough atheist sentiment seems to be more based against Christianity rather than Islam..."

That might have something to do with the fact that Christians - more often than not - do not go from indifference to apoplectic rage the moment their scripture is criticised. The vast majority of Christians in the world have largely learned to figuratively "turn the other cheek". Unfortunately, a large and significant number of Muslims think that those previous fours accented words are nothing more than meaningless noise.

You ask if Christianity is a soft target: yes it is. And like it or not, that is to modern Christianity's eternal credit.

[Old_Geezer]

I think that there is sufficient mocking of religious beliefs for a description of atheism being pushed to be valid. And if there was so much indifference one wonders why the need to dispute it. However I believe all religions get disrespected and if it seems that Christianity gets more attention that maybe due to it being dominant in those areas of the world where religious criticism is permitted by the authorities.

[bunkmoreland]

Very much agree Birdie, as a religion,we are taught to "turn the other cheek" seek another option. Personally, as a kinda lapsed Christian, I can fully agree with your "discussion" mode theory like me,rather than a fully onslaught of any religious belief system to close somebody down permanently:-(

[idiosyncrasy]

Snafu03@
Maybe you would like to read this.

http://www.economist.com/news/international/21567059-ex-muslim-atheists-are-becoming-more-outspoken-tolerance-still-rare-no-god-not