The Rise of Atheism in America

Dude you're quoting Tank Girl at me????

wow, you really don't have anything to refute me with, do you?

He has Tank Girl.

You know, it sounds like Dicky believes that the only nice people who are religious, are nice because of their religion, as if it's some kind of response to more violent religions. As if someone can't be a part of a faith that isn't violent because they, too, are non-violent. It's an odd stance, since there are religious people who believe anyone who is non-religious is immoral because they have no religion by which to obtain their morals.

Sounds like two sides of the same coin to me.

Yeah, don't bother asking me...

Have fun, fellas...

Why would I need to ask you? I'll just tell you what you're thinking and consider it fact. Then, you can try to come up with reasons why I'm wrong, even though they'll just be misguided and misleading attempts at covering for the fact that I'm still right.

No, u.

http://wordforge.net/showpost.php?p=2317787&postcount=426

You'll be back.

in a "just wait till next year" sorta way...

poor dicky... his buffoonery has failed him in front of what is often his most sympathetic audience.

It's like Bruce Springsteen getting booed in New Jersey.

I keep looking for the point you think you've made...and...it's this one, right?

Cuz if it is...not so much.

It's pretty obvious Diacanu places all religions in the same catagory...worthless make-believe.

If someone feels that way, why would they spend time sorting and comparing chapters of the stories they don't like and find no value in.

Those of us with beliefs probably find that limited thinking, but it shouldn't be surprising that he simply doesn't care about any of it.

Um, no, if it were just that, I wouldn't say a word.

You don't see me participating in long-ass threads on people that run around doing live-action D&D, or the vampire version of that, or people who dress up as werewolves, or Ren Fairs, or...any of that.

Let 'em have their fun.

The brainwashing cults, they become a bit worrisome.
Ever see "Conan"? Eh?
Yeah, not good stuff.

And, that's even before they start becoming rapey and stabby.

I'm not speaking for Diacanu, but 'on the whole destructive' and 'worthless' are not synonymous.

B/c unfortunately a very large percentage of our population buys into the fairy tales so just from the basis of being able to function in society one needs a basic Christian education. As someone with an interest more than just 'getting along' with society, I have an interest in the motivations behind why people do what they do, which is tied into their thinking and religious upbringing.

Not to mention the history and development of Religions are just fascinating.

my point is simply that not only is all religion isn't the same, it doesn't even have the same purpose in people's lives.

Pretty much all the things you fear about Xianity and it's kind is absent in other paths.

No sin, no absolution, none of the social engineering you make it out to be.

deal with it... your understanding is limited and you just keep on with :headinsand:

Did I use those words?
Those are details you keep piling on.

Hmm, which one of you has made five references to fire/hellfire in this thread? Wow, tough one...

you really expect I'm going on a scavenger hunt in this thread?

there isn't even a discussion anymore D... just you thinking you're tweaking people rather than embarrassing yourself.

:itsok: we all have our off weeks.

I thought your memory would be good enough.

I remember the key word being "power".

*cough*Post #736*cough*

Whether the form of control is hellfire, a spearpoint, or brainwashing, all a matter of degree, but same ol' shit.

Controlling people.

Don't bother with Dicky, guys. He can do this all week. Dodge, evade, jab, evade, evade, evade, play dead, jab, evade. You could show him his own words and he'd find a way around it because he doesn't own up to anything he doesn't think he has to. It's all justified in his little world.

I've admitted being wrong on numerous occasions.

It really comes down to, I've made my points clearly, Spaceturkey hasn't.
And he's been purposelessly nasty as a smokescreen.
But, you agree with his end of the argument, so that's okay.
So, lose the victim tone, wouldja?
Hmm?

Summing up then, it seems as if the only way atheists can claim to be "on the rise" is by co-opting agnostics...

No, you haven't. You've made your points rigidly, only deviating when cornered. Spaceturkey has been anything but nasty, Mr. Hellfire, and he's given you far more opportunity to respond fairly and reasonably, which you have not done. I'm an atheist, Dicky, but I have studied many religions in-depth, and it seems like you haven't, given your responses in this thread. You seem to be clueless when it comes to the many religions that aren't violent or hateful, and so your world begins and ends with those, and that is irrational.

I've admitted they exist.
What more do you want?

What's irrational is to project a stance onto me I don't hold.

From a self professed rational person? Honesty. Accuracy. Fairness. Reason.

Yet you do hold this stance, and this thread is proof of that.

You're still unable to separate God from religion.

Where in the OP or any other post did you get that from?

The OP lumps both groups into the same "See, they're not religious" category. And The Defender's pretty boxes are like Pacman.

Then, there'll be the magic "peaceful religions don't exist", post for you to quote to really nail me with.

Here's a hint, it doesn't exist.