Lots of people ask me why I am so anti-Christianity, unfortunately here in the USA that is what most people say. Guess part of the stigma of being an atheist is being misunderstood or as I like to say, atheism is myth understood. I am not against Christianity or any other religion. I am against religious dogma off all types and it is unfortunate but true that most dangerous religious dogma stems from the three monotheistic religions, that is Judaism, Christianity and Islam. One interesting fact that can be seen from the order I listed them is that they go from older to younger. Not many people, Christians included, would deny the radicalism stemming from Islam. Fact is, it happens because they are a younger faith than Christianity. At the same age Christianity was just as radical and going back in time the Jews were just as radical at that age. Still, this is not the topic I want to discuss.
I am explaining I am not anti-Christianity nor anti-any faith and I am attempting to explain to you why I am not. I leave anti-theism in the hands of those who claim to be anti-theists. Do I understand them? Pretty much. Do I agree with them? Not on all points. Nor do I feel anti-theism, or what some may call the new atheism, fundamentalist atheism or evangelical atheism [which are three of the silliest terms I have ever heard], is a valid alternative to just plain speaking the truth. I believe that one can believe just about anything based on faith provided they neither shove their faith down my or anyone I care about’s throat or claim their faith is scientific, logical or reasonable. If faith was logical, reasonable or scientific, it would be called logic, reason or science and not faith. As long as faith is understood as faith, there is no problem and I will be the first to defend your right to your own faith which is definitely a contrast to what some people believe. When that faith starts encroaching on my territory, I will defend myself with what my appear to be anti-theism. On the subject of faith I just want to point out something I find extremely ironic. Blind faith is an extremely weird gift to give to the supposed creator of human intelligence. If by faith, not by logic, reason or science, you believe you were created by god please do him or her the honor of using the brain he or she gave you.
[tweetmeme source=”noreligionblog” only_single=false https://noreligionblog.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/why-i-am-not-anti-christianity%5D
Filed under: Atheism | Tagged: Add new tag, Atheism, Christianity, Faith, Islam, Judaism, Religion |
Hey, well, you’re just baiting me with a post that’s got such a reasonable tone like this. I think the idea of coexisting, live and let live sounds great but
1) the believers do encroach on the rights of the rest of us (same sex marriage, blue laws, sharia law in the UK, “In God We Trust”, attack on abortion rights, etc.)
2) They aren’t just picking these things for themselves. They are picking these batshit beliefs and practices for their children. That’s who I’m doing all this for when I get all uppity about religion.
3) I get why not every atheist feels this way, and hope they understand why I do. But even if they don’t, I’m gonna keep promoting reason & humanism, and calling the god of the Bible an evil prick. It’s just what I do.
We tend to ask for proof in many aspects of our life e.g. proof of income, proof of marriage, proof of birth etc etc. But when in comes to religion we turn to belief e.g. belief that my religious books has been given by GOD, beilief that my method of prayer is correct one etc etc.
Yes, gullibility is looked down on in every aspect of life except when it comes to faith.
I agree that Christianity *appears* to be less radical or extreme than Islam at the moment but I’ve found that it just isn’t the case. Christianity is just as dangerous and threatening, particularly in the permitting of mutilating boys’ privates, lobbying for schools to teach creationism in school in place of evolution, or the Pope telling Africans that condoms make AIDS worse. No, sir, I cannot believe that Christianity is any less dangerous.
Where did I say Christianity is not dangerous?
I would never support forcibly compelling people to give up their beliefs, but I honestly think the world would be a better place if people gave up their dogmas. People who believe that their deities command them to convert the world to their religions cannot live and let live, lest their lack of evangelistic fervor consign them to spend eternity in hell with the rest of us. Not all religions teach evangelism, and not all believers practice it, both those that do are vocal, visible and not going away willingly.
You wrote:
” If faith was logical, reasonable or scientific, it would be called logic, reason or science and not faith.”
Hi friend noreligion
Can we say: if Atheism was logical, reasonable or scientific, it would be called logic, reason or science and not Atheism?
Thanks
I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim
Ahmadi,
Since atheism was named only as a reaction to theism….nope. Now if atheism had faith then you could say that about faith.