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Permalink Reply by Mo Trauen on May 4, 2011 at 2:31pm

Without knowing more about the specific factors involved in those killings I can't say you're right.  While there is clearly an element of atheism presented by the facts, we don't know how the victims were selected or the complete motives of the killers.  One of the reasons I am hesitant to jump to the same conclusion you did is that those events were preceded by centuries of persecution of atheists by the religious.  Thus, I would like to know, at a minimum, the extent to which self-defense or retribution were motives and the extent to which the victims were chosen for their own intolerance toward atheists and opposition to the new regime.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Green on May 3, 2011 at 5:17pm

I would have to agree with you for the most part there. I think that some people express their opinions in the extreme as a foil to an assertion or statement and such vociferousness can be mistaken for fanaticism. Sometimes when faced with strong opposition (from whatever quarter) it is hard not to bite back hard when you have such strong conviction. As I said in another post earlier this evening, it can sometimes be a question of finding some balance and be even-handed in open debate

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Permalink Reply by randy brooks on May 4, 2011 at 3:04am

I think there are two forces of thought at play here. 1> Not to be referred to as "fanatics" is to comfortably and smugly know that science and logic are on our side. And, when the religious try to brand us, as to identify and marginalize us, we can smile, shake our heads and be quiet. 2> But if we embrace the term "fanatics", and in doing so, 'fess up to who we are, we make it clear that humbly living in a world, dominated by the insane, makes US even MORE insane. When the rapture doesn't come, and lions don't lie down with lambs, the religious fanatics will lose what is left of their beliefs and do what all prisoners do when security breaks down, they riot and kill. They will have not themselves in whom to believe. There is nothing more scary than a Southern Baptist who finds out that he is wrong.

 

We know!! They don't. We'll survive!! They won't.

 

If Atheist fanaticism does not exist, then we need to make it so. 

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Permalink Reply by Chris Green on May 4, 2011 at 8:25am

Yeah, I have to agree with that. Damn', there are some smart people on this site. Some truly intelligent commentary

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Permalink Reply by Chris Green on May 4, 2011 at 8:22am

To add to my earlier comments I'd like to say that, YES, sometimes I do feel fanatical about Atheism. This is usually when faced with someone who is fanatically shoving god in my face. Then I just want to explode with rage and tell them what to do with their church. I don't of course because I'm a rational person and to lose my temper is just a waste of energy. Somedays though................just somedays..............even rational people can lose their rag

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Permalink Reply by BryanPaul on May 4, 2011 at 8:46am

I think the answer to this one is a 50/50 thing for me. I don't go around preaching atheism to everyone I meet but if the subject comes up I open my mouth and speak my views. I know some atheists that just bring this crap up to anyone at the drop of a hat like it's a topic that consumes there lives. If you can't make it through the day without bringing it up, you may be a little fanatical. Don't convert everyone you meet. If they don't preach to me I don't preach to them.

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Permalink Reply by Hope on May 4, 2011 at 3:49pm

I think atheist fanatics ... if they are exist, Then perhaps fanaticism is a part of their nature! just like racism..

or perhaps some of them grew up in a society that a dopts fascist ideas. or racist society.

If they are exist, then this is sad indeed.

Anyway atheists are not the same for sure.

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Permalink Reply by Teresa Turner on May 6, 2011 at 2:01am

Most of the atheists I've met are chill and just don't care.  But I suppose there are some out there that are pretty crazy.  Maybe not as crazy as some of the religious people, but crazy none-the-less.

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Permalink Reply by Mo Trauen on May 6, 2011 at 11:00am

Lots of things are theoretically possible, but I don't see any evidence to support the hypothesis that "there are fanatics on both sides".  In fact, what I see is a disturbing lack of engagement on the part of atheists.  The theists are actively trying to "take over" in many places, including the U.S., and impose theocracy.  Most atheists act like they just don't really care much about that.  In Europe, they are sometimes affirmatively aiding those who want to take over because they can't deal with conflict.  If there are atheist fanatics, I don't see much evidence of them.

 

I think what is usually meant by such comments is that people like Dawkins and Hitchens should stop speaking the truth.

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Permalink Reply by Matthew T. Craig on April 14, 2013 at 3:34pm

I think it is also clear that even the most extreme atheists do not even remotely come close to the fanaticism of the religious.

Though this is very true, fanaticism is fanaticism... In all it's extremities. 

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