Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jon Heim on September 15, 2010 at 9:56pm

well..the thing about being an atheist is, it doesn't matter how smart you are or how you discovered your feelings toward religion. Atheism just means that we don't believe in a god. It doesn't really matter how we came to this conclusion. To have well...lets say, certain degrees of atheism, I think that it would just divide us.

That being said, I recommend reading "holy" scripture of any religion that you can. It's how you form your own thoughts.

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Permalink Reply by kris feenstra on September 15, 2010 at 10:07pm

Perhaps you have simply set your expectations too high, or too narrow.

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Permalink Reply by Perthy on September 15, 2010 at 10:12pm

I agree with Jon. Not every atheist has read all of the books or essays that you have. However, that shouldn't discount any *other* research they have done, outside of the classics. Not everyone is going to be able to understand some of the pieces you listed.

However, I do also see your point, Esam. Many atheists I've met seem like they like to call themselves such just to make a statement. These would be the kids who, as soon as they've gone through that 'stage', revert back to whichever religion they came from originally.

Someone once said that atheists are like "a herd of cats" - each one goes their own separate way, there is little to no conformation, therefore, in my opinion, it's hard to judge.

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Permalink Reply by M on September 15, 2010 at 10:24pm

I think many of our atheist kin do understand the "true enslaving power of religion," because they came from that enslavement.

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Permalink Reply by Atheist Exile on September 15, 2010 at 11:26pm

Hi Esam,

It's a good thing you've joined TA, Esam. There are many people here who understand that atheism is more than simply bashing theists. There is a core value here that says thinking is better than believing, reason is better than faith, logic is better than dogma. I hope TA provides more balanced examples for you.

Unfortunately, too many atheists are still angry at the lies and deceptions (a.k.a. dogma) that kept them enthralled to religion. As they mature in free-thought, they will become less confrontational . . . or, at least, less angry. But, given the depth of deception they had to overcome, you really should cut them a little more slack.

TA is a place for people to open their minds and exchange ideas. It's not a mutual admiration society -- we still have our own points of view. By sharing our thoughts, we hope to learn from each other. This personal growth is a very important part of freethought. No matter what you believe . . . you should at least be able to explain and defend your beliefs.

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Permalink Reply by Bill on September 16, 2010 at 12:35am

I'd like to show a little admiration for that bit of prose.

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Permalink Reply by Reggie on September 16, 2010 at 6:18am

Hear, hear!

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Permalink Reply by Noor on September 16, 2010 at 11:07am

Unfortunately, too many atheists are still angry at the lies and deceptions

you have said it all here .. good for you Atheist exile

thats what's happening to us here in the arabic muslim countries
we feel so angry ... cause no one tried to help us get out from all that religions shit
that they kept teaching us in schools and homes
now days in TV and internet ... its getting so freaky here
I feel so sad for the new generations
so when we leave Islam ... first we feel wow I am free .. then we start to fight our life back .. Mohamed did stole a lot of our years
praying .. fasting .. saying Allah Akbar ??? and not giving a time to think how wonderful I can be just a human being .. reading and learning about other peoples
and worshiping knowledge
here from 15 years .. people only read the quran .. or other islamic shit books ???
if they see you reading an english book .. they will laugh at you and tell you :
wont it be better if you read the quran at least you get to heaven by reading it
not this english kafer book ???
DA

welcome here Esam

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Permalink Reply by Matt Coulthurst on September 15, 2010 at 11:26pm

No True Scotsman?

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Permalink Reply by Kenneth Montville D.D. on September 27, 2010 at 12:53am

My thoughts exactly.

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Permalink Reply by Becca on September 15, 2010 at 11:34pm

"non of them ever read Thus spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche , non of them ever read the Existentialism and Humanism Lecture by Jean-Paul Sartre , non of them ever read Alamut by Vladamir Bartol , non of them ever read the Holy and the Holy Grail , non of them read the satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie , non of them ever read the Devils of Loudun by Aldus Huxly ,non of them ever read Atheist Manifesto by Michel Onfray"

I've never read any of what you listed. Never found it relevant, never found it interesting, never had the time for it. If atheism = reading a lot of really dry stuff than I wouldn't be an atheist. Fortunately all that makes one an atheist is a lack of belief in god. Also, I learned about the true power of religious brain washing by watching my relatives. Fortunately I never experienced it first hand... I guess I started asking the right questions a little too early for religion to take a full hold on me.

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Permalink Reply by Noor on September 16, 2010 at 11:10am

yep ... like me ... seeing my mom trun to a freak muslim women .. made me get so crazy ... why in hell she's doing this to her self ???
she wares hegab in side the house ??? covering her hair ???

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