"The accusation that criticism of religion is akin to racism is a deceptive rhetorical trick, and should be challenged. No ideas should be placed beyond the realm of critical analysis.
This short essay may help you. (I am co-author.)
Indignation is…"
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Helen Pluckrose
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Helen Pluckrose's Groups
Helen Pluckrose's Discussions
Anyone ever got through to a theist and helped them reconsider?
Started this discussion. Last reply by James Cox Jul 5, 2012. 11 Replies 0 Likes
I have not but am feeling good at the moment cos been talking to an American girl who was already questioning her faith and recommended some books which she said really helped. She'd posted a…Continue
Should I teach my daughter to be respectful of religious beliefs?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Gary Longsine Jan 29. 54 Replies 1 Like
I am in the UK where RE is broadly Christian and my daughter's school is taught by a vicar and a Christian and stories about floods and rivers of blood and killing the first born sons caused her to…Continue
SOS British Atheists!
Started this discussion. Last reply by Graham Dec 17, 2011. 1 Reply 0 Likes
I am sure you will be aware that today the Prime Minister said that politics need God.'Mr Cameron said: “I have never really understood the argument some people make about the church not getting…Continue
My father believes I should pretend to be a Christian?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Helen Pluckrose Nov 13, 2011. 7 Replies 0 Likes
I am in the UK and was raised by atheist parents. Despite this I became a Christian due to RE lessons at school and was then terrified that my parents would go to Hell. I spent my childhood being…Continue
Helen Pluckrose's Page
Latest Activity
Gary Longsine replied to Helen Pluckrose's discussion 'Should I teach my daughter to be respectful of religious beliefs?'
James Cox commented on Helen Pluckrose's blog post 'Is it aggressive to look for and challenge theistic claims when they are about me?'"Is it necessary that everyone believe as you, or we do?
There was an experience I had in HS, where I formed a panel to explore theist belief. I found one person that was willing to take the witness stand and be cross examined. He was a believer but…"
Reg The Fronkey Farmer commented on Helen Pluckrose's blog post 'Is it aggressive to look for and challenge theistic claims when they are about me?'"A complete stranger will knock on my front door and tell me that his truth is the one and only truth. It is the “real TRUTH”. This implies that everything I understand or that from the pillars of my reality is wrong. So rather than me…"
Helen Pluckrose commented on Helen Pluckrose's blog post 'Is it aggressive to look for and challenge theistic claims when they are about me?'"Suddenly my daughter's school seems a little better! This year's teacher is an atheist and his degree is in evolutionary biology so I'm less worried.
I agree very much that there is a time and a place for aggressively arguing your…"
Dale Headley commented on Helen Pluckrose's blog post 'Is it aggressive to look for and challenge theistic claims when they are about me?'"I never initiate a confrontational debate with Christians; their beliefs are of no concern to me. However, if they attempt to force their nonsense on me, all bets are off.
Example: a science teacher of my long standing acquaintance does…"
Strega commented on Helen Pluckrose's blog post 'Is it aggressive to look for and challenge theistic claims when they are about me?'"That sounds terrible, I'm sorry your daughter has been made to feel anxious.
I vaguely remember a jigsaw puzzle with the animals as solid wood pieces, the only one I remember well was the giraffe. Noah's boat looked just like Captain…"
Helen Pluckrose commented on Helen Pluckrose's blog post 'Is it aggressive to look for and challenge theistic claims when they are about me?'"I think you have been lucky Strega. If you have a look at my profile you will see I am an active atheist because my daughter is seeing a psychologist now after being told at five that God flooded the world, turned rivers to blood and killed all the…"
Strega commented on Helen Pluckrose's blog post 'Is it aggressive to look for and challenge theistic claims when they are about me?'"I'm a Brit, Helen, from London, which is predominantly non-religious. Nobody ever talked about my soul in school. There are specific religious denomination schools, Catholics fund quite a number of them. But in over 50 years I…"
Helen Pluckrose commented on Helen Pluckrose's blog post 'Is it aggressive to look for and challenge theistic claims when they are about me?'"I think its important to care what assumptions large groups in society claim to be truths for humanity as a whole especially when, as in my country, England, they do so in schools and parliament."
Laney commented on Helen Pluckrose's blog post 'Is it aggressive to look for and challenge theistic claims when they are about me?'"has anyone read that book "heaven is for real"? Does it not seem like the parents are really cashing in on their son's near-death experience?"
Strega commented on Helen Pluckrose's blog post 'Is it aggressive to look for and challenge theistic claims when they are about me?'"I think all the points and counter-arguments you have made are well thought through, and logical and empirical. You express them well, too.
The problem is simply that I don't think you can counter faith with logic. They are like two…"
Sagacious Hawk commented on Helen Pluckrose's blog post 'Is it really aggressive to persistently look for and challenge theistic claims when they are about me?'"I think in this case, aggressive is synonymous with winning. Besides, there isn't anything wrong with being aggressive in the first place. As far as I'm concerned, the opposite of aggressive is meek. But are you being aggressive? Eh,…"
Helen Pluckrose replied to Justin's discussion 'Post-religion and looking for support and meaning'"Hi Justin, welcome. This is quite a common reaction. I have spoken to a few ex-christians who felt this way. I didn't myself cos my feelings towards my faith were all about fear and anxiety so letting go of them was a relief. However, many…"
Profile Information
- Your Religious Status
- Atheist
- About Me:
- Perpetual student, mother, wife, antitheist, dog lover.
- Age
- 36-40
- Relationship Status
- Married
- Why are you here?
- I was harmed very badly by religion in schools.I was raised atheist but believed my teachers and was terrified. My 7 year old daughter has now been taught that God turned rivers into blood and killed the first born children and has been very worried. I want religion out of British schools. I do not want my daughter affected by Christian beliefs in a God who kills children in a good way and sends people to Hell to be tortured for all eternity. I want all of society to realise these are not healthy beliefs and have no place in the education of a young child.
- The religion you left
- Christian
- Think Atheist Travel Network Couch Availability - Are you able to host anyone now?
- No
- http://twitter.com/#!/hpluckrose
- How did you hear about Think Atheist?
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Is it aggressive to look for and challenge theistic claims when they are about me?
Posted on December 11, 2012 at 6:00am 11 Comments 0 Likes
I am frequently accused of being aggressive, bullying and 'looking for arguments' mostly with Christians but the odd Muslim and Hindu too because I seek out theistic claims made online in news articles, blogs and on discussion forums and challenge them. Is this fair? If theists claim that they have an immortal soul which will experience eternal bliss or eternal torment and that they are made in the image of a god who is interested in everything they do, this is one thing. However, they also…
Continue Don't Christians have a far more relative sense of morality than humanists/atheists?
Posted on September 24, 2012 at 8:32am 1 Comment 0 Likes
Christianity, context and moral relativism.
For this argument I am not claiming that moral relativism is a good or bad thing (its all relative XD) but Christian apologists frequently claim that is an atheist/humanist concept and inferior to an absolute morality that comes from the word of God?
However, Christians also frequently claim that atheists take the actions of the Christian god out of context when we criticize his advocacy of slavery, rape, child sex abuse and genocide…
Continue An evolutionary psychologist's opinion on why children can be so infuriating.
Posted on June 24, 2012 at 12:00pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Having had a particularly bad morning with my 8 year old daughter who, despite being the most intelligent, beautiful and lovable child in the history of humanity, does have a tendency to have some fairly unbearable moments, I emailed my favourite evolutionary psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa. I asked him why children should have evolved the fairly universal parental-insanity inducing behaviours of incessant talking about absolutely nothing, arguing with everything (for my daughter this morning…
Continue Religion and mental illness piece I wrote for Atheismandme.
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 3:23pm 6 Comments 1 Like
Is there a link between religion and mental illness?
By Helen Pluckrose
I would argue that there is and intend to demonstrate this by showing the way children are raised in the Christian faith, giving statistical evidence of the correlations between Christianity and social problems and detailing the mental illnesses which exist only in…
ContinueComment Wall (12 comments)
- At 7:32am on February 10, 2012,
Mo Trauen said… Hi Helen,
I just wanted to stop by to tell you that I love your surname. I don't think anyone from your family ever came to America because I haven't heard it before.
- At 1:50pm on January 8, 2012,
Monica Salcedo (Monicks) said… Thank you for adding me to your friends, Helen -- totally makes me happy. Nice to meet you!
- At 6:45pm on December 10, 2011,
Bo Fowler said… Thanks Helen :)
- At 10:45am on November 26, 2011,
Fakher Haddaoui said… thanks Helen
- At 8:47pm on November 25, 2011, KaraC gave Helen Pluckrose a gift…
- At 8:27pm on November 25, 2011, KaraC said…
Antibiotic resistant bacteria have evolved in the last 60 years. Your tormenter is not interested in proof, he wants a time machine.
- At 9:48am on September 27, 2011,
clay harshbarger said…
Thanks for accepting my friends request. I hope your dealings with the school system over religious education go well.
Yes I like John Lennon and the Beatles too. My dog’s names are Penny Lane and Lucy Diamond. But I just call them Penny and Lucy.
- At 6:55pm on September 14, 2011,
Rick said… I’m now addicted to Yahoo answers!
- At 5:58pm on September 7, 2011, Monica Salcedo (Monicks) said…
Welcome to Think Atheist, Helen! It is great to have you here.
Message me, or tweet me (@Monicks), or contact any of the Moderators with any suggestions or questions.
Make sure to search the Groups to find members interested in the same topics as you, or the Forums to find debates on all kinds of issues.
Here's a list of useful links to get you started:
Think Atheist Radio Show is our weekly podcast - totally awesome. We are on iTunes, too.
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~ Monic
- At 3:39pm on September 4, 2011,
Garrett Taffer said… Welcome to TA, Helen!
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