Comments on: The Strong Atheist Position http://pulltheplugonignorance.com/2009/03/the-strong-atheist-position/ On the matters of faiths, beliefs, sciences and worldviews. Wed, 09 May 2012 10:25:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: GMNightmare http://pulltheplugonignorance.com/2009/03/the-strong-atheist-position/#comment-16 GMNightmare Mon, 18 May 2009 02:45:08 +0000 http://pulltheplugonignorance.com/?p=50#comment-16 ArchangelChuck, you have made a false assertion, that there is a followup. You are incorrect that something must be "accepted". Second, you are talking of philosophy, not religion. You want a philosophical followup to a religious answer. Your realize that theists can have philosophical ideas as well right? ArchangelChuck, you have made a false assertion, that there is a followup. You are incorrect that something must be “accepted”. Second, you are talking of philosophy, not religion. You want a philosophical followup to a religious answer. Your realize that theists can have philosophical ideas as well right?

]]> By: James http://pulltheplugonignorance.com/2009/03/the-strong-atheist-position/#comment-6 James Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:37:20 +0000 http://pulltheplugonignorance.com/?p=50#comment-6 I think, by the often hard-earned fact of rejecting the irrational idea of "God" an atheist has actually asserted a philosophy in opposition to the "might makes right" tyrannical philosophy of religious indoctrination, criticism, and control. They don't just reject "god" they reject the tyranny represented by any irrational idea, any idea without rational empirical evidence, whether that's kowtowing to one's parents, one's boss, one's government, a dictator or a criminal, by rejecting "god" we're showing our suspicion and rejection of any authority. And that's fundamentally why atheists are feared and hated, we're not just going to shut up, sit down and obey, we're going to stand up for and if necessary fight for what's right. I think, by the often hard-earned fact of rejecting the irrational idea of “God” an atheist has actually asserted a philosophy in opposition to the “might makes right” tyrannical philosophy of religious indoctrination, criticism, and control. They don’t just reject “god” they reject the tyranny represented by any irrational idea, any idea without rational empirical evidence, whether that’s kowtowing to one’s parents, one’s boss, one’s government, a dictator or a criminal, by rejecting “god” we’re showing our suspicion and rejection of any authority. And that’s fundamentally why atheists are feared and hated, we’re not just going to shut up, sit down and obey, we’re going to stand up for and if necessary fight for what’s right.

]]> By: ArchangelChuck http://pulltheplugonignorance.com/2009/03/the-strong-atheist-position/#comment-5 ArchangelChuck Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:33:19 +0000 http://pulltheplugonignorance.com/?p=50#comment-5 "Atheism" is a generalization for a broad group of people who reject the existence of gods. The weak and strong modifiers are absolutely pointless; they serve only to confuse and divide, and I think they need to be thrown out entirely. On the other hand, I'm convinced that the real reason everybody gets confused is because atheists are attempting to identify themselves by what they are not (believers in a deity) rather than what they are (humanists, naturalists, etc.) Most people I've heard say, "I'm an atheist," say that and nothing more. Yeah, and so what? While that's good and fine, those people have explained next to nothing. We shouldn't fear to use the word "atheist" to describe ourselves, but we need to follow up. If we reject god, what do we <em>accept</em>? Scientific naturalism? Pantheism? Humanism? Karma? Astrology? New age mumbo jumbo? “Atheism” is a generalization for a broad group of people who reject the existence of gods. The weak and strong modifiers are absolutely pointless; they serve only to confuse and divide, and I think they need to be thrown out entirely. On the other hand, I’m convinced that the real reason everybody gets confused is because atheists are attempting to identify themselves by what they are not (believers in a deity) rather than what they are (humanists, naturalists, etc.)

Most people I’ve heard say, “I’m an atheist,” say that and nothing more. Yeah, and so what? While that’s good and fine, those people have explained next to nothing. We shouldn’t fear to use the word “atheist” to describe ourselves, but we need to follow up. If we reject god, what do we accept? Scientific naturalism? Pantheism? Humanism? Karma? Astrology? New age mumbo jumbo?

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