"I'm an atheist, but ... "

[DavidDvorkin]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4077546&mesg_id=4077546

[FiveGoodMen]

1. Threads like that are depressing.

I like Dawkins.

The God Delusion is one of the best things I've read.

[immoderate]

2. Many professors have a prickly side. So what?

This ain't tiddly winks. Nevertheless, I like Dawkins.

--IMM

[varkam]

3. While I tihnk that Dawkins has a lot of legitimate points...

and I thoroughly enjoyed reading Delusion, but I think ultimately it may have been a bit over the top in that it seems to have put off plenty of people. Maybe it had to be done, though - I could easily be wrong.

[FiveGoodMen]

4. Religion says, "Anyone who doesn't see it our way is rightly damned by God and destined for Hell"

but someone who says "Nuts to that" -- or words to that effect -- is over the top?

[varkam]

6. No - but I don't think that's exactly what was said.

I think that there is a big difference between saying "Nuts to that" and implying that anyone who believes in god is prima facie mentally ill.

[FiveGoodMen]

8. Again: prima facie mentally ill vs. prima facie 'EVIL TO THE POINT OF DESEVRING ETERNAL TORTURE'

[varkam]

9. I'm not defending crazy religious ideas.

What I'm saying is that calling religious believers mentally ill isn't likely to win people over to our side; especially not in the United States, where Jesus is a pretty popular fellow. Note that does not mean that some religious ideas are not offensive, or that they shouldn't be criticized.

[FiveGoodMen]

10. I just don't see how one can carry on an honest discussion while avoiding the insult

If you think that the tendency to believe is rooted in a problem with the brain, how do you argue that point without saying words that ultimately mean "People believe in gods because part of their brain isn't rational"?

[varkam]

11. None of us are entirely rational.

I'm an atheist, and I freely admit that not everything that I do is rational. There is, however, a big difference between calling someone's belief irrational and calling it indicative of a mental illness.

[FiveGoodMen]

12. Think we'll have to agree to disagree.

[Synnical]

5. I saw that and was tempted to reply but did not

The OP needed to vent about Dawkins. That's what GD is for. Okay, have at it. Whatever. This isn't a personality contest.

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[curse10]

7. ugh

I'm so tired of the Dawkins bashing from certain groups within the atheist realm. We need someone like Dawkins- just like the left needs Michael Moore- someone to rankle the idiots out there. Make headlines. Bring the issue to the forefront of people's mind.

Dawkins is fucking brilliant. And I tend to agree with him- I don't think very highly of people who believe in a magical sky pixie. Delusional is a nice way of putting it.

[jonnyblitz]

13. they remind me of log cabin republicans who whine about their

fellow gays all the time. the "atheist butts"(that's what i call them) are more concerned about fitting in and being liked by the religionist majority than they are with exposing uncritical thinking or any truth, just like the log cabin republicans who think drag queens and leatherfolk or feisty gay rights activists make it harder for the heterosexual majority to like or accept us.