[ExI] atheists de-baptize unbelievers

[Dan]

I don't think people who find in your face atheists annoying are really going by 
that logic -- no supreme being or sacred text condoning proselytizing others -- 
because they likely don't understand that point. Rather, I think it's a double 
standard. No doubt, they would feel the same way if Deists or Pagans started 
proselytizing. And, not that these people are all alike or part of the same 
group, but this reminds me of people who aren't against gays but just don't want 
them to kiss in public and hold hands, but seem unable to conceive how some 
might feel about straight couples doing the same. In other words, they're just 
used to one group doing something and not to another doing much the same thing.

(Also, the sacred books of all three Abrahamic faiths have textual support for 
killing those of differing views. But it seems, happily, 'scriptural 
determinism" isn't in play: most self-identified members of these faiths are not 
following those passages.)

Regards,

Dan


----- Original Message ----
From: BillK <pharos at gmail.com>
To: ExI chat list <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Sent: Tue, July 20, 2010 12:33:12 PM
Subject: Re: [ExI] atheists de-baptize unbelievers

On Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 4:49 PM, Dan  wrote:
> Yeah, Christians and other religious people regularly do far more bombastic
> things. Some whacky atheists adopt a similar approach and they've gone too 
>far?!
>
> Also, I often get asked by religious people why not just leave this alone -- 
be
> an atheist and be silent. (And, for the most part, I am. I don't often bring 
up
> this subject -- save online.) They don't seem to care, though, about the
> continuing bombardent of religious messages -- from people knocking on my door
> on Sundays and handing out pamphlets to the various public displays... Of
> course, any public display of atheism gets a reaction.

That's comparing apples and oranges.  Their holy book *orders* them to
go and spread the word and get more followers. (And another holy book
orders them to kill unbelievers, so you're lucky if they just knock on
your door).

Atheists don't have a supreme being ordering them to spread the word.
They are just being annoying because it's fun.

BillK
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