BSM1
What? Me worry?
I know. Right?
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When Will Anti-Atheism Be Viewed as Bigotry?
- Thread starter Sunstone
- Start date
I know. Right?
Any prejudice based on religion or non religion should.
Totally agree with your post here, with just one small quip.
I would argue that while almost half or more than half of Brits are now irreligious (depending on the polling data you rely upon), the number of convinced atheists remains considerably smaller. A 2017 Gallop poll showed that 13%, roughly 1 in 8 of the UK adult population, are ‘convinced atheists‘ (4); while a further 53%, more than 1 in 2 adults, are non-religious.
Most Brits spend little-to-no time thinking about religion at all, whereas atheists are folks who do think about it and have made a conscientious decision to reject belief in any deities or in supramundane beliefs that cannot be tested or falsified by evidence/experiment.
A range of superstitious beliefs, outside of any religious context, are still adhered to by large sections of the UK population as well according to the data. According to another survey from last year, 1 in every 6 British adults believes Friday the 13th is a risk of bad luck for them. That's not far from the percentage of atheists.
The study also found around half of Brits are 'superstitious' and a similar number believe luck - both good and bad - has an impact on their lives. 7 in 10 wouldn’t risk walking under a ladder for fear of bringing bad luck and two thirds have even ‘touched wood’ to ward off any future mishaps. And that isn't counting the people who believe in ghosts, star signs, mediums and a host of other things.
Gregory Tatton-Brown from Casumo.com, which commissioned the research, said: "Even in modern times, with the power of science and technology at our backs, and less mystery in the world than ever before, it’s hard to shake the feeling that invisible forces hold some sway over our lives."
So, while we hold up much better than the U.S., it would be a mistake to conclude that we are a nation of enlightened rationalists (as the nonsense of Brexit has unfortunately proved). And if Love Island is anything to go by....
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...s-no-religion-british-social-attitudes-survey
More generally, 53% of all adults describe themselves as having no religious affiliation, up from 48% in 2015.
I agree. I do not know who the BSA are or what they represent. But the author tries to show that BSA wants atheists out of the country.
The article cites a BSA resolution which claims that faith is a component of good citizenship and exhorts faith of its members. But the author tries to link the BSA to author's view: we’ve seen an influx in believers lashing out against atheists, publicly stating they’re not welcome, or worse yet, should leave the country.
And then again the author infers: So basically, BSA doesn’t care which “God” you believe in, as long as you’re not one of those nasty nonbelievers. Those filthy atheists couldn’t possibly be good citizens.
Any reader will see that BSA resolution is qualitatively different. It never uses the words 'nasty' or 'filthy'. Those are author's perceptions.
dianaiad
Well-Known Member
What do you mean 'these days?" I don't see that this has changed any. Humans have been doing precisely this for millenia. Theists, atheists, scientists with conflicting hypotheses, politicians with conflicting ideas about how governments should work,
There's nothing new here.
BilliardsBall
Veteran Member
My atheist friends, including at this forum, say they have no bigotry against born again Christians, rather that we, particularly the Creationists and so on, are stupid, delusional.
So why is it bigotry if I choose to call atheists delusional? I'm trying to help them overcome their delusions! To wake them from slumber!
Well, this atheist never said you're stupid.
Audie
Veteran Member
I have seen lo and many a creationist claim that
they are called "stupid",but, I have never seen
it actually happen.
Nor can any of them produce an example. Was that
a deluded statement on your part? I think it was.
Now, as for deluded-well, let us see what the word means.
: deceived by false beliefs
: having or characterized by delusional ideas
-deluded thinking
yep, that all fits, in varying degrees.
Among the serious ones, we count one who claims
the excess water from Noahs thing was wafted
to Neptune, where it shines to this day as a warning
beacon against incoming rogue angels.
Deluded?
Now, if you or any of your fundy friends can actually
demonstrate delusion, self deception, delusional
thinking on the part of an atheist here, by all means
do so!
Otherwise, sure,go ahead and say "delusional"
if it suits you. Without a reason, though, it would be
nothing but low name calling that says only
something about you.
Give it a try! If atheists are deluded, show us where
we are deceived by false beliefs.
Any time will be fine. How about now?
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Audie
Veteran Member
Of course not. It is a creo-canard.
Very different thing!
I have no religious affiliation. But I am not an atheist by any means.
What does "religious affiliation" mean, though? We tend to associate it with institutionalized models of religion, which weren't the norm for most of human history. Once upon a time, wasn't "religious affiliation" basically the same thing as your "cultural affiliation?" That is, religious practices were an inherent part of the culture you were part of, rather than some compartmentalized institution within said culture?
It's still rather like that in some parts of the world, as I understand it. Like Japan. Ask a Japanese person and they'll often say they are "no religion" yet both Shinto and Buddhism pervade through their culture like a perpetual cloud of sacred incense.
It's still rather like that in some parts of the world, as I understand it. Like Japan. Ask a Japanese person and they'll often say they are "no religion" yet both Shinto and Buddhism pervade through their culture like a perpetual cloud of sacred incense.
Another example of how societies often don't fit these boxes very well in the West nowadays is the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, 25% are atheists, 17% are theists. That's a MASSIVE gap "in between" those two of people who don't feel they can be described by those words. 31% called themselves agnostic, 27% ietsist (believing in something, basically). At the same, 44% say they're Christian!
It goes both ways. I can't tell you how many times I've been mocked and had my intelligence questioned by some atheists who look down on me because in their opinion, if I believe in the existence of God I must be missing a few screws.
I also know other atheists who are wonderful and kind so this is in no way a critic to all atheists. Actually, some of my closest friends are atheists.
It's the same with believers. Some are polite and respectful and others are complete morons who are incapable of making a positive contribution to society.
I also know other atheists who are wonderful and kind so this is in no way a critic to all atheists. Actually, some of my closest friends are atheists.
It's the same with believers. Some are polite and respectful and others are complete morons who are incapable of making a positive contribution to society.
Audie
Veteran Member
Skwim
Veteran Member
Yup, it does discriminate based on religious affiliation or persuasion, and all the while taking government money to support itself. A huge no-no in the USA.
From the article:
"While the Boy Scouts have recently loosened their membership rules to include LGBTQ children and girls, it seems their exclusion of atheists will stand as long as their current leadership is in place. In a letter signed last October by BSA’s National President, National Commissioner, and Chief Scout Executive, they stated, “We believe this nation needs and deserves more youth focused on the foundations that still serve as bedrock of our movement — duty to God and country with a desire to help other people at all times.”
Supporters of the Boy Scouts might say, “So what? They can admit whoever they want.” While that’s true, what we need to be aware of is that BSA receives federal funding and support, and according to federal law, should not be discriminating based on religion. But I digress. The issue I’m focused on here is the openly accepted bigotry against atheists — the idea that atheists aren’t welcome and that without religious belief, a person cannot be moral, or a good citizen in BSA’s case."
Supporters of the Boy Scouts might say, “So what? They can admit whoever they want.” While that’s true, what we need to be aware of is that BSA receives federal funding and support, and according to federal law, should not be discriminating based on religion. But I digress. The issue I’m focused on here is the openly accepted bigotry against atheists — the idea that atheists aren’t welcome and that without religious belief, a person cannot be moral, or a good citizen in BSA’s case."
big·ot·ry
ˈbiɡətrē/
noun
noun: bigotry; plural noun: bigotries
intolerance toward those who hold different opinions or beliefs from oneself.
So why would they bother to do so unless you gave them a reason? Most people simply don't confront others without reason. If you've been mocked and had your intelligence questioned by some atheists who look down on you, you must have given them reason to, justified or not. Might want to review the circumstances and keep in mind that every bushel has a bad apple or two.
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Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Damn ... That sucks. They're going to have to get rid of all their newborns.
