Reply #158

1) You do NOT get to make the name of your own superstition mean "good person" because doing so screams that those who do not share it are bad people - and all the disingenuous BS in the world will not change that loathsome lie.

And the problem is? You've never heard anyone try to claim that "Christian"="Good Person" (and, conversely, clearly bad people who call themselves "Christians" aren't Real Christians because, again, they're "bad people"?) MT, are you saying it's NOT a "loathsome lie" to assert that only believers in one religion or another are the "good people"? Shit, I think it's a VERY loathsome lie. Or perhaps the problem with this quote is just the one, word, "superstition". If that's a problem, I would refer it back to both !A! and !B!


2) I think "Christians" are probably the most harmful entities on this planet right now. No single group has caused more bloodshed and harm to the living beings on this planet.

Whether or not this assertion could be backed up with statistics, facts, data, or whatever, it's still bashing. On that, we agree. Over the line.

3) I don't bash individual Christians. I bash the idea of Christianity which very much does need to be bashed. With a few exceptions, that's what I see the majority of athiests on DU doing. If it bothers you so that your religion is being bashed, and you take that as a personal affront from all athiests on DU, perhaps your belief is not nearly as strong as you thought.

This one, too, is over the top.

4) Christianity can be used to justify many different and contradictory conclusions which makes it pretty much worthless as any kind of standard to live up to.

The first part is a fairly obvious piece of observation that can be applied to just about any belief system. The second is subjective opinion. I think this post points up a weakness in logical framing of arguments, but I wouldn't file it under bashing. Maybe just poor reasoning, or debate skills.

5) I am convinced that religious belief is delusional at best, and a variety of mental illness at worst. Folks displaying those characteristics are hard to support for leadership positions outside the asylum.

Another example of subjective opinion. Note the use of "I am convinced". Were I to make this sort of statement, I might qualify the 2nd part as well with an "I believe" just to reiterate that point, but this person is stating their opinion. They are entitled to their opinion.

6) I don't even believe he <God>exists, but instead is a made up myth used by groups over the centuries to control people and politics. If that makes me a god-hater I will wear that badge proudly.

A clear example of !A!

7) I believe everyone has a right to believe in anything they want. I also believe people have a right to say they think those beliefs are dangerous, absurd or ridiculous.

I'm really scratching my head as to what could possibly be the fucking problem with this line. For all I know, I wrote it. It sounds like something I would say.

8) Get your religion out of my government or get another Religion.

This is a political sentiment, not a religious one, nor is it bashing of religion nor is it bashing of Christianity.

9) Want Your Ideas Respected, Sir? Get Better Ideas....

Okay, I think we all know who wrote that. Another statement I find extremely hard to find fault with.

10) Religious people want their ridiculous beliefs placed off limits. Why? Too embarrassing to have to defend them?

And, again, what is the alternative, then? NO beliefs may be criticized, ever, or analyzed or even made fun of, because they're someone's special religious belief? The Rapture guy who keeps getting the date wrong? The Westboro Baptists? Frank Chu? Where does it end? ....This one hits all 3: !A!,!B!,and !C!.

11) I ridicule the ridiculous. I care little who or how many decided to make it the central focus of their life.

Presumably, you think that people should NOT ridicule the ridiculous, or what they consider ridiculous, which really means no one should ridicule anything, because everything is probably ridiculous to someone and not ridiculous to someone else. !A! and !C!