Reply #48

In the discussion thread: As a long-time atheist, I'm often asked if I "respect" religion. [View all]

Sat Apr 21, 2012, 03:48 PM

rug (47,409 posts)

48. How does being an atheist enable you to recognize people's needs or tendencies?

Does declaring yourself an atheist confer upon you psychological or sociological skills you lacked before that self-declaration?

If atheism is simply nonbelief in god(s), stop making sweeping pronouncements based on that nonbelief. It may lead one to consider you grandiose if not delusional.

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72 replies	Author	Time	Post
As a long-time atheist, I'm often asked if I "respect" religion. [View all]	MineralMan	Apr 2012	OP
The subtlety might be too much for them to get	Warpy	Apr 2012	#1
Those who call believers deluded may find the subtlety too much for them.	rug	Apr 2012	#7
Deluded, eh? Who used that word?	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#19
You can read post #3 in this thread:	rug	Apr 2012	#24
Then, I suggest that you post your reply to that post.	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#25
As a matter of fact I wasn't replying to you at all.	rug	Apr 2012	#29
The nature of DU discussions is that anyone	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#33
In that case, keep your suggestions as to whom I reply to to yourself.	rug	Apr 2012	#35
Sir, Yes Sir!	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#42
Off the shelf delusions vs. Individually created delusions	NAO	Apr 2012	#32
A delusion is fixed, false belief that is maintained despite evidence to the contrary.	cbayer	Apr 2012	#37
Some might say that the definition of self-delusion...	cleanhippie	Apr 2012	#66
To maintain that there is a god or gods is not, as no one can submit evidence to the contrary.	AlbertCat	Apr 2012	#67
Again, I object to the incorrect use of a technical term.	cbayer	Apr 2012	#72
How does being an atheist enable you to recognize people's needs or tendencies?	rug	Apr 2012	#48
If atheism is simply nonbelief in god(s)	AlbertCat	Apr 2012	#68
Abraham, Moses, others were delusional by your criteria	NAO	Apr 2012	#38
Indeed.	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#47
Do you therefore call someone who believes that to be delusional?	rug	Apr 2012	#50
No, I do not.	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#52
The only one who did that so far in this thread is you.	Warpy	Apr 2012	#28
The only post above mine is yours.	rug	Apr 2012	#30
Congratulations.	Warpy	Apr 2012	#43
Frankly, there is little to misunderstand about your post.	rug	Apr 2012	#45
"Oh, I hate Judaism, but some of my best freinds are Jews."	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#2
The beliefs of my friends and people I respect	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#5
Everybody believes something...	immoderate	Apr 2012	#3
As an agnostic, I find that I respect the teachings more than most "religious" people.	DCKit	Apr 2012	#4
Every religion has two types of "teachings."	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#9
And yet, Jesus said that unless one hated their immediate family, they could not truly love him.	stopbush	Apr 2012	#12
The problem with that is that you're talking about a record	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#16
The problem with that is that you're talking about a record	AlbertCat	Apr 2012	#69
"I have come to set you against your mothers and fathers"	DCKit	Apr 2012	#22
Jesus said what other, later, people said he said.	xtraxritical	Apr 2012	#57
Problem is too many who ask that question mean only the Abrahamic faiths	intaglio	Apr 2012	#6
And I think the reason is "active recruitment"....	physioex	Apr 2012	#10
Ah, but Judaism is not an evangelical religion, and it	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#13
Point taken.....	physioex	Apr 2012	#17
That is true, more or less, I think.	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#11
Well put. I usually substitute political affiliation for religious belief to make the point.	stopbush	Apr 2012	#8
i don't much respect organized religions. i'm coming to not respect many	ellenfl	Apr 2012	#14
I Just Ask	AldebTX	Apr 2012	#15
What do you do when you're told Yes?	rug	Apr 2012	#21
I would only argue that once you start using ridicule, disparagement, pejoratives	cbayer	Apr 2012	#18
And I would argue that you are incorrect.	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#20
Do you respect or disrespect people who mock people based on their beliefs?	rug	Apr 2012	#31
Mock? That is not something I particularly respect in a person.	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#49
Does "not something I particularly respect" mean you disrespect someone who does that?	rug	Apr 2012	#51
That depends. I try very hard not to judge people or determine	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#55
You're saying that on balance you respect them more than you	patrice	Apr 2012	#23
The guy that figured this out	rrneck	Apr 2012	#26
Exactly. Thanks.	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#34
It's amazing how few people actually get that (including some fellow atheists). Well said. NT	Grown2Hate	Apr 2012	#27
UR Correct..The fact that anybody could fear me because I'm an Atheist is because..	Tikki	Apr 2012	#36
In normal conversations with people, I don't bring it up either.	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#39
MineralMan! Those are my thoughts exactly!	DesertDiamond	Apr 2012	#40
Thanks!	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#41
Very well said.	JFN1	Apr 2012	#44
Could not the same, but opposite, argument be made here?	cbayer	Apr 2012	#46
Indeed it could be made.	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#53
religion	marshall gaines	Apr 2012	#54
Oh, it is quite possible to die without religious belief.	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#56
of course	marshall gaines	Apr 2012	#58
I doubt very seriously that you interviewed many atheists	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#59
ok	marshall gaines	Apr 2012	#61
Instead of getting angry, how about describing the personal experiences	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#62
not angry	marshall gaines	Apr 2012	#63
I give religion the same respect...	awoke_in_2003	Apr 2012	#60
The Four Oxen and the Lion	rug	Apr 2012	#65
While late to this discussion, I must say that you give credulity to	cachukis	Apr 2012	#64
If I didn't know better, I would say this is parody.	LTX	Apr 2012	#70
I don't see the equivalency, to respect an idea is to give it some measure of merit...	Humanist_Activist	Apr 2012	#71

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