Will victory calm things down in this forum?

[More Than A Feeling]

What do you guys think of the idea that the lines between theists and atheists can suddenly recede into the background when there is no reason to want to throw anyone overboard for victory?

[madrchsod]

1. i doubt it

some just can`t get the idea that one can be a person of faith and be a democrat. remember there is always "ignore"

[Goblinmonger]

6. Interesting

that the first post on this thread is a theist bashing atheists. Can you possibly provide me a link for a post that says what you indicate?

[Evoman]

13. The second post too.

*in Rambo voice* They drreeww first blood!

[greyl]

23. ...and they even dropped the Ignore Bomb! nt

[Roarin]

27. Some just can`t get the idea

Isn't it mostly just a hyperbole type myth? Christianophobes I mean.

[Random_Australian]

29. Sure is! Belated welcome to DU to you!

Utter bullshit, really.

[seriousstan]

2. Not with Christmas coming around the corner.

Win,lose or draw...some people just hate religion.

[More Than A Feeling]

3. Heh, the Democratic Party clearly attacked Christmas by winning

Some people just have a lot of nerve! :sarcasm:

[Goblinmonger]

9. Yeah, it's all our fault

the nasty atheists are out to get you. Boogey, boogey, boogey.

It's one thing to have to deal with O'Reily, but it gets a little old on DU.

[seriousstan]

12. Thanks for proving my point. nt

[Goblinmonger]

17. How exactly did I prove your point about religion?

My post was clearly sarcasm aimed at your paranoia about atheists and our "hate" of religion. That might make me a prick and an asshole in relation to you. But what does my post have to do with religion? Please enlighten me.

And what about your attack out of the gate on atheists? You don't have a problem with that?

[seriousstan]

21. You are the one saying atheists hate religion, not I.

It is your definition of atheists, not mine. If you don't like your own definition, don't use it.

[Goblinmonger]

25. Alright, explain to me, then.

When you said this

Win,lose or draw...some people just hate religion.

what were you talking about. It seems obvious to me that you are talking about atheists. But perhaps you were talking about some self-loathing theists. But hey, I'm ready to admit I'm wrong. Help me out. Who exactly is it, then, that hates religion.

See, I am thinking that you came out with this snarky reply to the OP and now you are called on it. You realize that your post was kind of a crappy thing to do, but you don't want to admit it so you are playing some stupid semantic game with me.

But I could be wrong. Explain to me what the post meant so that I can issue an apology.

[neebob]

18. How do you expect to be successful in harassing the faithful

if you can't even repeat the taunt correctly? It's booga, not boogey - and no commas. Compare:

Boogey, boogey, boogey.

Booga booga booga!

See how much more threatening that looks?

[Goblinmonger]

19. Damn it

I'm always getting that wrong. Did they send you here to take my rubber chicken? I'll bring another Christian baby to the sacrifice if I get to stay in the club. Have I said too much?

[neebob]

20. No, I just pretend to be bossy

so they won't take away my rubber chicken. I'm afraid they'll notice me slacking off on harassing the faithful. It's hard to keep up with all the stuff we have to do.

[Realityhack]

16. Look...

If Santa isn't harboring WMD then why won't he let the UN inspectors check out his toy factory?!?
Huh!
Huh!

If you don't support the war on Christmas you must hate the US!!

---

Ok that probably doesn’t have enough caps to look like a real freeper post.
On a more serious note, what does Christmas coming up have to do with anything?
And why shouldn't some people hate religion?

[NMMNG]

22. Pardon me

But what are you talking about? :shrug:

[TallahasseeGrannie]

4. I think this is what will happen

I think the right wingnuts (the religious variety) are going to very slowly fade away. As they fade, so does the fear on the left and hence the ability to agree to disagree will increase.

[More Than A Feeling]

5. All the moderate Kansas Republicans have to become Democrats first

Then the religious right will be spent as an electoral force.

[Random_Australian]

7. Well, I was going to say I was hopeful... but the first two posts were on

how immensely evil and vile atheists are. (With, of course, absolutely no examples)

:eyes:

Well, there's still TG. :)

[Goblinmonger]

8. Glad it wasn't just me noticing that

Sometimes I think I can be overly snarky.

[Random_Australian]

11. Well, not this time. That 'persecution' shite is going too far -

War on Christmas? I hope at least that one is just parody of the first one.

But still, I don't have any doubt exactly which group is supposed to not think someone can have faith and be a democrat.

Yeah, I defend and converse and talk nicely and all that... so I must just be seething on the inside. Except atheists don't have insides because if they had hearts they'd stop persecuting the poor, helpless poster above who thinks atheists are out to get them.

And I'm guessing they'll go the "I was only talking about a few bad apples" route, which to me always sounds like

A: Mexicans are lazy
B: What the fuck you talking?
A: I was only talking about some few bad apples, who also happen to be mexicans. You're trying to tell me that no mexican has ever been lazy, you are so intolerant and racist against other nationalities!

:eyes:

And if you're reading this, don't even think about putting this down to me not liking your faith. Your lack of manners and spiteful attacks against selective groups of people is what I am objecting to.

[Roarin]

26. Will I be needing a shark suit?

Wow. I'm new and I'm thinking....what is everyone so angry about here?

[Random_Australian]

28. Just asbestos underwear.

R/T is the most flamey of all the forums.

Right about then, I was kind of miffed at some idiot saying that atheists hate believers.

And this IS peaceful for R/T - in fact, I usually try to calm things down a fair bit, but given I'm leaving until March, it will probably heat up again. :D Watch the fireworks! :7

[TheBaldyMan]

30. I think half the problem is the lack of humour in this forum

I can't understand it myself (I'm British). I don't live in a society where religion is that hot a topic. In the UK conspicuously religious people are looked on as a bit mad or at the very least eccentric figures of fun.

The non-believers here do tend to smack down everybody that professes faith as deluded and brainless. While this may be a valid opinion it is extremely rude and in my opinion counter-productive.

I think everybody could benefit from studying logic, rhetoric and the scientific method before posting. Too many posts are wooly and ill-concieved, sadly this includes both poles of opinion.

btw: welcome to DU, I hope you don't find the R/T forum too heated.

[Goblinmonger]

31. If anyone says that a person of faith

is deluded an brainless for their faith, then they should be alerted on and the post deleted. That happens when it arises.

Most of the time, I think I agree with your mate Dawkins that religion is given too much of a break. People can say anything they want and then hide behind the fact that it is their "religion." People in here call theists on those things and that is seen as insult.

[More Than A Feeling]

32. It's an identity thing

For example, someone may think their family is F'ed up in some ways, but if anyone else says so, its a slur against them. Then the person who says it expects the family member to agree. Likelihood of that happening? Not very good.

[TheBaldyMan]

33. half the posts on this forum would be removed if they were alerted about

accusations of retardation against both believers and non-believers. You haven't taken the time out to read peoples posts if you think otherwise. The non-believers in this forum are thin-skinned and sensitive to the extreme over-reaction, I think I can understand this if you live in America because atheism is considered beyond the pale.

However, here in the UK church attendance figures haven't come close to current US statistics since before the second world war. The last British evangelical revival peaked in the 19th century and church membership has suffered a steady decline ever since. Religion doesn't matter here, when muslims say they are going to introduce sharia law in the UK I laugh. I laugh because the poor deluded souls don't understand the society they live in. You can't get Britons into church once a week, how the hell are you supposed to get them to pray five times a day? It is a profoundly secular nation and cannot have behavioural 'norms' imposed from on high.

The near hysterical reaction to religious people in this forum reminds me of the self-appointed moralists of fundamentalist (often right-wing) Christian, Jewish, Moslem and Hindu groups in the UK. To a man; intolerant, bigoted and unshakeably sure of their righteousness.

[Finder]

34. Hysterical reaction?

I agree there is some kneejerking on both sides but it doesn't come anywhere near hysterical(without being deleted by the mods).

Then again, your perspective from outside the UK is very different than those of us inside.

[TheBaldyMan]

37. Americans take their religion (or lack of it) far too seriously

there are some aspects of religion that I wouldn't compromise on but it seems that here the slightest difference of interpretation can spark off a holy war.

[Finder]

38. Well this forum tends to be the dumping ground for religious posts...

that were posted in other forums.

Semantics seem to cause "definition" posts that shut down any actual discussion.

[bananas]

42. I'm in the U.S. and I agree with him. nt

[beam me up scottie]

44. Of course you do.

But what do I know, I'm one of those DU atheists who just doesn't have enough cultural depth for anything like comparative religion. :shrug:

[Evoman]

35. You should post more, then.

Bring a measured response to the war lol.

Have you ever been to the U.S?

[TheBaldyMan]

36. I always wanted to visit - then I visited the DU 'gungeon'

the thought of heavily armed twits with a massive chip on their shoulder put me off slightly.

[TRYPHO]

39. Newbies....

I'm new too. I've spent a few days reading the threads from page 20 backwards, but I can't stand it I have to post. This site is vibrant, energetic, rude (in the extreme), intelligent, aggressive, and always hilarious.
I'm hooked.
Now leave me alone for a few weeks so I can read all the missing threads between now and last year.

Oh, and as for religion, I think the main problem is people being TOLD what to think (and thinking it) instead of finding out for themselves if even one speck of it might be in question or disputed.

Fascinating stuff you sons of converts,

Trypho:-)

[Goblinmonger]

40. Welcome

From you first post, it sounds like you might just fight right in here. Of course, I can be kind of a prick so you might not want to take my word for it.

[TRYPHO]

43. Newbies

Goblinmonger:
From you first post, it sounds like you might just fight* right in here. Of course, I can be kind of a prick so you might not want to take my word for it.
--
I've earnt my wings on pharmacy forums, so I know to expect/ignore the flack that will at some point confront me. I have ridiculously strong views on religion, which WILL seep out. But for now I shall appreciate the kindness of your welcome and try to keep my head down till I've read more of your pst threads.

However, I will be watching :-)

TRYPHO :-)
* - Freudian??

[Zhade]

10. Not as long as some Dems don't fully support the separation of church and state.

NT!

[More Than A Feeling]

14. The probability of such legislation even seeing the light of day has decreased

Most of the extremely nutty stuff came out of the house. No way a Democratic House even speaks of such things. If they do, I'll be the first to speak against them. Anyway, without it, there might be fewer sparks to set off the divide.

[Realityhack]

15. Well....

Not having legislation come up that goes against the separation of church and state will be nice…
However, I almost think it is better when we have something concrete to argue about. IMO separation of church and state is extremely important and I have a real problem with people who don’t support it.
I think the separation of church and state discussion is an important one to have. I would like to see more people understand it so the same BS won’t just keep coming back (at the state level etc.).

[TheBaldyMan]

24. Who has been talking about throwing someone overboard?

I must have been away that day.

[charles22]

41. Think it is consequence of the structure of the forum.

How else for non-theists to discuss matters of ultimate importance?

[SPKrazy]

45. I Think The Lines Are Mostly Artificial

after all, people are people

we all have more in common than we do differences

I see good in atheists, agnostics, and believers

I see bad in all of those too

None having a greater percentage of either as far as I can tell, including myself.