General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Chapel hill shooter was a 'militant atheist' who fantasised that religion would 'go away'. [View all]Pacifist Patriot
(24,659 posts)I have my doubts because every atheist I have discussed this story with has made a point of not engaging in the "no true Scotsman" fallacy.
Why wouldn't that extend to atheists? Because there is no atheist scripture, creed, or dogma that justifies murder or compels atheists to either eradicate religion in general or theists specifically by violent means. Therefore, he cannot represent atheism in his actions. The man is heinous. He's an atheist. But whatever his motives, a lack of belief in God (and that's all that atheism is) does not obligate or inspire a person to murder.
Atheists are people period. Some are good, honorable, and peaceful and some are not. I can't think of any atheists who would claim otherwise. Certainly none at DU have made that claim.
Edit history
![](du4img/smicon-reply-new.gif)