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Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#329226: Sep 26th 2020 at 6:51:20 PM

[up] Spit Take. Tell that to Republicans.

When my lack of belief came up at work, I encountered genuine curiosity about how I found a moral compass. People still ask those questions even today.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#329227: Sep 26th 2020 at 6:52:23 PM

There are times when I marvel that anyone on the left could be overtly religious in this day and age and not feel a little embarrassed to admit it in public, given what organized religion has done to this country. But, you know, #Not All Catholics and all that.

Organized religion is, to a lot of us, one of the greatest forces of good out there.

It's just America has some genuinely fucked up cults used by the conservatives as bludgeons against human rights.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#329228: Sep 26th 2020 at 6:55:13 PM

If I was running for office, I would just say I was a Unitarian Universalist and call it a day. Some of those guys are basically atheists. If my political career hinged on being affiliated with a church, I would just lie through my teeth every chance I could for those votes. If the voters are dumb enough to demand their leaders, no matter how otherwise qualified or unqualified they may be, worship Sky Daddy, they're dumb enough to be lied to.

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#329229: Sep 26th 2020 at 6:55:47 PM

The overtness of the religious right in the US baffles me.

That and their violation of basically every principle they came to believe in.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#329230: Sep 26th 2020 at 6:56:19 PM

[up][up]

I would call that pretty much the GOP in a nutshell. They embody false piety, contempt for their voters, and disrespect for the beliefs they claim to espouse. I know many atheists who believe in the tenants of my religion and the GOP embodies the prinicple of professed Christians who believe in nothing.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Sep 26th 2020 at 6:56:36 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#329231: Sep 26th 2020 at 6:59:13 PM

Here's another fun fact: if Biden wins, he'll be one of two Catholics to ever with the Presidency. Yes, we've only had 1 Catholic President; John F. Kennedy. Everyone else has been a Protestant Christian(/Non-Traditional Christian if you want to count Washington's and Jefferson's Deism).

CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#329232: Sep 26th 2020 at 6:59:16 PM

I don't think it's a "which faith?" question, but a "is there faith?" question. It's worth noting that even in a climate of intense Islamophobia, most voters are more open to the idea of a Muslim president than an atheist one.

So, if you're interested in politics, but you don't believe in God, you better be prepared to lie. There are plenty of conscientious atheists out there who could benefit the country through public service, but they're always going to be locked out of power unless they learn to adapt.

Edited by CrimsonZephyr on Sep 26th 2020 at 10:02:19 AM

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#329233: Sep 26th 2020 at 7:04:28 PM

[up]I feel like you're not feeling the Bern.

Yes, the large number of Progressive Christians and Jews behind him were fully aware Bernie was an atheist.

Yes, I felt he was wrong about some fundamental elements of the universe but I felt he better embodied my values than Trump. You know, the way that the Sun feels warmer than dirty swampwater.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Sep 26th 2020 at 7:05:57 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#329234: Sep 26th 2020 at 7:08:20 PM

Is Sanders an atheist? I know a lot of people speculate that he is, but what has he actually said on the matter.

I wouldn't care if he was or wasn't, but I've often gotten a kind of uncomfortable feel from the whole "he's just pretending not to be" line of thought.

HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#329235: Sep 26th 2020 at 7:08:46 PM

@Dingo: At least this time there's not some absurd conspiracy about him becoming a tool of the Pope or anything of the sort.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#329236: Sep 26th 2020 at 7:16:09 PM

No, Bernie is upfront about being nonreligiously Jewish.

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2016/02/25/bernie-sanders-my-religion-is-that-we-are-all-in-this-together/

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#329237: Sep 26th 2020 at 7:30:03 PM

Never been particularly religious but I thought in terms of at least Christianity you're not supposed to flaunt how pious you supposedly are.

You're not. Jesus has a whole me about how the self-righteous despise others and distort what should be good and godly compared to those who humble themselves and seek grace. The former do not find favor with God, while the latter do.

Here's another fun fact: if Biden wins, he'll be one of two Catholics to ever with the Presidency. Yes, we've only had 1 Catholic President; John F. Kennedy.

What's amusing is that back then conservatives started whispering that Kennedy would be controlled by the Pope and so couldn't be trusted to be president. Kennedy responded that he wouldn't be "A Catholic president, I would be a president who happened to be Catholic."

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#329238: Sep 26th 2020 at 7:39:00 PM

90% of Jesus' Ministry is loathing the rich, the self-righteous, and the warlike.

Republicans claim him and Ayn Rand as their gods.

I wonder who would be more offended.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#329239: Sep 26th 2020 at 7:43:50 PM

Did Rand ever chase people out of her house with a whip?

Speaking of houses, I'm seeing quite a few Biden flags and yard signs in my neighborhood. I feel more encouraged knowing me and my bumper sticker aren't alone anymore.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#329240: Sep 26th 2020 at 7:49:02 PM

I believe we should resolve the election now with Trial by Stone.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#329241: Sep 26th 2020 at 7:52:05 PM

I have no trouble believing Republicans are Skesis. Does that make the rest of us Gefling?

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#329242: Sep 26th 2020 at 7:53:19 PM

[up] Either that or Podlings.

Lennik (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#329243: Sep 26th 2020 at 7:53:33 PM

The hatred of atheists by the American people is not exactly partisan. Twitter's leftist community can't stand atheists. They complain about what they call "New Atheists," yes, with capital letters, and some derisively call atheism a religion. Hopefully this is just Twitter being one big asshole convention where people get clout by being perpetually embarrassed and contrarian, though.

Edited by Lennik on Sep 26th 2020 at 10:54:16 AM

That's right, boys. Mondo cool.
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#329244: Sep 26th 2020 at 7:54:36 PM

Now, I did know that JFK was a Catholic. I suppose I should find it curious he has been the only one so far.

Do not obey in advance.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#329245: Sep 26th 2020 at 7:58:04 PM

There's also a huge chunk of Alt-Right atheists.

They're just a smaller chunk of the White Anglo Protestant (WASP) establishment that exists to Kill the Poor.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#329246: Sep 26th 2020 at 8:00:18 PM

I wonder if it's the smug "enlightened" asshole atheists that manage to aggravate literally everyone, on top of being the only outspoken representation?

Actually, since we were talking about Bill Maher earlier, he seems like the type.

Edited by RainehDaze on Sep 26th 2020 at 4:01:01 PM

Lennik (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#329247: Sep 26th 2020 at 8:06:04 PM

Many of the "enlightened asshole atheists" definitely found a home in the alt-right, but I think a lot of leftists forget that argumentative atheists came to prominence when the Rick Santorums and Michele Bachmanns of the world were at the height of theirs as well. Every day was "Gay marriage can't be legal because God." It was hard to be polite in the face of that nonsense.

Edited by Lennik on Sep 26th 2020 at 11:08:12 AM

That's right, boys. Mondo cool.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#329248: Sep 26th 2020 at 8:07:04 PM

Atheists have a right to speak their mind. Religious people should have no fear of open debate and conversation.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#329249: Sep 26th 2020 at 8:08:05 PM

[up][up][up] Maher is exactly that sort, and it makes a lot of us wince because, while we may share some of those feelings, we know better than to say them out loud.

[up][up] The Westboro Baptist Church, sexual abuse by Catholic priests... the list goes on and on. It's not exactly difficult to understand why people might be turned off by open avowals of faith given what those seem to lead to.

[up] You say that, sure, but atheists challenge something deep and personal within religious people: their certainty in a higher power. If you're being intellectually honest, you must admit to yourself that it's a contradiction. If your faith teaches that belief in the divine is the exclusive path to salvation, and you see someone who disavows all divinity, is it not the demand of your faith to convert them?

If that person can be good and moral without faith, does that not challenge the ostensible reason for having it in the first place?

Edited by Fighteer on Sep 26th 2020 at 11:10:59 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#329250: Sep 26th 2020 at 8:08:39 PM

There are times when I marvel that anyone on the left could be overtly religious in this day and age and not feel a little embarrassed to admit it in public, given what organized religion has done to this country. But, you know, #Not All Catholics and all that.

Well...they are. Left-wing Christians seem very unwilling to push religion as a source of values. I've complained before that there's so much of the New Testament about feeding the poor that they could be bringing up, but the only notable politician who was doing that was Kasich, who's on the wrong team for that.

Hence, religion is becoming a tool of fascism because even Pope Francis is an isolated voice.


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