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Is 'Atheist' a dirty word?
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At least twice on AB recently, on threads quite unrelated to religion, I been accused of being an atheist. I say 'accused' because the word was spat out as an accusation clearly as a last resort in order to muster support from others for the accuser's floundering argument. Whilst I found the superstitious naivety of it somewhat amusing - it reminded me of the witch-hunters of the 17th century - actually in this day and age it's quite worrying that apparently intelligent people believe that absence of faith can justifiably be used as a weapon. So, is atheist a dirty word, and if so why?
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I am an atheist but I attend mass every Sunday because my family are Catholic.
I am firmly of the 'live and let live' pursuasion, but in my experience, Christians tend to adopt the 'you are missing something' line - which doesn't work obviously, since you cannot miss what isn't there.
I don't believe anyone should use personal belief - or lack or it - as a weapon in conversation, it's not nice.
I am firmly of the 'live and let live' pursuasion, but in my experience, Christians tend to adopt the 'you are missing something' line - which doesn't work obviously, since you cannot miss what isn't there.
I don't believe anyone should use personal belief - or lack or it - as a weapon in conversation, it's not nice.
If you think being an atheist is bad try being a Pagan, people assume you're an out and out nutter and try to save you from the Devil at every opportunity despite the fact that I don't actually subscribe to the belief in him. Essentially to a lot of Christians anyone who isn't is missing something and their beliefs can be held against them, twisted around, deliberately misunderstood and it's totally permissible to talk down to you ' cos you're not in their little club..
I have no religious beliefs .I've seen too much in life to think that could be a God .
I go with the flow ,do my bit at a wedding ,funeral and as a godparent etc because that's courteous to those who do believe .Go through the motions in other words.
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I also never post in here . But ....I do read a lot of very erudite conversation that goes on .
I think that are some religious Aber's but they are frightened to put their point across for fear of being shouted down by the non believers .
Their simple beliefs are criticised and picked to the ultimate nit .
If people find comfort in a religion ,then that's up to them .
In other words ...what Andy said :)
As someone who has no beliefs I would find reading the Bible and other religious tomes just to disprove those who do believe tedious in the extreme :)
I go with the flow ,do my bit at a wedding ,funeral and as a godparent etc because that's courteous to those who do believe .Go through the motions in other words.
.
I also never post in here . But ....I do read a lot of very erudite conversation that goes on .
I think that are some religious Aber's but they are frightened to put their point across for fear of being shouted down by the non believers .
Their simple beliefs are criticised and picked to the ultimate nit .
If people find comfort in a religion ,then that's up to them .
In other words ...what Andy said :)
As someone who has no beliefs I would find reading the Bible and other religious tomes just to disprove those who do believe tedious in the extreme :)
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