When Atheism becomes inhumane

[naomi24]

I spent a couple of hours today with a very dignified elderly gentleman who told me practically his life history. Brought up in an orphanage, adopted, and subsequently dreadfully mistreated, he left home at 15 to make his own way in the world. He survived a broken marriage, married again, and is now settled, very respectable, and reliant upon his faith to sustain him psychologically. He is aware of my complete and utter disdain for organised religion, but I have to say I was gentle with him because how can I, as someone who cares desperately about the plight of humanity, justify demolishing with reasoned and demonstrably provable argument this man's very personal shelter from the harshness of reality? Fellow atheists - please - tell me.

[sandyRoe]

simple faith is not the worst shelter from reality. Look at the thousands of people killing themselves with drink or drugs.
To leave his illusions intact was an act a Christian might be proud of.

[naomi24]

Oh, make no mistake Sandy, I didn't leave his illusions entirely intact - I did encourage him to look at the bigger picture - but I was very gentle with him. :o)

[sandyRoe]

I'm imagining you at Beethoven's death bed
"I shall hear again in heaven", he wheezes.
"Don't count on that, " says you.
Sometimes a white lie is the softer option.

[MarkRae]

Is there really any difference between, say, a self-righteous preachy Christian and a self-righteous preachy atheist?

[naomi24]

Haaaaaaaaaaaa! You do make me laugh Sandy. The softer option sounds exactly like me - unless I think they can take it!

Can't stop laughing again..........Haaaaaaaaaaaa!

[naomi24]

Mark, yes, there is. One survives on superstition, the other ackowledges reality.

Housemouse, perhaps you don't care about the effect that religion has upon the world.

[MarkRae]

> Mark, yes, there is. One survives on superstition, the other ackowledges reality.

OK, then - between a Christian bigot and an atheist bigot...?

[naomi24]

Like many you appear to think you know what the word 'bigot' means, but if you're applying it to atheists then clearly you don't.

[naomi24]

merlotman, is it? Why?

[MarkRae]

bigot (n) A prejudiced person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from his own.

[naomi24]

And that doesn't apply to an atheist. Prove to him that God exists and he will accept it. Prove to a person of religion that his doctrine is false, and he will deny it.

[sandyRoe]

How could you prove to a believer that his faith was wrong? People have gone to their martyr's crown rather than disbelieve.

[sandyRoe]

^^^ rather than deny their faith.

[sophie_1003]

I am an atheist (I think!) but I wouldn't say that I 'acknowledge reality'; rather I am not religious; but I expect other people to respect this and I also respect that others have faith; why would I want to preach the 'truth' to anyone; old or otherwise?

[naomi24]

That last one was to Mark.

So housemouse, you respect the church's right to condemn babies to death because their parents are prevented from using condoms - and you respect a suicide bomber's right to slaughter innocent people in the name of his religion. Well I don't - and I make no apology for that.