[Jernal]

First off, the only consensus atheists share is that they don't believe in a deity. Not that there isn't a God, just that they don't believe in one.

What do I think of Christianity? The honest answer is nothing much. It reads to me like a story of elaborate fiction. Same could be said for Islam.

[vibe666]

my favourite religion is that harry potter one. it's a lot better written and has more believable characters, although as with all religions its just a harmless bit of fun until people start to take it too seriously and go around in pointy hats quoting lines from the book and trying to convince everyone else that it's brilliant and the best thing ever, which is where i usually mention something about cuckoo's and leave them to it.

[Sarky]

I don't think about it very much at all. The few times I do my thoughts are something along the lines of "Aw, how quaint."

[robindch]

Originally Posted by vibe666

my favourite religion is that harry potter one. it's a lot better written and has more believable characters [...]

Harry Potter? Nah. Tolkien's Silmarillion is where it's at:

http://casualstrolltomordor.com/2011...-of-the-ainur/

Now, that's a creation myth.

[Wereghost]

This thread should have a multiple choice poll and include options for Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Norse mythologies. The fact that fewer people believe in these things nowadays has little (if anything) to do with how likely they are to be true.

[Jernal]

Originally Posted by Scrawny71

This thread should have a multiple choice poll and include options for Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Norse mythologies. The fact that fewer people believe in these things nowasays has little to do with how likely they are to be true.

Pfft,

You see it's a well know fact that if something rings true with someone on a personal level it must true. So, obviously, like, there's no need to consider the alternatives.

Also.
With that awesomeness of an avatar you really should be yelling
PUNY GODS!

[Bannasidhe]

My thoughts on Christianity - and every other religion - is 'please go away and leave me alone. Thank you kindly.'

[Jernal]

Originally Posted by Bannasidhe

My thoughts on religions - and marriage - is 'please go away and leave me alone. Thank you kindly.'

FYP

[Wereghost]

Originally Posted by Jernal

Pfft,

You see it's a well know fact that if something rings true with someone on a personal level it must true. So, obviously, like, there's no need to consider the alternatives.

Also.
With that awesomeness of an avatar you really should be yelling
PUNY GODS!

Yeah, I missed a trick there.

[nozzferrahhtoo]

Originally Posted by MungoMan

Whats the consensus about christainity amongst athiests ? A man made story based on fiction ?

What about islam ? whats the consensus about islam amongst athiests ?

I am not sure what kind of answers you are expecting here. The atheist to my knowledge sees no argument, evidence, data or reasons to lend even a modicum of credence to the claim that there is a god. So I would imagine the "consensus" about Christianity and Islam is that they are both equally flawed and false from the foundation up.

More than that I can not say about "atheist consensus" but I can talk at length about my own opinions as to why religions is false, man made and even at times quite dangerous and damaging.

Perhaps you can be a little clearer on what kind of answers you expect or where you are going with this line of questioning however as the way it stands I am unsure how to give you anything useful in response.

[vibe666]

the thing that gets me is that to be politically correct we're always supposed to "respect" peoples religious beliefs, but how can we do that when our own beliefs are that religion is stupid and pointless?

how can you respect someone's beliefs if you think that what they believe is stupid?

"i respect your right to be an idiot" isn't really going to be worth anything to a believer so what good is it for everyone to pretend?

i don't imagine it's very different for them deep down either. they have to (outwardly at least) "respect" other religions because if they don't they can't really have any expectation for anyone to do the same for them, but if they really believe their own religion, deep down they must feel the same sort of things about other religions as atheists do about all of them, so how can they really respect alternative religious beliefs that they themselves don't believe in?

and yes, i realise i've probably just become the ugly face of militant atheism.

[Penn]

Originally Posted by vibe666

the thing that gets me is that to be politically correct we're always supposed to "respect" peoples religious beliefs, but how can we do that when our own beliefs are that religion is stupid and pointless?

how can you respect someone's beliefs if you think that what they believe is stupid?

"i respect your right to be an idiot" isn't really going to be worth anything to a believer so what good is it for everyone to pretend?

i don't imagine it's very different for them deep down either. they have to (outwardly at least) "respect" other religions because if they don't they can't really have any expectation for anyone to do the same for them, but if they really believe their own religion, deep down they must feel the same sort of things about other religions as atheists do about all of them, so how can they really respect alternative religious beliefs that they themselves don't believe in?

and yes, i realise i've probably just become the ugly face of militant atheism.

I don't think it's about respecting other people's beliefs, it's about respecting their right to hold those beliefs. I think pretty much all religion is poppycock, flimshaw, gobbledygook and whatever other comically outdated words for nonsense you can think of. But the rights of a person to have those beliefs are important.

However, the right to have a religion is no more important than the right to make fun of religion

[vibe666]

Originally Posted by Penn

I don't think it's about respecting other people's beliefs, it's about respecting their right to hold those beliefs. I think pretty much all religion is poppycock, flimshaw, gobbledygook and whatever other comically outdated words for nonsense you can think of. But the rights of a person to have those beliefs are important.

However, the right to have a religion is no more important than the right to make fun of religion

i know that's what we're supposed to think and say, but how can you (respectfully) respect a person's right to be an idiot?

if it was anything else stupid (the harry potter nerds for example) that someone believed in would anyone put any stock in it?

[doctoremma]

Originally Posted by Penn

I don't think it's about respecting other people's beliefs, it's about respecting their right to hold those beliefs.

Was going to reply exactly the same. It's unfortunate that I find myself often having to explain the distinction, when a discussion warrants it, which is often, given the frequency with which people revert to "It's my opinion and you have to respect it" (about anything, not just religion).

A person's right to believe in what they want is untouchable. That does not make what they believe untouchable.

[doctoremma]

Originally Posted by vibe666

i know that's what we're supposed to think and say, but how can you (respectfully) respect a person's right to be an idiot?

As long as they aren't harming anyone else, who cares?

I suspect we all believe some stupid stuff. I personally used to believe that every plane I got on was going to drop out the sky; highly irrational and reasonably described as "stupid" but it didn't harm anyone so why would anyone care (other than if they cared about the personal distress I was experiencing).