Thanking 'god' but not the medical staff

My name is URL · 22-04-2012 01:52PM

lividduck wrote: »

I'm not being a smartass but wtf is a Militant Athiest?

I think it refers to people that attack the person holding religious views as opposed to the specific views which they hold.

The word militant is both an adjective and a noun, and is usually used to mean vigorously active, combative and aggressive, especially in support of a cause

To be fair, this site has a few people who I would consider to be militant in their views on religion. I'm an atheist myself, but I don't see much point in ridiculing or belittling others who are religious. Especially when it comes in the form of threads like this. It's just completely unnecessary and misplaced diatribe.

Dave! · 22-04-2012 01:53PM

marty1985 wrote: »

There's a good book called The Year Of Living Biblically. A New Yorker follows all the Old Testament rules for a year. It's pretty funny. He's a non-believer but reflects on many of the beliefs and rituals, for example, how he feels better and more humble for thanking God for each meal he eats. I have no problem with religious people being grateful to God for their food. And I definitely have no problem with religious people being grateful to God for surviving after their heart effectively stopped for such a long time.

What bugs the OP and many others, I think, is that Muamba has committed a secular sin by not keeping his religious faith locked up in a cupboard at home where nobody can see it. God knows how your heart must sink when you see Drogba blessing himself during a match against Barcelona, live on TV across the world, or Kaka removing his shirt to display his I Belong To Jesus t-shirt, etc etc.

I generally just roll my eyes when I witness those things tbh

That followers of modern religions would probably laugh at someone who wore an "I belong to Zeus" t-shirt is pretty funny in and of itself

krudler · 22-04-2012 01:54PM

Dave! wrote: »

I generally just roll my eyes when I witness those things tbh

That followers of modern religions would probably laugh at someone who wore an "I belong to Zeus" t-shirt is pretty funny in and of itself

Let Poseidon into your heart, and he will show you the light.

Greek and Roman gods were way cooler anyway.

xsiborg · 22-04-2012 01:56PM

lividduck wrote: »

I'm not being a smartass but wtf is a Militant Athiest?

as one of the more reasonably minded atheists i've seen lividduck, i wouldnt think you were being a smartass at all. a militant atheist though is one who comes across as having an awful bugbear about why more people didnt put down atheist on a census form or aggressively questions another persons right to choose what they believe in as their faith.

people i suppose like the OP who seek to denigrate those of a religious persuasion by calling them "loons". boards.ie gives posters like the OP a platform to air their views, but by that same token they should surely have some respect for those that do not share their views, instead of dismissing them as "loons". on this particular occasion, the OP got egg on their face, and rightly so! they do atheism a dis-service tbh, and i for one then dismiss their point of view as "trendy nonsense", whereas if they make a reasonable argument without feeling the need to disrespect my opinion, then we could have some great discussions on boards about religion and atheim instead of all this back and forth sniping nonsense!

battle_hardend · 22-04-2012 01:58PM

lividduck wrote: »

I'm not being a smartass but wtf is a Militant Athiest?

i could be wrong but i think its someone who is serious when they say they dont believe thier is an afterlife or a creator instead of just taking the piss when they say it

battle_hardend · 22-04-2012 01:59PM

Duggys Housemate wrote: »

Someone who is militant about his atheism. Like getting upset at a fairly benign use of language ( thank God)

can you distinguish between someone raising the issue on an internet forum than in a pub or a social function

marty1985 · 22-04-2012 02:03PM

lividduck wrote: »

I'm not being a smartass but wtf is a Militant Athiest?

To me, militant atheists are the ones that do not tolerate religion.

British philosopher Julian Baggini postulates an atheistic active hostility to religion as militant and says hostility "requires more than just strong disagreement with religion – it requires something verging on hatred and is characterized by a desire to wipe out all forms of religious belief."[2] Militant atheists, Baggini continues, "tend to make one or both of two claims that moderate atheists do not. The first is that religion is demonstrably false or nonsense, and the second is that it is usually or always harmful."[2] According to Baggini, the "too-zealous" militant atheism found in the Soviet Union was characterized by thinking the best way to counter religion was "by oppression and making atheism the official state credo."[20]

I don't know if I would go that far. But I would say militant atheists are a big part of the New Atheist wave that refuses to respect or tolerate religion, and insist religious believers must be subjected to ridicule. Not hard to see why most people would see militant atheists as being d*cks.

xsiborg · 22-04-2012 02:04PM

battle_hardend wrote: »

can you distinguish between someone raising the issue on an internet forum than in a pub or a social function

that's easy, you cannot communicate as effectively on the internet as you could if you were there in person.

UglyBolloxFace · 22-04-2012 02:05PM

dixiefly wrote: »

Get your facts right before you go off on a rant. I saw the report on him leaving hospital and he thanked the staff and 2 doctors in particular......and there was a photo of him with 2 of them.

Did you actually check the reports before going on the rant or are you basing it on pub talk?

You must have ignored the posts where I admitted my mistake.

Ghost Buster · 22-04-2012 02:07PM

Kiera wrote: »

Because to him and his faith, god helped those people save his life. What's the big deal? I saw the pictures of him thanking the staff too so get over it!

But as the old saying goes "prevention is better than cure" so why didnt the God in question prevent the heart attack in the first place?
Oh yeah
Good stuff = God diddit
Bad stuff = God didnt do it.

padd b1975 · 22-04-2012 02:09PM

Leeg17 wrote: »

Because you're implying that because of their atheist "beliefs" people are of low intellect.

By all means have a discussion but leave out the small digs

Looking forward to seeing mods call atheists on their small digs and insults to Christian beliefs.

This could be the start of a new dawn for After Hours.

You can make it happen.

Guy:Incognito · 22-04-2012 02:11PM

Kiera wrote: »

Because to him and his faith, god helped those people save his life.

Did he? How come they dont need gods help saving a non believer?

marty1985 · 22-04-2012 02:12PM

Ghost Buster wrote: »

But as the old saying goes "prevention is better than cure" so why didnt the God in question prevent the heart attack in the first place?
Oh yeah
Good stuff = God diddit
Bad stuff = God didnt do it.

Or the atheist argument:

Bad stuff: religion

Good stuff, including stuff done in the name of religion: nothing to do with religion, you just think it's something to do with religion, because, like, virus, latching itself on, delusion of the mind, you're deluded.

Micky Dolenz · 22-04-2012 02:13PM

padd b1975 wrote: »

Looking forward to seeing mods call atheists on their small digs and insults to Christian beliefs.

This could be the start of a new dawn for After Hours.

You can make it happen.

Report it where you see it.

I for one don't care what others believe or don't believe as long as it doesn't hurt anyone.

Live and let live and all that jazz.

Ghost Buster · 22-04-2012 02:14PM

padd b1975 wrote: »

Looking forward to seeing mods call atheists on their small digs and insults to Christian beliefs.

This could be the start of a new dawn for After Hours.

You can make it happen.

The difference being that to infer someone is thick insults the individual.
To mock a belief does not.
For example:
Smoking is stupid = Non offensive to an individual
Smokers are stupid = Offensive to an individual.

This is not to say that individual atheists AND Religious dont call each other names and be personally offensive.

Dave! · 22-04-2012 02:15PM

marty1985 wrote: »

To me, militant atheists are the ones that do not tolerate religion.

I don't know if I would go that far. But I would say militant atheists are a big part of the New Atheist wave that refuses to respect or tolerate religion, and insist religious believers must be subjected to ridicule. Not hard to see why most people would see militant atheists as being d*cks.

Do you apply your tolerant attitude to all beliefs, or just religious ones? And to all religious beliefs, or just the popular ones?

Personally I think that silly beliefs are fair game to be ridiculed and criticised (in an appropriate context; i.e. I don't tell people on their deathbeds that there is no afterlife).

How intellectually 'tolerant' are you regarding the following?
- Scientology
- Elvis is real
- Psychics / Mediums
- The earth is flat

ejmaztec · 22-04-2012 02:16PM

lividduck wrote: »

for all other Jews it started on sundown on Friday

Everybody's more flexible in Ireland, even Catholics go to Sunday mass on a Saturday.

Ghost Buster · 22-04-2012 02:17PM

marty1985 wrote: »

Or the atheist argument:

Bad stuff: religion

Good stuff, including stuff done in the name of religion: nothing to do with religion, you just think it's something to do with religion, because, like, virus, latching itself on, delusion of the mind, you're deluded.

....but a religion doing good isnt god. Its individuals doing good stuff.
Try again this time comparing like with like.
But in the mean time ... Why is it ok to thank a god for curing you but not blame it for making you ill in the first place?

Overheal · 22-04-2012 02:18PM

krudler wrote: »

atheism isnt a belief, seriously how many times must people point this out to you, its a lack of one.

do people still get their tits in a twist over these semantics? Its a personal stance on spirituality. happy?

dirtyden · 22-04-2012 02:21PM

UglyBolloxFace wrote: »

Well I have certainly been put in my place - a lesson learned - research more before jumping to accusations. At least I hold my hand up and admit it.

But to you Damo - "militant atheism"? Would you ever ****ing cop on to yourself. "Militant"? Are you actually serious?

You attacked his belief in God. What else would you call it?
I dont remember seeing a thread here ever started by someone with a strong belief in religion/God attacking atheists or agnostics (I could be wrong though, I did not search for it).

Why does it bother atheists so much that others believe in God?

padd b1975 · 22-04-2012 02:22PM

Ghost Buster wrote: »

The difference being that to infer someone is thick insults the individual.
To mock a belief does not.
For example:
Smoking is stupid = Non offensive to an individual
Smokers are stupid = Offensive to an individual.

This is not to say that individual atheists AND Religious dont call each other names and be personally offensive.

The tone of aethist posting and the moderation of same is there to be seen.

Ghost Buster · 22-04-2012 02:25PM

padd b1975 wrote: »

The tone of aethist posting and the moderation of same is there to be seen.

Show me.

Overheal · 22-04-2012 02:26PM

dirtyden wrote: »

You attacked his belief in God. What else would you call it?
I dont remember seeing a thread here ever started by someone with a strong belief in religion/God attacking atheists or agnostics (I could be wrong though, I did not search for it).

Why does it bother atheists so much that others believe in God?

In modern Irish culture I've found it has a lot to do with the catholic church and the widespread revelations on their abuses that have come about over the last few years. Lots of people are recent defectors, and bitter about it, imo.

mloc · 22-04-2012 02:28PM

dirtyden wrote: »

Why does it bother atheists so much that others believe in God?

For me, because it's a concern that even when presented with empirical evidence to the contrary, some people still accept the irrational line of thought that a supernatural force is responsible for everything.

The fact that they reject empiricism to such an extent doesn't just bother me; it worries and disappoints me.

padd b1975 · 22-04-2012 02:29PM

Ghost Buster wrote: »

Show me.

Read any of the threads about religion in after hours and note what is allowed to slide and what is not.

Ash.J.Williams · 22-04-2012 02:30PM

Dave! wrote: »

Anti-atheism is the new anti-Catholicism

man.....i actually hate both equally

Dave! · 22-04-2012 02:31PM

Overheal wrote: »

In modern Irish culture I've found it has a lot to do with the catholic church and the widespread revelations on their abuses that have come about over the last few years. Lots of people are recent defectors, and bitter about it, imo.

Doubt it tbh. Most atheists in Ireland are pretty young, and they're not the generation that were the victims of abuse. I've a shocking lack of interest in the Catholic Church scandals. It's just a general generational move away from religion, which I suspect is evident in most countries in the west.

battle_hardend · 22-04-2012 02:32PM

Ghost Buster wrote: »

....but a religion doing good isnt god. Its individuals doing good stuff.
Try again this time comparing like with like.
But in the mean time ... Why is it ok to thank a god for curing you but not blame it for making you ill in the first place?

its assumed that compliments ( however genuine ) get your further than second guessing and criticism

Overheal · 22-04-2012 02:33PM

Dave! wrote: »

Doubt it tbh. Most atheists in Ireland are pretty young, and they're not the generation that were the victims of abuse. I've a shocking lack of interest in the Catholic Church scandals.

i mean the angry ones,mostly. not the likes of those who grew up without any belief in the stuff.

padd b1975 · 22-04-2012 02:34PM

mloc wrote: »

For me, because it's a concern that even when presented with empirical evidence to the contrary, some people still accept the irrational line of thought that a supernatural force is responsible for everything.

The fact that they reject empiricism to such an extent doesn't just bother me; it worries and disappoints me.

Why should it either concern, worry or disappoint you that someone chooses to hold certain beliefs?

Thanking 'god' but not the medical staff

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