Atheists celebrate Red China's success in crushing freedom of religion!

[BillyTheMountain]

From all the news, Atheists including Dawkins are going wild with celebration over Red China's huge PR victory at the Olympics!

Only Atheism is allowed in China, people registering to protest get tricked into arrest and condemned to re-education camps without trials.

China got it all and made no concessions to the olympic committee or the world!

a victory for anti-democracy is a victory for atheism!!!

[JJuggle]

Could you provide a source that suggests any of that is true. I'd be interested to read a quote from Dawkins to that effect.

Oh, and what position have you been offered by the McCain campaign?

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by JJuggle

Could you provide a source that suggests any of that is true. I'd be interested to read a quote from Dawkins to that effect.

Oh, and what position have you been offered by the McCain campaign?

why mccain?

do you think he's the only christian running for president?

the only fan of democracy?

billy

[Seager]

Wow, did Billy finally discover Rush?

[hobo_chuck]

I'm not celebrating, and no one I would want to associate with is either...I don't see any proof in any case.

That doesn't mean that some religions don't make me feel sick, however.
Several do.

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by hobo_chuck

I'm not celebrating, and no one I would want to associate with is either...I don't see any proof in any case.

That doesn't mean that some religions don't make me feel sick, however.
Several do.

Man, it's amazing how you atheists stick together and back each other up, despite the awful human rights record you have.

you're saying china doesn't make you sick, with all their anti-democracy? Is that the only way you people can try to ban religion?

[Seager]

Billy, he just said the opposite.

I know you like to stir the pot and all, but you're getting dangerously close to trolling.

[Mikefule]

Good old Billy: ironically, the subtle irony is always so subtle it's easily overlooked.

[peleschramm]

...

Although I do believe that it would be beneficial to mankind if all religions were no longer taken seriously and everyone turned Atheist, I must say this isn't the way to go about it. Although I'm an atheist, I am also quite a pacifist and although I believe their goal is just, it is just not okay to use such methods in order to achieve a goal, unless used as a last resort. In this case, even if all else fails such methods shouldn't be used as it would cause more harm than good because the goal of global atheism(or at least throughout China) isn't important enough for such action.

I think I share the same opinion as the majority of atheists on here...

[wickedbob]

Originally Posted by peleschramm

...

Although I do believe that it would be beneficial to mankind if all religions were no longer taken seriously and everyone turned Atheist, I must say this isn't the way to go about it. Although I'm an atheist, I am also quite a pacifist and although I believe their goal is just, it is just not okay to use such methods in order to achieve a goal, unless used as a last resort. In this case, even if all else fails such methods shouldn't be used as it would cause more harm than good because the goal of global atheism(or at least throughout China) isn't important enough for such action.

I think I share the same opinion as the majority of atheists on here...

Agree.

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by peleschramm

...

Although I do believe that it would be beneficial to mankind if all religions were no longer taken seriously and everyone turned Atheist, I must say this isn't the way to go about it. Although I'm an atheist, I am also quite a pacifist and although I believe their goal is just, it is just not okay to use such methods in order to achieve a goal, unless used as a last resort. In this case, even if all else fails such methods shouldn't be used as it would cause more harm than good because the goal of global atheism(or at least throughout China) isn't important enough for such action.

I think I share the same opinion as the majority of atheists on here...

exactly. you all agree with the ends China has achieved, ie., no religion. you just have different methods in mind for achieving these ends.

[Mikefule]

I'm an atheist. This is a conclusion I've reached after a lot of reading and a lot of thinking over a period of decades, and something I regard as important. I emphasise that to contrast with the some atheists who use the word (or the word "agnostic") either because they don't really believe in anything and have never really thought about; or who only say it to shock and annoy religious believers.

From this position, I believe that religion does a lot of harm, but it also does a lot of good. I don't think being an atheist makes you a good or a bad person, and I don't think you can say someone is good or bad on the basis of their religious belief either.

I have a problem with the effect that organised religion has on the way that societies work.

However, it is not the religion that "the masses" appear to need so much as "certainty". Most people want an easy answer they can file away, rather than having to think about things every day.

This is the impulse that gives rise not only to "religious communities" (whole suburbs, cities or states where, coincidentally, everyone reaches the same basic cosmological conclusons) as well as to racism, nationalism, communism and so on.

Banning religion and replacing it with a compulsory code of behaviour and belief in a central authority is not a big step forward! It's like rebranding French fries as freedom fries.

I don't think that anyone with a sincere and well thought out atheist world view would applaud any of the various comminist states for the way they have tried to exclude religion by replacing it with something so similar.

In my ideal world, religion would gradually fade away and be replaced with a widespread commitment to freedom of thought and universal personal responsibility. I shan't hold my breath, though.

[kevinalexandersmith]

Originally Posted by Mikefule

I have a problem with the effect that organised religion has on the way that societies work.

I agree with that. I'm a Christian who dislikes organized religion. Organizations such as the Catholic Church, southern Baptist convention, etc.. have been made by people not God. Because we are all sinful our errors, biases, sins, and flaws will all be present and often amplified in such organizations.

If china really wants to get rid of Christianity they are going about it all wrong. Historically Christianity thrives under persecution. Underground churches often have the most fervent zealots. China may be helping strengthen belief.

Nothing stops the spread of Christianity like apathy from believers and non-believers alike.

[Jerrick]

Originally Posted by peleschramm

...

Although I do believe that it would be beneficial to mankind if all religions were no longer taken seriously and everyone turned Atheist, I must say this isn't the way to go about it. Although I'm an atheist, I am also quite a pacifist and although I believe their goal is just, it is just not okay to use such methods in order to achieve a goal, unless used as a last resort. In this case, even if all else fails such methods shouldn't be used as it would cause more harm than good because the goal of global atheism(or at least throughout China) isn't important enough for such action.

I think I share the same opinion as the majority of atheists on here...

If you did that, would you really need to be called athiests anymore? Like, if everyone went to the fact their is no god to believe in, why group up and say it doesnt exist? That kinda seems like it would portray a chance of god and religion. If there was no god and no religion, I wouldnt call myself an athiest, there wouldnt need to be labels like that.

Im not sure about organized religion. Ive seen it work, and seen it do more bad than good. Theres so many variables with it.

Anyways, I dont think Billy could ever be a troll. I like his imput in these forums, and even when they dont make sense, push buttons, and all of that, I think everyone else likes them too.

The real trolls are bad though, but in my mind, Billy is far from their level.

[wobbling bear]

Originally Posted by Mikefule

In my ideal world, religion would gradually fade away .

though a stubborn atheist myself I have no such wish.
I just would like people to recognise that to face a complex world "paths" are of some help: but one must have the humility to face the fact that this is a trick that helps us reduce complexity and it is not "Truth"!
Hence different religious (and non religous people) could agree on issues not on myths, images, artificial constructs with deep cultural roots. I respect cultural inheritance but do not like to have it imposed as Truth and only path to virtue.
(in fact zealots try to hide the fact that they are unsure of their belief!)