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[Always-honest]

I don't know that Atheism has to be defended. The burden of proof is on the other guys.

Exactemundo
Acting like an idiot will not help anyBody or any cause.

 

[Orayn]

So people who try to promote critical thinking, science, and atheism as a valid world view are ass holes? Don't get me wrong. There are of course individuals and even some groups who are ass holes. Richard Dawkins of late has been in that camp. There are quite a few youtube atheists who have become raging misogynists as well. This is a problem. These groups though meet together to discuss common values. Yes atheism by itself is not a belief system, but atheist groups do form systems. Some are general. They are inclusive to all sorts of people. All that is required is a lack of belief in a God. In that case you can have all sorts of beliefs about anything. Other groups are more focused. Atheism in black communities for example where they might have a common value in fairly political topics. Hopefully for the movement as a whole to be healthy none support sexism, racism, homo/trans phobia.

I was generalizing a bit, and I don't think all organized atheist groups are bad people, of course. My intention was to counter Bombadil's assertion that it was up to ME to stop calling myself an atheist if I wanted to be seen as separate from people like the guy in the OP video and the raving lunatics in the r/atheism crowd. They're atheists and so am I, but some of them are assholes and I'd like to think that I am not.

I agree that the prevalence of misogyny, transphobia, and hylerbolic anti-religious sentiment are all regrettable, and issues that need go be adddessed for nonbelievers like me to be taken seriously.

 

[Cartman86]

I was generalizing a bit, and I don't think all organized atheist groups are bad people, of course. My intention was to counter Bombadil's assertion that it was up to ME to stop calling myself an atheist if I wanted to be seen as separate from people like the guy in the OP video and the raving lunatics in the r/atheism crowd. They're atheists and so am I, but some of them are assholes and I'd like to think that I am not.

I agree that the prevalence of misogyny, transphobia, and hylerbolic anti-religious sentiment are all regrettable, and issues that need go be adddessed for nonbelievers like me to be taken seriously.

Yeah I can see that. I totally agree that it's not up to you to change the label you use.

 

[Bombadil]

So people who try to promote critical thinking, science, and atheism as a valid world view are ass holes? Don't get me wrong. There are of course individuals and even some groups who are ass holes. Richard Dawkins of late has been in that camp. There are quite a few youtube atheists who have become raging misogynists as well. This is a problem. These groups though meet together to discuss common values. Yes atheism by itself is not a belief system, but atheist groups do form systems. Some are general. They are inclusive to all sorts of people. All that is required is a lack of belief in a God. In that case you can have all sorts of beliefs about anything. Other groups are more focused. Atheism in black communities for example where they might have a common value in fairly political topics. Hopefully for the movement as a whole to be healthy none support sexism, racism, homo/trans phobia.

Atheism is not a requirement for critical thinking and science.

I didn't call those people assholes. They're a bunch of hypocritical, self-congratulatory weirdos. They give themselves awards the same way car companies give themselves awards to have a selling point for their cars.