I was mostly talking about the people that protest soldier’s funerals condemn everything as a sin. But yeah the Crusades, KKK, what about the Salem Witch Trials?
I’m an atheist and would like to quibble with a minor point here:
Extremist atheists, like extremist theists, seek to get rid of all religion that goes against them (extremist Christian seek to get rid of all Muslims, extremist Islam seek to get rid of all Christians).
However, this ‘get rid of’ thing has nothing to do with religion or atheism, however. It is an “us versus them” thing inherent in all extremist viewpoints where “us=good” and “them=bad”, in my opinion.
Since this is a forum based upon Half Life, imagine if there was a Xenian who thought that all humans were animals to be destroyed or tested brutally, including Freeman. That would be an extremist. Inversely, imagine if there was a human that though all Xenians were the enemy. That would be Gordon Frohman…err, an extremist. And, if anyone helps “the enemy”, then they are no better than the enemy.
I just want to let it be known that atheism has nothing to do with the eradication of religion. Atheism is simply the lack of belief in deities, nothing more; just like theism is simply the belief in deities, nothing more. Too often, when I tell people that I’m an atheist, people automatically assume many things about me…many things that are bad.
And I like to nip that in the bud if I see it.
Using 400+ years old examples in your arguments doesn’t help your case. Muslim countries has done exactly as much shit back then. As a matter of fact, do you know how Islam spread so quickly from country to country back when it started?
Through war. And thus the first crusade was initiated, as a response to the Islamic expansion when it had reached the Byzantine Empire (which where Orthodox Christians btw).
I’m not teaming up with either side, because they’re both equally fucked up in my opinion, but I can’t take people who just spew out one-sided bullshit.
You do realise that they were citing those examples in order contend that not all religious extremists are islamic don’t you? As in contending a point made earlier in the thread? Like a post you should have read before, like, making a snap judgement?
The post in question:
Anyhoo, @ danielsangeo, I know what you mean. Once at school, we had to do some silly form about something or other, that required ethnic and religious backgrounds, thus I wrote down I was atheist, prompting the teacher to ask “What don’t you like about religion then?”, and other questions along that line, clearly unable to comprehend anyone not being religious (coincidentally, this gentleman was a devout Christian). I’ve heard atheists get an even tougher time in America though.
In basically the entire thread (exaggeration, in case you’re one of the people who don’t notice) people were presenting examples of how Catholics had done stupid shit some hundreds years ago, but nobody provided examples of how Muslims had done stupid shit some hundred years ago, which I then provided, and then I stated my opionon on posting one-sided bullshit.
And yes, I did read the thread.
I can very well prove to you that Islamic extremists are much more violent and there ideology is much more strange than that of other religious “extremist” groups. I’m not a Christian, but the KKK is nothing compared to that such as Jihad.
Like all holy books. The Bible certainly has some fine examples.
EDIT: Haze, just seen your location on your profile. Only ever had Hopback bottled beer (Summer Lightning ftw), I’d love to try it hand-pulled if I ever find a pub that sells it. That’s it, I’m definitley making a beer thread.
I’d like to see you do it.
Strange is very relative term. Western ideologies no doubt seem strange to Muslim countries.
You obviously don’t know too much about Islam. Extremists just abuse the term Jihad as an excuse for what they do.
I equate a Muslim Imam ordering a young man to blow himself up in a tube station to the Pope telling Africans not to use condoms and that faith will protect them from AIDS.
Good point. Muslim extremists are some pretty fucking dangerous whackos but none of them has the same audience as the Pope, and he keeps spouting terrible shit like that.
Just imagine what would happen if a muslim extremist had the same amount of audience as the pope. Scary.
TL/DR:
naverussell= Going to bootcamp.
Religion= Good
Atheism= Good (I mean, I’m not an atheist, but y’know, tolerance is a major teaching of most religions)
Killing people because they disagree with you = Bad
I haven’t read hardly any of this thread. I read the first post, and I’ll say good luck in your military career. I hope any active duty is in legitimate and ethical causes. It wouldn’t be cool to be sent on a mission you yourself don’t feel is justified.
Thats probably a good thing.
So literally thousands of Christians burning women at the stake for suspicions of witchcraft isn’t utterly objectionable?
As stated above, the Catholic opposition to condoms spreading HIV, AIDS, and other STD’s, not to mention an unsustainable increase in world population?
I agree, extremist Jihadist groups are terrible, but in general Islam is a fairly peaceful religion, given a bad name by terrorists and Anti-Zionists like Ahmadeenajad (spellcheck). The point I was making was: whilst Jihadist groups are a threat, responsible for thousands of innocent lives, Christianity is far from blameless for the atrocities it has commited in the past.
See also, in addition to Witch trials, the Spanish Inquisition, between the 2nd and 6th century thousands of pagan believers were slain, Charlemange had 4500 pagans beheaded in 782 for not converting.
EDIT: @Raw_Bean, Summer Lightning is probably my favourite Hopback, but if you get the chance, try GFB (George’s Favourite Beer) which I beleive is only available on pump, Crop Circle (pump & bottle) and Taiphoon (bottle only). Summer Lightning is also available in a 5 litre keg, DO LIKE.
That’s the other thing about the perceptions of atheism that I dislike. Atheism != Anti-religion (antitheist). You can certainly be anti-religion while still being a member of a religion. For example, you can be a Christian (believe in God and Jesus is the way to salvation, etc) and be fully against Islam and think every member of the religion should either be converted to the ‘correct religion’ or killed (extremist). And vice versa.
Are there antitheist atheists? You bet your sweet bippy. But those atheists’ antitheism has as much to do with atheism as their hair color or which hand they write with. Myself, I’m an agnostic atheist. I don’t know and I don’t believe. If you want to believe, more power to you. Want me to believe? You’ve got your work cut out for ya. 
Bald is not a hair color and atheism is not a religion.[/SIZE]
I wonder: Why is always where pain and death are religion right next to it? I’m not saying religion is bad but it should disappear because there will always be extremists who kill people because of their religion. If nobody believes in a superior being there wouldn’t be extremists who kill people for some retarded reason.
Religion is another demographic that violent people use as an excuse to fight. Football is another good example, merely supporting another team is enough for a bar room brawl. Religion is could be said to be more dangerous though, as it can be used as justification for questionable actions.
It’s spelt Qu’ran. Koran is completely incorrect(and sounds weird).
IMO everyone has the right to believe in what they wish, but extremists need to be confronted intellectually and not by blowing up their home.
The BBC has been criticized for giving the BNP a seat on a debate show, but I think it’s probably one of the best ways to get through to them about their heavy racism.
We should not be anarchic about these things, instead we should listen to those who do not have the same beliefs as ours and accept that that is what they have chosen.
Although then there is the issue of extremism and racism, those who are either need to be spoken to maturely and intellectually to resolve the issue.
I be protestant Christian[/SIZE]
Um, as it’s a transcription from Hebrew there’s NO correct spelling. Both are accepted and widely used.
OH GOD IT IS SAD DAY. :fffuuu:
:3