I generally never talk politics or religion. So I can say I don't know what anyone's religion is unless they tell me.

I can say for sure I have a negative view on atheists in general. This coming from someone who is agnostic, I'm not unsure if there is a God, but more unsure of which one or denominations (if any) are the correct one. Faith is expensive, I'm not going to waste my capital worshipping a God I'm unsure of.

I don't trust them, I'm sure like all religions, there are the good and the bad. The one thing I know is no religious person has tried to limit my freedoms, but ever news story I hear about atheists is about them trying to fuck up others pursuit of happiness and religious freedom.

I'd never vote for an atheist and I'd never hire a known vocal atheist. Call me bigoted, but the loudest atheists are really annoying and wear their atheistism like a badge of honor.

None of my reply is intended to be an insult to OP or any of our atheist members. Hopefully no offense is taken. Just sharing with you guys what goes on in my head and hopefully adding to not taking away from discussion.

The militant ones drive me at least as crazy as the super religious folks. To me these are private matters and we should leave other people the hell alone, so long as they leave me alone.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
The one thing I know is no religious person has tried to limit my freedoms

For the love of sweet baby Jesus, please tell me that's sarcasm. You really think every Dem politician in VA that wants to crap on the 2nd Amendment is an atheist? I'm not even mentioning US history, either.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
but ever news story I hear about atheists is about them trying to fuck up others pursuit of happiness and religious freedom.

That's a pretty broad brush you got there. It reads just like a leftist statement about all of us "gun nuts". I know I've never tried to do such a thing, just like my guns have never massacred anybody. Try this:

quote:

but ever news story I hear about atheists AR-15s
is about them trying to fuck up others pursuit of happiness and religious freedom murder a bunch of people .

I know two.

One, I haven't talked to in quite some time.

The other, I can invite over to the house for coffee and a pleasant discussion -- on any of several topics on which we disagree -- and it never turns into an argument.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
The militant ones drive me at least as crazy as the super religious folks. To me these are private matters and we should leave other people the hell alone, so long as they leave me alone.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
The one thing I know is no religious person has tried to limit my freedoms

For the love of sweet baby Jesus, please tell me that's sarcasm. You really think every Dem politician in VA that wants to crap on the 2nd Amendment is an atheist? I'm not even mentioning US history, either.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
but ever news story I hear about atheists is about them trying to fuck up others pursuit of happiness and religious freedom.

That's a pretty broad brush you got there. It reads just like a leftist statement about all of us "gun nuts". I know I've never tried to do such a thing, just like my guns have never massacred anybody. Try this:

quote:

but ever news story I hear about atheists AR-15s
is about them trying to fuck up others pursuit of happiness and religious freedom murder a bunch of people .

Your reply doesn't address what I said. Broad brush, no. My exposure to atheists is in the news when they try to cancel Christmas or the Peace Cross. About vocal militaristic vocal ones. As I said I don't discuss faith with people, so I may know 20 atheists and not know I know an atheist. So my sample size is only what I read in the news. The ones that make the news piss me off, I'm sure there are many that just mind their own business.

Fair enough. I thought you were insinuating that about all atheists. I do agree that that is what is mostly shown on the news. It gets ratings, just like how you don't see news stories about gun owners being responsible. It sucks, but I get that.

HOWEVER, it is a bit hard to not be offended when you say that you wouldn't even vote for or hire an atheist, albeit a "vocal" one. Does admitting one's atheism make them vocal? Or do you mean a proselytizing atheist? I'm also not a fan of those.

More than one hands worth of digits.

My ultra-leftist older daughter is one. Somewhere along the way, she and her husband went nutso. I have an English friend and his wife who are. I probably know more, but no one else comes to mind.

quote:

Originally posted by Oat_Action_Man:
So far as I can recall, only one avowed atheist, a Spanish colleague of mine. Not surprising; Spain is, perhaps ironically, a very atheistic country.

¡Nadie espera a la Inquisición española!

I don't know. I know of none who have openly told me so, but that does not mean I don't know any.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by RichardC:

quote:

Originally posted by Oat_Action_Man:
So far as I can recall, only one avowed atheist, a Spanish colleague of mine. Not surprising; Spain is, perhaps ironically, a very atheistic country.

¡Nadie espera a la Inquisición española!

I did a college paper on the Spanish Inquisition (in Spanish, cuz that was the class). They seemed pretty Catholic to me when I was there, too. The pendulum must’ve really swung.


I know 2 off the top of my head. My sis and bil. I’ve never eyed them with suspicion regarding this. My bil typically comes to church with me on Christmas Eve to listen to my mom sing in the choir while the rest of the Christians stay home - it is the late service, but still.

This is a very eyeopening thread for me. I’ve never considered judging people due to their lack of belief, but it’s also never been pushed in my face. I’ve been sad about my sis, but also know that she took a number of classes about different religions, tried different churches wherever she lived, basically explored options before she came to her conclusion. And I think she reserves the right to change her mind, but she’s seemed pretty set on it for the last 20 years.
It never fazed me, and we’ve never argued about it, but we have discussed it when I’ve had my own struggles with religion.
Now I’m going to have to check in with her and see where she stands today.

Quite a few. I live in an area that is rather odd. There is a lot of belief in crystals, red rocks, Chakra energies, vortex’s, etc.

There are many here that are agnostic, but there are also quite a lot that are atheists. To each their own.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Quite a few. I live in an area that is rather odd. There is a lot of belief in crystals, red rocks, Chakra energies, vortex’s, etc.

Nice. I hope you have a good set of socks 'n sandals to blend in.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Quite a few. I live in an area that is rather odd. There is a lot of belief in crystals, red rocks, Chakra energies, vortex’s, etc.

Nice. I hope you have a good set of socks 'n sandals to blend in.

Levi’s and Lucchese's.

I knew one that, even at 99 years old, took every opportunity to deride the "fairy tales" his family believed. Didn't have to ask, he just enjoyed being ... more enlightened? He's no longer around. It's kind of a relief to not have to deal with him any longer.

I know one that read the Bible at age 11 (I think that's what he told me) and decided it sucked and decided he couldn't possibly be a part of it. He never talks about it unless asked and doesn't care if anyone believes in something he doesn't. A good friend.

I know a few others that I'd say are atheist for convenience but they aren't close friends and I never really cared to delve into their worldview.

Most atheists are low key about it. The assholes that you see in the news are just that - assholes. Every group has some.

Sigfreund has posed an interesting and leading question. Yes I know one admitted atheist – a medical doctor.

I, myself, find it difficult to believe that some supernatural being or group of beings exist to pull strings, levers and whirligigs to operate this world. However, based on several personal experiences not consistent with the laws and rules of this world, I am convinced that death is not the end of existence.

Sadly my limited individual intelligence level is insufficient to reason out what truly lies beyond the limits of this life. I suspect that I shall find out is less than 20 years.

EasyFire

I would label myself as atheist, but as many aspects of my life it's not something that defines me or something that tends to come up in conversation therefore most people don't know. And also as such I can't say I know many, if any, atheists since it's not something I ask people about. So I would imagine most people do know at least a couple, if not many atheists but simply don't know it because it doesn't get talked about. My parents are regularly practicing Catholics and my best friend and his family are devout Methodists, so it would be interesting to see their reactions if I was to formally "out" myself to them. I wouldn't expect anything real negative, but the surprise factor would probably be pretty high!

I knew just one but now I know two!

I have no idea how many I know, many though, including a Catholic Priest. Faith as I understand it is believing in something without any evidence. As a scientist all I really care about is if a clam is true. An ordinary claim requires ordinary evidence, an extrodinary claim requires extraordinary evidence. I value the first amendment and the establishment clause as much as the 2nd, and the rest of them.

I've known a good number of atheists, agnostics, all sorts of religions.

You believe most atheists are hesitant to openly admit the fact. I know how they feel except I'm not hesitant; I KNOW BETTER than to admit I'm a bible Christian, conservative, Republican, and a Trump voter in the San Francisco Bay Area.