How Dare You!!!
November 7, 2007 by Mark Pogue
I’ve been an atheist my whole life. Even though I was raised that atheism is “akin to Satanism”, I always felt that I was not an evil person. However, toleration for beliefs other than mine these days, is at times, very trying.
I love humans…not gods, but when a religious human approaches me with the “I’m Heavenbound” attitude, I tend to let my feathers get ruffled like a fighting rooster.
I speak of atheism openly online at different forums, as a free person in the US. And why not? We have been afforded that freedom in our Constitution.
Why do some of our fellow American Christians feel the need to enter Atheistic/Agnostic-themed web sites only to oppose the non-believers and doubters? Speaking for myself…I would never dream of entering Christian websites and challenging their faith. Why do they feel the need to proselytize without an invitation to do so! How dare you!
Atheists have just as much right to reside here as anyone else. We pay taxes, have children and relationships, own homes, work, become ill, sing, dance, read, eat, and sleep. We contribute to charities and “the needy”. We have feelings of love, hate, and guilt. Why would some religious folks treat us as lepers or demons in a country that is guaranteed the “freedom of religion” only to have that freedom compromised by the religious, “better than thou” club??? Your religion promises “God’s love and peace”…but love for the atheists is not shown? How dare you!
Wow, Some one must of rubbed you wrong. I am sorry to hear that.
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Dear Mark
They see it as their God given right. We are wrong, they are arrogant enough to believe they are right (all gazillion different branches of religion).
They cannot even agree amongst themselves - and then have the audacity to come and preach to US.
Lu
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Eric…
You’re almost correct in saying “some one must have rubbed you wrong”. It’s more than ONE person, more than ONE particular sect. Only a few of them actually show that they believe. I’m tired of their hypocritical, greedy, consumer-driven ways.
It sickens me when I witness a homeless person camped outside a LOCKED church door.
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The first amendment of the constitution DOES NOT grant the right to free speech. It affirms the INHERENT right by prohibiting congress from abridging it. One might consider this to be semantics, but I think it is an important philosophical distinction. The constitution of the US establishes and limits the rights of the government, not the people. The Declaration of Independence foreshadowed this philosophy:
The government exists to protect these rights, not to grant them. The constitution establishes that government.
(Sorry for the rant - I feel that quite a few problems in this country stem from a feeling of subordination to government control. I feel we must demand our rights as humans, rather than as citizens)
Moving on:
Personally, I rather enjoy when the proselytizers come into Atheist forums and get their arguments ripped to shreds, and (in at least one notable incident involving several atheists and one particularly annoying proselytizer) have used a “Christian Intruder” as justification to ask the hard questions in various Christian forums.
(Unsurprisingly, although the interloper was granted free speech in our areas, we were either asked to leave or completely banned from ALL of the Christian forums we entered)
That said, some theists stop playing by the rules, as has happened on YouTube: Kent Hovind’s corporation recently had the Rational Response Squad kicked off YouTube with a bogus DMCA takedown notice; several other prominent YouTube atheists have been removed for as little as quoting the Qu’ran. This kind of stuff really pisses me off.
Hypocrisy is, in my opinion, the worst “sin” against rationality.
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rivalarrival…
Actually, I was referring to the “freedom of religion”, as that was not clearly indicated.
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Mark,
My bad - Argument still holds.
Rival
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Hear,hear. I picked up a copy of Newsweek with a 4-page ad in it about the poor “persecuted christians” in this country. I nearly cursed out loud. Glad I didn’t, pediatric office. Woulda been frowned upon while “Mulan” was playing.
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yeah ok, how dare them!
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“I’m tired of their hypocritical, greedy, consumer-driven ways.
It sickens me when I witness a homeless person camped outside a LOCKED church door.”
Unless you yourself are doing something to change this within your own life I don’t see how you can claim moral high ground here.
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aaron…
I agree. ..however I don’t control these church doors. I do volunteer work at a homeless shelter where many are Christians. I find it disheartening that their “God”, their fellow Christians, and their country have let them fall through the cracks of a “me, me, me” society.
Have you ever been to a buffet style restaurant on Sunday, early afternoon? I have witnessed people in nice clothes, wearing crosses around their necks as they devour endless helpings of food, while their homeless counterparts have nothing.
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HI,
I AM RESPONDING TO YOUR “HOW DARE YOU”. I AM A CHRISTIAN BY HEART. I DO NOT PUSH MY BELIEF ON ANYONE. I TRULLY BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE MUST FIND THEIR OWN WAY IN THIS WORLD. WHO IS TO REALLY SAY IF THERE IS OR ISN’T A GOD OF SOME SORT. MOST HUMANS MUST BELIEVE IN SOMETHING. WHETHER IT BE THE SUN, THE MOON, A GOD, OR NO GOD, THE DEVIL, OR TREES, IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHAT SOMEONE BELIEVES IN BUT HOW THEY LIVE THEIR LIFE. DID THEY TREAT OTHERS WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT, DID THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, OR DID THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT THEMSELVES? WE ALL MUST SHARE THIS PLANET TOGETHER, WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE IN. SO WHY TREAD ON SOMEONE ELSE’S BELIEVES.? I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT THE QUESTION,”WHY CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?”.? I AM A VERY PEACEFUL PERSON AT HEART.. BUT I ALSO DON’T WANT TO BE TREAD ON OR FORCED INTO ANYTHING. WE EACH HAVE A MIND AND THE FREEWILL TO USE IT. I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT YOU USE IT FOR.
THANK YOU
SANDYLOU
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Sandylou….
Your quote, “MOST HUMANS MUST BELIEVE IN SOMETHING. WHETHER IT BE THE SUN, THE MOON, A GOD, OR NO GOD, THE DEVIL, OR TREES, IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHAT SOMEONE BELIEVES IN BUT HOW THEY LIVE THEIR LIFE.”
How about just believing in “ourselves”? Is that so terrible?
Religion is business and you’ve been had!
You also stated, “I’M A CHRISTIAN BY HEART.”
Do you eat pork, shellfish, or consume dairy products with beef? Christ didn’t. He was a Jew and adhered to dietary laws of his people.
So, what makes you a Christian? What differs you from others that aren’t of your faith?
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clap,clap,clap, very well put needed to be said!!
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