Comments on: Saying the bad word… http://americanfreethinkers.com/2009/11/05/saying-the-bad-word/ Celebrating and exploring the tradition of American Freethought Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:50:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: JB http://americanfreethinkers.com/2009/11/05/saying-the-bad-word/comment-page-1/#comment-26 JB Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:43:13 +0000 http://americanfreethinkers.com/?p=30#comment-26 Good points, Fitzie. I find it ironic, though, that often the people who respond strongly to the rejection of they worldview are the very people who have rigidly defined worldviews. Now, I'm not one of these people who really wishes that all religious people would follow washed-down versions of their faith, so that they don't hurt anyone's feelings. I think that when you take a handful of things for granted it's easy to see how some very rigidly defined theological frameworks are incredibly logical. Of course, I have a problem with taking those things for granted. I'd like to hope that we could all have respect for each other and engage in debate to try to get closer to truth. I'm not sure that'll ever happen, though. Good points, Fitzie. I find it ironic, though, that often the people who respond strongly to the rejection of they worldview are the very people who have rigidly defined worldviews. Now, I’m not one of these people who really wishes that all religious people would follow washed-down versions of their faith, so that they don’t hurt anyone’s feelings. I think that when you take a handful of things for granted it’s easy to see how some very rigidly defined theological frameworks are incredibly logical. Of course, I have a problem with taking those things for granted.

I’d like to hope that we could all have respect for each other and engage in debate to try to get closer to truth. I’m not sure that’ll ever happen, though.

]]> By: Fitzie http://americanfreethinkers.com/2009/11/05/saying-the-bad-word/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Fitzie Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:50:06 +0000 http://americanfreethinkers.com/?p=30#comment-24 It took me a while before I was willing to declare myself an atheist as opposed to an agnostic and I don't talk about it with some people. I think that part of the reason is that, if you say you are an atheist, you are saying "I reject your world view." That isa difficult thing to say to someone especially if their world view is intimately tied up with their sense of self. If I say I am of a different religious belief that is ok. We were raised differently, in different faith traditions. We believe in God or something much like it it is just a different form etc... Obviously, some faith traditions are more open to this being ok then others but there is a lot of ecumenical spirit being pushed in the word today. If I say I am agnostic I am saying "I respect the belief in God in other people but I myself am not really sure." I don't have faith but I have not rejected the idea. To say I am an atheist is to say "I have thought hard about this God question and I think that you are wrong God, does not exist" and, by extension, I am implying that the time believers spend praying or attending religious service is a waste of time or delusional. It took me a while before I was willing to declare myself an atheist as opposed to an agnostic and I don’t talk about it with some people.

I think that part of the reason is that, if you say you are an atheist, you are saying “I reject your world view.” That isa difficult thing to say to someone especially if their world view is intimately tied up with their sense of self.

If I say I am of a different religious belief that is ok. We were raised differently, in different faith traditions. We believe in God or something much like it it is just a different form etc… Obviously, some faith traditions are more open to this being ok then others but there is a lot of ecumenical spirit being pushed in the word today.

If I say I am agnostic I am saying “I respect the belief in God in other people but I myself am not really sure.” I don’t have faith but I have not rejected the idea.

To say I am an atheist is to say “I have thought hard about this God question and I think that you are wrong God, does not exist” and, by extension, I am implying that the time believers spend praying or attending religious service is a waste of time or delusional.

]]> By: The other Jon W http://americanfreethinkers.com/2009/11/05/saying-the-bad-word/comment-page-1/#comment-22 The other Jon W Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:15:05 +0000 http://americanfreethinkers.com/?p=30#comment-22 NARWHALS!!!!! YEAAAHH!!!!! NARWHALS!!!!! YEAAAHH!!!!!

]]> By: JB http://americanfreethinkers.com/2009/11/05/saying-the-bad-word/comment-page-1/#comment-21 JB Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:11:35 +0000 http://americanfreethinkers.com/?p=30#comment-21 Unicorns explain everything. On a side note, narwhals are the unicorns of the sea... AND THEY'RE REAL. Unicorns explain everything. On a side note, narwhals are the unicorns of the sea… AND THEY’RE REAL.

]]> By: JB http://americanfreethinkers.com/2009/11/05/saying-the-bad-word/comment-page-1/#comment-20 JB Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:10:47 +0000 http://americanfreethinkers.com/?p=30#comment-20 Thanks for your post, Scott. It is really interesting how powerful the word atheist is. I think that would have an easier time coming out of the closet in a Christian home as a Buddhist, Muslim or convert to Judaism than as an atheist. There are so many negative connotations with the word which just don't make a lot of sense. Thanks for your post, Scott. It is really interesting how powerful the word atheist is. I think that would have an easier time coming out of the closet in a Christian home as a Buddhist, Muslim or convert to Judaism than as an atheist. There are so many negative connotations with the word which just don’t make a lot of sense.

]]> By: Scott Roche http://americanfreethinkers.com/2009/11/05/saying-the-bad-word/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Scott Roche Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:58:48 +0000 http://americanfreethinkers.com/?p=30#comment-18 It is a shame that there are atheists that don't want to come out to their friends and family. I didn't realize until recently quite how serious the rejection was that you risked facing. The friends I've made who are atheists have really opened my eyes on that score. It is a shame that there are atheists that don’t want to come out to their friends and family. I didn’t realize until recently quite how serious the rejection was that you risked facing. The friends I’ve made who are atheists have really opened my eyes on that score.

]]> By: Anonymous reader http://americanfreethinkers.com/2009/11/05/saying-the-bad-word/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Anonymous reader Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:29:54 +0000 http://americanfreethinkers.com/?p=30#comment-17 I love your unicorn analogy... Everything is so clear now thanks to you!! I love your unicorn analogy… Everything is so clear now thanks to you!!

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