Comments on: Coming Out of the Atheist Closet http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/ by Hemant Mehta Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:10:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Michael Dixon http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-197624 Michael Dixon Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:51:49 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-197624 I think atheists need to not only unite and become more vocal but become political 'wedges' just like the very political plotting evil fundamentalists! I think atheists need to not only unite and become more vocal but become political ‘wedges’ just like the very political plotting evil fundamentalists!

]]> By: Samantha http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-61969 Samantha Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:12:30 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-61969 I do not consider myself an atheist,as I do not know what awaits us after death. I am certainly not religious. I find organized religion to be dangerous. People use religion as a weapon to injure others who do not believe the same. These "faithful", twist the bible to conform to their own needs. If you believe in God, leave me out of it. "PTL" means "Praise The Lord, Pass The Loot!" Religion is a business out to make money. The easiest way to recruit new members, and therefore new money, is through fear and intimidation. Jerry Falwell was an evil human being who personified the problems with religion. I believe people should strive to live their lives well; be good people who treat others with the respect they believe is inherently due themselves; and try to contribute only positive to this world. Not promote hate, intolerance, violence and fear. I do not consider myself an atheist,as I do not know what awaits us after death. I am certainly not religious. I find organized religion to be dangerous. People use religion as a weapon to injure others who do not believe the same. These “faithful”, twist the bible to conform to their own needs.

If you believe in God, leave me out of it. “PTL” means “Praise The Lord, Pass The Loot!” Religion is a business out to make money. The easiest way to recruit new members, and therefore new money, is through fear and intimidation. Jerry Falwell was an evil human being who personified the problems with religion.

I believe people should strive to live their lives well; be good people who treat others with the respect they believe is inherently due themselves; and try to contribute only positive to this world. Not promote hate, intolerance, violence and fear.

]]> By: Friendly Atheist » Atheists in South Carolina http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-61821 Friendly Atheist » Atheists in South Carolina Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:00:25 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-61821 [...] In the article, there’s a supposed quotation from George Bush (senior) about atheists not being considered citizens that should not be repeated. [...] [...] In the article, there’s a supposed quotation from George Bush (senior) about atheists not being considered citizens that should not be repeated. [...]

]]> By: mr k http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-24040 mr k Sat, 28 Apr 2007 09:03:05 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-24040 I always think giving a title to yourself like christian or muslim is actually very uninformitive. I have met christians who never go to church, and christians who have told me that homosexuals are evil. Thats why I kind of like the title of atheist. It doesn't imply anything about my ethical beliefs, and it shouldn't. If people want to talk ethics with me, then I will talk ethics- not religon. I always think giving a title to yourself like christian or muslim is actually very uninformitive. I have met christians who never go to church, and christians who have told me that homosexuals are evil. Thats why I kind of like the title of atheist. It doesn’t imply anything about my ethical beliefs, and it shouldn’t. If people want to talk ethics with me, then I will talk ethics- not religon.

]]> By: Mike C http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-24021 Mike C Sat, 28 Apr 2007 06:35:38 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-24021 What about using a label that describes your affirmative beliefs, rather than your non-beliefs? E.g. humanist, naturalist, etc. "Atheist", unfortunately, only defines you only in opposition to someone else's beliefs. What about using a label that describes your affirmative beliefs, rather than your non-beliefs? E.g. humanist, naturalist, etc. “Atheist”, unfortunately, only defines you only in opposition to someone else’s beliefs.

]]> By: Unsupernaturalist http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-24016 Unsupernaturalist Sat, 28 Apr 2007 05:50:48 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-24016 Darryl: I haven't come up with a good "handle" yet, but I like to say "I don't believe in anything supernatural." And if they ask, "But what about God?" I simply repeat myself. That usually gets the point across that you consider religious belief to be in the same category as other supernatural belief without sounding too combative. Darryl:
I haven’t come up with a good “handle” yet, but I like to say “I don’t believe in anything supernatural.” And if they ask, “But what about God?” I simply repeat myself. That usually gets the point across that you consider religious belief to be in the same category as other supernatural belief without sounding too combative.

]]> By: Darryl http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-23998 Darryl Sat, 28 Apr 2007 04:42:55 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-23998 I think from now on I will not label myself as an atheist. I do not believe in god(s), but 'atheist' has taken on negative connotations. Tell someone that you're an atheist and they have a negative reaction. I will try to find a positive and accurate handle, preferably one that is unfamiliar so that people will have to ask me what it means. Anybody got any suggestions? I think from now on I will not label myself as an atheist. I do not believe in god(s), but ‘atheist’ has taken on negative connotations. Tell someone that you’re an atheist and they have a negative reaction. I will try to find a positive and accurate handle, preferably one that is unfamiliar so that people will have to ask me what it means. Anybody got any suggestions?

]]> By: Dan Harlow http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-23992 Dan Harlow Sat, 28 Apr 2007 02:54:41 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-23992 Tina: One way of promoting atheism is this very blog. Hemant first started out by literally selling his soul on ebay. The idea gave him some decent media exposure and as a result he is invited to speak on behalf of atheists all over the country. He then wrote a book about the ebay deal which is another form of atheistic promotion and he maintains this blog. All of these things he does promotes atheism - from a friendly point of view. Even the name of this blog "The Friendly Atheist" is a form of promotion because it's an inviting title which in turn promotes open and friendly discussion. Other ways atheism has been promoted is by Richard Dawkins and his speeches and books. Other people, like myself, blog about atheism and have discussions with theists where we compare and contrast our world views. In short, there are lots of ways to promote atheism and allot of people actively doing it everyday. Many of these ideas are good and constructive (like this blog), while others (like that video) I feel are not. Tina:
One way of promoting atheism is this very blog. Hemant first started out by literally selling his soul on ebay. The idea gave him some decent media exposure and as a result he is invited to speak on behalf of atheists all over the country. He then wrote a book about the ebay deal which is another form of atheistic promotion and he maintains this blog. All of these things he does promotes atheism – from a friendly point of view. Even the name of this blog “The Friendly Atheist” is a form of promotion because it’s an inviting title which in turn promotes open and friendly discussion.

Other ways atheism has been promoted is by Richard Dawkins and his speeches and books. Other people, like myself, blog about atheism and have discussions with theists where we compare and contrast our world views.

In short, there are lots of ways to promote atheism and allot of people actively doing it everyday. Many of these ideas are good and constructive (like this blog), while others (like that video) I feel are not.

]]> By: Tina http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-23987 Tina Sat, 28 Apr 2007 02:23:03 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-23987 Hi Dan. No, I was really wondering how does one promote atheism. And I also would not want anyone to see me act that way. If my son would of been around when I found his Wiccan book I might have reacted this way, and I was never religious, only through what family has told me. I didn't know the first thing about religion let alone Wicca. I thought they were devil worshipers. I think it all comes down to knowledge. People need to learn what religion means and what atheism means. This mom was terrified I think. It comes from her religious upbringing. I am grateful to be able to experience this thing called the Internet, I am learning so much about tolerance and atheism. Hi Dan. No, I was really wondering how does one promote atheism. And I also would not want anyone to see me act that way. If my son would of been around when I found his Wiccan book I might have reacted this way, and I was never religious, only through what family has told me. I didn’t know the first thing about religion let alone Wicca. I thought they were devil worshipers. I think it all comes down to knowledge. People need to learn what religion means and what atheism means. This mom was terrified I think. It comes from her religious upbringing. I am grateful to be able to experience this thing called the Internet, I am learning so much about tolerance and atheism.

]]> By: Dan Harlow http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-23986 Dan Harlow Sat, 28 Apr 2007 02:04:38 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/04/27/coming-out-of-the-atheist-closet/#comment-23986 Tina: I have no issue with promoting atheism, I'm an atheist as well but I take issue with that particular video being used to support the atheist view and I don't like the idea of private family issues being aired out in public for the rest of the world to watch. That video is just like a Jerry Springer episode that is now being used by atheists to support atheism just because it shows a theist mom acting like a fool. It's just 'sensational entertainment' used to get people all worked up and if I really wanted that as my main source of information on atheism, I'd watch FOX news. I would hope nobody here would ever want their mistakes and dysfunctions uploaded to YouTube for everyone to laugh at or turned into a rally cry for a certain way of thinking. Then again, I am very much in the minority opinion in this matter, so maybe personal privacy is just not important anymore and everyone should have a right to tell everyone else how to act in their own homes. Maybe I'm just not 'liberal' enough. I've been wrong before. Tina:
I have no issue with promoting atheism, I’m an atheist as well but I take issue with that particular video being used to support the atheist view and I don’t like the idea of private family issues being aired out in public for the rest of the world to watch. That video is just like a Jerry Springer episode that is now being used by atheists to support atheism just because it shows a theist mom acting like a fool. It’s just ‘sensational entertainment’ used to get people all worked up and if I really wanted that as my main source of information on atheism, I’d watch FOX news.

I would hope nobody here would ever want their mistakes and dysfunctions uploaded to YouTube for everyone to laugh at or turned into a rally cry for a certain way of thinking. Then again, I am very much in the minority opinion in this matter, so maybe personal privacy is just not important anymore and everyone should have a right to tell everyone else how to act in their own homes. Maybe I’m just not ‘liberal’ enough. I’ve been wrong before.

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