I just don’t understand many of the atheists out there. Atheism is derived from the Greek theos (“god”), prefixed by ‘a’ (“without”), in other words “without god”. (In a similar manner we have agnosticism (‘a’ – “without” + ‘gnosis’ – “knowing”)
Given this, why is it that many atheists seem to want to convert people to – nothing? Christians and other believers in God (or a god, or several gods) often try to convert others to belief in the same thing in which they themselves believe, in the hope that the other will find salvation, inner peace, enlightenment, or whatever that particular faith holds. How does one convert someone else to nothingness?
An example of atheist efforts will soon be unveiled across the country, where several atheist groups are vying for a share of the market of those who have fallen away from religious association of whatever kind. It’s one thing to try to convince others by engaging them in conversation, but these people are mounting a full-fledged campaign that includes various forms of media including radio and television advertisements. This has to cost a significant amount of money – to what avail?
Looking at some of the ads from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, it is difficult for me to see how they will pull this off without actually alienating many people they might want to recruit.
The American Humanist Association takes a slightly different tack, using brief quotes from the Bible & Koran, often out of context or those that clearly should not be taken literally, to show their point of view.
Then there’s the Madeline Murray O’Hareites at American Athiests who are using a play on the “Celebrate the Reason for the Season” we’ve all seen. They are planning a billboard at an approach to the Lincoln Tunnel heading into New York City that says, “You Know it’s a Myth. This Season Celebrate Reason.” Whoo! That’s clever. From their website:
This year’s first big pre-holiday blow-out comes from atheists who are trying to take the religious edge off this time of year by featuring passages from the Bible and other religious texts that mention slaughtered men, plundered cities, severed heads and women eviscerated. You know, the cheery stuff.
This just makes them come across as a bunch of bitter people who believe in a similar way to how they wrongly perceive religious people – they’re terrified that someone else may have just found the secret to true happiness and it’s not them.
Finally, there’s the runt group United Coalition of Reason, who just don’t seem to be quite in the big leagues yet.
My confusion is that all this seems to lack an actual point, not to mention it’s like trying to sell a product that serves no function by comparing it to one that does – “Buy our new electronics-free mp3 player! You’ll love its silence!”
Update:
This is a nationwide campaign. Buses in Ft. Worth will soon have these ads plastered on their sides.
All is not lost, however. An anonymous donor in NY City gave the Catholic League $18,500 to rent a billboard at the other end of the tunnel.
I blame teh gayz
I tend to agree with Gordo that much of this current movement to push atheism will result, intended or not, in bigger government. Our nation was founded upon Christian and Judaic principles and there is no other fatih that exists nor will ever exist that will keep us a free nation.
Simple and Dude; It’s very good to know of the good works within your families. My parents hooked up ona blind date right at the time Mother decided to investigate the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She fell in love with Dad who expressed little to no interest in the Church at the same time she decided to… Read more »
True dat Wagoneer. Y’all be good… gotta go.
Heh! Yup that was me. Mrs. and I still laugh about that.
#18 dude
When talking to people about the Church, I try to keep it very low key, answering questions and planting seeds. After that, I let the Holy Spirit take over. He’s really good at that kind of thing.
Dude – was it you that related the story to me about going to one of those Six Flags Over Heaven megachurches and an acquaintance explained they liked it because they didn’t talk about all that “god” stuff?
These religious atheists (especially the humanist crowd) end up thinking of man as a demigod. And that is essentially one of the biggest pragmatic values of religion (if indeed it is possible for there to be such a value): It keeps us humble. The simple act of not viewing yourself as the center of the universe changes the way we… Read more »
The thing with many atheists is that their belief that there is no god has a religious zeal to it. Oh I agree completely. And those are the atheists that you’re acutely aware of because of how vocal they are about it. On the flip side, there are those who are that vocal about their religious beliefs and that tends… Read more »
Can’t we all just get a bong?
#9 dude The thing with many atheists is that their belief that there is no god has a religious zeal to it. Usually when someone doesn’t think something is there, they simply move on. This is what I tried to express on the last paragraph above. These religious atheists (especially the humanist crowd) end up thinking of man as a… Read more »
#11 – Mr. Simple – What are the constraints imposed on our government? Could it be those outlined in our founding documents (except for that separation of church and state thing)? If you were willing to assume, as I do, that every time the government enacts a new law or program, inherent in that law or program are restrictions imposed… Read more »
Dude,
It is a pity that there are not more like you and your Dad when it comes to this issue.
Simple
It matters not to me which God or Gods you worship, as long as, you do not infringe upon my right to worship (or not to) in a manner that I find agreeable. I couldn’t agree with that point of view more, Simple. Interesting that you grew up in a very Catholic home and have drifted away from that as… Read more »
Dude, I grew up in a VERY Catholic home. As I grew older I drifted from the Church for a variety of personal reasons. Today, I do not view myself as an atheist, but I am not in the ranks of the “true believers” either. I am not sure what label applies and don’t really care. That said….I find it… Read more »
Gordo,
I am not sure how you make the leap from atheism to big government in a single bound. It has been my observation that organized religions tend to grow bureaucracies at or about the same speed as governments.
Just an observation!
Simple
An atheist can live a good life. An atheist can even be a good person. An atheist, however, places their eternal soul in danger. But since they do not believe in an eternal anything, it doesn’t bother them. I don’t know how they explain all the mystical events that happen – people seeing angels, miracles of all types, the explanations… Read more »
Given this, why is it that many atheists seem to want to convert people to – nothing? I don’t think it’s that they want to convert people to nothing, it’s more that they want to show that a good and moral life can be lived without belief in a deity, whatever “deity” means in your particular religion. I can see… Read more »
At first sight I thought, “misery loves company.” But, upon reflection, maybe it is something bigger than just a bunch or atheist trying to get attention. Have you ever noticed how the first thing a tyrant wants to do is to destroy religion? In the bible, in the story of the Tower of Babel, I believe that Nimrod was a… Read more »
Given this, why is it that many atheists seem to want to convert people to – nothing? They feel threatened because religion is foisted upon them everywhere they turn. It cramps their style. So instead of blending into the background like like Mharper, they make waves, cause a fuss, and file lawsuits. Many do actually believe that religion is some… Read more »
“Atheist” is a word that has historically carried a lot of presumptive baggage and knee jerk negative reaction, much of it very defensive. For that reason, I usually prefer to self ID as skeptical, non-theist, or ambivalent about individual beliefs regarding the supernatural. I think it’s a demonstrable fact that the tendency for religious belief is innate in humans, and… Read more »
Our Declaration of Independence includes a phrase about our certain inalienable rights being endowed to us by our “creator.” It assumes a deity as the source of these rights. If the lefties can figure out a way to work around that “creator” thing, they then have a shot at enacting the rest of their big government, our way or the… Read more »
Speaking as perhaps the only acknowledged atheist who posts here, I’d like to say that I happily coexist with religions and religious adherents — except for those that perpetrate jihad on others. I don’t even mind being proselytized, I just say “No, thanks”. I even put up a Christmas tree but mine is decorated with hundreds of lights and musical… Read more »
#1 Texpat – Heh. Atheists actually make me think of a movie scene: Donny: Are these the Nazis, Walter? Walter Sobchak: No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Nihilist: Ve don’t care. Ve still vant ze money, Lebowski, or ve wiss you up. Walter Sobchak: Wiss you. Wiss the three of you. The Dude: Hey,… Read more »
They simply need to prove they are right. Or convince others, anyway. Religious groups, as you said, believe we are offering people salvation. Atheists believe they are offering freedom – from religious morals and rituals. From what I’ve seen, dictators are either atheists or twist religion to serve their own needs. The best leaders are those who live their lives… Read more »
Frank Costanza: “Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way.” Cosmo Kramer: “What happened to the doll?” Frank Costanza: “It was destroyed. But out of that a new holiday… Read more »
I blame teh gayz
I tend to agree with Gordo that much of this current movement to push atheism will result, intended or not, in bigger government. Our nation was founded upon Christian and Judaic principles and there is no other fatih that exists nor will ever exist that will keep us a free nation.
Simple and Dude; It’s very good to know of the good works within your families. My parents hooked up ona blind date right at the time Mother decided to investigate the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She fell in love with Dad who expressed little to no interest in the Church at the same time she decided to… Read more »
True dat Wagoneer. Y’all be good… gotta go.
Heh! Yup that was me. Mrs. and I still laugh about that.
#18 dude
When talking to people about the Church, I try to keep it very low key, answering questions and planting seeds. After that, I let the Holy Spirit take over. He’s really good at that kind of thing.
Dude – was it you that related the story to me about going to one of those Six Flags Over Heaven megachurches and an acquaintance explained they liked it because they didn’t talk about all that “god” stuff?
These religious atheists (especially the humanist crowd) end up thinking of man as a demigod. And that is essentially one of the biggest pragmatic values of religion (if indeed it is possible for there to be such a value): It keeps us humble. The simple act of not viewing yourself as the center of the universe changes the way we… Read more »
The thing with many atheists is that their belief that there is no god has a religious zeal to it. Oh I agree completely. And those are the atheists that you’re acutely aware of because of how vocal they are about it. On the flip side, there are those who are that vocal about their religious beliefs and that tends… Read more »
Can’t we all just get a bong?
#9 dude The thing with many atheists is that their belief that there is no god has a religious zeal to it. Usually when someone doesn’t think something is there, they simply move on. This is what I tried to express on the last paragraph above. These religious atheists (especially the humanist crowd) end up thinking of man as a… Read more »
#11 – Mr. Simple – What are the constraints imposed on our government? Could it be those outlined in our founding documents (except for that separation of church and state thing)? If you were willing to assume, as I do, that every time the government enacts a new law or program, inherent in that law or program are restrictions imposed… Read more »
Dude,
It is a pity that there are not more like you and your Dad when it comes to this issue.
Simple
It matters not to me which God or Gods you worship, as long as, you do not infringe upon my right to worship (or not to) in a manner that I find agreeable. I couldn’t agree with that point of view more, Simple. Interesting that you grew up in a very Catholic home and have drifted away from that as… Read more »
Dude, I grew up in a VERY Catholic home. As I grew older I drifted from the Church for a variety of personal reasons. Today, I do not view myself as an atheist, but I am not in the ranks of the “true believers” either. I am not sure what label applies and don’t really care. That said….I find it… Read more »
Gordo,
I am not sure how you make the leap from atheism to big government in a single bound. It has been my observation that organized religions tend to grow bureaucracies at or about the same speed as governments.
Just an observation!
Simple
An atheist can live a good life. An atheist can even be a good person. An atheist, however, places their eternal soul in danger. But since they do not believe in an eternal anything, it doesn’t bother them. I don’t know how they explain all the mystical events that happen – people seeing angels, miracles of all types, the explanations… Read more »
Given this, why is it that many atheists seem to want to convert people to – nothing? I don’t think it’s that they want to convert people to nothing, it’s more that they want to show that a good and moral life can be lived without belief in a deity, whatever “deity” means in your particular religion. I can see… Read more »
At first sight I thought, “misery loves company.” But, upon reflection, maybe it is something bigger than just a bunch or atheist trying to get attention. Have you ever noticed how the first thing a tyrant wants to do is to destroy religion? In the bible, in the story of the Tower of Babel, I believe that Nimrod was a… Read more »
Given this, why is it that many atheists seem to want to convert people to – nothing? They feel threatened because religion is foisted upon them everywhere they turn. It cramps their style. So instead of blending into the background like like Mharper, they make waves, cause a fuss, and file lawsuits. Many do actually believe that religion is some… Read more »
“Atheist” is a word that has historically carried a lot of presumptive baggage and knee jerk negative reaction, much of it very defensive. For that reason, I usually prefer to self ID as skeptical, non-theist, or ambivalent about individual beliefs regarding the supernatural. I think it’s a demonstrable fact that the tendency for religious belief is innate in humans, and… Read more »
Our Declaration of Independence includes a phrase about our certain inalienable rights being endowed to us by our “creator.” It assumes a deity as the source of these rights. If the lefties can figure out a way to work around that “creator” thing, they then have a shot at enacting the rest of their big government, our way or the… Read more »
Speaking as perhaps the only acknowledged atheist who posts here, I’d like to say that I happily coexist with religions and religious adherents — except for those that perpetrate jihad on others. I don’t even mind being proselytized, I just say “No, thanks”. I even put up a Christmas tree but mine is decorated with hundreds of lights and musical… Read more »
#1 Texpat – Heh. Atheists actually make me think of a movie scene: Donny: Are these the Nazis, Walter? Walter Sobchak: No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Nihilist: Ve don’t care. Ve still vant ze money, Lebowski, or ve wiss you up. Walter Sobchak: Wiss you. Wiss the three of you. The Dude: Hey,… Read more »