Quote:
Originally Posted by Weiser Wonder
The thing I don't understand about atheism is why atheists even care about god and religion. I've grown from being a vague Christian to a vague atheist in the last 5 years or so. As I move towards atheism, I care less and less about religion and the afterlife and care more about this life (namely art and philosophy). I just can't get up for a God debate anymore.
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Your post shows more of what I would call the standard atheist or moderate atheist position. The live and let live type atheism which was that of people like Bertrand Russel.
The new atheism of Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris etc is the New atheism and is evangelical in it's approach. They feel that religion is an evil influence on the world and must be stopped. They must gain adherents in their crusade and as such this message has become increasingly strident and divisive.
I have read on blogs and boards where atheists debate the difference in old school atheism and the in your face aggresive form of new atheism. For me a true atheist shouldn't be bothered what other people believe as they have made up their minds. The problem is that their only form of expression is to debate theists to reinforce their beliefs.
As for atheism being a harmless belief what about Communism? It was/is atheistic to it's roots and even banned religion in some states in what was supposed to be a matrialistic paradise. Their wars were as much about being anti religous as they were political. What about the French Revolution and the reign of terror where priests were rounded up and sent to the gullotine? Churches were used to stable horses and religion was banned. What about Pol Pot? Stalin, Mao? Hitler also sanitized religion to make it a state religion which was Nazism. Any opponents were sent to concentration camps. Many Christians were killed because of their opposition to Hitler and his faux religion. The USSR did the same thing with the Orthodoz church in order to appear to the world that they were liberal in their views but they were anything but.
This however is no indictment against atheists just as so called religous wars do not equate to religion being evil. It isn't that simple. The human condition is selfish if it does not have a moral compass.
Look to the aid work that was done in Haiti. What would it have been like if Christian aid charities had not been some of the first helpers on the scene? Not only did they help physically but did so spiritually by giving the people hope.
How could the cold hard message of atheism have lifted those people out of their sorrow and gave them the encouragement to rebuild their nation.
In such times people look to a higher power to comfort them and help them.