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Originally Posted by Flabbibulin
I was not aware on where the term "new atheism" came from, but I am alert to increasing prevalence of anti-religious literature and writings- perhaps they were there all along, yet simply more in the limelight because of new media. On the other hand, my opinion may be correct and atheists are taking advantage of a world because increasingly hostile towards hardcore religious ideas.
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Oh I think you are right in that there's more popular writings that self identify as atheist or anti-religious, but why is that annoying? If there's books on crystal power and how to properly cook some weird food and everything else that some people would find interesting, why not atheists?
They should get back in their holes and be quiet?
I don't think necessarily they're taking advantage of a world hostile towards hardcore religious ideas, but one less hostile to non-religious ideas.
Keep in mind that even being able to say "I'm atheist" without negative repercussions from family or work or their peers is new to a lot of people (and in fact is still impossible for many).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flabbibulin
The graph by itself isn't the issue- but it is an example of the logic used to discredit the Bible, a book of faith, and not science. If non-believers want to debate the historical inaccuracies of the Bible, I am ok with it- I just wonder about when it is used as a tool against.
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It's not discrediting the Bible itself though, it's discrediting a certain viewpoint and interpretation of the Bible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flabbibulin
My use of these terms, that normally have a religious affiliation, towards atheists is intentional and cheeky. It is meant to point out that I have often have a hard time telling apart some atheists from religious people.
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Fair enough, but I don't think either religious people nor non-religious people should get criticized for discussing their ideas and expressing their views.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flabbibulin
Yes, perhaps there are people that have disavowed their beliefs because of revelations in Science- I can't imagine why they were believers to begin with? I mean, Science will always win out when it comes to arguments of reason.
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Belief often doesn't come from reason.
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Originally Posted by Flabbibulin
I would argue that this phenomena is more concentrated with intelligent minds in the field of science, and not intelligent minds across all fields of study- Its no secret that science has been at war with religion.
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Could be, but the data seems to be independent of field of study.. there's similar correlations when looking at averages across whole countries. But again I don't think it's meaningful in the way some people want it to be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flabbibulin
Look, my issue has nothing to do with the debate of atheism vs. religion- I am simply pointing out the changing landscape of atheism in the world. While one might argue that "religion has been targeting non-believers for years- why not return the favor?", my contention is that this is against the entire philosophy of what atheism is... but perhaps I am wrong.
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I'd agree with you if that was the core of the "message", but I don't think that is in fact the core. No doubt there are some that think that way, but I just don't see that return the favour message in any of the material. Some may target religious belief as something negative, but that's not out of a return the favour sentiment, they're trying to make an actual argument about religious belief itself.
At least the stuff I've read anyway (which is why I always ask for specifics).