[Calgaryborn]

Originally Posted by photon

So? You seem to have created a false dichotomy of either a) only atheists on this site behave like the atheists on this site or b) all atheists everywhere behave like atheists on this site. Both of which are of course beyond silly, to think that a few dozen people on a hockey website are representative of hundreds of millions of people.

Heck they're not even representative of all the atheists on this website! There have been times when people have said they don't believe in any gods but they don't agree with how some atheists present themselves.

So you are wrong.

I find it ironic that you reject my generalizations as wrong on the grounds it doesn't fit all the time yet the whole reason why we are again talking about your silly religious position is because of generalizations made about religion at the start of this thread. Atheists are the kings of generalizations and hyperbole.

Originally Posted by photon

So now you've fallen back to them representing just a large segment of atheistic opinion instead of all. Define large segment.

The majority of atheists would hold a negative view(often hostile) towards religion. You can pretend that there is a silent majority somewhere who has never been effected by religious views and just embraced there atheism out of logic and reason but, you won't find evidence of that. People who leave a faith are generally the most hostile towards their former religion. Most atheist at the very least grew up within a nominal religious community. They at some point rejected that community in faviour of atheistic beliefs. We know this because the majority of the world is religious.

You can maintain that the atheists on this site aren't representative of atheists in general but, you aren't producing any evidence of the silent majority. What do you base your opinion on. Sure Cheese and Thor could just be wild wingnuts on the fringes of atheistic opinion but, where than is the mainstream? Show me.

Originally Posted by photon

What you see in the media is a skewed view. The media reports conflict, controversy etc. What gets reported about Christianity in the media? Pastors participating in gay sex, pedophiles, financial scandals, etc. Is that a valid opinion to form of all Christians? Of course not.

They represent a segment of atheists, just like the Christians who think that atheists are evil represent a segment of Christians.

I can show you directories of thousands of churches who havn't ever burned a Koran. Likewise we could find thousands of Mosques who didn't riot after last Friday's prayers. In fact I bet a google search would turn up many public denouncments of both behaviours by members of their respective communities. Where again is this peacable silent majority of atheists?

You who are quick to point out my generalizations, have you ever replied to a post of one of your atheist brothers to point out the limits of their generalizations. Maybe your silent majority should be more proactive in communicating their viewpoint instead of letting the wingnuts represent them.

Originally Posted by photon

How large it is, who knows. Have anything to support your idea of "large" segment other than it's convenient? The God Delusion sold what, 2 million copies? That represents something in the order of 10% of non-believers in the US, less than 1% of non-believers worldwide.

So which author has not attacked religion using the same generalizations as members of this site and how many books has he/she sold?

If all I can observe is atheists that are hostile towards religion how am I suppose to conclude there are any other than what I see? Sure there are a couple more moderate atheists on this site but, they appear to be the fringe rather than mainstream.

Originally Posted by photon

So that you'll find negative opinions on religion on sites that have a negative opinion of religion is somehow shocking? Or meaningful?

Non-believers who don't have a negative opinion of religion aren't going to be making websites about religion now are they.

Ok show me 5 atheist web sites that don't attack religion in general. Surely some of these positive atheists that live outside of CP must have the internet.

Originally Posted by photon

If someone thinks religion is harmful and cares about it enough, they will be doing things to make their point. It's exactly the same as the Christian who thinks that not-believing is harmful and is out there trying to help people.

Yah I can just feel the love whenever you atheist's highjack one of these threads to save us from our misguided paths.

Originally Posted by photon

Except you haven't supported that atheists in general are drawn to a specific view. That you call it "baggage" is just inflammatory and indicative of what you probably really think; that if an atheist does see religion as a negative that's not from any reasoning or observation, it's because they're blinded and can't be correct about anything, because your view of God is right, by definition.

I have supported that atheists are drawn to a hostile view of religion. This site and the major atheist authors carry that point of view. If they don't represent the majority of atheists out there than show me who does. Sure the folks here are a small sample size but, if they represent the only data offered and are supported by the best selling atheist authors it is the best conclusion one can make.

The term "baggage" was coined(I believe) by me to refer to an ideology or world view that tends to accompany the atheist's core belief: "there is no God". One of the atheists on this site was maintaining that atheists believe this core belief and there is no ideology{baggage} carried along with it. From what I have seen that position is false.

I have never said or thought that my christian faith is void of its own baggage. Having said that perhaps the term "baggage" could be a little imflammatory. Really though, you already know my low opinion of atheism. I've been nothing but, honest about that. Why fret about a word?