Why are atheists thought ill of?

[Sniffles]

Rather than a black spot, it is an X-ray.

We are told the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and we are commanded to love this same God. This is precisely what a child sexual abuser demands of his victims - he demand his victims both fear and love him.

And God, of course, has absolute power. And the perfect expression of absolute power is to rape many children over many years and have the Hierarchy of the Church protect you from the law, and facilitate your crimes in the next parish.

But why should we be surprised?

After all, the Father was offended by us and in order to forgive us He tortured his Son to death on the Cross.

The Father is the perfect role model for absolute power and the abuse of a child in his care.

You know Victor, rather than enjoying this anti-clerical child porn of yours, you would be better off visiting your local parish and start working towards achieving your own salvation.

 

[Bubbles]

God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are the same thing but they are separate entities that require worshiping. Even states that in the bible. Victor even stated that the Pope is above prosecution and the law. I like Catholics as people but their religion is really screwed up.

Are you referring to my religion or is there another Catholicism I don't know about?

See, here's how it works. The pope is about as above prosecution as the Queen of England would be. Basically, this is because there's hierarchy in the faith, and because of it the pope is not only a leader, but a "symbol" if you will. That's why the process of choosing a pope is so important--how would it look if you had to prosecute the pope, a figurehead of morality? Admittedly, in the past, there have been horrible popes--particularly before separation of church and state--but right now the pope's only power lies in the faith he's leading. And let's be honest, who listens to the pope besides Catholics? He's a spiritual leader, not a political one, despite what some say.

Also, the three entities being one is basically like...three different hats God wears. Like how someone can be a daughter, a mother, and a sister all at once.

But I repeat. The OP is about atheism. Just wanted to clear some stuff up.

 

[Sniffles]

He's a spiritual leader, not a political one, despite what some say.

He is a political leader in the sense of being head of a sovereign state, ie Vatican City. Being head of his own state actually has helped to allow the Papacy to maintain its independence from earthly powers. Not always of course(plenty of monarchs and emperors marched on the Vatican in the good ol'days).

 

[Bubbles]

He is a political leader in the sense of being head of a sovereign state, ie Vatican City. Being head of his state actually has helped to allow the Papacy to maintain its independence from earthly powers. Not always of course(plenty of monarchs and emperors marched on the Vatican in the good ol'days).

Ah, this is true. Sorry. I meant in a broader context...as in from a worldwide viewpoint. More than anything he handles spiritual affairs, I should rephrase, then.

 

[Sniffles]

Ah, this is true. Sorry. I meant in a broader context...as in from a worldwide viewpoint. More than anything he handles spiritual affairs, I should rephrase, then.

No I know what you meant. He is primarily a spiritual leader, not a political one.

 

[Jaguar]

You know Victor, rather than enjoying this anti-clerical child porn of yours, you would be better off visiting your local parish and start working towards achieving your own salvation.

Actually, it's the Catholic priests who molest little boys,
who need to work towards achieving their "salvation."

In prison.

 

[Sniffles]

Actually, it's the Catholic priests who molest little boys,
who need to work towards achieving their "salvation."

In prison.

By most estimates, 1.8% of all priests have engaged in pedophile acts. Higher rates exist in public schools. So you're directing your anger in the wrong direction. Try again.

 

[Jaguar]

By most estimates, 1.8% of all priests have engaged in pedophile acts. Higher rates exist in public schools. So you're directing your anger in the wrong direction. Try again.

Look pal, if you want to stick up for child molesters,
knock yourself out.

 

[Bubbles]

Look pal, if you want to stick up for child molesters,
knock yourself out.

Aren't we getting ridiculously off-topic?

 

[Sniffles]

Hey, not bad, Jaguar; you've established yourself as an offical TypologyC troll in less than 200 posts.

 

[professor goodstain]

Hey, not bad, Jaguar; you've established yourself as an offical TypologyC troll in less than 200 posts.

I believe that was me back in late Feb 09.

 

[Take Five]

Well seeing how off topic this thread has gotten, largely due to misinformation, I could understand how someone could think ill of atheists for likely basing their opinions on inaccurate facts.

 

[MrME]

Because an atheist's lack of belief is a direct affront to the religious person's deeply-held beliefs.

 

[professor goodstain]

Look pal, if you want to stick up for child molesters,
knock yourself out.

If so much focus is put on this statistic relating to a specific title as priest, then we'll just go ahead and overlook how many more (per capita) teachers that are pederasses. Nice of the media to put the heat on a certain title to benefit their political views. In my area over 10 teachers have been arrested for molestation this year. No how i heard about it? i have a friend who's a teacher.

 

[Sniffles]

Posting in Victor mode.

Nice of the media to put the heat on a certain title to benefit their political views. In my area over 10 teachers have been arrested for molestation this year. No how i heard about it? i have a friend who's a teacher.

The perfect expression of the value of education in the modern West is for a teacher to have absolute power to rape many children over many years and have the bureaucracy protect you from the law.

 

[Lasting_Pain]

You're still mixed up a little. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the three distinct Persons of God, all of which = God. And God is the only being that Catholics worship, though we may experience God through any and all of the three Persons. I honestly don't know where the bit about the Pope comes from, but even were Victor's claim true, it's hardly grounds to dismiss the Church.

Wasn't dismissing them at all, I said I would not join them. As people Catholics are cool, but as a system of religion they are secretive and hypocritical.

 

[Sniffles]

As people Catholics are cool, but as a system of religion they are secretive and hypocritical.

What do you mean?

 

[UsagiTsukino]

Purpose people. Purpose. Its all about purpose.

 

[Mort Belfry]

When I first became an atheist I was at a Catholic high school and I got an instant feeling of superiority over everybody else and in my immaturity and rebellion I tried actively to get in trouble for not believing in God.

Of course I never could. I realised years later who I was acting like:

Instead of being the "only gay in the village" I was trying hard to be the "only atheist in the Catholic School". I think there's a tendency with atheists to purposefully set themselves apart and hope they're offensive to religious people. So I also think that the extent to which atheists are "thought ill of" is probably exaggerated by atheists themselves.

 

[Blackmail!]

Instead of being the "only gay in the village" I was trying hard to be the "only atheist in the Catholic School". I think there's a tendency with atheists to purposefully set themselves apart and hope they're offensive to religious people. So I also think that the extent to which atheists are "thought ill of" is probably exaggerated by atheists themselves.

Question:

What do you do with countries where atheists are widespread, or even represent the majority?
Do you really think our only goal is to offense "religious people"?

Wouldn't it be very immature to claim that?

Your story may not be our story.

---

For instance, in my paternal family, we have a long tradition of atheism and anarchism, which is several centuries old. Somehow, you could say that according to my own social context, being an atheist is the conformist/conservative choice.

---

On the other hand, I don't think the main goal of religious people is to offense atheists. That would be a very narcissistic thought, wouldn't it?

Do you see what I mean?

Now reverse the sentence back again.