Apr 26, 2012 -- 12:41PM, Lavengro wrote:

The New Intolerance

She seems intent on proving as many of the religious visitors to this board attempt to prove that atheism is a dogmatic belief system.  She is, as they are, wrong.  Prooftexting a few zealots is a very weak argument. 

There is perhaps a new intolerance but it does not belong to atheists, but to all reasonable people that think that religious dogmatic hate is intolerable.  The religious adherents to the new intolerance must be more circumspect, but they in fact are the most effective.  The nuns getting their knuckles rapped will in fact bring down the Pope.  All the loud atheists will not.  The quiet atheists who are a more important part of the new intolerance are working effectively with all reasonable people to combat intolerance in the schools and workplaces.  

Apr 26, 2012 -- 3:46PM, JCarlin wrote:

Apr 26, 2012 -- 12:41PM, Lavengro wrote:

The New Intolerance

She seems intent on proving as many of the religious visitors to this board attempt to prove that atheism is a dogmatic belief system.  She is, as they are, wrong.  Prooftexting a few zealots is a very weak argument. 

There is perhaps a new intolerance but it does not belong to atheists, but to all reasonable people that think that religious dogmatic hate is intolerable.  The religious adherents to the new intolerance must be more circumspect, but they in fact are the most effective.  The nuns getting their knuckles rapped will in fact bring down the Pope.  All the loud atheists will not.  The quiet atheists who are a more important part of the new intolerance are working effectively with all reasonable people to combat intolerance in the schools and workplaces.  

It's a matter of sheer mass (not only in the Catholic sense..LOL)

There are far more religious people than atheists. So, of course, the number of "zealots" on one side is going to appear far more prominent. 

Apr 26, 2012 -- 4:21PM, redshifted wrote:

Apr 26, 2012 -- 3:57PM, mytmouse57 wrote:

That said, I find Dawkins no more impressive than a kid sitting in the back of the classroom, trying to disrupt the teacher and draw attention by making fart noises.

Nah, all the fart noises are coming from those who don't like getting knocked off their high horse. Religion has a pretty bad "entitlement for no reason" problem. 

Of course it does. At least in the institutional sense.

So, quit entitling it.

Why should anybody need Dawkins to figure that out? 

Now, I'm going to go back to poking fun at myself. 

Apr 26, 2012 -- 4:24PM, mytmouse57 wrote:

Of course it does. At least in the institutional sense.

So, quit entitling it.

Why should anybody need Dawkins to figure that out? 

I think what Dawkins and his buddies are doing is creating a societal atmosphere where critical scrutiny of religion isn't taboo or off-limits like it's traditionally been. This is sorely needed.

Apr 26, 2012 -- 3:03PM, mytmouse57 wrote:

Apr 26, 2012 -- 2:48PM, steven_guy wrote:

Apr 26, 2012 -- 1:15PM, mytmouse57 wrote:

The reaction of some has been to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Or, in Dawkin's case, throw out the baby and keep the bathwater. I agree with the writer -- he's as dogmatic and irrational as any religious pulpit-pounder I've ever had the misfortune of hearing.

Prove it.

He proves it every time he opens his mouth.

You haven't proved it. I've read Professor Dawkins' books, seen him on television and heard him talk in public.

Prove what you said.