May 8, 2012 -- 11:36AM, F1fan wrote:

May 8, 2012 -- 10:57AM, mytmouse57 wrote:

There are atheists "on a mission" so to speak. And I find them no less annoying than religious preachers.

Why?  there are atheists on a mission because there is an increasing influence of fundamentalism in US society and politics, and it is an influence with a seriously negative impact.  Of course there will be a fight back against a social movement that is largely irrational, yet claims to be knowledge. 

Exactly. The only difference between the "New Atheists" and the rest of us is that the former are more than usually exasperated and have decided to speak out in public. Does anyone imagine Richard Dawkins would have written The God Delusion if he had never met a Christian more fundamentalist than an Anglican bishop? But he visited the United States and was horrified to discover that vast expanses of the country are dominated by people who believe that the earth is six thousand years old and that their ancestors were dirt. They're even allowed to vote!

May 8, 2012 -- 4:58PM, steven_guy wrote:

Well, given a choice between having afternoon tea with Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss or Ted Haggard, Kent Hovind, Jimmy Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart, I know which group I'd choose.

Bakker might behave himself. He's been pretty muted lately. Haggard, Hovind, and Swaggert would be unbearable. Dawkins, Harris, and Krauss would be nice. I'd feel quite safe in serving them Earl Grey in the better china and playing Corelli in the background.

IOW, indeed, there ARE Sectarian Differences within The "Faith" Communities of "A-Theism" ...

May 8, 2012 -- 10:57AM, mytmouse57 wrote:

May 8, 2012 -- 10:52AM, teilhard wrote:

Yes ... It seems that there are at least a FEW "Sects" within "Atheism" ... As so often noted, e.g., The (so-called) "New Atheists" are a markedly different ("Evangelistic" !!!) Bunch than simply Folks who don't go to Church anywhere ...

May 8, 2012 -- 10:37AM, fodaoson wrote:

Atheism is more than an Idea or the lack of belief in a deity.   For an individual  it is “ without god”  but there are atheist associations , organization that promote atheism and atheist  support  services organizations.  Some have  been granted Tax exempt status by the IRS.   I have cited four sites below. There are many more on line:

www.atheistalliance.org/

www.americanhumanist.org/

www.humanism.org.uk/home

militaryatheists.org/

There are atheists "on a mission" so to speak. And I find them no less annoying than religious preachers. 

That said, that is an individual choice on their part. And they should be free to make and follow that choice, and spread their word whenever and however they please. However, they are not obligated to do so, simply by virtue of being atheists. 

The atheists I've known personally, mostly just wanted to be left the heck alone. 

huh ...

I'M not "'burdened' with 'God' Beliefs," either ... !!!

May 8, 2012 -- 10:01PM, JCarlin wrote:

May 8, 2012 -- 9:09PM, teilhard wrote:

IOW, indeed, there ARE Sectarian Differences within The "Faith" Communities of "A-Theism" ...

No.  Atheism incluces many different communities, with many different paths that they follow.  The only commonality is that none of them are burdened with God beliefs or anything else associated with God. 

No ... You missed the operative Word (which YOU suggested, below), i.e., "BURDENED" ...

I am NOT in the least BURDENED by my Encounters with The Reality of The Mystery we call, "God" ... 

May 9, 2012 -- 1:23AM, JCarlin wrote:

May 8, 2012 -- 10:59PM, teilhard wrote:

huh ...

I'M not "'burdened' with 'God' Beliefs," either ... !!!

So now it comes out, another atheist clergy feeding at the trough of the believers.  No wonder hesh spends so much time here.