Interesting. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fdVucvo-kDU"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fdVucvo-kDU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Funny film, the statistical part was interesting, however the second part was not that impressive, I do not think that If you are an Actor you suddenly are a good person. I do not think that there is anyone who feels Atheists are by definition lesser people(atleast no intelligent person), because IMHO it doesn't matter what religion you are, the only thing that matters is your actions.
Survey: U.S. trust lowest for atheists By Jeannine Aquino http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2006/03/24/67686 Atheists are America's least trusted group, according to a national survey conducted by University sociology researchers. Based on a telephone survey of more than 2,000 households and in-depth interviews with more than 140 people, researchers found that Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, homosexuals and other groups as "sharing their vision of American society." Americans are also least willing to let their children marry atheists. "It tells us about how Americans view religion," said Penny Edgell, an associate sociology professor and the study's lead researcher. "Many Americans seem to believe some kind of religious faith is central to being a good American and a good person."
If this is true it is Pathetic, Because somebody doesn't have a religion it doesn't mean they do not have high moral standarts. So how is it on this board? do the people have less respect for a Atheist?
The word Atheism is funny, because to not believe in God is still an unprovable belief, and thus to be an atheist is just as irrational as it is to belong to a religion.
Thanks for posting the video, Mr. Brightside. I found it very well done and thought provoking. I'm not an atheist myself, although I'm agnostic. The list of intellectual giants that, by implication, were/are atheists is certainly staggering. I wonder what the list would be if it were for agnostics? Expanded a great deal, no doubt. Still, it doesn't really say anything for or against religion, simply that a huge number of influential people over the years have been atheists. That could be flipped, with a huge number of religious people in the same field listed in a similar video. But the point was made. What bothers me is the seeming hint of descrimination towards those who profess to be atheists. They shouldn't be subjected to it, anymore than anyone else should for their beliefs, or lack of them, or their race, and so on. Why should anyone care how another believes, or disbelieves in religion? Unless they try to push that belief system down your throat, it's no one's business but their own, and those who interact with them, and must take that into account in interpersonal relationships. Keep D&D Civil.
The whole 'mistrust of atheists' thing comes from people who find it unbelievable that a person can behave ethically without being coerced by the threat of eternal damnation.
Also from the article posted by CometsWin I have a friend who is a self-avowed atheist, and he thinks that no one really believes that a god exists. Funny how that works.
Except that the existence of God is not a fact, but a theory. You cannot prove a negative fact, but you can reject a theory for lack of proof. The way I see agnostics is that they choose to not take sides. They see both perspectives as somewhat reasonable. I'm ambivalent towards the existence of God, so I consider myself somewhat agnostic. I also was raised Christian and don't mind going to church from time to time. I went through an atheist phase, but changed my mind when my anger towards religion subsided.
It is rather heartwarming to know that I will be burning in hell with such distinguished company.. not to mention Angelina Jolie Anyway, for those who haven't read Carl Sagan's Contact.. please do yourselves a favour and pick up a copy
to many religious people, atheists are perceived and associated as an amoral, self-gratiating, heartless, and apathetic group of people. since atheists have rejected a religion (ie Christianity), many of the religious believe that atheists have also rejected the love, compassion, and humanity taught in religion.
I look around at all the beautiful animals of creation and I think, you are all going to die horrible deaths.
I went to a Baptist church for several years as an openly agnostic person. Half of them treated me like the devil incarnate, the other half treated me like some kind of leper. Only a few would actually treat me as an equal, and respected my personal beliefs. So these survey results don't shock me, unfortunately.
Yeah man.. Seth Green.. family guy.. greg the bunny.. how can he not be considered one of the greatest human beings of all time?
Problem is, that if you reject the theory that god exists, then as an atheist you have a few problems to explain: For instance - how and who created the universe? Well, you might say that I "believe" in the big bang theory....but even that doesn't answer a lot of questions. Therefore, if you do not believe in any kind of spiritual force, you are left having to say "I have no idea who created the universe or from where it came" or you have to buy into other theories, which since you can not outright prove, are more of a religion then a science. To be an atheist is to deny something human in oneself. We're evolved to belief in religion - it's part of who we are...and inherited archtype. There's a reason why religion spontaneously develops independently in every culture across the world. And I think peopel who are religious or spiritual have a greater ability to see and appreciate beauty in this world, and connect with other people. What's evil isn't religion, what's evil is people's fears and ego mixed in with religion. I have never met a happy atheist to be honest...has anyone?
