Dawkins and his fan-boys are just as bad as the Muslim extremists and Christian God-botherers.

Dawkins is fine – if you read his books you'll realise there's a reason he's won prizes for his writing – but his fan-boys are a nightmare.

Mind you, neither Dawkins nor his fan-boys were ever responsible for suicide bombing…

The term Zealot, in Hebrew kanai (????, frequently used in plural form, ?????), means one who is zealous on behalf of God. The term derives from Greek ??????? (zelotes), "emulator, zealous admirer or follower"

Since when did a word's origin necessarily equate to it's modern day definition ? 😕

Are only Barbarians guilty of barbaric acts ?

Is an 'awful' painting one which inspires an overwhelming feeling of admiration ?

Zeal – fervour for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavour; enthusiastic diligence; ardour.

Zealot – a person who shows zeal; an excessively zealous person; fanatic.

Surfer wrote,

"Atheism is a belief system like not collecting stamps is a hobby."

Very good- I was trying to say something similiar but couldn't get it so neat.

Is an 'awful' painting one which inspires an overwhelming feeling of admiration ?

awful
– 3 dictionary results
aw?ful
??/??f?l/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [aw-fuhl] Show IPA
Use awful in a Sentence
See web results for awful
See images of awful
–adjective
1. extremely bad; unpleasant; ugly: awful paintings; an awful job.

Sorry!

Surfer wrote,

"Atheism is a belief system like not collecting stamps is a hobby."

Very good- I was trying to say something similiar but couldn't get it so neat.

I cant claim it but nore can I attribute it.

Coyote, your statement is the most ridiculous I have seen for a while.

Sorry!

And so you should be – you missed out the origins of the word 😀

Origin:
1200–50; ME a(g)heful, aueful; see awe, -ful; r. OE egefull dreadful

Quote : "see awe"

Awe – an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like: in awe of God; in awe of great political figures.

As far as whether Atheism is a "belief system", I guess it depends on your definition of "belief system". One definition of "belief system" is : faith based on a series of beliefs but not formalised into a religion; also, a fixed coherent set of beliefs prevalent in a community or society

I certainly know people who consider their Atheism to be part of their belief system.

Coyote; meep meep!

the short answer is: no-one.

the long answer would begin like this: 'it depends what kind of atheist you are'

Splitter!

If I hear one, just one more idiot espouse the theory that 'atheism is just another religion, and Dawkins is the leader/prophet' I just might go out on a non-religious anti-stupidity killing spree.

Atheism is humanity's defence mechanism against invasion by self serving, money grabbing, fundamentalist arseholes.

It demands nothing: No financial or psychologically dubious contributions, no tithe, no guilt, no retribution, no hate.
None of those crutches that some people, too afraid to consider themselves as a fully functioning independent entity NEED to justify their place on a confusing, anarchic and seemingly senseless planet.

It offers no solutions, but it certainly removes the possibility that some of the most easily assimilated and morally convenient answers can in any way provide a truth.

It demands nothing: No financial or psychologically dubious contributions, no tithe, no guilt, no retribution, no hate.

So Dawkins made no money by promoting atheism? Hitchens contributes all profits to charity?

All religious extremism is basically self serving.

All religious extremism is basically self serving.

Fixed it for ya.

Do not feed the trolls

Of course he made money Coyote, but he didn't tell anyone that if they didn't believe him they would suffer in pain for all eternity.

The speaking clock makes money – it tells the truth as well.

So if the atheists are comfortable in their own beliefs, why feel the need to spread the good word so forcefully? Bit of a crusade or jihad really, no?

No.

How many churches in your town?
How many mosques in your town?
How many atheists calling at your door?

I'm doing it for my own entertainment, it's a lot less messy than shooting fish in a barrel. 😀

It demands nothing: No financial or psychologically dubious contributions, no tithe, no guilt, no retribution, no hate.

A bit like religions, it depends on the individual atheist. 20% of the world's population live under atheism, to which much of the above could apply. Closer to home, a few atheists preach stuff which could be said to incite hatred against those who don't share their atheist beliefs. But then again, it wouldn't be fair to tar all atheist with the same brush, eh ?

Not sure where you live btw, but I find that I can easily resist demands for 'financial or psychologically dubious contributions, or tithe, or guilt, or retribution, or hate'.

Seems that the atheists on here seem to feel the need to denouce religion on a fairly regular basis.

Two churches in my town, no mosques that I know of and anyone calling at my door trying to force their opinions on me generally gets around 3 seconds of my attention.

Shooting fish in a barrel can often render them inedible.

No we're responding to you.

And I am preaching what exactly?

YOU are the virus.
WE are the antibodies

Words fail me.

Time will tell which of us wins out, but believe me, if ANYONE attempts to FORCE me into a belief which contradicts my instincts and life experience, I'm going to fight back. And by that I do mean with physical force and extreme violence.

I'll bear that in mind and certainly sleep with one eye open in future.

believe me, if ANYONE attempts to FORCE me into a belief which contradicts my instincts and life experience, I'm going to fight back. And by that I do mean with physical force and extreme violence.

WTF do you live ? Or is that supposed to be some sort of joke ? 😕

……..I believe what I want to believe, I've never felt the slightest pressure to believe what I didn't want to believe. Not even on here.

EDIT : Oh I see that you thought better of it and decided to delete your post …….. fair enough 🙂

Who is the leader of religion?

Who is the leader of mountainbikers?

Who is the leader of humans?

I have had enough of religion and am happy to stand up and be counted as someone who clearly in a loud voice and with some conviction says,

Religion is complete and utter shit.

Baby jesus made you say that though.

Religion – fairy stories for adults

Simplistic answers to difficult questions for the credulous

Opium for the masses ( cliche no 456 for stoner)

You show me proof of the existance of any god and I will believe.

Why is christianity right and judasim wrong? Or why will catholics burn in the methodist hell? Why is hinduism wrong?

anyswer me one of those questions you god botheres

Not sure where you live btw, but I find that I can easily resist demands for 'financial or psychologically dubious contributions, or tithe, or guilt, or retribution, or hate'.

You have little choice over its impact on you, financially as well as the stifling of academic and medical research. How it impact others may not concern you, however I think it should.

Closer to home, a few atheists preach stuff which could be said to incite hatred against those who don't share their atheist beliefs. But then again, it wouldn't be fair to tar all atheist with the same brush, eh ?

Ernie, Can you refer me to any atheists preaching hate?

Hold the front page! I think I've found god!

Yes, post deleted – was meant to be ironic, (the non religious adopting a fundamentalist/totalitarian and typically religious approach to atheism, etc), but realised that it probably wouldn't be seen as such.

Seems I was right. 😕

No, false alarm. Photo wouldn't load…

I preach ridicule is that a hate crime??

So if the atheists are comfortable in their own beliefs, why feel the need to spread the good word so forcefully? Bit of a crusade or jihad really, no?

No. Never had one knock on my door. Never been preached too by an Atheist.
There is an irony to your posts. Atheism is not a belief. Why can believers only understand atheism in relation to the rigid framework of their own faith. Why do they always need to find a "leader"
The fact that you cant think outside the confines of your own faith should not lead you to believe the same of everyone.

"Dawkins and his fan-boys are just as bad as the Muslim extremists and Christian God-botherers."

Complete and utter bollocks! No one has EVER done the things religious extremists do in the name of Islam or Christianity for atheism. Atheists are not terrorists, they do not force themselves upon people in their own homes to preach at them, they do not have wars in their name.

Religious fundamentalists are the most terrifying things in the world today, and the most dangerous. The reason why you have to go through so much humiliation at airports is because of religious extremists. I don't think any atheist has ever killed huge numbers of people in the name of non-belief- no doubt somewhere it has happened in small numbers, but the reason why the world is so messed up at the minute is because of god botherers.

I'm genuinely upset by the fact that you'd think that this was the case.e

Seems that the atheists on here seem to feel the need to denouce religion on a fairly regular basis.

Thank goodness.

Opium for the masses ( cliche no 456 for stoner)

Please please TJ, if you're going to quote Marx, then properly and fully, he did after all, write so eloquently :

"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people."

He was also very good when describing "Christian" socialism in the Communist Manifesto :

"Christian Socialism is but the holy water with which the priest consecrates the heart-burnings of the aristocrat. "

One for Tony Blair maybe ?

Closer to home, a few atheists preach stuff which could be said to incite hatred against those who don't share their atheist beliefs. But then again, it wouldn't be fair to tar all atheist with the same brush, eh ?

Any references yet Ernie?

Hi ernie – still don't care…

Wait, wait! I found it! God!!!!

Why can believers only understand atheism in relation to the rigid framework of their own faith.

I can imagine atheism is a very liberating experience.

The fact that you cant think outside the confines of your own faith should lead you to believe the same of everyone.

When have I mentioned my "faith" or indeed being constrained by it. I was merely observing the fanaticism of some atheists and their lack of tolerance.

"Dawkins and his fan-boys are just as bad as the Muslim extremists and Christian God-botherers."

Complete and utter bollocks! No one has EVER done the things religious extremists do in the name of Islam or Christianity

Fair comment. I was commenting on their enthusiasm for promoting their own point of view and complete disregard for others.

mrben100 – Member
Atheism – a non-prophet organisation.

well, it made me laugh anyway.
As far as atheists not foisting their opinions on people, and killing believers, I'm pretty sure large numbers of people died as an indirect result of the actions of a number of despotic leaders during the last century, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot among them. Of course, I could be wrong; I usually am.