Origins of popular Atheism?

[undone]

GTF,

To what do you attribute this change in the Canadian culture? Do you feel this change has had or will have any negative impact on Canadian society? Positive impact? (Your opinion and/or statistical data will do).

Canada is generally socially progressive. We have universal health care, same sex marriage, a strong sense of multiculturalism, anti-racist policies, and bilingual government services. A lot of those things run counter to whats stated in the Bible, or at least by popular Christian leaders in the US and American culture itself.

Although few are very interested in science there is an understanding that what we know about the universe runs counter to what the Bible states and as a result many Christians I've talked to simply ignore Genesis, Noah's flood, and in some cases the entire Old Testament because of it's more hateful teachings compared to those of Jesus in the New Testament.

Do I think our current culture is beneficial? In my opinion the grass does seem greener on this side of the border.

Do you know of any instances where you felt your rights to freely practice your faith were infringed?

[Grandtheftcow]

Do you know of any instances where you felt your rights to freely practice your faith were infringed?

Since I lack faith in a god or the supernatural I haven't had any such problems. However there have been a few instances where someone handed me a Bible tract and after a lengthy discussion lashed out in frustration at me.

As far as I know Canadians are free to practice any religion as long as it doesn't violate Canada's hate speech laws.

[apothanein kerdos]

See my previous comments which address exactly what you are saying now. Maybe you will read them this time.

The articles I presented don't even come close to what you are saying. They state that belief in a purpose, belief that you're going to Heaven, etc., all render you to have a mental illness.

If this were relevant information, it would behoove you to indicate when this is published, and how many such publications exist.

I was getting ready to post it...but I realized that you actually posted in one of the topics dedicated to one of these articles. Do some of your own work.

Why do you keep repeating this? Do you acknowledge the political world shapes the intellectual one? Why ignore the fact politics are currently run by militant Christians, and there are no militant atheists at all?

Again:

Name the politicians that have said atheists shouldn't be allowed to have children. Name the politicians that have tried to get atheism declared a mental illness. Name the politicians that have said raising your child as an atheist is child abuse.

You can stop calling them "militant Christians" since you just admitted you have no backing for what you're saying.

Anyway, no, politics does not influence the academic thought - the academics have ALWAYS influenced politics.

I don't have time to name all the politicians that push for things like "faith-based initiatives" and other illegal, unconstitutional abuses of taxpayers' money.

Now now, how does that meet the challenge?

Name the politicians that have said atheists shouldn't be allowed to have children. Name the politicians that have tried to get atheism declared a mental illness. Name the politicians that have said raising your child as an atheist is child abuse.

Oh God, professors! Good thing they don't govern the United States of America.

So you're going to deny that future politicians go to college and learn from professors? Really?

[ayin jade]

Take a good look at Europe (including Sweden as was mentioned earlier in this thread). That is the US in 10-20 years. How Christianity is viewed over there, that will be us in 10-20 years.

[MorningGlory]

Take a good look at Europe (including Sweden as was mentioned earlier in this thread). That is the US in 10-20 years. How Christianity is viewed over there, that will be us in 10-20 years.

God forbid! I pray for a revival such as never before seen. Who would want to live in a society like that of Sweden?

[ted]

Do you know of any instances where you felt your rights to freely practice your faith were infringed?

Since I lack faith in a god or the supernatural I haven't had any such problems. However there have been a few instances where someone handed me a Bible tract and after a lengthy discussion lashed out in frustration at me.

As far as I know Canadians are free to practice any religion as long as it doesn't violate Canada's hate speech laws.

Is this to say that you do not accept Jesus as your Savior?

Thanks,

t.

[Grandtheftcow]

God forbid! I pray for a revival such as never before seen. Who would want to live in a society like that of Sweden?

What's wrong with Sweden?

Is this to say that you do not accept Jesus as your Savior?

Thanks,

t.

No I'm one of those supposedly evil non-believers

[undone]

No I'm one of those supposedly evil non-believers

Ah! I understand....

So, by your understanding, what is a violation of Canada's hate speech law? Preaching that homosexuality is sin? Referring to people like Dawkins as "militant" atheists? Referring to Christians as mentally ill? Just curious....

[Grandtheftcow]

No I'm one of those supposedly evil non-believers

Ah! I understand....

So, by your understanding, what is a violation of Canada's hate speech law? Preaching that homosexuality is sin? Referring to people like Dawkins as "militant" atheists? Referring to Christians as mentally ill? Just curious....

Hate speech is a little murky however there is a clause that allows such speech to be permitted if it's religiously motivated. As long as you don't attempt to incite violence against a group of people.

Link removed by moderator

[The Lorax]

The articles I presented don't even come close to what you are saying. They state that belief in a purpose, belief that you're going to Heaven, etc., all render you to have a mental illness.

How I am supposed to know that? You only gave me enough info to find one article, and not by name. The Science article concerns resistance to science if it clashes with early childhood teachings whose lessons become intuitive. The authors specifically cite the fundamentalist resistance of evolution but I didn't find mention of the belief in heaven or "belief in a purpose" as a delusion. In fact, the copy I read did not use the word "delusion" at all.

Name the politicians that have said atheists shouldn't be allowed to have children. Name the politicians that have tried to get atheism declared a mental illness. Name the politicians that have said raising your child as an atheist is child abuse.

Those aren't the only standards of militancy. Forcing your beliefs upon others in any way is militant. There are plenty of Christian theocrats in government. Just look at our DoJ; it's infested with underqualified fundamentalists fresh out of Regent University--150 I believe. One in six Regent grads have government jobs despite the fact it's a tier-four law school, all thanks to the Bush admin. Regent's main goal is to undermine the church-state separation; they don't deny it.

Anyway, no, politics does not influence the academic thought

Anything state-funded can be and often is influenced by politics. I worked for the government for long enough to be familiar with their ability to amplify or silence different scientific voices.

I don't have time to name all the politicians that push for things like "faith-based initiatives" and other illegal, unconstitutional abuses of taxpayers' money.

Now now, how does that meet the challenge?

It meets the relevant criterion of forcing one's religious agenda on others, the definition of militancy. In this case, taxpayers are being illegally forced to pay for religious interests.

So you're going to deny that future politicians go to college and learn from professors? Really?

So you want me to concede that college-brainwashed politicians are oppressing us with atheist doctrine when, in fact, just about every politician is Christian and many of them have well-known theocratic agendas that you can't even admit to?