[angryoldfatman]

I don’t know if y’all are trying to discount what I posted or not. Those weren’t my words, those were from:

http://atheism.about.com/od/aboutagnosticism/a/Atheist-vs-Agnostic-Difference.htm

Which was written by an atheist (a secular humanist, to be precise):

http://atheism.about.com/bio/Austin-Cline-5577.htm

So don’t argue with me about definitions of atheism and agnosticism, since I’m just another stupid Christian on FR, argue with that smarty smart smart atheist.

[discostu]

I don’t really care what about.com says. I’m pointing out that the situation is more complicated than that. That was written by one type of atheist. Like every other belief and philosophy out there there are variations on the theme. Some atheists are like Hitchens, very in your face, for them yes, absolutely, it’s a religion and it’s all about saying there is no God.

But plenty of atheists are like the article is talking about. We just don’t care, it’s just not part of our life. We’re not bothered by people of religion (well so long as they aren’t actually BOTHERING us with like pamphlets or trying to ban stuff we enjoy), we don’t look down on them. We just don’t participate. All that religion stuff, including militant atheism, is just not in the ven diagram of our lives.

I don’t think anybody here called you stupid. I sure didn’t. I don’t look down on anybody for being religious. I’ve got many friends that span many levels of dedication to many religions. I’ve even participated in a few of their ceremonies (mostly weddings and funerals, a few Seders), I’ll say the words and be respectful. I don’t believe the words, but at those times I’m in Rome so I go with it. I don’t think I’m smarter than them, I just know I can’t do it. I’ve tried, it didn’t stick. I was born again in high school, a couple months later I wasn’t going to church anymore. I really think it’s genetic, some folks need religion, some don’t, some folks can be religious, some folks can’t. I think the militant atheists are folks who on some level have the genetic need for religion but for whatever reason are rebelling against it, it’s why they’re such jerks about it. My history says I can’t be religious. Don’t know if it makes me better or worse, it’s just how I am, brown haired, hazel eyed, left handed, and incapable of worshiping anything or anybody.