Atheists say it's time to 'push back' fundamentalism

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 5/22/05 | Greg Sandoval - AP

[hosepipe]

[ I was speaking to you, not google. ]

And I was speaking to you not anybody else..
For a fully orbed definition you'll need several takes on it.

My definition is this..
If you need a definition you wouldn't understand..
Christianity is not a religion its a family.. i.e. define your wife or husband..

Whatever you say comes up short.. unless the relationship is WEAK..

[msf92497]

OK, so the "fundie" is in the eye of the beholder.

[spinestein]

I know of many written works that hold great truth and meaning to many people, including myself, that are specifically not meant to be read literally, but rather satirically, or sarcastically, or (as in the Bible) metaphorically or as parable to be used as meaningful lessons of life.

The story of the Good Samaritan, for example, is told by Jesus Christ himself and he admits the story isn't true but the reason he tells it is to make a point about moral obligation. I imagine Jesus standing there after telling the story and rolling his eyes as a few of the audience members pester him with questions about the validity of telling a story that isn't literally true.

[spinestein]

Hate filled people kill the most.

see #68

[msf92497]

How do we separate metaphor from fact? When it fits our current convictions?

Was Lazarus a metaphor?

Was changing water into wine a fact?

The claim : " I am the Way the Truth and the Life. No-one comes to the Father except by me " is that boastful vanity, a metaphor, the voice of insanity, or the truth?

Sorry to be a pest.

[Jess Kitting]

Ali, a 36-year-old native Iranian, agreed. He declined to give his last name because he said he wants to return to his Muslim-dominated homeland someday and fears that he could be persecuted should he be identified as an atheist.

It is interesting that, in the culture wars, the atheists often align themselves with the terrorists against their common enemies: America and Christianity. (Of course, all in the name of "tolerance.")

The ironic thing is that atheism would not be tolerated in Islamic countries, and Islam is the epitome of religious fundamentalism that the atheists claim to oppose.

[torchthemummy]

As is so evidently clear in this article the atheists are fundamentalist about...fundamentalism. It's kind of like the left that just hates those they deem hate. Whaaat?

Libs, Hypocrisy Is Thy Name.

[Libloather]

Atheists can go to hell...

[torchthemummy]

Epitath:

"Here Lies An Atheist
All Dressed Up And Nowhere To Go"

[hosepipe]

[ OK, so the "fundie" is in the eye of the beholder. ]

Ah! the beholder..

[processing please hold]

God is great
God is good
Let us thank him
For our food

Amen

Good night (snack before bed)

[kstewskis]

Ali, a 36-year-old native Iranian, agreed. He declined to give his last name because he said he wants to return to his Muslim-dominated homeland someday and fears that he could be persecuted should he be identified as an atheist.

A muslim who has been spiritually neutered. What a concept.

Hopefully it's just temporary, and he'll come to realize, while he's in the U.S., who the Real God is.

[Guard Dog]

Fair enough. Then I will amend and say, a good representation of all athiests I personally know (a small number to be sure) and it seems, present company excluded.

[spinestein]

[How do we separate metaphor from fact? When it fits our current convictions?]



I don't have a better answer than that.

I just make my best "educated guess" and try not to worry too much. :^)

[Bluchers Elephant]

Actually, all Ali was quoted as saying is that he fears that America will drift towards being a theocratic state because he has lived in one and knows how oppressive they can be. I don't see any blasting of America for being intolerant, I see criticism for Americans who would like the country to be governed by the principles of one religion

[spinestein]

Well said.

BTW, I would guess that there are very few actual atheists in America (I only know a few, myself). Surveys show a steady 85% to 90% rate of Americans who profess a belief in God, and a further 5% or so who profess to believe in "some higher power". The percentage of Americans who claim atheism or agnosticism has always been less than 5% in every poll I've seen.

And I don't think the numbers are going to change much in any direction in the near future.

[Bluchers Elephant]

Hmm. those people killing doctors for providing abortions must be doing that for purely secular reasons then?

[little jeremiah]

ping to me for later pingout.

[Al Simmons]

I think you MEANT to say "God created man with free will; some men used their free will to follow satan into eternal damnation."

You're welcome.