Of the historical references I’ve ever seen presented, they are either too vague to be certain, suspected to have been added after-the-fact, or already proven to be fraudulent.

The fact is, Christianity is only 1/3 of the world population. If one is secular,(read)worldly minded, then if only one third of all the religious groups are zeroed in on, it shows a scientific, empirically true fact of a LACK of disdain for the other 2/3’s of the world religions regardless of world location.

Believe me there is no lack of disdain of the other religions.

But are you reading blogs, articles, and books from everywhere in the world? At equal distribution?

One of the latest Gallup polls put the US Christian population at around 77%. And the “non-religious” at about 15%. So that really only leaves about 8% that American blogs, articles, and books are “ignoring.” As I stated before, atheists don’t really care for any of the religions. But in America its the Christians who are in our face, so that is who we push-back against.

Similarly, when a Christian raises their child Christian, it is no different than an atheist raising their child atheist when it’s presented as “this is the only right way”. True or not, at that point it becomes simple dogma.

The difference I see… Is that many Christians will go to lengths to make sure their child does not find out about other religions, or especially prevent them from finding out about atheism. From the atheist parents I’ve met, all of them are educating their children about all religions; and teaching them to be inquisitive and skeptical, but ultimately allowing them to make their own choice.

Surely there are some in the “congregations” who have the “live and let live” values and will not ridicule atheists or any other belief for that matter and accept them as individuals.

Which is why I didn’t list the “religious liberals” or “religious moderates” in that sentence.

If one is a fundamentalist, then they are automatically crazy?

Yes, at the point they are classed as fundamentalists, I would say they are crazy; so deep into their religion that they see no faults in it, and view all other religions as evil.

Are they having you tried like say…..a witch hunt? Truly?!

No, BUT! There are political leaders who think atheists and homosexuals should be tried and executed for their crimes against god. There are a some slightly less crazy who think all atheists should be deported from the US.

Some atheists are trying to convert those with theological beliefs with just as much intensity.

You’ll see plenty of fervent and “angry” atheists; but none that prosthelytize like Christians or none that kill like Muslims.

Again, a fear based belief system is rearing it’s head.

I’m failing to see where atheistic views contain any “fear based belief.”

+++++++++++++++

I really do think that most atheist could naturally fall into a “live and let live” mindset. However, many of us have had religion shoved down our throats from an early age. Now that we’ve broken free, we refuse to be trampled, refuse to be shouted down, refuse to be told we are evil or immoral.

I hate to sound like the little kid whining “he hit me first” but the fact remains that for centuries religion has stiffled and killed science, freethinking, non-belief, and any thing different than them. So I’ll say it, “they” threw the first punch, now we are just standing up for ourselves.

Christians 33.32% (of which Roman Catholics 16.99%, Protestants 5.78%, Orthodox 3.53%, Anglicans 1.25%), Muslims 21.01%, Hindus 13.26%, Buddhists 5.84%, Sikhs 0.35%, Jews 0.23%, Baha’is 0.12%, other religions 11.78%, non-religious 11.77%, atheists 2.32% (US Gov 2007 est.)

The fact is, Christianity is only 1/3 of the world population.
If one is secular,(read)worldly minded, then if only one third of all the religious groups are zeroed in on, it shows a scientific, empirically true fact of a LACK of disdain for the other 2/3’s of the world religions regardless of world location. (Noting some of the above religions are sometimes categorized as “philosophies”).

The empirical truth is, there is a Christian majority in the American population. Maybe there’s a reason beyond bullying and threat of eternal damnation for a large majority of people having that faith which is stated above as the “dominate religion”. At least be open minded to realize there is a degree of truth in that some choose their belief based on their value system. Just as atheists choose their belief based on their value system.

Similarly, when a Christian raises their child Christian, it is no different than an atheist raising their child atheist
when it’s presented as “this is the only right way”.
True or not, at that point it becomes simple dogma.

A universal approach is after being presented with all the facts to let people find their own truth, whatever it may be. Compared that to being forced by agenda from any faction due to ridicule, intimidation, or threat. The follower of the latter type of choice, whether the choice is intrinsically right or wrong, is based on fear. No matter what happens, the consequences are on the individual regardless of doctrine.

From the response:
“Most of us don’t like any of the religions much at all; but its the Religious Right, Christian Majority, crazy fundamentalists who want us gone, converted, tried, or worse.”

Surely there are some in the “congregations” who have the “live and let live” values and will not ridicule atheists or any other belief for that matter and accept them as individuals.
If one is a fundamentalist, then they are automatically crazy?
Are they having you tried like say…..a witch hunt? Truly?!
Generalizations are have caused wars. Some atheists are trying to convert those with theological beliefs with just as much intensity.

However, the above article is doing just that(ridicule), which is no different than what it condemns.
It’s a categorical, “we’re right and everyone else is wrong” point of view. After all, the title is “10 Reasons Atheists Are Morally Superior To Religious Fundamentalists”
If you can’t see the hypocrisy, you never will and the battle will never end.
So are you truly being the the better person?

How much time is being wasted seeking control instead of solutions to other problems?
How much energy is being wasted?
Is that making the world a better place?

Regardless of faith, or lack of, or refusal of, any mature self respecting individual will always look better, sound better and be more accepted anywhere anytime if they are not acidic in their remarks and attitude. This applies to race, creed, color, politics, and sexual orientation as well as any topical issue.

It seems many who point the finger, are the ones most guilty of what they accuse. This includes some, but not all Christians and atheists,
Again, a fear based belief system is rearing it’s head.

Important to note: I am not stating a pro or con Christian or atheist validation. Just the way it’s presented.

Every group has it’s defectives and every group has it’s righteous champions. The simple fact, ultimately the choice is entirely up to the individual, whether they believe in god, dogma, the cosmic muffin, believe in nothing, or the ravings of a lunatic. One comes off either advanced or repressed by their words and actions.

A way to go about life,
“This is what I believe from what I understand…” or
“Here’s how I see it…”
Then state it. Period.
Then move on.

Let other make their own choice based on their perceptions.
Beyond that is agenda, manipulation and coercion to gain control. Which then leads to the arrival of their predicates:
dogma and politics in mob mentality.

If you want a better world, be the better person. And maybe the need of joining the club of “blind faith” or “secular intelligence” will be a thing of the past and everyone will get alone better and more positive occurrences and less negative occurrences will happen.

There is not as much time as you may think.
Why waste it.

From a pragmatic point of view, I find it fascinating and disturbing how it’s (by statistically using the above article and subsequent posts as an indicator), the Christians who get singled out for believing in a god and “inflicting” their moral code and, rarely if ever, do I see the same egotistic arrogant “we’re right and you’re wrong” pointed at Muslims, Wiccans or Hindu’s coming from atheists(the religious list is actually much longer).

Simply for the reason that the majority of the atheist arguments you are seeing are from American atheists; where the dominate religion is Christianity. Most of us don’t like any of the religions much at all; but its the Religious Right, Christian Majority, crazy fundamentalists who want us gone, converted, tried, or worse. In the Muslim and Hindu majority countries, I’m sure the atheists there speak out against the religion of majority (if they speak out at all).

There are billions of galaxies each with billions of stars and even more planets. The possibility that a “far superior specie/race” than even “earthly atheists” is very highly likely.
The math probability alone supports this yet is still not “scientific proof positive”. But then, so much of what scientists “believe to be true” is based on empirical probability and cannot be proven with 100% certainty.
I will say, “they get it right every once and a while”.
Ain’t that right Copernicus?

These “other worldly” beings would be certainly longer lived (by possibly millions if not billions of our earth years) and far more technologically advanced than our 1/10 “evolved” specie can currently comprehend let alone believe.
This could/should/would be true on every level of scientific/social discipline and yes “spiritual” level or as one group puts it, the understanding of the divine energy/intelligence relationship relative to individual ethereal bodies of a collective life form.

I would think these superior beings may appear to a lesser evolved group of lab experiments as a “deity”, and something quite mystical.
How could they not?
Especially if you haven’t even invented the wheel yet.

And can you really blame them in what they were thinking in a time around 2,4, or even 6000 BC? So explanations were created, dogma’s enforced
and a mix of truth, falsehood, politics and might were all put into the doctrines. And as they say,
“Then let the games begin”

Maybe the “extra-terrestrials” tried to imprint an universal moral code we can’t even comprehend…yet.
And they also realize(from experience)that
“an evolutionary process requiring millions of years” is required for specie development, whether we like it, or believe it…or not. This includes the triumphs, failures, wars, conflicts and clash of ideas until the truth is revealed. Or better yet, earned and attained.

Maybe this planet was actually a “lab experiment” for one or more of these advanced life forms. Our astute scientific community has in fact uncovered much evidence supporting this from artifacts of ancient cultures. (tho still not providing 100% conclusive certainty)

And maybe, just maybe, these life forms have been on good old 3rd rock from the sun mother earth LONG before we ever “decided” to crawl out of the primordial soup and take credit for what our egos mandate. And maybe, they are still here and only present themselves when they deem appropriate. Both their benevolence and malevolence is at their timing, not ours.

This too will be revealed when the time is right. There has been leaks of both truth and misinformation in this area. And they want it that way.

From a pragmatic point of view, I find it fascinating and disturbing how it’s (by statistically using the above article and subsequent posts as an indicator), the Christians who get singled out for believing in a god and “inflicting” their moral code and, rarely if ever, do I see the same egotistic arrogant “we’re right and you’re wrong” pointed at Muslims, Wiccans or Hindu’s coming from atheists(the religious list is actually much longer).

Yet each of those religious beliefs also have fought wars and taken lives to prove their take on “reality”. Why do they get a non mention? And what about atheists who have killed others against their beliefs?
Surely they do exist, whether you believe it, or like it…
or not

Simply every religion and even categorically, athiests as well, have people on all levels who are both intrinsically good and some who are morally and ethically defective, and some somewhere in between. So pointing the finger on those grounds is categorically neutral. Everyone is guilty.

The truth is, there are those who “live and let live” regardless of their ideology as well as those who try to control, and convert others to their own. Which in itself is a fear based belief system. “Someone or something must change for me or us to get mine or ours”.
A classic fear based scarcity modality.

Regardless of one’s belief, ridiculing and persecuting others is a immature act and will never solve anything.
Yet many claim to know this… and do it anyway

What I can tell you, you will find the answer.
I can’t say or won’t say what the answer is.
I will say, it will come, whether you want it to, or like it, or not.
And regardless of whether your religious or atheist, it may not fit your paradigm.