Posted by Tyler on December 30, 1996 at 08:12:11:
In Reply to: Re: bugs and men posted by Amanda on December 29, 1996 at 10:55:32:
: I can't see at all where you might find similarities between atheists and fundamentalists - it seems that the group of atheists you have been subjected to are a rare bunch. One complaint I hear from many atheists is that they dislike very much having to label themselves at all as many doubt very much that their beliefs are exactly the same as a group of others. Most people call themselves atheists because it is a term that is understood by many and so avoids a long, drawn-out, explanation of one's beliefs. A common question I get asked is "What religion are you?" and I initially reply with "I am not religious" - this gets a puzzled reaction and a look of horror if that person happens to be a theist which is most likely the case - so then to relieve the confusion I make the claim of being an athiest. The only common belief I have found that I share with other athiests is that I do not believe in God. I do realize there are athiests out there that claim right out that there is no god but usually with a little bit of intelligent thought and logical thinking they will see that this is a claim that cannot hold up. All "isms" are a bit scary but it amazes me how many I actually subscribe to - usually though the definitions have been so warped with time that using them without a definition would result in a misunderstanding. If your a skeptic than there's on ism you subscribe to and it's quite obvious that this term is misunderstood by many. Feminism is terribly misunderstood - it means simply that you believe women should do as they please and I would have to agree with that. I suppose I would subscribe to Masculinism too if there were such a term. Anyway, as an atheist, I certainly do think before I act and my thoughts have more than one-dimension - but on issues such as after-life, the existence of God, the soul as a separate entity from the body and various others - I go in the direction of the evidence and the evidence is against the possiblility of all of those things. When the day comes, if it does, that the evidence leans in the other direction - I will happily change my beliefs. As for religious fundamentalists - from all I've read and seen - I at this moment think they are the most dangerous and craziest of the bunch and it's ignorance and fear that pays their way in this world. When the majority opens their eyes, I think we would see them die out (figuratively of course).
Amanda,
You misread what I had said. The people that I talk about are biblical literalists... and yes, I absolutely agree with you and Steve that these people are perhaps the most dangerous of all fundamentalist categories. But I'd add that the atheists that I spoke of are equally dogmatic in their assertion that there is no God. You do not write as such a person does; sounds as though you would alter your view in the face of contrary evidence. Extremists on the poles of this issue cannot and will not! The in-laws that I referred to I would identify as "corrosive Christians" because everytime they start their drivel about the absolute truth that they, and they alone possess, it is done in a confrontational way and are spitting Biblical text about as though it were acid, and this sort of rhetoric is not quite as rare as one might think. Being a Physics and Mathematics educator, I'm well aware of what these people are trying to do with Science education in this country. Half-truths, twisted logic, mis-quotes, inane arguments and inappropriate conclusions are the way-of-the-day. THEY ARE INHIBITORS TO SENSIBLE, RATIONAL AND EVIDENCE-VERIFIED PROGRESS, as history has demonstrated repeatedly (Copernicus, Galileo, Darwin, Gould, Franklin, meteorologists and geologists from history, etc). If you want to see it in action, look no further than Ralph Reed and the Christian Coalition.
Thanks again for the feedback!