Many atheists promote the idea of closeted-atheists (atheists that don't make their atheism known) to "come out". I have mixed feelings about atheists "coming out". An idea that I feel is more important to promote is that everyone else needs to get into the closet. Beliefs about whether a talking snake or virgin birth happened (or didn't) should be kept private; i.e. people need to realize that religious beliefs, or lack their of, should be kept private. Some people find great enjoyment out religion, I don't feel that us atheists need to shit on their beliefs; it's not like such people will be making any big contributions to science any time soon, just let them be.
Everyone should be in the closet, keeping their beliefs to themselves. Now, when among friends, of course things like this can be talked about. But people don't need to go out of their way to tell everyone when/how the universe came into being. In the end, a believer's world-view (and an atheist's) is dictated by certain ideas. In the context of day-to-day life, does it really matter if someone believes 4+ billions years old? Does it really matter? I believe that religion (and lack of) shouldn't be an important social issue.
Of course those that push their religion onto others can/should be challenged. I believe the ideal is not a world filled with all atheists, or believers, but a world in which people keep such ideas private. Not everyone is as interested in science as an atheist is. Science is a great thing, but it is not everything, not everyone needs or wants to be scientifically literate (and it should not be forced on them). Atheists tend to be logical thinkers, the religious tend to be emotional thinkers. Not everyone will get as much joy out of understanding science that you do (you know who you are)! The enjoyment an atheist gets from science, another may get out of religion. It seems as if the important thing is that people are enjoying their lives, and making the lives of the people around them enjoyable as well.
Some may believe that I am being hypocritical here. For having an atheist-geared website that often attacks religion; but I would argue that not looking to convert people. I am looking to educate those that are misinformed about what atheism is and what atheists believe (not all atheists have the same beliefs, which is another understanding I try to get out). Some believe that atheists are worshipers of Satan, for example. And I believe those that make public claims about atheists being Satan worshipers etc., should be challenged. But that does not mean that atheists need to be running around trying to rid the world of religious belief (will make the religious defensive, and cause more in-group/out-group friction). It also does not mean that an atheist needs to disown the culture of a religion as well. For example, Jesus had many good moral teachings, I see no problem with an atheist using Jesus (for example) for moral-education. Moral education is something that I believe our society needs. In-fact, I believe morality should be a basic class taught in schools, focusing just on morality (leaving the supernatural connections out). In morality class, figures like Ghandi, Jesus, Buddha, etc. and what they taught could be learned about. Secular reasons for why morality is good could/should be thought about.
Anyways....
Let people decide what they want to believe, I came to atheism on my own, and I believe people should be able to decide for themselves what they want to believe.
Creating groups through labeling is a just bad idea, it causes too much in-group/out-group mentality which leads to people dehumanizing others because they have ideas different than their own. Judge people by their actions, not their beliefs.
Everyone should be in the closet, keeping their beliefs to themselves. Now, when among friends, of course things like this can be talked about. But people don't need to go out of their way to tell everyone when/how the universe came into being. In the end, a believer's world-view (and an atheist's) is dictated by certain ideas. In the context of day-to-day life, does it really matter if someone believes 4+ billions years old? Does it really matter? I believe that religion (and lack of) shouldn't be an important social issue.
Of course those that push their religion onto others can/should be challenged. I believe the ideal is not a world filled with all atheists, or believers, but a world in which people keep such ideas private. Not everyone is as interested in science as an atheist is. Science is a great thing, but it is not everything, not everyone needs or wants to be scientifically literate (and it should not be forced on them). Atheists tend to be logical thinkers, the religious tend to be emotional thinkers. Not everyone will get as much joy out of understanding science that you do (you know who you are)! The enjoyment an atheist gets from science, another may get out of religion. It seems as if the important thing is that people are enjoying their lives, and making the lives of the people around them enjoyable as well.
Some may believe that I am being hypocritical here. For having an atheist-geared website that often attacks religion; but I would argue that not looking to convert people. I am looking to educate those that are misinformed about what atheism is and what atheists believe (not all atheists have the same beliefs, which is another understanding I try to get out). Some believe that atheists are worshipers of Satan, for example. And I believe those that make public claims about atheists being Satan worshipers etc., should be challenged. But that does not mean that atheists need to be running around trying to rid the world of religious belief (will make the religious defensive, and cause more in-group/out-group friction). It also does not mean that an atheist needs to disown the culture of a religion as well. For example, Jesus had many good moral teachings, I see no problem with an atheist using Jesus (for example) for moral-education. Moral education is something that I believe our society needs. In-fact, I believe morality should be a basic class taught in schools, focusing just on morality (leaving the supernatural connections out). In morality class, figures like Ghandi, Jesus, Buddha, etc. and what they taught could be learned about. Secular reasons for why morality is good could/should be thought about.
Anyways....
Let people decide what they want to believe, I came to atheism on my own, and I believe people should be able to decide for themselves what they want to believe.
Creating groups through labeling is a just bad idea, it causes too much in-group/out-group mentality which leads to people dehumanizing others because they have ideas different than their own. Judge people by their actions, not their beliefs.
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