Maybe he sincerely believes they are angry atheists in the same way those two so honestly express their opinions. Seems fair doesn’t it?
Maybe, if he was sincere. Maybe, if he didn’t slip up more than once saying “you atheists”, after claiming that he was one. Maybe, if he wasn’t in a constant attack mode while claiming the other side is angry.
Maybe.
:rolleyes: Maybe you assume to much since I’m not a HE and I am an atheist.
Red Shirt, I’d love to see you start an Ask the Angry Atheist thread, actually. I mean this sincerely. In a place like IMHO where you can’t be attacked for your answers, and people don’t have to be scared you’ll call them things like “deluded”. Obviously a lot of people translate your signal directly to noise now, and it would be interesting to see a definitive guide to offset this.
Sorry about the first-I guess this sentence of yours from another thread, “How typically like a woman to reach for the extreme to win a point.”, threw me. Stereotyping women, then stereotyping atheists, and showing open disdain for both, might lead someone to make the mistake of thinking you are neither.
I’m not sure what you mean? Why would I start an angry atheist thread?
Actually I’ve gotten an interesting perspective from this thread. Its made me realize why atheist zealots and angry atheists get on my nerves.
I think we all loath the idea of the fundamental evengelical that’s got to take their God drama and make it everyone’s business. You know the type, they are so hung up on their faith that they go on and on about it, instead of just believing what they do in their heart of hearts.
Usually these types have some other issue going on deep inside which is why they get busted like Ted Haggard for example. Their whole perspective is insincere because if they did believe what they say they did, they’d go about their business and do their thing without making a stink about it.
I feel the same way about angry atheists and atheist zealots. If you are constantly up in arms at believers for being stupid or what not, then obviously you have some deeper issue going on. Most believers I know, most atheists, deists, and agnostics that I respect are capable of having a conversation about God theory without having a heart attack over it. Most of them recognize the social implication of religious cultures and some have considered the concept of memes or genetic predisposition of belief.
As such there’s no anger at all if one chooses not to believe. Or if one does choose to believe.
The angry atheists in my experience usually had a bad interaction with a Christian fundamentalist at some point in their life and have never gotten over it. So they repeat their anger drama over and over again.
I get annoyed quickly with people and their dramas.
Don’t bother. It was a bit mean. The “you” would be atheists stridently belittling my intelligence and honesty, and the pretending part an almost immediately withdrawn implication that maybe God didn’t really love them, on account of them being atheists. The subsequent withdrawal was a cheap attempt to make my own intolerance seem more acceptable.
But, in the end I attributed my own anger to the Lord. It is a sin, and a grievous one. I apologize to all those to whom it was directed, most particularly to the Lord himself.
Religious zealots annoy Him too, I think.
Tris
I guess you missed the thread where I stated I was a woman. I’m not stereotyping athesits.
Just because you can’t comprehend the difference between an angry atheist and a regular atheist doesn’t mean I am stereotyping.
And if you are all hung up on “stereotyping” why don’t you comment on the rampant religious stereotypes in this thread.
Fact is, I’m making a valid point. One that is backed up by the posting style of the people commenting.
Snide comments, cursing and being rude are examples of being angry. When someone pointed out I wasn’t much different I didn’t freak out on them? Its not a big deal.
I think its funny by the way when bullies get mad when they feel they are being picked on.
Yeah, well, to paraphrase- “Amateur Psychoanalyst, heal thyself.”
Jack Black says
“I draw my inspiriation from deep within the mind of the superfreak.”
loving that your annoyed with me personally by the way. Thanks for the props. 
I have noticed that you seem most pleased when you think have managed to annoy people. Phrases used like “I’ve seemed to have touched a nerve” and “angry atheists”, attacking those whom you accuse of attacking. Is this a game to you?
:smack: OYG! I was whooshed. Thanks for explaining.
Every human being, no matter how intelligent, is easily susceptible to the mistakes in thinking which lead to religion. Nobody is born knowing how to think rationally. It’s learned, or more often, it’s not, because instead, people learn about God.
Thank you for explaining, Tris. Please don’t take my use of your response as a jumping-off point for my comments below personally as it’s not meant that way. I am an Angry Atheist now, but unlike Red Shirt (who I like and often agree with) I don’t find any personal satisfaction in being nasty about it, though I do believe in being confrontative about it.
It’s weird reading this stuff now. I remember thinking that way, and it wasn’t that long ago at all. Yet now, from the outside, where I am free, it’s hard to understand how it was me. And this is because there was an overwhelming amount of interference happening at every level to keep the mentality going. Yet I can only recognize this in retrospect, because under its influence I was unable to confront it head-on.
Which makes me wonder whether that’s what the purpose is, in the end…to keep people’s brain machines so focused on chugging out the dream that they can’t waste energy on changing reality. Yes, I know all the justifications about charity (Bitchmother Teresa’s kind you can keep, though); I know the claimed good religion has done. I believe, now, finally, that this is in spite of faith rather than because of it.
I think the failure to understand this is not one of character, but a technical one. Our brains are simply very bad at reasoning by instinct. All the reasoning that goes into faith is very, very persuasive because it is very human, and I used to be one who thought that was enough to make it worthwhile. Now I see that if you love people you have to love the best of their potential, and our potential is so much greater than these admittedly often beautiful stories we created to bridge the gap between learning how to question and learning how to discover the answers for ourselves.
Is there a checklist I can consult? I’m an atheist but I’m not sure if I’m angry or not.
Its not really a game, I just think its interesting how gobsmacked attacking angry atheists seem to get when someone points out their behavior pattern.
I mean I don’t see what the big deal is to point out to someone they are acting angry when they post things like this…
etc etc etc and the smart ass comments and the generalizations about the religious and me pointing that out is “trying to get a rise”? I just think its amusing how upset some people get when you point out their behavior to them.
If someone doesn’t tell me soon whether or not I’m angry, I’m gonna really get pissed off!
Really? How very honest of you to say so. That wasn’t how I took it. I took it to mean that you took the commandment to love others seriously and sometimes it was very difficult. {which is true! }
The one between their ears.
If you’ll note the first one was in response to a very angry theist. The second quote of mine was passionate, not angry.
Also true or false, religious people believe absurd rubbish with no evidence at all to back it up?
Well, actually, snide comments, cursing, and being rude are examples of being in a Pit thread .
Would you clarify what you mean by a “regular atheist?” Are there some particular traits that you feel define normal atheism? I’m having a hard time understanding what your point is regarding the Angry Atheists and why you equate anger with zealotry.
I don’t know why you are all so confused about what makes an atheist an “angry atheist” its just an atheist that reacts with anger whenever religion is brought up. Pretty simplistic concept? What’s the confusion.
Example Angry Atheist is Richard Dawkins
Normal Atheist would Carl Sagan
I also have heard this term for a very long time and as an atheist for the last near decade I’ve come to conclude that angry atheists are atheists with issues about religion. So its draining to deal with them. Its all “drama” and no conversation about anything other than “prove it to me then” which to me smacks of someone not yet comfortable in their beliefs.
Have you all been living under a rock? Angry atheist is a very common phrase.
Just google it and you’ll get scads of information about it.
Here’s an example of two
http://www.bee.net/cardigan/attic/050601.htm
http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/03/11/why-im-not-an-angry-atheist/