# Der Trihs **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 3, 2009, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150 "2009-11-03T08:22:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/461 "2009-11-10T13:45:34Z")
Obviously, the only way to settle this matter is by throwing **Der Trihs** into a pond. If he comes to the surface, he’s an anti-religious bigot and must be stoned to death, or at least given a severe talking-to. If he sinks, well, that’s one less atheist that’ll be ringing my doorbell at 9 a.m. on weekends and leaving literature in public restrooms. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/462 "2009-11-10T14:09:40Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > I never said “some of my best friends are atheists”, I said “my best friend is an athiest”. Why is that so hard to believe? And why would he suck up to me? > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Because if he didn’t, I doubt he’d be your “best friend” anymore, or a friend at all. He’d be an “arrogant bigot”. **Der Trihs** , why can’t you conceive of the possibility of two people being best friends and hold differing views on something? What is the basis for your conviction that _all_ theists are rabid-anti-atheists? Are all vegetarians rabid anti-carnivores? What is the basis for this martyr complex of yours? I agree that _some_ theists may feel this way, and they may even be the most vocal ones, but your constant insistence that everyone who believes in God is automatically an ignorant, arrogant, bigot is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/463 "2009-11-10T14:23:09Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > **Der Trihs** , why can’t you conceive of the possibility of two people being best friends and hold differing views on something? I can; but **Lord Ashtar** doesn’t strike me as one. And “my best friend is a \<_despised category_\>” is such a cliche that it’s hard to take seriously. > [@LurkMeister](#): > > What is the basis for your conviction that _all_ theists are rabid-anti-atheists? Not all; but most. As for why, there’s the polls that show such intolerance and distrust for atheists. And the general behavior and attitude of believers. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/464 "2009-11-10T14:23:32Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > **Der Trihs** , why can’t you conceive of the possibility of two people being best friends and hold differing views on something? What is the basis for your conviction that _all_ theists are rabid-anti-atheists? Are all vegetarians rabid anti-carnivores? What is the basis for this martyr complex of yours? I agree that _some_ theists may feel this way, and they may even be the most vocal ones, but your constant insistence that everyone who believes in God is automatically an ignorant, arrogant, bigot is ridiculous. In all fairness, I believe he was referring to **Lord Ashtar** in this particular case, not all religionists, whereas I was referring to religionists in general, rather than just **Liberal** in _my_ previous post. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/465 "2009-11-10T14:33:00Z")
I suppose I was just confused by the fact that **Der Trihs** has a record for constantly stating that anyone who believes in God is feeble-minded, or delusional, or both. Which, as has been pointed out any number of times, is an exception to the “no insulting other posters” rule. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/466 "2009-11-10T15:13:49Z")
> [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](#): > > Let’s see, keeping women “in their place”, repressing homosexuals, denying birth control, shooting abortionists and generally persecuting anyone who doesn’t believe in the same sky pixie as them. Yep, no bigotry there at all. Good thing none of that applies to me. Then again, as I said before, I like sugar in my porridge. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/467 "2009-11-10T15:18:57Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > In all fairness, I believe he was referring to **Lord Ashtar** in this particular case, not all religionists, whereas I was referring to religionists in general, rather than just **Liberal** in _my_ previous post. Similar to how when I call **Der Trihs** a bigot, I’m referring to him alone and not all atheists. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/468 "2009-11-10T15:24:54Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > Similar to how when I call **Der Trihs** a bigot, I’m referring to him alone and not all atheists. “Bigot” in this case apparently meaning that since you have no basis for your beliefs you throw insults instead. I suppose it’s easier to claim that people who point out you are wrong are bigots than actually defending your indefensible beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/469 "2009-11-10T15:44:25Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > “Bigot” in this case apparently meaning that since you have no basis for your beliefs you throw insults instead. Just as you have no basis for your belief that all religious people are stupid, evil, and criminal, and so you throw insults instead. It’s mildly annoying, but no different from people who rant about how inferior the niggers/spicks/kikes/chinks/whatever are. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/470 "2009-11-10T16:09:10Z")
Is he ranting? I don’t sense it. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/471 "2009-11-10T16:28:52Z")
> [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > I’ve never understood why otherwise intelligent people seem to think that when it comes to religion saying things like “nyah nyah you believe in the made up sky fairy” is anything other that rude. And true. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/472 "2009-11-10T17:14:39Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Is he ranting? I don’t sense it. In fact, I think this is one reason he pisses people off. (By far not the _only_ reason, but one.) He just doesn’t get all that upset. His views and language are harsh and blunt, but I can’t recall a single instance of him actually getting frothy at the mouth in his posts. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/473 "2009-11-10T17:31:12Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Most likely that means he sucks up to you, assuming he exists. “Some of my best friends are _ **X** _” is such a cliche. Or, as friends, they respect one each others’ views, and agree to disagree. I know, the concept of doing such is hard to believe. By your logic, a Christian could never be friends with a Jew, who could never be friends with a Muslim, who could never be friends with a Hindu, who could never be friends with a Sikh, who could never be friends with a Buddhist…you see where this is going? People can disagree with each other about all kinds of things. Likewise, I have friends who so many different political views, and yet, we all manage not to treat each other like shit, or “suck up to one another.” Even those “evil conservatives” who want to “enslave women and minorities”. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/474 "2009-11-10T18:40:43Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > “Bigot” in this case apparently meaning that since you have no basis for your beliefs you throw insults instead. I suppose it’s easier to claim that people who point out you are wrong are bigots than actually defending your indefensible beliefs. I readily admit that there is probably nothing that you would find to be a rational basis for anything I believe, but that has nothing to do with the fact that you are indeed a bigot. I don’t intend the word in the insulting sense, but rather in a descriptive one. Let’s review some of the definitions of the word, shall we? > [@Google Search for "definition of bigot"](#): > > a prejudiced person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from his own > wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn > > one who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; one who is strongly partial to one’s own group, religion … > [bigot - Wiktionary, the free dictionary](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bigot) > > bigotry - the intolerance and prejudice of a bigot > wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn > > bigoted - blindly and obstinately attached to some creed or opinion and intolerant toward others; “a bigoted person”; “an outrageously bigoted point of view” > wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn > > bigoted - Being a bigot; biased; strongly prejudiced; forming opinions without just cause > [bigoted - Wiktionary, the free dictionary](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bigoted) > > bigotry - intolerance toward those of different creeds or religious affiliations > [gw820lodge.tripod.com/education/MDictionary.htm](http://gw820lodge.tripod.com/education/MDictionary.htm) > > bigotry - The rigid intolerance of ideas or persons seen as different. > [PublicEye.org - The Website of Political Research Associates](http://www.publiceye.org/glossary/glossary_big.html) I feel this is a fair characterization of your posting history here on the topic of religion and politics (let’s not forget that we’re not just discussing theism vs. atheism here). I’m sure you disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/475 "2009-11-10T18:47:18Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Because if he didn’t, I doubt he’d be your “best friend” anymore, or a friend at all. He’d be an “arrogant bigot”. People can be atheists and not be arrogant bigots. That’s what we’re all trying to say to you. At least half your posts are hateful rants, so much that you’ve developed a reputation for such. You are among a bunch of other atheists here, and even we can’t stand your style. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/476 "2009-11-10T18:51:00Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > Good thing none of that applies to me. Then again, as I said before, I like sugar in my porridge. The problem which you guys ignore is that you can’t show that God sees things your admittedly more moral way, as opposed to seeing things the way the homophobes see it. If you believe in God, and the God you believe in revealed himself to you and told you homosexuality was a sin, what would you do? ---
**Author:** ![Gustav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Gustav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gustav)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/477 "2009-11-10T18:52:41Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Or, as friends, they respect one each others’ views, and agree to disagree. I know, the concept of doing such is hard to believe. It is hard to believe, because atheism isn’t a “view”. We didn’t just pick our horse at random like believers, our side has huge amounts of actual evidence. For an atheist, respecting a theist is like respecting something like a conspiracy nut. If you like the guy you ignore his rants, and nod politely waiting for him to finish. “Yes, I understand you think Obama was born in Kenya. Personally I kno… I mean I think… No no (oh god, he’s gonna start ranting) ok, let’s just agree to disagree. Hey how about this weather eh?” You may even geniunely respect the person if he’s smart in other areas, but it’s impossible to respect his crazy religious views. Religious people don’t seem to understand this, because they assume we chose our “belief” like they did. His atheist friend does not respect his views. He’s faking. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/478 "2009-11-10T18:54:46Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > If he is, then I guess I am, too, because you claiming religion isn’t arbitrary fiction is no substitute for _proving_ it isn’t. An example I like is the eight-day adventist: > > Imagine I printed up by own copy of the bible, identical to the New International version except that, though a typo or a conscious choice (which one doesn’t matter) in my version of _Genesis_ the creation of the universe takes seven days and on the _eighth_ day, God rested. I print up numerous copies and distribute them to various churches and temples and libraries and overseas missions and whatnot. Can anyone prove my version is incorrect? Is there any type of independent test a person can run that can help him decide which bible, mine or someone else’s, is the true bible? If I print and distribute a hundred million copies of my bible, isn’t it likely that in a generation or two, many readers will assume that, indeed, God rested on the eighth day? Are they wrong? Can you prove it? Actually there are textual analysis methods which could show to a good degree of confidence that the seven day passage was closer to the original than your eight day modification. Showing that either of them has the slightest relation to what really happened is another matter. Actually that problem is easy - they are both equally wrong, one just being wrong for longer than yours. Tracking versions of Hamlet doesn’t make the story any more real. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/479 "2009-11-10T18:56:59Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > If he is, then I guess I am, too, because you claiming religion isn’t arbitrary fiction is no substitute for _proving_ it isn’t. I don’t think you’re a bigot, but I do think you can be more insulting than is necessary, just as I can. That’s definitely something for me to work on. > [@](#): > > An example I like is the eight-day adventist: > > Imagine I printed up by own copy of the bible, identical to the New International version except that, though a typo or a conscious choice (which one doesn’t matter) in my version of _Genesis_ the creation of the universe takes seven days and on the _eighth_ day, God rested. I print up numerous copies and distribute them to various churches and temples and libraries and overseas missions and whatnot. Can anyone prove my version is incorrect? Is there any type of independent test a person can run that can help him decide which bible, mine or someone else’s, is the true bible? If I print and distribute a hundred million copies of my bible, isn’t it likely that in a generation or two, many readers will assume that, indeed, God rested on the eighth day? Are they wrong? Can you prove it? > > If this seems too far-fetched, consider that prior to Gutenberg, bibles were copied by hand in monasteries. Did the monks make mistakes? Can you guarantee a modern bible has the same meaning as one written circa AD 200? What if you’re following a practice that a modern bible advocates, but an ancient original bible says is a mortal sin? If people started resting on the eighth day and ignoring the seventh, for example, they’re in blatant violation of the fourth commandment (third for a Catholic or Lutheran, also suggesting the whole thing is arbitrary). Are they going to Hell as a result? > > Please enlighten us, if you can. I think this is an excellent example of a major problem with religions where the adherents hold their holy books as inerrant. The fact that the Christian religion has had as many schisms as it has indicates to me that they are squabbling over truly unimportant things. An example of this would be the recent exodus of many Episcopalians to the Anglican church due to the ordaining of homosexual ministers. That’s an issue that I just don’t care about. I don’t care if you’re gay, if you have something useful to teach and feel called to the ministry, then I’ll make my own judgment after I’ve listened to what you have to say. I take what Paul said to the Thessalonians to heart: > [@1 Thessalonians 5:21](#): > > Test everything. Hold on to the good. In fact, I’ve used that to brush aside some of Paul’s own teachings, since they don’t ring as true to me. I hold certain things in the Qu’ran as true and others as not, along with teachings in Buddhism, Judaism, the Gnostic Gospels, various New Age philosophies, and anything else I can find. Bottom line is that I haven’t yet found a particular religion that I think has it all correct. I’m still searching. I may not find it in my lifetime, but I’ll keep looking. We all have to find, as a Wiccan ex-girlfriend of mine once put it, our own truth. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150/480 "2009-11-10T19:06:41Z")
> [@Gustav](#): > > His atheist friend does not respect his views. He’s faking. You figured this all out without knowing me or my friend. Absolutely astounding. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/der-trihs/516150.md?page=25)