# Intolerant Athiests **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 11, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172 "2012-01-11T16:04:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/201 "2012-01-13T14:49:58Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > The message I’m pushing, to the extent that I am, is that, “There is no evidence for any religion on Earth being true” and “Religion is a negative force in human culture”. And yet somehow our species has survived for tens of thousands of years despite having that religion monkey on its back. It is highly unlikely that religion would have survived as long as it has or even evolved in the first place if it had not increased the likelihood of physical and cultural survival. In any case, I have not observed that secularists behave any better than the religious. As for the lack of evidence–well, allow me to arbitrarily dismiss any contrary evidence as delusion, hallucination, or fraud, and I’m pretty sure I could prove or disprove anything. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/202 "2012-01-13T15:17:34Z")
if there are atheists then there is only god to blame (if there is one). god could have created an atheist free world. he/she/it could have given every person an interest in sports and there would be no atheists. you would either be praying for your team (unless you placed bets on the opposition to make money if your team were losers) or praying for/against other teams to give your team the best advantage. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/203 "2012-01-13T15:26:20Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > As for the lack of evidence–well, allow me to arbitrarily dismiss any contrary evidence as delusion, hallucination, or fraud, and I’m pretty sure I could prove or disprove anything. I for one never get tired of the “Of course I’ve got evidence, but I know before the fact that you would never accept it, so forget it” excuse. This allows you to bemoan our supposed closemindedness without having to point out any actual examples. Bravo! ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/204 "2012-01-13T17:08:34Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > And yet somehow our species has survived for tens of thousands of years despite having that religion monkey on its back. It is highly unlikely that religion would have survived as long as it has or even evolved in the first place if it had not increased the likelihood of physical and cultural survival. In any case, I have not observed that secularists behave any better than the religious. That’s not how evolution works. A side-effect like religion, or like consciousness generally, doesn’t have to be beneficial to survive, it simply has to be not so harmful that it outweighs the benefit of the main effect - in this case intelligence. > [@](#): > > As for the lack of evidence–well, allow me to arbitrarily dismiss any contrary evidence as delusion, hallucination, or fraud, and I’m pretty sure I could prove or disprove anything. No, you don’t get to arbitrarily dismiss anything. However, you get to scientifically prove that spiritual experiences are indistinguishable from hallucinations, as that has been done. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/205 "2012-01-13T18:10:19Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > And yet somehow our species has survived for tens of thousands of years despite having that religion monkey on its back. Our species also survived for ten thousand years with smallpox. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/206 "2012-01-13T18:37:18Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > And yet somehow our species has survived for tens of thousands of years despite having that religion monkey on its back. We also survived without antibiotics and without washing our hands with soap. We survive better now, because we cast old ignorances to the wayside. > [@](#): > > It is highly unlikely that religion would have survived as long as it has or even evolved in the first place if it had not increased the likelihood of physical and cultural survival. Not really. Religion offers a valuable service, it makes people fear death less and gives the promise of seeing the people you love again. I’ve lost friends, and I would genuinely love to see them again after I die. But wishing for something doesn’t make it real. And religion doesn’t have to help us survive, it just has to be itself, tenacious. > [@](#): > > In any case, I have not observed that secularists behave any better than the religious. They don’t behave any worse. If so, what’s the point of religion? Not all religion is hugely destructive, it’s mostly the Abrahamic ones that cause all the trouble. But they are all pretty fucking stupid. And they produce shallow thinkers, which is reason enough to kick them to the curb. > [@](#): > > As for the lack of evidence–well, allow me to arbitrarily dismiss any contrary evidence as delusion, hallucination, or fraud, and I’m pretty sure I could prove or disprove anything. Shit you _feel in your heart_ isn’t evidence. Because otherwise intelligent people can deceive themselves. Prayer doesn’t work. Miracles don’t happen. The only thing offered up as evidence otherwise is biblical prophecy, which didn’t actually predict anything and epiphany moments of grandeur and awareness. I get those looking at good graphic design. No God necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Plumbkrazy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Plumbkrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plumbkrazy)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/207 "2012-01-13T20:28:36Z")
I’m sure Tebow would be met with nothing but kindness from Christians if he openly worshipped Satan. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/208 "2012-01-13T20:38:27Z")
> [@Plumbkrazy](#): > > I’m sure Tebow would be met with nothing but kindness from Christians if he openly worshipped Satan. If he did that, his fan-base would be drastically re-arranged. A lot fewer people would adulate him openly, but many more would welcome him with open arms from the shadows. Openly worshipping Satan would make Tebow a lot cooler than he is now. Secular people would admire him instead of hating him with a sick, jealous fury. Bill Maher would love the guy. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/209 "2012-01-13T20:40:11Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > If he did that, his fan-base would be drastically re-arranged. A lot fewer people would adulate him openly, but many more would welcome him with open arms from the shadows. Openly worshipping Satan would Tebow a lot cooler than he is now. Secular people would admire him instead of hating him with a sick, jealous fury. > > Bill Maher would love the guy. You _really_ have a low opinion of the majority of humanity, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/210 "2012-01-13T20:45:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You _really_ have a low opinion of the majority of humanity, don’t you? Let’s just say I’m not always wearing rose-coloured glasses. My warm-fuzzy feelings about my fellow man come and go. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/211 "2012-01-13T20:46:34Z")
I can almost guarantee that if Tebow … or any NFLer … openly worshipped Satan, Bill Maher, and most other atheists, would laugh at him harder. Really? Satan worship? Who are you? Beavis or Butthead? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/212 "2012-01-13T20:52:04Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > If he did that, his fan-base would be drastically re-arranged. A lot fewer people would adulate him openly, but many more would welcome him with open arms from the shadows. Openly worshipping Satan would make Tebow a lot cooler than he is now. Secular people would admire him instead of hating him with a sick, jealous fury. > > Bill Maher would love the guy. You realize that we think Satan is just as imaginary as God, right? ---
**Author:** ![FixMyIgnorance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FixMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FixMyIgnorance)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/213 "2012-01-13T20:55:04Z")
All hail the FSM ---
**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:** [January 13, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/214 "2012-01-13T20:56:27Z")
Yeah, if you intolerant atheists had balls, you’d worship Satan too, instead of lurking in the shadows waiting for a celebrity Satan-worshipper to admire. Weenies! ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/215 "2012-01-13T21:00:42Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > If he did that, his fan-base would be drastically re-arranged. A lot fewer people would adulate him openly, but many more would welcome him with open arms from the shadows. Openly worshipping Satan would make Tebow a lot cooler than he is now. Secular people would admire him instead of hating him with a sick, jealous fury. Secular people don’t like Satan, you fucking imbecile. Satan doesn’t exist, and at least the Christian God is ostensibly not totally evil. Someone who worships Satan is as stupid and inept as any other religious person, but probably wanting to specifically do evil. Pretty much everything you believe is wrong. Doesn’t that bother you? > [@](#): > > Bill Maher would love the guy. Maher hates all religions. Why would a religion that promotes outright evil (instead of the tepid evil bigotry that Christianity promotes) be more popular with him? ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/216 "2012-01-13T21:02:23Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > You realize that we think Satan is just as imaginary as God, right? Oh, yes! But you would admire for their Anti-Christian sentiment, wouldn’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/217 "2012-01-13T21:04:02Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Maher hates all religions. Why would a religion that promotes outright evil (instead of the tepid evil bigotry that Christianity promotes) be more popular with him? The enemy of my enemy is my friend. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/218 "2012-01-13T21:04:32Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > Oh, yes! But you would admire for their Anti-Christian sentiment, wouldn’t you? No! Why the hell would you think that? If he worshipped Baal, or Thor, or Superman, or Rumplestilskin, we’d still think he was goofy. Hell … goofier. Are you under the impression that all atheists are really 13 year old metal heads trying to piss off their parents? ---
**Author:** ![Circuit\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@Circuit\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Circuit_6)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/219 "2012-01-13T21:08:15Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > I also don’t believe in unicorns. Is not believing in unicorns my religion, dipshit? People like you slaughtered them. Thank God that when they did, they were cursed. Sadly, too many people on the Earth share the same way you think about anything out of the ordinary which isn’t getting the collective anywhere because of it. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/220 "2012-01-13T21:10:51Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > The enemy of my enemy is my friend. The enemy of society isn’t God, because he doesn’t exist. The enemy of society is religion itself. And another religion that causes more social ills isn’t an answer to that. It’s sad that the only people who champion religion are as unable to think as you. If your brain was your body, you’d be a morbidly obese shut-in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172.md?page=12)