# 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:** 16
**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:** [January 16, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/301 "2012-01-16T03:50:38Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > I believe the universe was created by a God (not a guy) who loves me. It may not seem humble to a non-believer but I assure it is an extremely humbling (and liberating) statement for the person who makes it. No, it’s ridiculously arrogant and presumptuous, regardless of how you try to spin it. > [@Theophane](#): > > Go ahead and mock me, I don’t care. Do your worst. Have at it, hoss. Ah, yet another fellow who wants to be an Internet Martyr. All the bragging rights of real martyrdom, without the scars or the suffering. ---
**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 16, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/302 "2012-01-16T03:57:22Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > I believe the universe was created by a God (not a guy) who loves me. It may not seem humble to a non-believer but I assure it is an extremely humbling (and liberating) statement for the person who makes it. Go ahead and mock me, I don’t care. Do your worst. Have at it, hoss. I’m not mocking you. I’m showing you that your opinions are based on ignorance and stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/303 "2012-01-16T04:07:53Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > I’m not mocking you. I’m showing you that your opinions are based on ignorance and stupidity. Are you so sure of everything, Lobohan? Just accept that I am who I am and move on! ---
**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:** [January 16, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/304 "2012-01-16T04:24:48Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > Are you so sure of everything, Lobohan? He doesn’t need to be. It’s just that the specific ideas you keep pushing are exceptionally ridiculous and implausible. God? Ouija boards? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![quixotic78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3ab097/32.png) [@quixotic78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quixotic78)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/305 "2012-01-16T04:59:57Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > I believe the universe was created by a God (not a guy) You intolerant a-god-is-a-guy-ists really piss me off. You’re so damned smug, you just _know_ god isn’t a guy, and yet you don’t have any evidence whatsoever. My faith tells me god is a guy with a sweet beard, and that’s a fact. ---
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/306 "2012-01-16T05:30:54Z")
We have every right to be intolerant. Should we not be intolerant of the one broke wheel on a shopping cart? Should we not be intolerant to the vestigial appendix that serves no purpose but could easily get us killed? ---
**Author:** ![YoDoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e68b1a/32.png) [@YoDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoDoc)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/307 "2012-01-16T14:54:57Z")
> [@Surbey](#): > > We have every right to be intolerant. Should we not be intolerant of the one broke wheel on a shopping cart? Should we not be intolerant to the vestigial appendix that serves no purpose but could easily get us killed? No. Intolerance is the only true intolerable act. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/308 "2012-01-16T15:04:36Z")
> [@Surbey](#): > > We have every right to be intolerant. Whether you are right or wrong, you make yourself just another asshole who thinks his assholery is completely justified because he’s right and everyone else is wrong. The world is filled with people that think they have that right for all manner of reasons and things they’re convinced they’re right about, whether that be religion, ideology, economics, fashion or how they tie their shoes. Try being a better person than that. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/309 "2012-01-16T15:05:47Z")
> [@Surbey](#): > > We have every right to be intolerant. Should we not be intolerant of the one broke wheel on a shopping cart? Should we not be intolerant to the vestigial appendix that serves no purpose but could easily get us killed? You have no right to demand tolerance from others if you refuse to be tolerant yourself. It always comes back to Golden Rule. ---
**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 16, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/310 "2012-01-16T15:07:46Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > You have no right to demand tolerance from others if you refuse to be tolerant yourself. It always comes back to Golden Rule. You have no right to be intolerant of his intolerance. Silly, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/311 "2012-01-16T15:35:08Z")
> [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](#): > > I do not understand. Are you saying they knew before the 1920’s that there were other galaxy’s? I have read that some thought andromeda might be, but it was accepted that it was a nebula, and there was only one galaxy. If they did know before the 20’s, I’d like to know. > > And how can you say I am “corrected” when no one has said anything correcting me? If you think it is cool to post replies without answering the question and just making a smart ass comment, then ok. But then why post at all? Still waiting. I actually want to know. Was andromeda known to be a galaxy before the 20’s? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/312 "2012-01-16T15:54:54Z")
> [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](#): > > Still waiting. I actually want to know. Was andromeda known to be a galaxy before the 20’s? No. The concept of other ‘island universes’ is relatively recent as we had no way of measuring their real distance. ---
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/313 "2012-01-16T15:56:20Z")
The problem is that I am right. Its not a belief. These are facts. It would be different if we had different opinions but this isn’t an opinion. There are no facts to support powerful ghosts in the sky. And their belief in these ghosts threaten the efficient funtion of society, hold back progress, cost people lives. Should you really be tolerant of a persons belief that elvis is still alive when that belief causes real problems for people? If that belief prevented people in africa from using condoms so they don’t get aids because some of elvises goons think you shouldn’t, should you still be tolerant? Still say “well, they just believe different and we should respect that”? Its arcaic nonsense and, if I recall correctly, one of the missions of this board is to fight ignorance. Belief, without fact or reason, is ignorance. And no one should tolerate it. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/314 "2012-01-16T15:57:13Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > It always comes back to Golden Rule. I love how religious people cite then disregard this rule at their whim. Even in this very fucking thread. ---
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/315 "2012-01-16T16:04:50Z")
Let me clarify my previous statement. There is an opinion on how to deal with theists. To tolerate or to be intolerant of, that is the question. How you answer that is your own opinion. But there is no opinion about whether theists are right or wrong. Until proven otherwise, they are, in fact, wrong. ---
**Author:** ![YoDoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e68b1a/32.png) [@YoDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoDoc)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/316 "2012-01-16T16:28:12Z")
Ick. Fundies make me sick. Hate in the name of Jesus is no worse than hate in the name of nothing. In fact, atheist though I am, I think hate in the name of a god is disgusting and wrong and should be corrected, but hate in the name of nothing is just despicable. ---
**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 16, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/317 "2012-01-16T17:01:54Z")
> [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](#): > > Still waiting. I actually want to know. Was andromeda known to be a galaxy before the 20’s? Apparently not, and I apologize. I had nebula and galaxy confused. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/318 "2012-01-16T18:17:32Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > You have no right to demand tolerance from others if you refuse to be tolerant yourself. It always comes back to Golden Rule. Very well, then. Consider youself _tolerated_, by me for one. [/Tuvok voice] Ooops! Missed this: > [@Theophane](#): > > I don’t want to feel like I’m trolling. I didn’t realize I was in the BBQ Pit. I’m gonna leave now. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/319 "2012-01-16T18:43:14Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > No. The concept of other ‘island universes’ is relatively recent as we had no way of measuring their real distance. Sorry to sidetrack this with facts, but the idea of other galaxies, like our own, was put forth long ago. > [@](#): > > In 1750 Thomas Wright, in his An original theory or new hypothesis of the Universe, speculated (correctly) that Milky Way was a flattened disk of stars, and that some of the nebulae visible in the night sky might be separate Milky Ways. In 1755 Immanuel Kant introduced the term “island universe” for these distant nebulae. > **[Galaxy | Observation history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy#Observation_history)** > > Greek philosopher Democritus (450–370 BCE) proposed that the bright band on the night sky known as the Milky Way might consist of distant stars. > Aristotle (384–322 BCE), however, believed the Milky Way was caused by "the ignition of the fiery exhalation of some stars that were large, numerous and close together" and that the "ignition takes place in the upper part of the atmosphere, in the region of the World that is continuous with the heavenly motions." Neoplatonist philosopher Olympiod Accordi... The acceptance of this took a lot longer, because a lot of people always think they know everything. Even when they are wrong, they still think they know. ---
**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 16, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172/320 "2012-01-16T18:49:24Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > The acceptance of this took a lot longer, because a lot of people always think they know everything. Even when they are wrong, they still think they know. Says the guy with the hysterical-sky-is-falling thread about Fukushima. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intolerant-athiests/609172.md?page=17)