Not all atheists are anti-religion.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Not even here in Washington.

On Saturday, I poked my head into the attic of the house I’m renting for the first time. Up there, I found a nice Craftsman claw hammer (mine, now) and a boxed-up nativity scene. The stable part is made of sticks and moss, and the figures are porcelain. It was in good shape and had all the parts (Mary, Joseph, 3 kings, cow, donkey, 2 sheep, and the baby Jesus). All the porcelain parts were bubble-wrapped.

I assume it isn’t an heirloom, since it was bought commercially (it was in the orginal box). It wasn’t left by the house’s owner and I have no way to contact previous occupants. They’ve had half a year to come looking for their old stuff anyway.

I’m an atheist. I exchange gifts at Christmas because it’s enjoyable, but I don’t feel anything spiritual about the holiday. So what did I do with this set of religious knick-knacks?

I walked a few blocks to the Lutheran Church, and left it in their donation area. Just because I’m not into that stuff doesn’t mean I oppose other folk’s faith. Some family will probably be glad to have it, and I wish them all the joy they can get from it.

Could someone tell this story to Bill O’Reilly, please?

2

I always thought “atheism” meant, literally “without theism”. There’s nothing, IMHO, “anti” about it. In fact, isn’t “anti-theism” a word? Would that apply to Dawkins, et al?

3

There are a lot of atheists out there (probably disproportionately represented on this board, for example) who are anti-religion, though. Since they’re the ones most likely to come into conflict with religious people, they’re the ones who end up representing “atheists” in the eyes of (mostly) Christians. The opposite is also true, as is frequently pointed out.

4

Meh. Over the summer I went to a Christian fellowship weekend thingy. I even played a Christian boardgame. When it came time to discuss my spiritual views, I was not shy about them, though I was careful not to offend. When it was all over I went out for beers with a couple of lesbians who also attended.

It’s all good.

5

I don’t think that view is uncommon. I don’t need religion but I do understand it to a certain extent. I don’t begrudge someone from doing what makes them spritually happy.

6

I consider myself an atheist, and philosophically a Satanist, and I take my children to church and even occasionally attend with them. I also attend 12-step meetings several times a week and stand in a circle holding hands with people and am respectfully silent while they chant the Lord’s Prayer.

I will admit I went through an anti-religious phase. I also went through many other phases of rebellion against my parents, school, authority and society in general.

As I matured though- I realized that rabid, mindless, in-your-face anti-theism was just as stupid and offensive as rabid, mindless, in-your-face theism and for the exact same reasons. Now I am simply without religion or any belief in God.

I can still be offended on principle by blind obedience, codified bigotry, legislated morality, and hypocrisy. I detest these things equally whether they are cloaked in religion or elsewise.

I don’t believe in or practice any religions, but I do have a moral code and am a serious proponent of live and let live. I no longer try to talk others out of their beliefs, and I rarely share mine unless invited. I don’t need to because no part of my belief system is dependent on others sharing it.

Besides, just because you see a little kid fishing in a puddle is no reason to take away his pole. :smiley:

7

I wouldn’t say there are more even here, just that the loud ones are also the most militant. (Respectful atheist here)

8

Not unless he’s hitting you over the head with it.

9

I think religion is interesting, in a curiosity and historical sense. I don’t mind that people use religion to suit their needs, although I’d prefer that people I care about not use it as a crutch. Many of my friends are religious to some degree or another.

That said, I think the world might be a better place if the world’s population were slowly weaned from religion. Although I’m sure that in many or most cases religious reasons for hatred and atrocities would simply be replaced by ethnic or nationalist reasons.

10

I am an atheist/agnostic (never have quite figured out in my own mind which term best applies to me). I have no objection to other people having religious or spiritual beliefs as long as they don’t push them on other people or use them to force other people to change their behaviours.
I happen to believe that religious beliefs can have an extremely powerful placebo effect in those that do have strong beliefs. As it happens I can not take advantage of that placebo effect myself since I don’t have the prerequisite belief system, but I don’t begrudge others taking advantage of that placebo effect as long as they don’t do it to the exclusion of more “conventional” care (and in particular as long as they don’t prevent others especially children from getting “conventional” care).

11

Antitheism. I’ve described myself as an “atheist and antitheist” on occasion.

12

Sad thing is that anyone even feels a need to state this in the first place.
If one were to make a list of “top 10 things which have a glimmer of truth at their core but are grossly exaggerated out of proportion with that glimmer in the minds of certain groups of people” (and that would be a fascinating list), the various negative views thrown around about atheists would be very high on that list.

Also, there’s a huge difference between being anti-religion and being anti-religious-people. There’s also a difference between what people say in contexts such as in-the-midst-of-a-heated-SDMB-discussion and the way they actually act in their day-to-day interactions with people.

13

I am firmly atheist, and philosophically identify with metaphysical naturalism. However, I also understand the motivations behind choosing a life of faith - I believed at one time, and I don’t think I was a horrible person then. I still can empathize with believers. Committing oneself to an atheist viewpoint is a scary prospect - there have been a couple emergencies with my kids, where I’ve wished that there were some god to pray to for help, or at least reassurance and comfort.

I also know that my non-belief notwithstanding, I cannot deny religion’s impact on the world. And I do believe that the majority of that impact has been positive, rather than negative.

An anecdote - I was in Spain last year on business, and had the chance to visit the Cathedral de Sevilla - the largest medieval cathedral in the world (as the proud tour guide pointed out, St. Peter’s in Rome is a basilica, not a cathedral). I can honestly say that it is the most beautiful structure I’ve ever seen in my life.

I was there with a co-worker (a Spaniard) who had never visited Seville. As a Catholic, he was awestruck - seeing the look on his face made me a little sad I’d never feel the same as he, but also very happy for him that a lifelong dream had been fulfilled. I sat with him in the pews as he took some moments to pray, and I thought of this church where so much had been done in the name of religion.

First as a mosque, and then as a cathedral, where inquisitions played out, and infidels were imprisoned, but also where multitudes of homeless had been fed, and countless more had found the inspiration to commit worthwhile acts - great and small. I think it’s safe to say that more lives had been saved than destroyed due to the presence of this monument to the divine - at the end of the day, it’s provided a net gain to society, and it’s really purty too.

For me to commit to a worldview dedicated to bringing an end to religion (which IMO sums up anti-theism) I would also need to commit to deconstructing all the positive things religion has contributed to the world, including that gorgeous testament to faith in southern Spain. No thanks.

14

Ironic SDMB handle. :wink: Would that more of the SDMB atheist offenderati agreed with you.

15

I’d argue that they are more often ethnic or nationalist today as well. That is why Indonesian Muslims have less trouble with the rest of the world than Arab Muslims. The War on Terror isnt the US vs Islam, it is the US vs particular ethnicities like Arab Al Qaeda and Pashtun Taliban.

16

A Craftsman hammer? Result! :cool:

17

I read the OP and thought “claw hammer?” “Porcelain” figures?

Then he got an idea! An awful idea! THE GRINCH GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA! “I know just what to do!” The Grinch laughed in his throat.

18

I agree with you 100% and I’m a theist. There are plenty of atheists here who are not rabidly anti-religion. But, as with the more fanatical of my fellow theists, he who shouts the loudest is the best remembered.

19

If it was pretty, I would display it. I think Nativity scenes are very attractive. I saw one last year that was made of auto parts and it was wonderful and whimsical.

I don’t believe in ice-skating snowmen or Santa either, and I display those when they’re attractive.

ETA: Here is the auto parts nativity. I think it’s spectacular.

20

Good on you, Saltire. Peace, love and understanding rule!