# Obsessive atheists **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 22, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893 "2013-08-22T18:15:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/182 "2013-08-29T22:26:36Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > That’s a good question. I guess I have issues with Christians who claim to do a thing, but don’t really do that thing. You know, like claim they follow the teachings of Jesus, like you just did, but within a few sentences reveal they don’t really follow said teachings, like you just did. > > I have a number of theories as to why Christians do that, but I was curious how you justify it in your own words. So how do you? Seriously, **Kable** , you are talking about hypocrisy, double standards and intellectual bankruptcy, everybody does that, christians are hardly unique in that respect. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/183 "2013-08-29T23:28:20Z")
> [@huck](#): > > I already know that about you. You’ve told us that dozens of times. Your issues, however, were not actually my concern. Forgive me for not phrasing more carefully. OK, so I guess you rather just not answer the question. I didn’t think you would. To do so you would have to think about the question. One of my hypothesis is that when a Christian thinks about their inconsistencies they become uncomfortable, so they prefer to ignore such questions, or divert attention away, just like you did. > [@](#): > > I meant, what does it have to do with this thread? I’m what some might call an obsessive atheist. I think Christian inconsistency and hypocrisy is much of what makes me that way. Since you chose to commit both in this thread I figured this was a good time to call you on it. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/184 "2013-08-29T23:38:33Z")
> [@For You](#): > > Seriously, **Kable** , you are talking about hypocrisy, double standards and intellectual bankruptcy… Bingo! You said it better than I could. Them 3 qualities are very much what make me obsessive and disdainful of Christianity, to answer the OP. > [@](#): > > …everybody does that, christians are hardly unique in that respect. I thought Christians were exceptional in that respect but I suppose a number of other religious folks are too. Atheists not so much, I don’t think. In Huck’s case I think she could and should have just said she likes to follow a fraction of what she thinks is the teachings of Jesus. That would have been more honest, and made me less obsessive as an atheist. ---
**Author:** ![huck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@huck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/huck)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/185 "2013-08-29T23:48:00Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > Bingo! You said it better than I could. Them 3 qualities are very much what make me obsessive and disdainful of Christianity, to answer the OP. > > I thought Christians were exceptional in that respect but I suppose a number of other religious folks are too. Atheists not so much, I don’t think. > > In Huck’s case I think she could and should have just said she likes to follow a fraction of what she thinks is the teachings of Jesus. That would have been more honest, and made me less obsessive as an atheist. What you are is a one-trick pony, and your trick isn’t awfully good. Are you really going to do this on every single thread that even touches on matters religious? ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/186 "2013-08-29T23:56:39Z")
> [@huck](#): > > What you are is a one-trick pony, and your trick isn’t awfully good. You know it’s a good trick and that’s why you don’t answer. > [@](#): > > Are you really going to do this on every single thread that even touches on matters religious? Only if I notice and only if you post a hypocritical response. You are in full control of the latter. ---
**Author:** ![huck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@huck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/huck)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/187 "2013-08-30T00:05:00Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > You know it’s a good trick and that’s why you don’t answer. > Only if I notice and only if you post a hypocritical response. You are in full control of the latter. You do realize you sound even younger than you are when you do this, don’t you? Anyway, you misunderstand me again. I don’t mean what you plan to direct to me, which is a matter of no consequence to me. I meant, did you really come back just to sidetrack threads and bore everyone to death as you were doing before your break. I think you honestly believe you’re annoying people because you’re clever. You’re annoying people because you’re _boring_. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/188 "2013-08-30T00:38:16Z")
The matter is not about any “cleverness”, the underlying point remains relevant: that the teachings of jesus are more than a little boggy, especially when placed up against the accompanying doctrine. What the lord told you you should do tends to be pretty unclear much of the time, subject to interpretation. This is why there are so damn many christian sects: the doctrine is quite malleable. This could be a net positive, except that this is the word of god, so when a sect hangs their hat on a verse or passage, that becomes an overriding force. Nothing in the scripture is viewed as unimportant, since it is the holy writ, so disputes between those of different faiths can become big issues to both. Hence, if your interpretation of how to be a good christian conflicts with the interpretation of another good christian, how is an unbeliever to assess the meaning of “good christian”? This basic conflict is one of the reasons some atheists seem to be “obsessive”. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/189 "2013-08-30T00:41:08Z")
> [@huck](#): > > You do realize you sound even younger than you are when you do this, don’t you? What’s that got to do with the topic? Oh yeah you want to deflect away from the question you didn’t answer. > [@](#): > > Anyway, you misunderstand me again. I don’t mean what you plan to direct to me, which is a matter of no consequence to me. I meant, did you really come back just to sidetrack threads and bore everyone to death as you were doing before your break. I don’t have a problem with you personally, you are probably really nice. You just made a hypocritical response. The OP made one that was intellectually bankrupt so I called him on his as well, and he was smart enough to ignore it. You know that one about pi and some electron orbital being evidence that Jesus created the universe or something. > [@](#): > > I think you honestly believe you’re annoying people because you’re clever. You’re annoying people because you’re _boring_. OK, you could have just answered the question. I know you don’t want to answer anything pertaining to my best trick, but I kind of think that trick is the hypocritical liberal Christians Achilles heal. As I said, such hypocrisy/intellectual bankruptcy is what motivates me to be an obsessive atheist. I was just trying to answer the OP with an example. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/190 "2013-08-30T01:28:53Z")
**Kable** , you are back to threadshitting, badgering other posters with off-topic “questions.” You have been admonished to refrain from that behavior, previously. If you continue this sort of badgering, you will begin collecting Warnings for failure to follow Mod instructions. You are free to open a new thread and invite anyone to argue your point with you. You are not free to continue to interrupt other threads with your off-topic threadshitting. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/191 "2013-08-30T01:37:50Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I assure you I have used i (j if you are an electrical engineer) plenty in school. By exist I mean map into real world things. . . . Well, the “real/imaginary” plane maps nicely to the ordinary x/y plane. You can do nearly all Euclidean geometry in either. Just map “i” to north, and “1” to east. As far as mapping to real things, pretty much all decimal numbers would end around the tenth decimal place. There aren’t too many things in this universe that we can measure to more than ten significant digits. The thousandth decimal place of pi cannot be meaningfully mapped to anything physical. (Hell, the fortieth!) > [@For You](#): > > The matter is not about any “cleverness”, the underlying point remains relevant: that the teachings of jesus are more than a little boggy, especially when placed up against the accompanying doctrine. What the lord told you you should do tends to be pretty unclear much of the time, subject to interpretation. This is why there are so damn many christian sects: the doctrine is quite malleable. . . . What I find more dismaying is how very willing many Christians are to directly violate the commandments of their Lord…in order to uphold their conception (or conceit) of faith. A Christian once said to me, “Yeah, I’ll turn the other cheek…and then I’m gonna deck the son of a bitch.” This is a rather remarkable fashion in which to show love for one’s enemies. Yes, the doctrines are very, very hard to obey. But arrant dismissal – “Jesus said never to get a divorce. But I did it anyway” – is at least morally problematic, and puts those followers who do it in a bad position as exemplars. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/192 "2013-08-30T01:57:58Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > **Kable** , you are back to threadshitting, badgering other posters with off-topic “questions.” You have been admonished to refrain from that behavior, previously. > If you continue this sort of badgering, you will begin collecting Warnings for failure to follow Mod instructions. > You are free to open a new thread and invite anyone to argue your point with you. You are not free to continue to interrupt other threads with your off-topic threadshitting. > > [/Moderating] Tom, I was merely trying to answer the OP with an example of what personally motivates me, by responding to what others had written. And here you are to stick up for those particular Christians who coincidentally most resemble yourself. I see how it works here. Fundamentalist Christians are fair game here for all kinds of mockery, liberal Christians get Tom’s protection. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/193 "2013-08-30T02:21:51Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > Tom, I was merely trying to answer the OP with an example of what personally motivates me, by responding to what others had written. And here you are to stick up for those particular Christians who coincidentally most resemble yourself. **I see how it works here**. Fundamentalist Christians are fair game here for all kinds of mockery, liberal Christians get Tom’s protection. Bolding mine Obviously you do not “see how it works here”. Our Moderators generally work without an agenda or bias and when they do we smack em’ down, in the ATMB. We are a community, a very diverse one at that, but we have rules and customs. I have made many mistakes, been moderated, proven factually wrong, accused as a racist etc. I am still here and will remain, because I am fighting ignorance(even if it is still mine). Sorry for the hijack **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/194 "2013-08-30T02:43:06Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > Bolding mine > > Obviously you do not “see how it works here”. Our Moderators generally work without an agenda or bias and when they do we smack em’ down, in the ATMB. We are a community, a very diverse one at that, but we have rules and customs. I have made many mistakes, been moderated, proven factually wrong, accused as a racist etc. I am still here and will remain, because I am fighting ignorance(even if it is still mine). > > Sorry for the hijack > > **Capt** I’ve seen Tom post a number of times with an agenda. He really likes to stick up for liberal interpretations of scripture and Catholicism especially, if you haven’t noticed, and he “moderates” as he goes along. Seems that since I think liberal Christians, like him, are ignorance worth fighting and since I notice their diversion tactics he’s probably going to ban me sooner or later. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/195 "2013-08-30T02:45:43Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > . . . I am still here and will remain, because I am fighting ignorance(even if it is still mine). . . . I owe ya a drink! Salut! The thing I find most valuable in the SDMB is the correction of all the dumb things I’ve picked up over the years, all the “knowledge” that turns out to be wrong. The SDMB is as much an unlearning tool as it is a learning tool! ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/196 "2013-08-30T03:03:43Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > I’ve seen Tom post a number of times with an agenda. He really likes to stick up for liberal interpretations of scripture and Catholicism especially, if you haven’t noticed, and he “moderates” as he goes along. Seems that since I think liberal Christians, like him, are ignorance worth fighting and since I notice their diversion tactics he’s probably going to ban me sooner or later. Nope, you will not be banned for posting within the rules and the rules have zero bias against fundies. ZERO BIAS. You may get piled on, questioned about facts and have your beliefs torn asunder but at the SDMB you cannot be banned for what you believe or your expression of it as long as you follow the rules. **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/197 "2013-08-30T03:17:40Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > I’ve seen Tom post a number of times with an agenda. He really likes to stick up for liberal interpretations of scripture and Catholicism especially, if you haven’t noticed, and he “moderates” as he goes along. Seems that since I think liberal Christians, like him, are ignorance worth fighting and since I notice their diversion tactics he’s probably going to ban me sooner or later. I have already told you that you are free to open a thread to discuss whatever you want. Wandering around challenging other posters’ actions and motivations as a hijack of other threads is nothing more than threadshitting. You will stop threadshitting and if you have a problem with Moderating, you will take it to the ATMB forum, not here. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/198 "2013-08-30T03:31:20Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > Nope, you will not be banned for posting within the rules and the rules have zero bias against fundies. ZERO BIAS. No there is bias. Fundies get the business and liberals play just coy enough with their beliefs to avoid serious criticism. When the going gets tough it becomes “personal” to them so they don’t have to answer, and then they make fun of the fundamentalists along with the atheists. It’s a pretty good trick. > [@](#): > > You may get piled on, questioned about facts and have your beliefs torn asunder but at the SDMB you cannot be banned for what you believe or your expression of it as long as you follow the rules. > **Capt** Seems to me that Tom will make up rules. Like if I cordially repeat an unanswered question I’m breaking the rules or so his interpretation of them goes. Like if I mention again that the OP failed to respond to how pi and orbitals are evidence in favor of his I’ll bet coincidentally his parents religion. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/199 "2013-08-30T03:33:13Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I have already told you that you are free to open a thread to discuss whatever you want. > [/Moderating] I was opening a weekly Bible study thread. You mods said I couldn’t do that anymore, so the above isn’t true at all. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/200 "2013-08-30T04:21:28Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > I was opening a weekly Bible study thread. You mods said I couldn’t do that anymore, so the above isn’t true at all. Just saying. Well, just to be accurate, Marley23 (an atheist), noted that you were simply playing games in the threads, trying to score points, rather than actually discussing the topics. At that point he merged the threads and [told you to debate honestly or stop](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=697554&page=6). The only actions I took in those threads was to admonish other posters against trolling and accusations of trolling. That you were able to persuade a non-believer with no history of support for Christianity, “liberal” or otherwise, that your posting was borderline trolling and not intended as a serious discussion is a pretty good indication that it is your improper actions, and not Moderator bias, that is getting you in trouble. That said, the place to discuss those issues is ATMB and you are not to continue to hijack this thread by continuing that discussion, here. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893/201 "2013-08-30T06:19:28Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Well, just to be accurate, Marley23 (an atheist), noted that you were simply playing games in the threads, trying to score points, rather than actually discussing the topics. Sure you got a crony of yours to do your dirty work. If you did it, it would have been to obvious. And I wasn’t playing games, but actually opening thread discussing Bible verses I thought were pretty cool. But anyway, he told me I had to stop which proves I can’t just open any thread I want. > [@](#): > > That you were able to persuade a non-believer with no history of support for Christianity, “liberal” or otherwise, that your posting was borderline trolling and not intended as a serious discussion is a pretty good indication that it is your improper actions, and not Moderator bias, that is getting you in trouble. I think you did the persuading Tom. > [@](#): > > That said, the place to discuss those issues is ATMB and you are not to continue to hijack this thread by continuing that discussion, here. Well, I invite you to start another thread on the topic if it interests you. Otherwise you should but out of naturally occurring discussions where I am obviously not breaking any rules. Or maybe you might better involve yourself only as a debater, so’s I can school you again just as I did with the Galileo affair. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-atheists/666893.md?page=11)