# There Are No Atheists On This Board **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 10, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925 "2005-03-10T23:52:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/61 "2005-03-11T14:49:32Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > If I were to join an atheist group, they wouldn’t kick me out for reading Harry Potter or sleeping with men. What if you started prosletyzing for evangelical Christianity at every meeting? > [@gobear](#): > > Religion is not analogous to lack of religion. So far as “atheist” being a label and “Christian” being a label, it is. I won’t expect you to reply for a few hours, because I imagine you’re going to go out and kill some women, just like noteable atheist Corel Watts. Fucking atheists–why can’t they just let people live in peace? Why do you have to murder people? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![sweetfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@sweetfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweetfreak)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/62 "2005-03-11T14:49:39Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > No no no–you’re totally missing the point. > > You’re not an asshole because you don’t believe in God, you’re an asshole because someone who also describes themselves as an “atheist” may have stabbed someone in the hand with a fork for saying “God bless you.” An asshole is an asshole. An atheist is an atheist. A Christian is a Christian. Some Christians may be assholes. Some atheists may be assholes. If some asshole atheist stabs you in the hand with a fork for saying “God bless you” that is precisely because that person is an asshole, not because he is an atheist. I some asshole Christian says “God bless you” to an atheist with the intention of pissing the said atheist off because the Christian knows the atheist doesn’t want to hear it, then that is precisely because that person is asshole, not because he is a Christian. Asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/63 "2005-03-11T14:50:44Z")
> [@Scott\_plaid](#): > > they have problems seeing that the viewpoint of Atheist A, is diffrent from Atheist B. Bullshit. All atheists have the same viewpoint, just like all Christians. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/64 "2005-03-11T14:56:08Z")
> [@sweetfreak](#): > > An asshole is an asshole. > An atheist is an atheist. > A Christian is a Christian. Here’s a gold star, honey. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/65 "2005-03-11T14:59:32Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > All atheists have the same viewpoint, just like all Christians. Oh my IPU, Blessed Be Her Hooves, it’s a bonafide psyhic. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/66 "2005-03-11T15:03:12Z")
> [@Scott\_plaid](#): > > Oh my IPU, Blessed Be Her Hooves, it’s a bonafide psyhic. Hmm… You’re an atheist. You believe in psychics. Therefore, **gobear** believes in psychics. I’m dissapointed in **gobear** –even though I disagree with him, I thought him smarter then that. Maybe I need to use smaller words? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/67 "2005-03-11T15:04:29Z")
> [@](#): > > So far as “atheist” being a label and “Christian” being a label, it is. I won’t expect you to reply for a few hours, because I imagine you’re going to go out and kill some women, just like noteable atheist Corel Watts. Fucking atheists–why can’t they just let people live in peace? Why do you have to murder people? It has nothing to do with me, anymore than my being a murderer because somebody shot somebody else in Richmond. If some person wants to make silly associations like that, that person is an idiot, but his idiocy doesn’t bother me. Religious idiocy does because certain of them are trying to rewrite the laws of this country to impose their religion on me. > [@](#): > > You’re not an asshole because you don’t believe in God, you’re an asshole because someone who also describes themselves as an “atheist” may have stabbed someone in the hand with a fork for saying “God bless you.” I would never stab anybody period, let alone for perfforming an empty gesture. Heck, I say “bless you” when people sneeze because it’s just a ritual of courtesy, with no real meaning. I have no problem with prayers at dinner, and have even said them when asked because I hold other people’s feelings more important than quibbling over meaningless words. Now if somebody insited that their rules should be imposed on me, say by claiming that their religion dictates that I can’t be married legally, then I have a problem. I also have a problem when stupid people insist on turning a discussion about Christian doctrine into insults. "Christian’s don’t believe in love, but obedience becaused that’s what their doctrine. . . " “How DARE you insult all Christians! WE do so believe in love, you asshole!” "Hey, the Bible is supposed to be the authority from which teachings are derived, and it says here. . . " “Fuck you, you can’t impose your view of the Bible on Christians,. My view is different so you’re insulting me AGAIN!” "Dude, you’re being a jackass about this. . . " “Stop painting yourself as a victim, you hypocritical liar! I am a Christian, but I don’t have to be polite to YOU!” “But. . . wasn’t that my point?” “NO, you used comPLETEly different wording, so you’re not only a hypocritical liar, you;re a lying hypocrite!” And so on. Hell, I wager if I said that the Episcopalians read the Book of Common Prayer, someone would call me a generalizing asshole. “I go to an Episcopal church and we read a printed liturgy, so fuck you!” ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/68 "2005-03-11T15:06:49Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > I’m dissapointed in **gobear** –even though I disagree with him, I thought him smarter then that. Yes, using **that** logic, gobear is a believer in psychic abilities. What’s wrong with that? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/69 "2005-03-11T15:11:18Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > Hmm… You’re an atheist. You believe in psychics. Therefore, **gobear** believes in psychics. I’m dissapointed in **gobear** –even though I disagree with him, I thought him smarter then that. Maybe I need to use smaller words? Again, atheism has no rules, Christianity does. To say one is an atheist is to deny the existence of deities. Therer are no governing bodies that impose obedience on atheists, there is no creed, no liturgy, no church. They are fundamentally different. Atheists don’t defrock one another in heresy trials. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/70 "2005-03-11T15:11:52Z")
A more accurate way to paraphrase the conversation would be like this: “Christians don’t believe in love. They believe that faith and obediance to God is what’s necessary and sufficient for salvation.” “Well, actually, only some Christians believe that. There are a great many other viewpoints.” “Christians don’t believe in love. They believe that faith and obediance to God is what’s necessary and sufficient for salvation.” “Well, no, that’s just not the case. Lots of Christians, including those in some of the largest sects, don’t believe that.” “Christians don’t believe in love. They believe that faith and obediance to God is what’s necessary and sufficient for salvation.” “Again, you’re wrong. That statement may not even be true for the majority of Christians!” “Christians don’t believe in love. They believe that faith and obediance to God is what’s necessary and sufficient for salvation.” “No–I don’t know how else to explain it. That’s simply not a universal Christian belief.” “Christians don’t believe in love. They believe that faith and obediance to God is what’s necessary and sufficient for salvation.” “No, it isn’t.” “Christians don’t believe in love. They believe that faith and obediance to God is what’s necessary and sufficient for salvation.” “_sigh_ It’s not that simple–Christianity is a large group and you can’t make generalizations like that.” “Christians don’t believe in love. They believe that faith and obediance to God is what’s necessary and sufficient for salvation.” “Why the fuck don’t you listen to people? Why do you insist on using generalizations to negatively characterize my beliefs?” “Christians don’t believe in love. They believe that faith and obediance to God is what’s necessary and sufficient for salvation.” “Now you’re just doing that to insult me.” “Christians don’t believe in love. They believe that faith and obediance to God is what’s necessary and sufficient for salvation.” “You’re an asshole.” “Oh, so you think I’m an asshole? I thought Christians believed in love? Some fine example of Christian love you are. Why do you hate me because of my beliefs??? :(” ---
**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:** [March 11, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/71 "2005-03-11T15:12:55Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > You’re not an asshole because you don’t believe in God, you’re an asshole because someone who also describes themselves as an “atheist” may have stabbed someone in the hand with a fork for saying “God bless you.” I think this is was very well put. ---
**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:** [March 11, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/72 "2005-03-11T15:18:15Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > If some person wants to make silly associations like that, that person is an idiot, but his idiocy doesn’t bother me. Excellent way of looking at things, **gobear**. I promise not to let your idiocy bother me either. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/73 "2005-03-11T15:21:42Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > Excellent way of looking at things, **gobear**. I promise not to let your idiocy bother me either. And you shouldn’t. Sure, I have no problems being thought an idiot, and if you don’t like my views, let’ em slide right off your back. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/74 "2005-03-11T15:21:16Z")
> [@manhattan](#): > > Well _that’s_ going to complicate the big atheist picnic/fundraiser I had planned. Damn it! ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/75 "2005-03-11T15:22:06Z")
> [@manhattan](#): > > Well _that’s_ going to complicate the big atheist picnic/fundraiser I had planned. Damn it! Jesus Christ Almighty what’s it take to be an atheist around here??? ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/76 "2005-03-11T15:26:04Z")
Do you renounce wizardary and all it’s really cool tricks? ---
**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:** [March 11, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/77 "2005-03-11T15:29:04Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > And you shouldn’t. Sure, I have no problems being thought an idiot, and if you don’t like my views, let’ em slide right off your back. I will. I’ve been realizing lately that when I get really angry at someone, it’s usually because I see something in them that I don’t like that I also see in my self. I’m going to work harder on getting the plank out of my own eye before I try to remove the splinter in yours. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/78 "2005-03-11T15:30:05Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > It has nothing to do with me, anymore than my being a murderer because somebody shot somebody else in Richmond. If some person wants to make silly associations like that, that person is an idiot, but his idiocy doesn’t bother me. Religious idiocy does because certain of them are trying to rewrite the laws of this country to impose their religion on me. I am going to take an Advil, and against my better judgment, respond to this. I will, no doubt, regret is sooner than later, but wisdom isn’t my best quality. If I have learned anything this week, it is that you can indeed be accused of criminal activity for disagreeing with someone on the SDMB. You have taught me this. It’s a valuable lesson that I will cherish forever. The real point of this, however, is to set a definition straight. I’m going to use some large type, because you don’t seem to understand me when I simply type things out in good ol’ 12 pt. I blame the font, or maybe Microsoft, because I certainly don’t think you that you would willfully misinterpret statements to suit your purposes. Here it is: Nobody is trying to impose their religion on you. No one. Niemand. Nadie. Nessuno. What is being crammed down your throat is someone’s idea of **ethics**. Religion is just a sometime justification for what they really want to do, and that is impose their ethics on you. Think about it. Do you really think the Johns and Janes of conservative America are thinking, “oh no, Gobear isn’t living by God’s word, let’s set him strait.” Or rather, is their first thought, “I just don’t like the way Gobear is living his life.” This can be followed by any number of legal or religious justifications – but the thought is first, the justification is bolted on after the fact. ---
**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:** [March 11, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/79 "2005-03-11T15:54:25Z")
It just occured to me that what I wrote earlier could be misconstrued. I just want **gobear** to know that I don’t think he’s a idiot, just that he’s sometimes prone to idiocy. There is a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925/80 "2005-03-11T15:58:24Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > Again, atheism has no rules, Christianity does. To say one is an atheist is to deny the existence of deities. Therer are no governing bodies that impose obedience on atheists, there is no creed, no liturgy, no church. They are fundamentally different. Atheists don’t defrock one another in heresy trials. So I should not be upset with **you** or **Muffin** , then, because some clown somewhere insists that **all** us religionists are in it for power and/or money? Can you draw the logical parallel that was the freakin’ **point** to my OP? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-atheists-on-this-board/293925.md?page=5)