# When will white, christian moderates speak up? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 24, 2015, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895 "2015-03-24T21:10:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/121 "2015-03-25T20:03:59Z")
**Algher** , I hope you’re okay with the potential of you being viewed as **Polycarp** ver. 2.0 😃 Seriously, good job in the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/122 "2015-03-25T20:09:53Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’m against rape and murder, because rape and murder harms people. Since evolution installed (most) humans with a strong empathic sense, when I see people being harmed, I feel bad. I don’t like to feel bad. So, I oppose people being raped and murdered. > > Not sure where the “faith” part comes into that. The “faith” comes in under the assumption that what makes you feel bad, is morally wrong. Do you accept the existence of God because someone told you that believing in God feels right? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/123 "2015-03-25T20:17:54Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The “faith” comes in under the assumption that what makes you feel bad, is morally wrong. Where did I say that things that make me feel bad are morally wrong? > [@](#): > > Do you accept the existence of God because someone told you that believing in God feels right? No, I’m an atheist. I don’t believe in God because I don’t see any evidence for the existence of God. Feelings don’t really enter into it. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/124 "2015-03-25T21:33:06Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Why is it, do you think, that “vocal atheists” are a recent thing? That only in our society in very modern times that atheists feel comfortable enough to be able to actually declare their atheism and their reasons for it? > > Because for thousands of years, up until the extremely recent past historically, and only in certain places - the progressive west, admitting you were atheist, let alone advocating for it _was a death sentence_. Or perhaps if you lived in a very progressive place, only exile. > > Are you saying that the historical hatred for atheists was justified by a few people who weren’t afraid to meekly and quietly and respectfully admit their atheism while also profusely apologizing for it and saying oh no religion is a special beautiful thing and even though I personally don’t follow it, it’s a majestic institution and blah blah? You think Richard Dawkins is the source of all that hatred, not the thousands of years in human history in which being an atheist was the lowest fucking thing you could be? > > That’s disgusting. Could you imagine if you said some other historically persecuted group deserved the hate and discrimination and oppression they received because in the last few decades they’ve forgot their place was to shut up and not disturb the prevailing power structure and sensibilities of the most ignorant people? People would look at you as a vile as a vile, disgusting hatemonger. But no, saying that about atheists is cool. Which only proves my point. > > _This very thread_ very about fucking Pat Robertson engaging in the sort of illogical anti-atheist thinking that has resulted in thousands of years of hate and persecution, and here you sit saying “oh, the hate isn’t coming from the ignorance of him and his ilk, and people who were historically like him. No, the hate is coming because you deserved it because you said religion was silly on a message board” > > People have hated atheists with a fiery passion for most of human history even though the stigma and consequences for admitting atheism, let alone advocating for it, were so high that no one would admit to being an atheist. And yet that hatred still burned, despite people going their whole lives without ever encountering someone who ever admitted they were an atheist. So there your idea is disproven - even in the absense of admitted atheists, even the hint that atheists could exist in the hypothetical was something that generated an incredible amount of hatred. > > Do you really think, even in modern times, people like Pat Robertson would be cool with atheists except he read some fucking message board post somewhere that wasn’t deferential enough? You don’t think he comes from a fucking troglodyte religious tradition of hatred of atheists going back thousands of years? The fact that he can’t even fucking understand atheists - that he thinks the scenario quoted by the OP is okay by atheists - proves his hatred is rooted in ignorance and fear and not an actual assessment of what atheists are. > > Just like with gay rights, we’ve only come so far on the atheism front in recent times because of people who were unafraid to admit what they were, and say that it was okay. If everyone politely maintained their silence and gave lip service to the supremacy and soundness of religious belief people would still be too afraid to admit their atheism. Many - probably most - still are. > > And as far as atheism has come in that regard, we’re still regarded by many many people as being as bad or worse as rapists or murderers. Many parents would rather find out that their kid is gay and is dating a black muslim than that they were atheist. And I’m definitely not saying there’s anything wrong with being gay, or black, or a muslim - I’m only trying to serve it as a point of comparison. Most of us know just how much a gay, black, muslim person would be hated by the religious sorts, but few of us will admit that those same people hate atheists as much or more. > > Questioning whether their god exists is something that people find deeply unsettling in a way that’s apparently not triggered by other petty hatreds. > > And just as with other ignorant, oppressive, hateful beliefs, the best way to change people’s opinions is to challenge them. Would you be telling gay people to just hide themselves, since their condition wasn’t external? Live a life where you pretend to be heterosexual, never criticize the status quo that preaches hate for you, and for gods sake don’t let those gay extremists who are willing to say they’re gay and they think nothing is wrong with it speak for you. > > So many ignorant beliefs are given power because they dare not be questioned, and those who question them are looked at as “militant” scum. Religion still has a stranglehold on our society that has only recently begun to chip. There are what, 1 or 2 elected officials in any significant capacity in the entirety of the US and state legislatures and executives? Politicians would sooner be caught as rapists or murderers than they would atheists. > > No, but you’re right, I should know my place. I shouldn’t come into threads about Pat Robertson fucking telling people that atheists would be okay with their wife and kids being raped and murdered because hey, that’s the atheist code, we’re cool with it. I should afford religion a special privilege of being free from scrutiny even if I attack all prescientific magical belief systems that cause harm equally. Because religion is super special and dare not be questioned. What a great big, impressive wall of text. I retort with but a few simple points, so they don’t get lost in self-righteous jibber-jabber: 1. This is about one of the Duck Dynasty Robertsons, not Pat Robertson. If you can’t be troubled to even read the OP’s link before you unload there’s nothing I can do for you. 2. Boo hoo, poor put-upon atheists. Every category of people has had their turn in the barrel at some point. You are not special in that regard. 3. What a magnificent response to my post, which when simplified, says that if you are going to pin this jerk on me, you have to accept responsibility for your own jerks. It’s as simple as that. [QUOTE=Happy Fun Ball] I have never declared my atheism to anyone except my wife and my closest friends. [/QUOTE] Good for you. I’m sure people cared one way or the other, too. No, they probably didn’t. And don’t. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/125 "2015-03-25T21:45:21Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > What a great big, impressive wall of text. I retort with but a few simple points, so they don’t get lost in self-righteous jibber-jabber: Oh, right, a well formed argument that destroys your points is a “great big wall of text” and dismissed because it’s thorough. > [@](#): > > 1. This is about one of the Duck Dynasty Robertsons, not Pat Robertson. If you can’t be troubled to even read the OP’s link before you unload there’s nothing I can do for you. Whatever. Who cares? My point is that religious people like him (and in this way, this asshole and Pat Robertson are pretty similar) hate atheists because of their nature, because they have the audacity to deny something as simple and as obvious as the existance of the bearded sky dude. It has nothing to do with Richard Dawkins and the “new” atheist movement who dare to speak critically of religion as you’d speak of any other magical mythology because it stems from a tradition of thousands of years of hating atheists. It’s not a recent invention. You are a shitbag who’s trying to blame the victim in this case. It’s like someone saying “I hate gays because of those really outspoken ones” - no, you hated gays in the first place, you’re just using the outspoken ones as some sort of excuse. > [@](#): > > 1. Boo hoo, poor put-upon atheists. Every category of people has had their turn in the barrel at some point. You are not special in that regard. Wait, so, it’s cool that atheists are maligned and hated like other groups are? Would you say this same thing to Jews that were complaining of systematic mistreatment in Germany in the 1930s? “Boohoo, everyone gets hated at some point”? What about gays in the 1980s? Besides which, do you think today is the pinnacle of discrimination, hatred, oppression towards atheists? Not at all. Today is the golden age. We’re merely looked upon as the lowest of the low by a significant portion the US, we aren’t actively killed if we dare identify ourselves. What period in history do you think atheists had it pretty good? > [@](#): > > 1. What a magnificent response to my post, which when simplified, says that if you are going to pin this jerk on me, you have to accept responsibility for your own jerks. It’s as simple as that. What jerks are you talking about? My whole point is that merely applying the same scrutiny that you would to any other magical mythology besides religion to religion gets a reaction as if you were the Fred Phelps of atheism. I usually go out of my way in these sorts of debates not to attack specific people for being religious, but only attacking ideas. If I attack a person, it’s for some shitty thing they’ve said, like your “oh boo hoo, oppression happens to everyone at some point, stop whining” garbage. I’ve brought up this example before, but years before the internet, years before I actually saw Richard Dawkins for myself, he was invariably described to be as this screaming, hateful, seething, intolerant, militant, scary man. He’s actually polite, careful, well spoken, and attacks ideas rather than people. But that’s the whole thing in a microcosm - by religious standards, someone has to be Fred Phelps tier to be considered intolerant, but an atheist merely has to say “I’m an atheist and I think your religious beliefs are wrong” to be treated as though they were some screaming bully. Religion cannot stand up to scrutiny, so it invests a huge amount of its social capital in making criticism of religion a verboten subject, a significant part of which is to characterize people who criticize it as raving militant madmen. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/126 "2015-03-25T21:54:33Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Oh, right, a well formed argument that destroys your points is a “great big wall of text” and dismissed because it’s thorough. What points did it destroy? I made no point except that the only atheists you hear from are the ones that talk shit on religion, and sure enough, here you are, doing exactly that. Did you think that religious people would be lined up to listen to you denigrate their faith? No, they think you’re a prick, and since you’re doing all the talking you’re the face of atheism. Moderate atheists ought to put the kibosh on you. I mean, since I’m expected to smack down this Robertson guy, I should expect no less from moderate atheists. > [@](#): > > Religion cannot stand up to scrutiny, so it invests a huge amount of its social capital in making criticism of religion a verboten subject, a significant part of which is to characterize people who criticize it as raving militant madmen. Cool story, bro. I don’t care what you think, but thanks for offering your thoughts on the matter. ---
**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:** [March 25, 2015, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/127 "2015-03-25T21:57:02Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > 1. Boo hoo, poor put-upon atheists. Every category of people has had their turn in the barrel at some point. You are not special in that regard. The difference is that there was no hesitation in inserting the word “atheists” into that sentence, was there? Would you be just as willing to repeat that sentence, only substituting the words “African- Americans”, “Jews”, “females” etc.? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/128 "2015-03-25T22:03:11Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The difference is that there was no hesitation in inserting the word “atheists” into that sentence, was there? Would you be just as willing to repeat that sentence, only substituting the words “African- Americans”, “Jews”, “females” etc.? Are you asking if things would be different, if things were different? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/129 "2015-03-25T22:12:09Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Cool story, bro. I don’t care what you think, but thanks for offering your thoughts on the matter. Right, because if you had to stop and actually listen to someone that was thinking, you wouldn’t be able to cling to your precious little fairy tales anymore. Like a small child with your fingers in your ears, yelling “La La La!!! I can’t hear you!!!”. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/130 "2015-03-25T22:17:02Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > Right, because if you had to stop and actually listen to someone that was thinking, you wouldn’t be able to cling to your precious little fairy tales anymore. Like a small child with your fingers in your ears, yelling “La La La!!! I can’t hear you!!!”. I’m pretty sure there is a difference between _I can’t hear you_ and _I heard you, but you’re not very convincing_. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/131 "2015-03-25T22:19:15Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Cool story, bro. I don’t care what you think, but thanks for offering your thoughts on the matter. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMLHh8KvxVE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMLHh8KvxVE) ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/132 "2015-03-25T22:22:18Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I’m pretty sure there is a difference between _I can’t hear you_ and _I heard you, but you’re not very convincing_. You can’t use reason to change an unreasonable position, not unless the person WANTS to listen to reason. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/133 "2015-03-25T22:22:54Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > Right, because if you had to stop and actually listen to someone that was thinking, you wouldn’t be able to cling to your precious little fairy tales anymore. Like a small child with your fingers in your ears, yelling “La La La!!! I can’t hear you!!!”. No, I simply have different beliefs, and I don’t find the atheist argument convincing. You do. Good for you. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/134 "2015-03-25T22:25:34Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > No, I simply have different beliefs, and I don’t find the atheist argument convincing. You do. Good for you. Then why are you being so sarcastic and combative? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/135 "2015-03-25T22:33:32Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > You can’t use reason to change an unreasonable position, not unless the person WANTS to listen to reason. People can listen to your position and still reject it. That seems like a reasonable position to hold. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/136 "2015-03-25T22:34:00Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > Then why are you being so sarcastic and combative? Because from the very fucking beginning of this thread I have been told it is my fucking fault, as a moderate, white Christian, that this Robertson fellow won’t shut his piehole. I expressed my displeasure, and then was told that that wasn’t good enough. Then the atheist attacks began, and boy, didn’t I invite attacks when I retorted with the same words that I apparently am obligated to say to Mr. Dick Dynasty. I. Don’t. Owe. You. Anything. I bear no responsibility whatsoever. I didn’t create the monster, I didn’t create the world where apparently everybody unjustifiably hates on atheists, but according to this thread I am to carry the burden for both. Why wouldn’t that piss me the fuck off? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/137 "2015-03-25T22:37:01Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > Then why are you being so sarcastic and combative? In The BBQ Pit forum? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/138 "2015-03-25T22:37:28Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > People can listen to your position and still reject it. That seems like a reasonable position to hold. So you’re saying “Jesus walked on water” is a reasonable position??? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/139 "2015-03-25T22:41:03Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Because from the very fucking beginning of this thread I have been told it is my fucking fault, as a moderate, white Christian, that this Robertson fellow won’t shut his piehole. I expressed my displeasure, and then was told that that wasn’t good enough. > > Then the atheist attacks began, and boy, didn’t I invite attacks when I retorted with the same words that I apparently am obligated to say to Mr. Dick Dynasty. > > I. Don’t. Owe. You. Anything. I bear no responsibility whatsoever. I didn’t create the monster, I didn’t create the world where apparently everybody unjustifiably hates on atheists, but according to this thread I am to carry the burden for both. Why wouldn’t that piss me the fuck off? Yeah, I hear you. That would be frustrating. But the problem is it is a polarized and emotional issue. That’s what you are actually reacting too. If it was some neutral topic and the story of a family getting raped and murdered, you denounce it immediately!!! Furthermore, when the Atheist shot those 3 muslims last month, my reaction wasn’t, “He doesn’t represent me!!!”. My reaction was “That guy deserves the death penalty!!!” ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895/140 "2015-03-25T22:42:36Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > What points did it destroy? The idea that anyone who dares speak on atheism or criticize religion is an “extremist” atheist. The idea that atheists are hated mainly because of these “extremist” atheists rather than there being a thousand years long history in which atheists were oppressed as much as any other group has ever been. The idea that atheists don’t face (or, later, deserve to face) the same unwarranted oppression as some other groups have historically - or worse. What is a moderate atheist to you? Someone who is just secretly an atheist? Or perhaps someone, who if asked directly, will sheepishly and apologetically admit they are an atheist? One that knows their place and stays quiet while religions use their power to pass religiously-empowering or discriminatory laws? I’m not attacking individual posters for their religious beliefs, generally. I don’t come into threads about random subjects and shit all over them by dragging religion bashing into it. Do I go to a message board with open discussion and then post my thoughts to topics specifically dealing with talking about religion and the implications thereof? Yes. Just because I fucking participate in discussions on message boards about religion doesn’t mean I walk the streets with a bullhorn telling everyone they’re stupid for being religious. Nor do I spit in someone’s face if they say “I’m praying for you” or say “HERP DERP YOU’RE A RETARD” when my friends tell me they’re going to church. My intentions derive from a place of humanism - I want humanity to overcome our primitive, harmful, outdated ideas that we once clung to. I want to eliminate racism, sexism, oppression - and, yes, one of those ideas that we discard as we become more advanced is religion. And the world is heading that way - the people who are the most socially progressive, who are the least racist, sexist, oppressive, etc. also tend to be the least religious. And the ones who cling so hard to their religion are usually backwards in those other ways too. The whole idea that people who aren’t hiding, or sheepishly copping to, and apologizing for their atheism are extremists is bunk. It’s just one more way in which religions attempt to stifle scrutiny because they can’t withstand it. > [@](#): > > I made no point except that the only atheists you hear from are the ones that talk shit on religion, and sure enough, here you are, doing exactly that. Did you think that religious people would be lined up to listen to you denigrate their faith? No, they think you’re a prick, and since you’re doing all the talking you’re the face of atheism. Moderate atheists ought to put the kibosh on you. I mean, since I’m expected to smack down this Robertson guy, I should expect no less from moderate atheists. I get what point you’re trying to make. “This loud, ignorant, hateful guy is making Christians look bad. Well, you’re the atheist equivalent of that!” Except I’ve never done anything like this guy. I’ve never mischaracterized people who believe differently from me so grossly. I don’t have the level of hatred that he has for the individuals with the affliction of having other beliefs. I’ve never thought that all religious people are, evil, incapable of morality, or even stupid. I do think they lack the ability or willingness to evaluate those views critically. I tend to attack ideas, not people, and from a place of wanting to stop harm or promote happiness rather than a place of wanting to oppress or satisfy hatred. I’ve never implied that horrible shit should happen to religious people because they had it coming to them the way he does. This is the whole crux of the thing - false equivalence. “Religious extremists are bad, atheist extremists must be equally bad” - except no, I am not the equivalent of that guy at all. It’s extremely lazy and bigoted to just assume this. > [@](#): > > Cool story, bro. I don’t care what you think, but thanks for offering your thoughts on the matter. Don’t come to a fucking message board designed to facilitate discussion and reduce ignorance of you are unreceptive to such things. Or at least stick to the football threads or something where you might not be so overwhelmed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-white-christian-moderates-speak-up/715895.md?page=8)