General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWould anybody here be interested in a non-fundamentalist atheist group?
This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by EarlG (a host of the General Discussion forum).
I've noticed that religious folks have several groups here, but that us atheists have only one group, and non-fundamentalist atheists don't have any groups at all.
As I see it, non-atheists would also be welcome in this group, so long as they are respectful of us non-fundamentalist atheists.
I imagine a serious group based on respect and science, not on silly internet memes.
ARETHA FRANKLIN SINGS "RESPECT" LIVE 1967!
Would you be interested in such a group?
18 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Poll closed | |
Yes. | |
5 (28%) |
|
No. | |
13 (72%) |
|
0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided. | |
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Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll |
Response to old as dirt (Original post)
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old as dirt
(1,972 posts)Just not a fundamentalist.
Silent3
(15,618 posts)Lacking belief in deities is all you need to be an atheist. Not a lot of fundamentals to get fundie about.
Do you mean not trying to impose atheism on others the way Christian Nationalists try to impose Christianity on others? That pretty much covers most atheists I know.
Do you mean not having a book that is taken as word-for-word literal truth, which dare not be challenged? Again, that fits most atheists I know.
Oh, I get it! You mean quiet, meek atheists who are never assertive or confrontational, who think religion is a wonderful thing for those who want to have it, atheists who are practically apologetic about being atheists.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)old as dirt
(1,972 posts)We don't do that.
Our very existence seems to disturb the fundamentalists, which is why they make up lies about us.
hlthe2b
(102,982 posts)betsuni
(26,214 posts)or talk about it because you don't care.
Like trying to have a group for shy people and of course they're not going to come.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only shy atheist in the world.
betsuni
(26,214 posts)Shy people wouldn't flock to gatherings to talk about their shyness with other people and atheists have little interest in talking about religion because they have no interest in the subject.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)old as dirt
(1,972 posts)Can a shy person have an interest in History?
Can a shy person have an interest in Anthropology?
Can a shy person have an interest in Music?
Can a shy person have an interest in Dance?
Is there something about shyness that precludes any of these?
betsuni
(26,214 posts)old as dirt
(1,972 posts)I'm going to have a huge problem trying to explain those sciences to anybody.
Especially considering how shy I am.
I just don't think that we should let our own shyness limit our own studies as amatuers, that's all.
betsuni
(26,214 posts)ItsjustMe
(11,317 posts)old as dirt
(1,972 posts)betsuni
(26,214 posts)talk about things they have no interest in -- groups (other people) and religion?
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)Sky Jewels
(7,312 posts)Your agenda and framing are pretty transparent.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)So don't worry about it.
Mike Niendorff
(3,482 posts)Extreme false equivalence, attempting to cast atheism as somehow being just a flavor of religious fundamentalism.
Notably, this *is* an argumentative tactic frequently employed by religious zealots -- attempting to portray their opponents as really being just as non-rational and authoritarian as they and their religious cohorts are (thereby attempting to render the distinction moot).
So yeah, put me down as a "no" here, because the premise is false and the intent is highly suspect.
MDN
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)multigraincracker
(32,982 posts)For what it is worth.
multigraincracker
(32,982 posts)Wikipedia
Secular humanism is a philosophy, belief system or life stance that embraces human reason, secular ethics, and philosophical naturalism while specifically rejecting religious dogma, supernaturalism, and superstition as the basis of morality and decision making.[1][2][3][4]
Secular humanism posits that human beings are capable of being ethical and moral without religion or belief in a deity. It does not, however, assume that humans are either inherently good or evil, nor does it present humans as being superior to nature. Rather, the humanist life stance emphasizes the unique responsibility facing humanity and the ethical consequences of human decisions. Fundamental to the concept of secular humanism is the strongly held viewpoint that ideologybe it religious or politicalmust be thoroughly examined by each individual and not simply accepted or rejected on faith. Along with this, an essential part of secular humanism is a continually adapting search for truth, primarily through science and philosophy. Many secular humanists derive their moral codes from a philosophy of utilitarianism, ethical naturalism, or evolutionary ethics, and some advocate a science of morality.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)Duppers
(28,151 posts)We do not believe in the existence of a deity.
Period.
We are not agnostic.
"Non-fundamentalist atheists"
MayReasonRule
(1,463 posts)Non-fundamentalist atheist...
Sounds like a turd in a taco to me.
Doubt is my "savior".
Reason is my "god".
May reason rule.
ParishPolitique
(24 posts)MayReasonRule
(1,463 posts)It may be that's a part of the site's algorithm.
I'm in Caddo. What part do you reside within?
ParishPolitique
(24 posts)claudette
(3,722 posts)Student of Buddhism, I'm more agnostic than atheist. But, I see your point. 🙂
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)Something to the effect that where he draws the line depends on his audience.
I think he called himself an atheist when speaking to the lay public, but an agnostic when speaking to Philosophers.
Or something like that.
Croney
(4,715 posts)the label is too clunky. Atheist is sufficient.
NeoGreen
(4,031 posts)... The DU Lounge.
MayReasonRule
(1,463 posts)ParishPolitique
(24 posts)I promise my second post will be more substantive.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)Welcome to DU!
ParishPolitique
(24 posts).. there are plenty of atheists who are assholes, just as there are plenty of religious people who are. Atheists who are pushy, elitist, and insulting -- I think this is what you mean by "fundamentalist atheists." But this is an asshole problem, not an atheist one. I would recommend spending less time around assholes, theist and nontheist alike.
You'd need to explain what you mean by "fundamentalist atheist" and then explain why the present Atheist group is apparently reserved for them, and it's not just a case of assholes being loud in a particular space, which can be counteracted by ignoring them.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)And can be hard to ignore.
Angry White American Man
yardwork
(62,036 posts)It sounds like you're trying to create a new group on DU whose stated purpose is to pester another group.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)yardwork
(62,036 posts)Is it respectful to demean the DU Atheists group?
Generic Brad
(14,284 posts)Atheists dont recruit. They dont feel a compulsion to gather. We certainly dont need a forum to hash out degrees of no belief.
Aint nobody got time for that.
LostOne4Ever
(9,329 posts)You should be ashamed
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)Just because of who I married.
LostOne4Ever
(9,329 posts)Calling atheists fundamentalists is bigotry and has no place on DU.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)...was to be told by fundamentalists that my wife is a liar, just because of her identity.
And then one of them started coming at me with the N-Word.
LostOne4Ever
(9,329 posts)So they would no longer be on DU.
If they still are on DU that probably means you are either a) misrepresenting what happened b) not giving full context or c) both a & b
yardwork
(62,036 posts)DU juries let a lot of things go, but it's hard to imagine a post calling somebody the n word not being hidden. Did you communicate this to EarlG? That post sounds like a violation of multiple DU rules.
What it's not is a definition of atheism. Atheists don't have any religious beliefs. They reject the whole paradigm. As far as I know, no other sets of beliefs are required to consider oneself an atheist. Their opinions will run the gamut.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)Same thing when they called my wife a liar.
yardwork
(62,036 posts)A couple of personal attacks are not a good reason to attempt to create a whole new group on DU whose stated purpose is to pester another group.
There are occasional trolls on DU, despite DUers' dedicated volunteer efforts. There are rude posts, despite DUers' volunteer efforts. Deal with it.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)A place where atheists are allowed to speak freely.
yardwork
(62,036 posts)If you think it's violating DU terms of service, take it up with the hosts.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)EarlG
(22,090 posts)Please send me a link.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)obamanut2012
(26,327 posts)Of course not.
Calling atheists fundies is rank bigotry.
You really are not a great person, are you?
MarineCombatEngineer
(12,729 posts)I find it hard to believe that anyone on DU called you the N word, that would be an instant hide and ban.
old as dirt
(1,972 posts)MarineCombatEngineer
(12,729 posts)BTW, asking for a link isn't stalking, it's a request.
yardwork
(62,036 posts)if..fish..had..wings
(685 posts)I'm fundamentally opposed
GoneOffShore
(17,356 posts)old as dirt
(1,972 posts)obamanut2012
(26,327 posts)And also loves spamming the Atheist group on DU with Catholic dogma.
This OP is disgraceful, and yes, hateful.
Good grief.
yardwork
(62,036 posts)I'm not an atheist but I'm close to several.
dsp3000
(495 posts)obamanut2012
(26,327 posts)old as dirt
(1,972 posts)Jokerman
(3,525 posts)Link to the forum:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1226
IIRC, this forum was created exactly for others who, like you, claimed that they didn't quite fit into any other categories.
As a long time member and follower of the Atheists & Agnostics forum I can say that your continued use of the "fundamental atheist" slur is likely to be poorly received.