For those of you who avoid the Religion group, I don't want you to miss this:

[trotsky]

You need to see this absolute beauty of a post from Act_of_Reparation in response to one of the all-too-frequent "Why can't we all just hold hands and sing instead of criticizing religious beliefs?" appeals...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=129222

Act_of_Reparation, I salute you.

[Act_of_Reparation]

1. Thanks. I'll try not to let all this praise go to my head.

Well. I said I'd try.

[libodem]

2. I walk the line between the worlds

I'm interested in aspects of both worlds. And probably don't fit well in either. There is room for both. And we should all just be cool because we are all proud progressives.

[trotsky]

3. It's like you got inside my head with that post...

took all the random bits I've been thinking every time I see the nannies start scolding about meanie atheists, and put them into a coherent, concise rant.

Well done.

[JNelson6563]

4. I completely agree with that rant.

We're just being assholes if we don't feel inclined to be slathered with blessings and godtalk during their "outreach". Remarkably similar and ineffective as the GOP's outreach efforts to women and minorities.

Funny, that.

Julie

[passiveporcupine]

25. I understand that religious people include God in their conversations a lot

I know my Mom does when talking to me, even though she knows I don't believe in her faith or God. So when she does it to me, no matter how harmless it's intent, it feels like a passive aggressive poke at me every time she does it. I love my Mother, so I try to ignore it.

She recently sent me a horrible e-mail about Obama and the current administration and how bad it was for our economy; and I guess she's getting senile, because she knows better than to try to discuss politics with me too. I've been upset ever since I got it, but I won't say anything to her, because she's not going to be around much longer and I don't want to add any more conflict to our relationship than is already there due to our differing beliefs in religion and politics. But...if she started openly proselytizing me, I would have to find a way to put a stop to it. And if she continues with the political stuff, I may have to speak up too...or just not talk to her any more and I don't want to go there.

It does no good trying to push my beliefs on her, because at her age, she isn't going to change. It's just better to avoid certain topics...but many religious people just keep pushing it, even if they don't mean to, or even realize they are doing it.

BTW, I love my Mother, even if she is wrong about just about everything!

[zeemike]

5. I avoid the religious group because of.

Being told about the flying spaghetti god every time you want to talk about a religious thing.
And being told that you are stupid to "believe" any of that shit in the bible...
You get nowhere by insulting people...it makes atheist seem like bullies...and I know they are not...it is the anti-theist that make them look bad.

[skepticscott]

6. Maybe you should avoid

this group, too.

If challenging other people's declared beliefs in an open forum makes someone a "bully", tough. If they find having their precious beliefs examined or challenged "insulting", tough. There are safe havens where they can celebrate the wonderfulness of their unsubstantiated beliefs without dissent.

[zeemike]

11. I have no problem with being challenged on anything I say.

I do have problems with being insulted and called a fool because I don't believe the same things as you do.
I don't need a safe haven...my skin is not that thin.
But I have posted in this forum before...but I have no desire to convert an atheist ot anything so I don't need to waste my time with discussing it...even though I have a lot to say on the subject...but it winds up with being insulted.

PS...I just noticed that this is the A&A group...if I had noticed it earlier I would not have posted here...I don't usually post in protected groups of any kind...I must be more carefull to read where I am.

[skepticscott]

13. Yeah, right..

just an accident that you stumbled in here to scold everyone. Heck, you could have been in the Cooking and Baking Group for all you knew.

[zeemike]

15. Well that points out why I avoid groups.

You can't take me at my word...because you know I have a secret motive to scold you.
The paranoid seek protection.

[skepticscott]

16. So you're just going to continue

to prod and bait people here, even now that you "know" where you are? Even though you've been told that you and what you're posting aren't welcome in a safe haven?

[mr blur]

19. So you "have posted in this forum before...but I have no desire to convert an atheist ot anything"..

and then:

"PS...I just noticed that this is the A&A group...if I had noticed it earlier I would not have posted here"

Was that "earlier" before you decided not to "convert an atheist or anything"?

[zeemike]

20. I thought I was posting in a religious group because of the title of the OP

And I have posted in Religious groups before.
Now I am through, because I am being accused down thread of attacking this group by trying to explain why I am hear.
Goodbye.

[skepticscott]

22. So "the paranoid seek protection" was explaining

why you're here?

Don't let the door hit you.

[cleanhippie]

23. Just be gone.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

24. That is incredibly, incredibly insulting

Saying "my skin is not that thin" shows that you have a terrible attitude towards atheists and agnostics, many of whom use this group as one of the few places they can open up about their atheism and get away from attitudes like yours. It's a place of vulnerability for some, and your words are seriously offensive.

It blows my mind that you can think so little of atheists, when it's attitudes like yours that make us what we are. It would do you well to look at the anger and frustration and pain and try to understand why it exists and how you're a part of it. Instead, you think those feelings are made up or forced, devaluing both our experiences and our insights. Maybe you own that privilege in the real world or in other areas of DU, but the A&A group is OUR fucking group; OUR place. And you violated it.

[Lordquinton]

7. Thoes topics are brought up

Because when you bring up the real filth (Homophobia, misogyny, pedophilia, and everything else the Religion hides in it's robes) you get buried for hurting the "Good Theists" feelings, instead.

They can't burn us at the stake anymore, but we're still wary of fire.

[AtheistCrusader]

8. Cool story, bro.

[Goblinmonger]

9. There are safe havens for believers, you know?

Just like this safe haven for atheists. You won't find that stuff you don't like there. You can talk about your beliefs all you want and nobody will challenge them. You might be happy there.

[Warren Stupidity]

18. So when somebody admits that they believe that their angry god tortures gay people

we should just shut the fuck up? Why?

[LostOne4Ever]

10. Thanks for posting the link

I have the OP on ignore.

Awesome post Act_of_Reparation!

[onager]

12. Bwa-ha-ha! And as a nice bonus, now we're "sociopathic!"

Thanks for posting the link.

Did everyone notice - we got warned that the Religion group is not the place for "sociopathic behavior?"

Really? Well, thanks for that diagnosis, Internet Shrink!

Out of curiosity, I went and looked up "Profile of the Sociopath" (link below).

Funny, I don't see much here that fits anyone I know in this group. But do these things sound like anyone else we know? Or see on TV? Or hanging around places of worship? Yeah, I know, religion is specifically exempted from psychiatric criticism. As usual...:

Other Related Qualities:
1. Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
2. Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
3. Authoritarian
4. Secretive
5. Paranoid
6. Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
7. Conventional appearance
8. Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
9. Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life
10. Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
11. Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
12. Incapable of real human attachment to another
13. Unable to feel remorse or guilt
14. Extreme narcissism and grandiose
15. May state readily that their goal is to rule the world

(The above traits are based on the psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare.)

http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html

[skepticscott]

17. Missed that one

But I can make a few guesses about who posted it..

[AtheistCrusader]

14. This thread seems to have... moved itself.

[deucemagnet]

21. Well done, indeed.

[defacto7]

26. Good job!

Keep us noble and honorable!