Religion

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts) Sat Jun 9, 2018, 04:51 PM Jun 2018

Christians are not a monolithic bloc. [View all]

We are liberal, and conservative. progressive, and fascist.

What does this say about Christians? That as humans, we are all different.

In much the same way, atheists are not a monolithic bloc either.

They are liberal, and conservative. progressive, and fascist.

In fact, according to a Pew poll, a certain percentage of self-defined atheists believe in a divine presence.

From that Pew poll:

Although the literal definition of “atheist” is “a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, 8% of those who call themselves atheists also say they believe in God or a universal spirit. Indeed, 2% say they are “absolutely certain” about the existence of God or a universal spirit. Alternatively, there are many people who fit the dictionary definition of “atheist” but do not call themselves atheists. About three times as many Americans say they do not believe in God or a universal spirit (9%) as say they are atheists (3%).

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/06/01/10-facts-about-atheists/

So to any here who would argue that no true atheist would believe in a god or universal spirit, argue with the poll.

118 replies

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Highlight:

Christians are not a monolithic bloc. [View all] guillaumeb Jun 2018 OP

They are too monolithic Cartoonist Jun 2018 #1

Even 8% of atheists? eom guillaumeb Jun 2018 #2

The "spirit" of science,.reason,.seems universal to some Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #5

Interesting attempt to explain what was meant. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #6

Your title suggested this post was about Christianity Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #7

separation of church and state was supported by religions.... ollie10 Jun 2018 #42

So religions supported separation... Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #44

you seem to have a tremendous need to attack ALL religions ollie10 Jun 2018 #47

So which one was the good one? Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #49

That is not for me to say ollie10 Jun 2018 #51

So you now, in this way, criticise NO religions? Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #57

I don't criticize atheism and I don't attack religions ollie10 Jun 2018 #59

But the Founders did shut "religion" - all of it - out of government. Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #66

True enough. And I support separation of church and state ollie10 Jun 2018 #68

Democrats attack religious beliefs all the time marylandblue Jun 2018 #71

From the 2016 Democratic Party Platform.... ollie10 Jun 2018 #72

That has nothing to do with what I said marylandblue Jun 2018 #73

I support the platform. Do you? ollie10 Jun 2018 #74

It's irrelevant to the point marylandblue Jun 2018 #77

My point was that the Democratic Party does not attack religion(s) ollie10 Jun 2018 #78

I call myself Democrat because I checked the D box on my voter registration marylandblue Jun 2018 #79

I think you alluded to something ollie10 Jun 2018 #81

Still irrelevant to my point marylandblue Jun 2018 #83

The unaffiliated are now the largest "religious" voting bloc in the country. trotsky Jun 2018 #103

Settle down McCarthy Lordquinton Jun 2018 #80

yes or no, do YOU support the Democratic Platform of 2016? ollie10 Jun 2018 #82

Since when was McCarthyism a democratic principal? Lordquinton Jun 2018 #84

was that a yes or a no? ollie10 Jun 2018 #85

What is this trait among theists Lordquinton Jun 2018 #86

ok. I see you won't answer a simple question ollie10 Jun 2018 #88

Well, I'd be more worried about the person on a McCarthyesque hunt Lordquinton Jun 2018 #100

Theists like to change the subject a lot marylandblue Jun 2018 #108

This sounds like a purity test. Is it? marylandblue Jun 2018 #107

Please tell us about the myths Mariana Jun 2018 #14

And both options were referenced, guillaumeb Jun 2018 #16

"Or" can mean one, but not the other. Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #46

Gil's making up his own definitions for words again. nt. Mariana Jun 2018 #98

Thread/ Alpeduez21 Jun 2018 #31

It also says that there are as many opinions about how Christians should live as there are Nitram Jun 2018 #3

Christians are humans. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #4

Very few Democrats support Trump Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #8

it is not meaningless.... ollie10 Jun 2018 #43

But all ice creams universally have some characteristics. Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #50

well, religions have similar characteristics too ollie10 Jun 2018 #52

But if most religions are related... Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #58

you are entitled to your opinion ollie10 Jun 2018 #60

But you do oppose theocracy at least? Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #65

I believe in separation of church and state ollie10 Jun 2018 #67

Thank you. Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #69

I believe in freedom of belief ollie10 Jun 2018 #70

There is no "freedom of belief" right. Voltaire2 Jun 2018 #75

.... ollie10 Jun 2018 #76

It's not nice to imply that a fellow DUer is a fascist. MineralMan Jun 2018 #90

Post removed Post removed Jun 2018 #91

One needs no rights to have beliefs. MineralMan Jun 2018 #92

yes or no, do you believe we have a right to have our own beliefs? ollie10 Jun 2018 #93

Beliefs cannot be prohibited, so no "right" is required. MineralMan Jun 2018 #95

I thought I explained it clearly. Voltaire2 Jun 2018 #96

Well, your adversary appears to have left the building MineralMan Jun 2018 #97

I heard the news and had to come explore the damage. trotsky Jun 2018 #101

The thought police are coming for you marylandblue Jun 2018 #109

For example you can still continue to believe that I am an authoritarian fascist Voltaire2 Jun 2018 #99

Very Good Proof of Concept! MineralMan Jun 2018 #102

Ollie, what you are missing is the claim every religion has to being the only true account of what Nitram Jun 2018 #87

not every religion thinks it is the only true account ollie10 Jun 2018 #89

Well, Christianity certainly does, in spite of the many divergent views among Christians. Nitram Jun 2018 #94

Unfortunately, that poster will not be able to reply for an indefinite time. MineralMan Jun 2018 #106

poll is irrelevant. if you believe in a divine presence you are not an atheist lol nt msongs Jun 2018 #9

Thus speaks the decider? guillaumeb Jun 2018 #10

That would seem to fit the definition of atheism marylandblue Jun 2018 #11

The poll does not mention anything about a "divine presence". Mariana Jun 2018 #21

What is a universal spirit? Lordquinton Jun 2018 #12

Ask those who believe in one. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #13

So it's completely open to interpretation? Lordquinton Jun 2018 #15

Obviously some people who identify as atheists guillaumeb Jun 2018 #17

Previously you used the term "divine presence" in reference to this poll marylandblue Jun 2018 #19

So, why did you compare one person's number of posts to another's percentage? Lordquinton Jun 2018 #22

Well the poll did not ask how the participants define "universal spirit" marylandblue Jun 2018 #18

Speculation. Understood as such. eom guillaumeb Jun 2018 #40

But gil, *you're* the one speculating that it means a divine presence. trotsky Jun 2018 #45

You are once again assigning motivation to others. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #53

I have no idea what your motivation is, and really don't care. trotsky Jun 2018 #63

More exposure of tactic, guillaumeb Jun 2018 #112

Yes, my secret tactic of calling you on your bullshit. trotsky Jun 2018 #115

Who is speculating? I'm not. marylandblue Jun 2018 #48

Gil doesn't know what was meant. Mariana Jun 2018 #20

Pew data stinks Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #24

And then someone dishonest can jump on that apparent discrepancy Mariana Jun 2018 #25

Christian logic, apologetics, "work" that way Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #37

That's the natural progression when the initial premise is untrue. MineralMan Jun 2018 #38

Speaking of initial premises, guillaumeb Jun 2018 #41

That premise was not a simple assertion Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #105

If that is how you define rational discussion, guillaumeb Jun 2018 #113

Most of my responses are not addressed by you Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #116

Some here rarely present anything substantive. MineralMan Jun 2018 #117

Change is possible. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #118

Apparently, it's equivalent to a "Divine presence" or something. MineralMan Jun 2018 #27

You seem to be correct Lordquinton Jun 2018 #29

Well, see, our DUer switched the wording MineralMan Jun 2018 #30

Tries a big gotcha moment Lordquinton Jun 2018 #32

Oh, well... MineralMan Jun 2018 #33

That's for sure Lordquinton Jun 2018 #39

Of course Christians aren't a monolithic bloc. Mariana Jun 2018 #23

Odd. Your op hijacks itself. Voltaire2 Jun 2018 #26

Well, why wait, when you can change the topic right in the first post? MineralMan Jun 2018 #28

Again I wonder who you're speaking to. trotsky Jun 2018 #34

Just as one can believe that supernatural deities exist, MineralMan Jun 2018 #36

This message was self-deleted by its author ollie10 Jun 2018 #61

You say the OP directs his missives to "that prototypical atheist" ollie10 Jun 2018 #62

"8% of those who call themselves atheists also say they believe in God or a universal spirit." trotsky Jun 2018 #104

Whatever you say, man. Act_of_Reparation Jun 2018 #35

Freedom enid602 Jun 2018 #54

Kick for effect. MineralMan Jun 2018 #55

Some theists also claim to be deists Major Nikon Jun 2018 #56

Ah but when you reserve for yourself the right to define any word the way you want... trotsky Jun 2018 #64

Pretty sure that's the "12th commandment" Docreed2003 Jun 2018 #110

*snort* trotsky Jun 2018 #114

There's a word for that... Major Nikon Jun 2018 #111