When Atheism turns to Fanaticism

[Carlos]

Last night at FF chat , I had a single chat exchange with a FF member ( X .---I can’t remember the exact user name). I told that person that I never saw him/her posting here or that maybe I lost their replies. I thought X was a newbie .

X told me that he /she doesn’t post to often at FF , that he/she post more at IIDB.
I told X that I don’t like to post at religious forums.

X told me that I should be aware to never go to CF ( Christian Forum) because was the most annoying forum on the web.
I told X that I was referring to IIDB when I told him about my preferences to not post at religious forums.

Suddenly X turned defensive/aggressive with me, IMO , and told me why I like to paint everybody with the same brush and that I don’t focus on details.
I told him that it was only my opinion of how I see IIDB , and that I respected his /her opinion of how he /she told me about CF.
The conversation turned to demonstrate that Atheism is not a religion ( X) and my position saying the opposite ( based on philosophical concepts-not standard definitions - and on my view and knowledge of how some atheists activism and dogmatism).
Other members entered at the chat and the topic didn’t go far.

With that antecedent, my point here is to discuss of how an Atheist can turn into a fanaticism , I mean acting the same way like those who they attack for being “religious” fanatics.

I am conscious how most of the members of the FF board are Atheists.
Most of them write also on Atheists forums and most of them are coming from IIDB forum.

I also see how the choice of the user name and the avatar , of some few FF members, make more implicit their position of radical Atheists , expressing themselves as a motto of how they mock to people who has a particular belief on some deity or showing how they disrespect all kind of religious symbols. Are the religious topics they favourite topics ? Are they showing a kind of Atheist fanaticism?

It is not my intention to focus in the discussion if Atheism is a religion or not., but it will be useful to remind that Buddhism is a religion of Atheists people ,

Atheism of the “new age” , are turning more united . The web gave them an opportunity to meet each other , to share their beliefs , to form Atheist communities, to know each other on real life at Atheist meetings , to collect donations ,to sell Atheist images/books /material , to create Atheist churches , etc.
In other words they are acting exactly the same way the other “official “ cults/religions are acting.


More information here :
http://www.acfnewsource.org/religion...st_church.html

http://www.atheists.org/nogodblog/in...heist_churches

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onelife/.../atheism.shtml

http://www.bible.ca/tracks/b-humanism-is-religion.htm

http://forums.sohh.com/showthread.ph...1&page=1&pp=15


Is that Atheist position of the new age a form of fanaticism?
Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Carlos

[Dragar]

Too right. Now please excuse me; I have to prepare some explosives to take out the church down the road.

[livius drusus]

I think there are some atheist groups who consciously model themselves after churches because they see a value in the community-building aspect of it. Some atheists seek to define themselves as members of a religion for legal reasons. I've also encountered atheists with an inquisitional zeal to destroy religion, and to me those people are mirroring the worst aspects of what they seek to destroy.

I don't think I can draw any larger conclusions about atheism in the new age, however, just like I can't draw any about theism. There's a lot of diversity of belief and approach out there.

[Major Atheist]

Atheist Fanaticist Puddin'

Ingredients:

1 intense Catholic upbringing
1 asshole priest (hated women) - Father Luke
1 homosexual priest-in-training (hated women) - Brother Roger
1 job lost due to atheism
4 "friends" lost due to atheism

Combine ingredients. Raise in a predominantly Lutheran neighborhood. Stir in continuing ostracism due to disbelief. Sprinkle with psychological abuse.

Serve chilled with a communion wafer to cut the acid.

I f**king hate theists because their hypocrisy cost me my first career and a couple of years of self-respect. It took me five years to recover from this debacle.

The continuing fundamentalist bombardment by retardates of The Book only contributes to the disease. Fortunately, I am mature enough to temper my behavior and treat theists as they rarely treat me -with respect and an open mind.

Thanks for listening to my .

MA

[Carlos]

Originally Posted by livius drusus

I think there are some atheist groups who consciously model themselves after churches because they see a value in the community-building aspect of it.

Consider also that the some web forums (including this one) model themselves as a virtual community that want to share a particular way to see life/beliefs .

In the IIDB case , it is more directed to Atheist people and to the promotion of the Atheist belief.
FF board , correct me if I am wrong ,IMO is a kind of “putative son” of IIDB, where IIDB people ( most of FF members) feel more comfortable and free to express their ideas , feel free to curse and insult theists ,etc. , because of less rules about it.

In my particular case I always refuse to be consider as part of this kind of community, because I always see web boards as just boards designed to debate, not as community, including this one.

Originally Posted by livius drusus

Some atheists seek to define themselves as members of a religion for legal reasons. I've also encountered atheists with an inquisitional zeal to destroy religion, and to me those people are mirroring the worst aspects of what they seek to destroy.

Interesting . Now here we have a start to consider a reality the fanaticism of Atheism in some groups.

A kind of Al Qaeda , or any fundamentalist official religious group.

Originally Posted by livius drusus

I don't think I can draw any larger conclusions about atheism in the new age, however, just like I can't draw any about theism. There's a lot of diversity of belief and approach out there.

Precisely that is the reason of this topic, find out a conclusion about the Atheist fanaticism of the new age.

Maybe you forgot to express your opinion about those confessed Atheists that like to write at the WEB boards ( FF included ) using user names or avatars making more implicit their position of radical Atheists , expressing themselves as a motto of how they mock to people who has a particular belief on some deity or showing how they disrespect all kind of religious symbols. In other words how they are showing their Atheist fanaticism.
Care to give your opinion about it?

Thanks,
Carlos

[Bright Life]

[22:13] Bright Life: Hello
[22:13] Carlos: hi
[22:13] Carlos: sorry if I am interrupting something
[22:14] Bright Life: no
[22:14] Carlos: ok
[22:14] Bright Life: Not much up
[22:14] Carlos: I never saw you at FF , are you new?
[22:14] Carlos: possible I don't remeber you
[22:15] Carlos: excuse my English also
[22:15] Bright Life: I don't post there much
[22:15] Carlos: I see
[22:15] Bright Life: Mostly, I'm at IIDB
[22:15] Carlos: I never wrote there
[22:15] Carlos: sorry i don't like to much religious forums
[22:17] Bright Life: Then you shouldn't go to CF
[22:17] Carlos: what is that?
[22:17] Bright Life: Christian Forums
[22:18] Carlos: I was refering to IIDB as areligious forum
[22:18] Bright Life: That is one of the most annoying religious sites ever
[22:18] Bright Life: I didn't take the bait
[22:18] Carlos: being atheist is the same fanaism as being at CF
[22:18] Carlos: fanatism*
[22:19] Carlos: Sorry , just my opinion
[22:19] Bright Life: Do you generally tend to paint everyone with such a broad brush?
[22:19] Carlos: I am a painter
[22:19] Carlos: but no, I rewad some stuff so my opinion was that
[22:20] Bright Life: One would imagine, then, that you would pay attention to details
[22:20] Carlos: what part you didn't like of my opinion?
[22:21] Carlos: You told me yours about CF and I see the same stuff I said
[22:21] Carlos: not a difference
[22:21] Carlos: but I respect your opinion
[22:21] Bright Life: You really don't pay attention to details, do you?
[22:22] Carlos: why?
[22:22] Bright Life: I said CF was an annoying religious site
[22:22] Bright Life: I did not say that Christians are "X" or Buffhists are "Y"
[22:23] Carlos: and I try to told you that IIDB is an annoying atheist site blaming about religion
[22:23] Carlos: the same shit
[22:23] Bright Life: actually, you said it was a religious site
[22:23] Bright Life: so no, it is not.
[22:23] Bright Life: not the same.
[22:24] Carlos: and atheism is a religion
[22:24] Bright Life: no, it is not.
[22:24] Carlos: but that is a concept you need to handle in a philosophical way
[22:24] Bright Life: word salad
[22:25] Bright Life: atheism is a lack of belief in a diety. Religion includes a belief in deities
[22:26] Bright Life: So no, Carlos, atheism is not a religion
[22:27] Carlos: when that lack of belief turns in an onbsession it get ramsform in a cult , near to formed as a religion
[22:27] Carlos: even some atheist are willing for a church of atheism
[22:27] Bright Life: Those are interesting conclusions you've reached there.
[22:28] Bright Life: Carlos, do you like to begin your personal interactions in such a beligerent way?
[22:29] Carlos: why BL?
[22:29] Bright Life: Just curious
[22:29] Carlos: should I celebrate everything you say?
[22:29] Bright Life: Doesn't seem very friendly
[22:29] Carlos: don't get me wrong
[22:29] Bright Life: So I guess the answer is "yes," then?
[22:29] Carlos: why?
[22:30] Carlos: don't put words I didn't say
Bright Life looks for friendly peeps

[Godwhacker]

Just like any group, there are going to be nutty fanatics, but given that Atheists are:

1. Quite a minority, especially compared to the Billions of theists

2. Are not well organized (yes, there are a few organizations, but very very few)

3. Don't have religious directives (e.g., "Jihad") that tend members towards violent acts

4. Don't believe in an afterlife, so suicide bombing and similar acts of terrorism that might involve getting one dead rather quickly have little appeal.

I think your concern about Atheist fundies is quite a bit premature at this point in time, especially in comparison to the much larger issue of theist fundies.

[Carlos]

Interesting, the chats are being copied.*
A good help of Bright Life to demonstrate if I was wrong at my resume or not.
I am going to colour blue my resume at the OP, the OP antecedent to the real point of my thread : "When Atheism turns to Fanaticism "

For the record , I wasn't sure of the name of the poster ( I first thought of Bright Light) , that's the reason I put X.
I am not still sure if the poster is a she or a he

Originally Posted by Bright Life

[22:13] Bright Life: Hello
[22:13] Carlos: hi
[22:13] Carlos: sorry if I am interrupting something
[22:14] Bright Life: no
[22:14] Carlos: ok
[22:14] Bright Life: Not much up
[22:14] Carlos: I never saw you at FF , are you new?
[22:14] Carlos: possible I don't remeber you
[22:15] Carlos: excuse my English also
[22:15] Bright Life: I don't post there much
[22:15] Carlos: I see
[22:15] Bright Life: Mostly, I'm at IIDB
[22:15] Carlos: I never wrote there
[22:15] Carlos: sorry i don't like to much religious forums

"Last night at FF chat , I had a single chat exchange with a FF member ( X .---I can’t remember the exact user name). I told that person that I never saw him/her posting here or that maybe I lost their replies. I thought X was a newbie .

X told me that he /she doesn’t post to often at FF , that he/she post more at IIDB.
I told X that I don’t like to post at religious forums."

Originally Posted by Bright Life

[22:17] Bright Life: Then you shouldn't go to CF
[22:17] Carlos: what is that?
[22:17] Bright Life: Christian Forums
[22:18] Carlos: I was refering to IIDB as areligious forum
[22:18] Bright Life: That is one of the most annoying religious sites ever
[22:18] Bright Life: I didn't take the bait
[22:18] Carlos: being atheist is the same fanaism as being at CF
[22:18] Carlos: fanatism*
[22:19] Carlos: Sorry , just my opinion
[22:19] Bright Life: Do you generally tend to paint everyone with such a broad brush?
[22:19] Carlos: I am a painter
[22:19] Carlos: but no, I rewad some stuff so my opinion was that
[22:20] Bright Life: One would imagine, then, that you would pay attention to details
[22:20] Carlos: what part you didn't like of my opinion?
[22:21] Carlos: You told me yours about CF and I see the same stuff I said
[22:21] Carlos: not a difference
[22:21] Carlos: but I respect your opinion
[22:21] Bright Life: You really don't pay attention to details, do you?
[22:22] Carlos: why?
[22:22] Bright Life: I said CF was an annoying religious site
[22:22] Bright Life: I did not say that Christians are "X" or Buffhists are "Y"
[22:23] Carlos: and I try to told you that IIDB is an annoying atheist site blaming about religion
[22:23] Carlos: the same shit

"X told me that I should be aware to never go to CF ( Christian Forum) because was the most annoying forum on the web.
I told X that I was referring to IIDB when I told him about my preferences to not post at religious forums.

Suddenly X turned defensive/aggressive with me, IMO , and told me why I like to paint everybody with the same brush and that I don’t focus on details.
I told him that it was only my opinion of how I see IIDB , and that I respected his /her opinion of how he /she told me about CF."

Originally Posted by Bright Life

[22:23] Bright Life: actually, you said it was a religious site
[22:23] Bright Life: so no, it is not.
[22:23] Bright Life: not the same.
[22:24] Carlos: and atheism is a religion
[22:24] Bright Life: no, it is not.
[22:24] Carlos: but that is a concept you need to handle in a philosophical way
[22:24] Bright Life: word salad
[22:25] Bright Life: atheism is a lack of belief in a diety. Religion includes a belief in deities
[22:26] Bright Life: So no, Carlos, atheism is not a religion
[22:27] Carlos: when that lack of belief turns in an onbsession it get ramsform in a cult , near to formed as a religion
[22:27] Carlos: even some atheist are willing for a church of atheism
[22:27] Bright Life: Those are interesting conclusions you've reached there.
[22:28] Bright Life: Carlos, do you like to begin your personal interactions in such a beligerent way?
[22:29] Carlos: why BL?
[22:29] Bright Life: Just curious
[22:29] Carlos: should I celebrate everything you say?
[22:29] Bright Life: Doesn't seem very friendly
[22:29] Carlos: don't get me wrong
[22:29] Bright Life: So I guess the answer is "yes," then?
[22:29] Carlos: why?
[22:30] Carlos: don't put words I didn't say

"The conversation turned to demonstrate that Atheism is not a religion ( X) and my position saying the opposite ( based on philosophical concepts-not standard definitions - and on my view and knowledge of how some atheists activism and dogmatism).
Other members entered at the chat and the topic didn’t go far.

With that antecedent, my point here is to discuss of how an Atheist can turn into a fanaticism , I mean acting the same way like those who they attack for being “religious” fanatics." <snip the rest of my OP>

Originally Posted by Bright Life

Bright Life looks for friendly peeps

We can have different opinions and we can still be friendly and polite. If you think that I was not friendly for telling you my opinion about IIDB and relating it to religious sites, I apologize to you for telling my opinion when you brought the IIDB topic.

I also will be glad if you focus now in the real point of this thread and give us your interesting opinions.

I am reading some opinions so far that are bringing elements to the discussion.

Thanks,
Carlos

P.S.
* I hope Leesifer , Lunachick , Sweetie , Legs , etc. didn't copy my public chats with them or I am going to be on big trouble with my wife! LOL
Just kidding.

[Bright Life]

I copied the chat because I was asking some other ff posters if this was the way you typically conversed with people. The consensus was that it was. I have provided the chat to which you referred, as a favor, since I happened to have it at hand.

I really have no interest in having a discussion with you on this subject. If you'll recall, we did speak later, as it seemed I was one of the few chatters who would answer your questions about modelling.

[ChuckF]

BL, don't forget to paste that chat transcript into the secret database.

Thanks!

[Bright Life]

Oooops, thanks hun, I almost forgot!

[Carlos]

Originally Posted by Major Atheist

I f**king hate theists because their hypocrisy cost me my first career and a couple of years of self-respect. It took me five years to recover from this debacle..

It seems you had a big trauma related to religious groups . Any details you can share?

Originally Posted by Major Atheist

The continuing fundamentalist bombardment by retardates of The Book only contributes to the disease. Fortunately, I am mature enough to temper my behavior and treat theists as they rarely treat me -with respect and an open mind..

Do you think you are respecting Catholics of this board while writing your insulting and hateful "Atheist Fanaticist Puddin' " ?
Are you showing how mature you are doing this?

What is the purpose to call yourself as " Major Atheist" at this board?
Are you proud of your belief/non belief?
Do you write at IIDB?

Thanks,
Carlos

[BracesForImpact]

Oh great he infests chat too?

[Carlos]

Originally Posted by Godwhacker

Just like any group, there are going to be nutty fanatics,.

We can concur that Atheism, like religious groups , is not the exception with the fanaticism of some of the members.

Originally Posted by Godwhacker

but given that Atheists are:

1. Quite a minority, especially compared to the Billions of theists.

We are talking here about fanaticism, that doesn't mean Billion of theists are fanatics.

Originally Posted by Godwhacker

2. Are not well organized (yes, there are a few organizations, but very very few).

That's the point , and the web gave them a great opportunity to grow as I wrote at the OP.

Originally Posted by Godwhacker

3. Don't have religious directives (e.g., "Jihad") that tend members towards violent acts.

All organizations have directives and leaders. Atheists organizations are not the exception .
Violent acts can have a subjective explanation or justification, depending on the point of view of the leaders and the belief and blind faith of the fanatic .

Originally Posted by Godwhacker

4. Don't believe in an afterlife, so suicide bombing and similar acts of terrorism that might involve getting one dead rather quickly have little appeal..

The suicide bombing and "terrorism" analogy is irrelevant as an excuse to support Atheist fanaticism.

Originally Posted by Godwhacker

I think your concern about Atheist fundies is quite a bit premature at this point in time, especially in comparison to the much larger issue of theist fundies.

Let me clarify the context to you.

Livius Drusus wrote this : "I've also encountered atheists with an inquisitional zeal to destroy religion, and to me those people are mirroring the worst aspects of what they seek to destroy."

It is not reasonable to claim that some Atheist groups are fundamentalist/fanatics ?
Should we wait to some "terrorist" •violent” actions against deists to compare it with selected religious fundamentalist violent groups?
Is fundamentalism only related with violent and terrorist actions?

I am also curious about your user name and avatar .
Are you using it as a way to show your lack of belief to a deity and to show everybody here your Atheist belief?
Could you care to elaborate about it?
Do you write at IIDB?

Thanks,
Carlos

[Crumb]

I think his point Carlos, is that until atheist fanatics start blowing things up the theist fanatics are the ones we need to keep an eye on.

[seebs]

The term "fanatic" may be insufficiently precise.

I would argue that Gandhi was indubitably a fanatic. I do not think he was nearly as dangerous as some people.

Furthermore, atheist fanatics have been known to blow things up in the name of their own causes.

[John Carter]

Originally Posted by seebs

Furthermore, atheist fanatics have been known to blow things up in the name of their own causes.

Can you name one atheist who blew things up in the name of atheism? Or are you talking about people who were fanatics about some other cause and happened to be atheists as well?

[seebs]

Originally Posted by John Carter

Can you name one atheist who blew things up in the name of atheism? Or are you talking about people who were fanatics about some other cause and happened to be atheists as well?

The latter, although I have met people who might have ended up the former if they hadn't gotten medicated.

But so what? Atheism is mere lack-of-cause, but a political atheist is no less dangerous to me than an apolitical member of some religion. Any cause will do. You can find people who are apolitical and non-religious, but very racist, or whatever. People have been killed over FOOTBALL GAMES.

I've seen no evidence that any given cause is at issue.

Give the Universists a few years. They are intentionally adopting the form and trappings of religion in some ways, and I think they have a good chance of producing real kooks.

[livius drusus]

Originally Posted by Carlos

Consider also that the some web forums (including this one) model themselves as a virtual community that want to share a particular way to see life/beliefs .

In the IIDB case , it is more directed to Atheist people and to the promotion of the Atheist belief.
FF board , correct me if I am wrong ,IMO is a kind of “putative son” of IIDB, where IIDB people ( most of FF members) feel more comfortable and free to express their ideas , feel free to curse and insult theists ,etc. , because of less rules about it.

Individual people may feel like that but that is what the site is "directed to". IIDB has a mission of promoting atheism (it used to be metaphysical naturalism but they gave up on that). CF has a mission to unite Christians. FF is a a general discussion forum. There is no mission to promote an ideology, which is why we picked "Freethought" instead of "Freethinker" -- a thought process everyone uses in one context or another, rather than a label for people to put on themselves.

In my particular case I always refuse to be consider as part of this kind of community, because I always see web boards as just boards designed to debate, not as community, including this one.

Interesting. That clears up a few things for me. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Carlos

Interesting . Now here we have a start to consider a reality the fanaticism of Atheism in some groups.

A kind of Al Qaeda , or any fundamentalist official religious group.

Al Qaeda advocates use of violence which makes it stand out even among militant fundamentalist groups. I know of no equivalent group among atheists.

Nor do I think the militant atheists I've encountered are organized enough to be considered the equivalent of a "fundamentalist official religious group" nor do they have any governing body to grant them "official" status.

Precisely that is the reason of this topic, find out a conclusion about the Atheist fanaticism of the new age.

Overarching conclusions tend to require the erasure of individuality. I prefer a more pluralistic approach, myself, but good luck with your search.

Maybe you forgot to express your opinion about those confessed Atheists that like to write at the WEB boards ( FF included ) using user names or avatars making more implicit their position of radical Atheists , expressing themselves as a motto of how they mock to people who has a particular belief on some deity or showing how they disrespect all kind of religious symbols. In other words how they are showing their Atheist fanaticism.
Care to give your opinion about it?

I have no problem with people making a statement about their religious beliefs or lack thereof in the usernames and avatars. I don't think such a choice implies fanatacism. It could be habit, or humor, or even just plain aesthetics which drives the choice, as well as the underlying belief. One of the most overtly religious usernames here, for instance, belongs to an eminently gentle, intelligent, unpushy, unmilitant person. He's not a fanatic at all; he was just inspired for whatever reason to pick the name he picked.

I find the mocking of others' religious beliefs with usernames and avatars distasteful. Generally speaking, I find mocking people's religious beliefs through any means distasteful, although there are exceptions, as in the case of good satire.

[Chatter]

Originally Posted by seebs

But so what? Atheism is mere lack-of-cause, but a political atheist is no less dangerous to me than an apolitical member of some religion. Any cause will do. You can find people who are apolitical and non-religious, but very racist, or whatever. People have been killed over FOOTBALL GAMES.

Europe has had decades of trouble with football hooligans, a mixture of genuine fanatics and people who are just up for a fight. People will be dicks over just about anything.

BILBO: "I punched a bloke in the face once for saying 'Hawk the Slayer was rubbish'."
TIM: "Good for you."
BILBO: "Yeah, thanks. But that's not the point, Tim. The point is, I was defending the fantasy genre with terminal intensity, when what I should have said was `Dad, you're right. But let's give Krull a try, and we'll discuss it later.

-- Spaced.

Still, I was under the impression that there was far less hostility to theism on this forum than on IIDB.

[Danhalen]

I don't really get either side of this argument. Theists, in general, do not seem so fanatical. Atheists, in general, do not seem so fanatical.

I have a friend who can never do anything half-assed. When we were kids, we decided to become anarchist punk rockers. He spent more time in juvee for fighting the man (literally) than spending time working on a coherent argument for our "cause". We grew out of that phase. Then he found a community of gang-bangers. He, again, spent more time in juvee than with his friends due to his fanatacism with living "the hard life". After that, we both became atheists. He made it a point to bash people over the head with their Bible. Then he found the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. He went on his missions with zeal and found a good LDS wife to share his life with. Finally, he found his calling in the meth lab. He found the drug to be all he needed. Eventually, his zeal for it turned him paranoid (his zeal along with the lack of sleep to be more precise). He began to realize the world just wanted him to do as he was told. So he decided to tell the world what to do instead. He went on a pyrotechnic rampage one night. Up in flames went his house, his mother's house and some abandoned house down the street. Now he spends his time in the psychiatric hospital. It was never what he believed that made him so fanatic, it was his fanaticism that gave what he believed a fanatical flair.

Fanatics will find a cause. The cause does not make the fanatic.

[Major Atheist]

Are you showing how mature you are doing this?

"think what you like, and say what you think ..."

I did.

What is the purpose to call yourself as " Major Atheist" at this board?

If you can't figure out why I'm the way I am then you might want to research how to improve your comprehension skills.

Are you proud of your belief/non belief?

Not particularly, the exception being when I hear some fundamentalist 'tard raving about The Great Cosmic Pupfart.

Do you write at IIDB?

Not recently. I can't stand most of those people and the moderation sucks.

[Carlos]

Originally Posted by Major Atheist

Are you showing how mature you are doing this?"think what you like, and say what you think ..."

I did..

You did what?
The opposite of what you claimed you are?:
"Fortunately, I am mature enough to temper my behavior and treat theists as they rarely treat me -with respect and an open mind."
http://www.freethought-forum.com/for...57&postcount=4

And beware with the FF motto , it is just a motto but not the FF reality.
Livius or Viscousmemories can help you on this stuff.

Originally Posted by Major Atheist

What is the purpose to call yourself as " Major Atheist" at this board?

If you can't figure out why I'm the way I am then you might want to research how to improve your comprehension skills.

So you think your user name reflects the way you are .
A Major Atheist? Wow! At FF!
Do you go everywhere showing your Atheist fanaticism?

Originally Posted by Major Atheist

Are you proud of your belief/non belief?

Not particularly, the exception being when I hear some fundamentalist 'tard raving about The Great Cosmic Pupfart..

I see, you still have memories of the “trauma” you had with Theists :
"I f**king hate theists because their hypocrisy cost me my first career and a couple of years of self-respect. It took me five years to recover from this debacle.
The continuing fundamentalist bombardment by retardates of The Book only contributes to the disease."

Since you didn't give details about your personal “trauma” with Theists , I am going to assume your atheist fanaticism is a way to show how much you hate Theism.

Livius wrote:"I find the mocking of others' religious beliefs with usernames and avatars distasteful. Generally speaking, I find mocking people's religious beliefs through any means distasteful, although there are exceptions, as in the case of good satire."

I can add that fanaticism of any kind ( Atheist /theist ) it is just a personal choice and not the fault of the belief or the disbelief.

Danhalen said it better : "Fanatics will find a cause. The cause does not make the fanatic."

Originally Posted by Major Atheist

Do you write at IIDB?
Not recently. I can't stand most of those people and the moderation sucks.

Oh , I see. You write at IIDB.

Do you think you are more comfortable here at FF and feeling "free" to communicate your Atheist fanaticism while showing us how "mature" you are?

What is your opinion about the following Livius Drusus’ claim?
“I've also encountered atheists with an inquisitional zeal to destroy religion, and to me those people are mirroring the worst aspects of what they seek to destroy.”

If you, Major Atheist , can have the power to destroy religion , would you do it?

Thanks,
Carlos

[Major Atheist]

Absolutely.

[Carlos]

Originally Posted by livius drusus

Individual people may feel like that but that is what the site is "directed to". IIDB has a mission of promoting atheism (it used to be metaphysical naturalism but they gave up on that). CF has a mission to unite Christians. FF is a a general discussion forum. There is no mission to promote an ideology, which is why we picked "Freethought" instead of "Freethinker" -- a thought process everyone uses in one context or another, rather than a label for people to put on themselves..

We can agree then that IIDB has a mission of promoting Atheism at the Web.

What it is the relationship of the FF board with IIDB? Their origin? My question is more based on the two FF administrators/owners , if they wrote first or still writing at IIDB and what were your personal experience at IIDB. Are most of the FF members Atheists and IIDB members also?

Originally Posted by livius drusus

Interesting. That clears up a few things for me. Thanks..

I already told you to consider me an outsider of your community.
I just like to debate., most of the times on “controversial”( IMO) topics.

At this point I am confuse with your previous statement.
If your FF policy is to create a community , it is not reasonable that a community is formed by persons, then the persons must be the freethinkers ( since a freethinker is the one who make a freethought)?

Originally Posted by Carlos

Al Qaeda advocates use of violence which makes it stand out even among militant fundamentalist groups. I know of no equivalent group among atheists.

Nor do I think the militant atheists I've encountered are organized enough to be considered the equivalent of a "fundamentalist official religious group" nor do they have any governing body to grant them "official" status..

At this part people tend to relate fundamentalism with violence. That's not necessarily true. Perhaps fundamentalism is more related to fanaticism.
My analogy was more directed to your particular claim :"I've also encountered atheists with an inquisitional zeal to destroy religion"
Your use of the words is related to violence.

Originally Posted by livius drusus

Overarching conclusions tend to require the erasure of individuality. I prefer a more pluralistic approach, myself, but good luck with your search..

Good point. It is not need to find out a conclusion about Atheist fanaticism . Besides, facts and actions can show an Atheist fanaticism.

Originally Posted by livius drusus

I have no problem with people making a statement about their religious beliefs or lack thereof in the usernames and avatars. I don't think such a choice implies fanatacism. It could be habit, or humor, or even just plain aesthetics which drives the choice, as well as the underlying belief. One of the most overtly religious usernames here, for instance, belongs to an eminently gentle, intelligent, unpushy, unmilitant person. He's not a fanatic at all; he was just inspired for whatever reason to pick the name he picked.

I am aware that at your salutation thread you asked the newbies about the meaning and choice of the avatar and user name . Since all of the memebers don't wrote there, I am doing the same here to the Atheist members that I find with user names and avatars that show there belief and disrespect to other religions. Depending on their response I am able to know more about their Atheist fanaticism or not.

Originally Posted by livius drusus

I find the mocking of others' religious beliefs with usernames and avatars distasteful. Generally speaking, I find mocking people's religious beliefs through any means distasteful, although there are exceptions, as in the case of good satire.

I completely agree with you at this point.

Thanks,
Carlos

Edfited to correct a quote .