A realization...
 

...and my first thread on tfp.

I'm a member of two religious boards that are connected kinda. Might say they're rivals. One atheist, the other Christian. I'm kinda agnostic, and since I've been on the Christian board longer, I've been attacked by fundies and conservative Christians many times.

However, tonight I was attacked by a fundy atheist. I didn't think it was possible...but I found out it is. At the very hint that I might be a theist, I was accused of being a "fox news fundy." I disagreed with something he said that was unfair to theists, and he jumped on me the same way a homophobe accuses someone defending against gaybashing of being gay.

I just find it ironic. So many people think of atheists and agnostics as free thinkers and Christians as closed off but...it goes both ways. Clearly fundamentalism is a human trait, not one of a religion.

Just wanted to share. Would share at that other board, but I have a feeling I won't be welcome there anymore if I say something like this :p That is if they haven't already deleted my account...:paranoid:

I have to partially disagree, I think by definition, you can't have a fundamentalist atheist... however, you can have an asshole atheist, unfortunately, the 'asshole' affliction afflicts many, many people, it crosses gender, race, creed, age, height, weight... anything, there are assholes everywhere.

oh, and for the record, assholes suck.

lol. True :P

I guess I used fundamentalism, because this guy was behaving like the people he hates.

What was the discussion about in which you were attacked?

Not mine.

You can have radicals of every philosophy, and that includes atheism. I myself know several atheists that could be called radical because of their stark opposition to theism. Some atheists use atheism as a soap box from which to shout their beliefs and some become just as polarized as their theist fundamental counterparts. In my mind, these are opposing sides of the same coin. Their beliefs are fundamentally opposed, but their tact and intent is the same. They shout, like, and battle in order to beat into the other side their beliefs instead of talking in a calm and rational way. The reason they do that has a lot to do with why so many people listen to madmen like Pat Robertson. Often it is the craziest voice that is the loudest and thus the most oft heard by those who are in a place to listen. In pummeling you with BS, that atheist was trying to make a point so strongly and so extremely that his position cannot be ignored. It's a childish way to make a point, and it shows the real mental faculties of the person who tries to use such a weak tactic.


Not all atheists are crazies, and not all Christians are crazies. Not to worry.

It was about a commercial that said "You are nothing without God." or something like that, for a shoe. Without thinking, I posted a similar commercial about theists, and pointed out it wasn't just atheists being attacked by marketing.

As it wasn't about how you are nothing with God, it was not at all comparable, according to this guy, and I was clearly aiding and abetting the enemy. Also very...I think the word he used was bizzare for even thinking about it. I haven't been back to the thread. I'm really sick of knock down drag outs over religion. So not worth it.

I'm very glad of it too :D

That's exactly what I thought. I have much more respect for theists and atheists alike who don't treat religion like a war to be fought, and the other side like the enemy. It's possible to respect a person even if you disagree with their beliefs...people seem to forget that.

I've always found it so sad that the loudest and craziest are the only ones heard. I wonder if they know the damage they do...

Considering modern atheism is often just as much of a belief structure as Christianity, there can indeed be "fundamentalist" atheists. Now, personally I'm a bit wary of the fundamentalist label in general. I think it can only ever apply to a very small segment of a group, yet all too often comes to be taken to characterize that entire group. I myself am Christian, yet I would hardly consider myself or be considered by others to be a fundamentalist. As a "reconvert" of sorts from a pretty atheistic point of view, I like to think that I can take both sides in stride.

On the contrary, most assholes blow.

I just had to address that. Please forgive the intrusion.