Atheism is the New Fundamentalism (9/13)

Intelligence Squared Debate

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• AC
• Grayling
• Richard
• Dawkins
• atheism
• fundamentalism
• christianity
• catholic
• church
• debate

[firestarr07]

"I'm busy", f*cking love it :D

[GearsofFate101]

ok, the guy with the crazy hair (the other atheist) is pretty awesome, i like his comments.

[bibhuna]

@GearsofFate101 At least with Richard Harries, I think he's just a bit annoyed at Dawkins' mischievousness in some of his answers. They are fairly close friends, so he probably thinks Dawkins isn't taking him seriously enough.

[CookieWalka]

There's always going be crazy ppl that are bad representatives for their institution or religion. I would much rather have a society that is critical, objective, and civil. A society free of lies and immorality. One where we can discuss the issues, instead of having a inflexible text or ideology that inexplicably decides what is moral. Fuck religion in the face.

[xyoop]

Dr Seldon is charming man

[TheNatealator]

@Paddy234 It may well be that the specific beliefs of individuals do not influence their actions, that those wishing to do harm would use any justification possible. That doesn't mean that their beliefs should be immune to criticism when they happen to be religious. If I were to deconvert an Islamic suicide bomber to atheism, and then he somehow found atheistic reasons to carry out his plan anyways, then I would just as earnestly try to stop him again.

[Paddy234]

@paradigm71 I agree but my point was to many militant atheists who say that Christianity is the cause of these tyrants is as false as saying that Atheism is the result of tyrants although i would suggest that Atheism itself produces a society of relativeism

[paradigm71]

I agree with what you say now that you've put it this way. But there is nothing that says disbelieving in God will lead you to kill believers or others. Being a dictator may very well lead to that. Being a religious dictator makes it even more likely. Atheism isn't a philosophy. An atheist is simply somebody who doesn't believe in God. It alone does not have any ideology anymore than saying all people who don't believe in faeries share a philosophy.

[Paddy234]

@paradigm71 I never said it was but i'm stating that Marxism is an exclusively atheist based ideology in which we have seen such extreme violence against religious people. Yes it's not atheism that led to this but the same can be said for religions where power-mongers and war-mongers have misused it for their own gain

[paradigm71]

@Paddy234 But it's not atheism that let to this. Their ideologies meant that the State was supreme but that's not part of atheist ideology because atheism doesn't have an ideology. Let me explain. Atheism is part of a communist ideology, just as North Carolina is part of the USA. But the USA isn't North Carolina just as communism does not equal atheism. Atheists can be any part of political spectrum, many are Libertarians. So the argument that atheism leads to nazism or communism is nonsensical.

[Paddy234]

@paradigm71 Yes but it was his extreme secular ideolgie that was so hostile to religion. Their beliefs were pretty much illegalised as the State was God