Comments on: Are the myths about atheists real or not? http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:14:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Atheists in denial? http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-8088 Atheists in denial? Thu, 01 Feb 2007 13:08:52 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-8088 [...] is not a straw man: theists actually say this, and you can easily find examples of that position. But, if people would think even a little, they would find it absurd. I may not [...] [...] is not a straw man: theists actually say this, and you can easily find examples of that position. But, if people would think even a little, they would find it absurd. I may not [...]

]]> By: Washuu http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-6325 Washuu Tue, 09 Jan 2007 12:52:34 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-6325 ok, i'm going to throw in my two cents about this, not that it will cause anyone who reads it to change beliefs (athiests believe more or less similarly to me, and the majority of "believers", for lack of a better term, are so heavily indoctrinated they'll just scoff and say <b>insert evil diety here</b> must have put that that evil thought in his mind to tempt me) i believe that believers are wrong because they believe in something that is utterly without change. any belief system that is so rigid as to allow no room change at all is destined for failure at some point. life is change, and change is life, if a belief structure does not allow for adaptation, it invites failure with open arms. that being said, i believe in science because science doesn't claim to know anything about the universe at all. we have a lot of theories, ex.- we THINK that gravity is a constant and that any body of matter in the universe will have a gravitational pull relative to it's mass, but we're not 100% certain and if you can find a better theory and prove it to us we'll scrap this old one and use yours. that's why they are called "theories." scientists are not so arrogant as to believe that they know exactly how the world works, and for that matter humans probably never will know everything, or at least not for a very very long time. that being said, we do have some pretty good ideas [quote post="126"]all i have to say…is the way you atheist think that the world got started makes no sense what so ever like for instace the big BANG or whatever that is a bunch of bull….so bassically thats saying if i had a bunch of car parts floating around in my garage for a few years one day there all gonna hit and BANG i have a FARRARI…no i dont think so….[/quote] either this is blatant flame bait (which i suspect, but am still going to use to fuel my own point) or someone actually believes this because he or she has a belief structure that is much too rigid. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a> does a fair job of explaining the big bang theory as well as the reasons it is currently the favored theory (such as cosmic background radiation and redshift). for my part i do not believe that all christians are idiot fundamentalists, although i do know quite a few of those personally, but i believe they are a mixed group of people who for some reason or another need to believe in a power greater than themselves. for some reason, these people need an all-powerful being to cope with their day to day lives. some of these people are old or depressed and need a friend, some need the threat of hell to live good lives, some just go for the free cookies and coffee. whatever your reasons for going to church/synagogue/temple/whatever, i do not fault you for it. everyone must walk their own paths through life, i simply ask that you let myself and my friends believe what we will and not force upon us your insane, illogical rantings. just as you believe that i am the godless one to be pitied i believe you are the reasonless one to be pitied. also, please note that i said pitied there, not hated. i do not hate people i've never met. that seems to be a quality that all "good believers" share, but not athiests. i've met plenty of believers who hated other believers because they prayed to different gods, or me because i pray to none, or even because their skin color/sexual orientation/country of origin was the "wrong choice." as if any of those things are "choices." /endrant ok, i’m going to throw in my two cents about this, not that it will cause anyone who reads it to change beliefs (athiests believe more or less similarly to me, and the majority of “believers”, for lack of a better term, are so heavily indoctrinated they’ll just scoff and say insert evil diety here must have put that that evil thought in his mind to tempt me)

i believe that believers are wrong because they believe in something that is utterly without change. any belief system that is so rigid as to allow no room change at all is destined for failure at some point. life is change, and change is life, if a belief structure does not allow for adaptation, it invites failure with open arms. that being said, i believe in science because science doesn’t claim to know anything about the universe at all. we have a lot of theories, ex.- we THINK that gravity is a constant and that any body of matter in the universe will have a gravitational pull relative to it’s mass, but we’re not 100% certain and if you can find a better theory and prove it to us we’ll scrap this old one and use yours. that’s why they are called “theories.” scientists are not so arrogant as to believe that they know exactly how the world works, and for that matter humans probably never will know everything, or at least not for a very very long time.

that being said, we do have some pretty good ideas
[quote post="126"]all i have to say…is the way you atheist think that the world got started makes no sense what so ever like for instace the big BANG or whatever that is a bunch of bull….so bassically thats saying if i had a bunch of car parts floating around in my garage for a few years one day there all gonna hit and BANG i have a FARRARI…no i dont think so….[/quote]
either this is blatant flame bait (which i suspect, but am still going to use to fuel my own point) or someone actually believes this because he or she has a belief structure that is much too rigid. Wikipedia does a fair job of explaining the big bang theory as well as the reasons it is currently the favored theory (such as cosmic background radiation and redshift).

for my part i do not believe that all christians are idiot fundamentalists, although i do know quite a few of those personally, but i believe they are a mixed group of people who for some reason or another need to believe in a power greater than themselves. for some reason, these people need an all-powerful being to cope with their day to day lives. some of these people are old or depressed and need a friend, some need the threat of hell to live good lives, some just go for the free cookies and coffee. whatever your reasons for going to church/synagogue/temple/whatever, i do not fault you for it. everyone must walk their own paths through life, i simply ask that you let myself and my friends believe what we will and not force upon us your insane, illogical rantings. just as you believe that i am the godless one to be pitied i believe you are the reasonless one to be pitied. also, please note that i said pitied there, not hated. i do not hate people i’ve never met. that seems to be a quality that all “good believers” share, but not athiests. i’ve met plenty of believers who hated other believers because they prayed to different gods, or me because i pray to none, or even because their skin color/sexual orientation/country of origin was the “wrong choice.” as if any of those things are “choices.”

/endrant

]]> By: .... http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-6099 .... Thu, 04 Jan 2007 07:01:37 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-6099 So because I'm a Catholic that means I can't think for myself? Maybe you should have someone do a "myths about Christians" segment for you, or at least someone explain to you that your generalizations aren't always right. So because I’m a Catholic that means I can’t think for myself? Maybe you should have someone do a “myths about Christians” segment for you, or at least someone explain to you that your generalizations aren’t always right.

]]> By: Way of the Mind’s 10 most popular posts in 2006 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-6058 Way of the Mind’s 10 most popular posts in 2006 Wed, 03 Jan 2007 19:32:36 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-6058 [...] 10 - The problem of agnosticism, part 2 - it’s a “part 2″ (see below for part 1), but it’s perfectly readable on its own. Discusses the contradiction of being “agnostic” about Yahweh, but “atheist” about every other made-up deity. 9 - Christian myths about Atheism: discussion - there were so many comments for the “16 Common Myths about Atheism” post (see below) that I had to close that thread and open a new one, or my web server would have been very, very angry at me. 8 - The problem of Agnosticism - explores why agnostics are agnostic, and what’s wrong, in my opinion, with it. 7 - How I’ve become an atheist - one of the oldest posts in Way of the Mind, this tells of my own “deconversion”, and links to a brilliant Douglas Adams interview 6 - Why Atheism is not a religion - oddly enough, many people seem to think it is - in other words, that it requires as much “faith” as theism. This post shows why that is not the case. 5 - Are the myths about atheists real or not? - after the popular “common myths” post, many people said I was creating “straw men” - in other words, the myths didn’t really exist. A simple search on Google News proved otherwise. 4 - “Closed minds” - disputes the common (and unfortunate) belief that “being sure of something is closed-minded” (also known as “reality is fluid”). 3 - Deism and Pantheism - a latecomer, this post describes those two not-very-well-known beliefs, whose proponents included many of the U.S. Founding Fathers, and Albert Einstein. 2 - Atheism: arrogance? - discusses why believing that 2+2 will still be 4 tomorrow isn’t “arrogant”. 1 - 16 Common Myths about Atheists - a list of what many theists believe — wrongly — about atheists in general. No, we don’t sacrifice babies. We don’t even boil young goats in their mothers’ milk. [...] [...] 10 - The problem of agnosticism, part 2 - it’s a “part 2″ (see below for part 1), but it’s perfectly readable on its own. Discusses the contradiction of being “agnostic” about Yahweh, but “atheist” about every other made-up deity. 9 - Christian myths about Atheism: discussion - there were so many comments for the “16 Common Myths about Atheism” post (see below) that I had to close that thread and open a new one, or my web server would have been very, very angry at me. 8 - The problem of Agnosticism - explores why agnostics are agnostic, and what’s wrong, in my opinion, with it. 7 - How I’ve become an atheist - one of the oldest posts in Way of the Mind, this tells of my own “deconversion”, and links to a brilliant Douglas Adams interview 6 - Why Atheism is not a religion - oddly enough, many people seem to think it is - in other words, that it requires as much “faith” as theism. This post shows why that is not the case. 5 - Are the myths about atheists real or not? - after the popular “common myths” post, many people said I was creating “straw men” - in other words, the myths didn’t really exist. A simple search on Google News proved otherwise. 4 - “Closed minds” - disputes the common (and unfortunate) belief that “being sure of something is closed-minded” (also known as “reality is fluid”). 3 - Deism and Pantheism - a latecomer, this post describes those two not-very-well-known beliefs, whose proponents included many of the U.S. Founding Fathers, and Albert Einstein. 2 - Atheism: arrogance? - discusses why believing that 2+2 will still be 4 tomorrow isn’t “arrogant”. 1 - 16 Common Myths about Atheists - a list of what many theists believe — wrongly — about atheists in general. No, we don’t sacrifice babies. We don’t even boil young goats in their mothers’ milk. [...]

]]> By: TXStorm http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-4334 TXStorm Mon, 06 Nov 2006 12:38:20 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-4334 For what it is worth, yes rational individuals avoid faith as a basis for their life, but trust is not absent. Trust does not rely upon nor is necessitated by the belief in impossible beings, so is not forced to not exist in the rational person. Atheists can and do have trust just as xns and other religious folks may have trust. Trust is separate and different in kind from faith. For what it is worth, yes rational individuals avoid faith as a basis for their life, but trust is not absent. Trust does not rely upon nor is necessitated by the belief in impossible beings, so is not forced to not exist in the rational person. Atheists can and do have trust just as xns and other religious folks may have trust. Trust is separate and different in kind from faith.

]]> By: kdnfkd http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-4319 kdnfkd Sun, 05 Nov 2006 22:54:30 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-4319 OK im a christain and i just happend to be looking up english homework for mythology and its about the most retarted thing ever and this website came up.... i would just like to say stop saying that christians think all these things about you ppl cuz its not true yes i will say that atheist lact these things...faith and trust... but...another topic is that christians are hypocritcal...not true..at people are perfect only jesus was..so yes christains will make mistakes to it should be things that are out of control but if they lie or use an curse word thats exspected out of anyone so all i have to say...is the way you atheist think that the world got started makes no sense what so ever like for instace the big BANG or whatever that is a bunch of bull....so bassically thats saying if i had a bunch of car parts floating around in my garage for a few years one day there all gonna hit and BANG i have a FARRARI...no i dont think so.... so think things over thanks .. anonomous OK
im a christain
and i just happend to be looking up english homework for mythology and its about the most retarted thing ever and this website came up….
i would just like to say
stop saying that christians think all these things about you ppl
cuz its not true
yes i will say that atheist lact these things…faith and trust…
but…another topic is that christians are hypocritcal…not true..at people are perfect only jesus was..so yes christains will make mistakes to it should be things that are out of control but if they lie or use an curse word thats exspected out of anyone
so
all i have to say…is the way you atheist think that the world got started makes no sense what so ever like for instace the big BANG or whatever that is a bunch of bull….so bassically thats saying if i had a bunch of car parts floating around in my garage for a few years one day there all gonna hit and BANG i have a FARRARI…no i dont think so….
so think things over
thanks ..
anonomous

]]> By: Thameron http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2704 Thameron Mon, 04 Sep 2006 17:59:16 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2704 Ah that should be 'exterminating' cities. Carry on. Ah that should be ‘exterminating’ cities. Carry on.

]]> By: Thameron http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2703 Thameron Mon, 04 Sep 2006 17:58:15 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2703 Well Sprawwl you must have been reading a different book than me because when you talk about God's 'mercy' it seems somewhat at odds with entire cities down to the last man, woman, child and goat which is condoned if not actually performed by 'God' in the OT. And as far as Jesus' 'sacrifice' goes as I understand it he was a God or part of 'god' (that whole trinity thing has never made any sense) since the beginning of time, spent thirty years in a human body and then went back to the aether where he herds flocks of human souls around the meadows of heaven or whatever it is that one does in the aether. So what exactly was the 'sacrifice'? Thirty years of bodily functions and a bit of pain at the end? Big deal. He went back to being god of the universe. Not much of a sacrifice there. If he is living on in the aether then HE DID NOT DIE for us or for anyone else. Well Sprawwl you must have been reading a different book than me because when you talk about God’s ‘mercy’ it seems somewhat at odds with entire cities down to the last man, woman, child and goat which is condoned if not actually performed by ‘God’ in the OT. And as far as Jesus’ ’sacrifice’ goes as I understand it he was a God or part of ‘god’ (that whole trinity thing has never made any sense) since the beginning of time, spent thirty years in a human body and then went back to the aether where he herds flocks of human souls around the meadows of heaven or whatever it is that one does in the aether. So what exactly was the ’sacrifice’? Thirty years of bodily functions and a bit of pain at the end? Big deal. He went back to being god of the universe. Not much of a sacrifice there. If he is living on in the aether then HE DID NOT DIE for us or for anyone else.

]]> By: Reply to A Christian Reply to An Open-Minded Atheist Reply to Christianity (PART 1) (whew!) » Way of the Mind http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2578 Reply to A Christian Reply to An Open-Minded Atheist Reply to Christianity (PART 1) (whew!) » Way of the Mind Wed, 30 Aug 2006 22:35:28 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2578 [...] But, believe me, they’re much closer to you than they are to me. They’d see you as perhaps a bit strict and unyielding, but an altogether good example to follow. They’d see me as trouble, and would forbid their daughters to see me. Don’t believe me? Christianity is a love for all of mankind and a hate toward human nature, which is sin. [...] [...] But, believe me, they’re much closer to you than they are to me. They’d see you as perhaps a bit strict and unyielding, but an altogether good example to follow. They’d see me as trouble, and would forbid their daughters to see me. Don’t believe me? Christianity is a love for all of mankind and a hate toward human nature, which is sin. [...]

]]> By: Innocent Bystander http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2520 Innocent Bystander Mon, 28 Aug 2006 21:02:38 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2520 I don't know about these myths in other parts of the world, but here in America they absolutely exist. That stands to reason, though. I think Americans are more prone to this problem and here is why: Right before I decided I wasn't dealing with Christianity anymore when I was a kid, I became the most religious Christian on the face of the planet. After all, I'd been put through a scary Christian school (real Christians apparently don't believe in plate tectonics, according to my teacher) and I was losing my religion and I was scared. I didn't believe what people said I should believe. In fact, according to the people I respected in life my beliefs made me evil. Therefore I clung desperately to those beliefs, hoping if I was dedicated enough to the cause I would believe in it sooner or later. This denial is common human behavior and not confined to religion. Reason and evidence are ignored because if you listen to the reasoning and the evidence you might just cross the line and stop believing altogether. In America, where right now it seems that the majority of our society is Christian or trying really hard to be, nobody wants to be an "evil" atheist, and so the ones who secretly doubt often become those who denounce atheists with the most hatred. Those who can shrug and let it go are the ones who are secure in their beliefs. I don’t know about these myths in other parts of the world, but here in America they absolutely exist. That stands to reason, though. I think Americans are more prone to this problem and here is why:

Right before I decided I wasn’t dealing with Christianity anymore when I was a kid, I became the most religious Christian on the face of the planet. After all, I’d been put through a scary Christian school (real Christians apparently don’t believe in plate tectonics, according to my teacher) and I was losing my religion and I was scared. I didn’t believe what people said I should believe. In fact, according to the people I respected in life my beliefs made me evil. Therefore I clung desperately to those beliefs, hoping if I was dedicated enough to the cause I would believe in it sooner or later. This denial is common human behavior and not confined to religion. Reason and evidence are ignored because if you listen to the reasoning and the evidence you might just cross the line and stop believing altogether. In America, where right now it seems that the majority of our society is Christian or trying really hard to be, nobody wants to be an “evil” atheist, and so the ones who secretly doubt often become those who denounce atheists with the most hatred. Those who can shrug and let it go are the ones who are secure in their beliefs.

]]> By: Sprawwl http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2433 Sprawwl Thu, 24 Aug 2006 17:44:23 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2433 Lunchbox: what hypocrisy are you talking about? Also: I wouldn't say that God changed between the testaments. His mercy was revealed throughout the old testament, just as it was shown through His sacrifice of His Son in the new, and his sense of justice was shown through that same sacrifice, just as it was shown more explicitly throughout the old. Lunchbox: what hypocrisy are you talking about?
Also: I wouldn’t say that God changed between the testaments. His mercy was revealed throughout the old testament, just as it was shown through His sacrifice of His Son in the new, and his sense of justice was shown through that same sacrifice, just as it was shown more explicitly throughout the old.

]]> By: Lunchbox http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2429 Lunchbox Thu, 24 Aug 2006 14:57:40 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2429 well, i dont know what rob meant by it, but i know i dont group all people of any religion when i say stuff like that. However, i have seen and heard many people say alot of these things, and i know they arent true. i tried being a christian for a while, and i was brought up to do so. i just couldnt get passed all the hippocracy in the bible, and the dramatic change between the old and new testament. in fact, i once asked a very religious friend of mine why god suddenly changed. He told me it was because he realised what he was doing was wrong, and jesus opened his eyes to it. Then i said, ok, that makes sense. But isnt god supposed to be perfect? just one of many many many questions i have about the christian faith. unfortunately i havent had the ability to try any other religions, though i plan to at least learn about more as the years go by. well, i dont know what rob meant by it, but i know i dont group all people of any religion when i say stuff like that. However, i have seen and heard many people say alot of these things, and i know they arent true. i tried being a christian for a while, and i was brought up to do so. i just couldnt get passed all the hippocracy in the bible, and the dramatic change between the old and new testament. in fact, i once asked a very religious friend of mine why god suddenly changed. He told me it was because he realised what he was doing was wrong, and jesus opened his eyes to it. Then i said, ok, that makes sense. But isnt god supposed to be perfect? just one of many many many questions i have about the christian faith. unfortunately i havent had the ability to try any other religions, though i plan to at least learn about more as the years go by.

]]> By: Sprawwl http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2381 Sprawwl Wed, 23 Aug 2006 15:04:44 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2381 Rob: it seems like you're grouping all Christians together here... please, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but... by saying that "they" do it, aren't you implying that they *all* do it? By the way: the Bible doesn't support that "everyone deep down knows that there is a god." I can chapter-and-verse you if you'd like. Rob: it seems like you’re grouping all Christians together here… please, feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but… by saying that “they” do it, aren’t you implying that they *all* do it?
By the way: the Bible doesn’t support that “everyone deep down knows that there is a god.” I can chapter-and-verse you if you’d like.

]]> By: Rob http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2347 Rob Wed, 23 Aug 2006 01:48:45 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2347 Argh! The worst thing they do is when they say "I know that deep down, everyone knows there's a god." It's like they know it pisses me off. And yeah, that survey only goes to show how close-minded those people are who claim to have the most open minds. Argh! The worst thing they do is when they say “I know that deep down, everyone knows there’s a god.”

It’s like they know it pisses me off.

And yeah, that survey only goes to show how close-minded those people are who claim to have the most open minds.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2343 Anonymous Wed, 23 Aug 2006 00:02:42 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2343 "atheists are one of the last groups remaining that it’s still socially acceptable to hate" im not sure if youre actually as open minded and intellegent as you say you are, where i come from and all over the world its not acceptable to hate anyone for thier race or culture...unless their a christian. there are many places all over the world where the punishment for being a christian is death, and many people die willingly because of it every year. now you could just be thick headed and say that thats because of thier stupidity, but is it really rational to say that many people are stupid? youve been claiming that athiesim is the only rational conclusion all over this website but i really dont see a lot of rational thought from you. sorry if i offended you, i didnt intend to. by the way, what sprawwl said was very well put. “atheists are one of the last groups remaining that it’s still socially acceptable to hate”

im not sure if youre actually as open minded and intellegent as you say you are, where i come from and all over the world its not acceptable to hate anyone for thier race or culture…unless their a christian. there are many places all over the world where the punishment for being a christian is death, and many people die willingly because of it every year. now you could just be thick headed and say that thats because of thier stupidity, but is it really rational to say that many people are stupid? youve been claiming that athiesim is the only rational conclusion all over this website but i really dont see a lot of rational thought from you. sorry if i offended you, i didnt intend to.

by the way, what sprawwl said was very well put.

]]> By: Sprawwl http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2260 Sprawwl Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:27:05 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2260 I am a 17-year-old honors student with a GPA of 3.9 at a major university. I am a junior; I entered college when I was 15. I have an IQ of 154. I have studied biology, geology, chemistry, physics, quantum mechanics, psychology, and sociology. And I am an evangelical Christian, a Southern Baptist actually. I live in the southern United States. I have witnessed to several of my friends. Surprise! - I don't hate atheists. I believe that many atheists are intelligent, friendly people, who are fully capable of being both reasonable and moral. I recognize that atheists have a wide range of philosophical and ethical viewpoints, and that to make any sort of generalization about atheists (other than "they believe there is no God," which is, I believe, fairly self-explanatory) is stupid. I know happy atheists, and sad atheists. I know many atheists who are wonderful, loving parents. I have simply come to the conclusion that there is a God, and that he is the God of the Bible. I am a 17-year-old honors student with a GPA of 3.9 at a major university. I am a junior; I entered college when I was 15.
I have an IQ of 154.
I have studied biology, geology, chemistry, physics, quantum mechanics, psychology, and sociology.
And I am an evangelical Christian, a Southern Baptist actually. I live in the southern United States. I have witnessed to several of my friends.

Surprise! - I don’t hate atheists.
I believe that many atheists are intelligent, friendly people, who are fully capable of being both reasonable and moral. I recognize that atheists have a wide range of philosophical and ethical viewpoints, and that to make any sort of generalization about atheists (other than “they believe there is no God,” which is, I believe, fairly self-explanatory) is stupid. I know happy atheists, and sad atheists. I know many atheists who are wonderful, loving parents.

I have simply come to the conclusion that there is a God, and that he is the God of the Bible.

]]> By: Vasa http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2251 Vasa Mon, 21 Aug 2006 22:41:43 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2251 I love being European, for me it's quite the opposite. I would hate for my future children to bring home a religious fundamentalist. (believing that what the bible says is real, and that kind of crazy talk) I love being European, for me it’s quite the opposite.
I would hate for my future children to bring home a religious fundamentalist. (believing that what the bible says is real, and that kind of crazy talk)

]]> By: ZombieLoffe http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2226 ZombieLoffe Mon, 21 Aug 2006 14:36:04 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2226 I can't say I've ever encountered any of the myths anywhere but the internet (IRC, forums and so on), but then again, I live in Sweden, and most people I know are either agnostic or atheist. I can’t say I’ve ever encountered any of the myths anywhere but the internet (IRC, forums and so on), but then again, I live in Sweden, and most people I know are either agnostic or atheist.

]]> By: Jason http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2180 Jason Sun, 20 Aug 2006 06:14:29 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2180 Dead on. These myths DO exist, especially in my hometown. My parents alone have spouted off at least 6 of those. Dead on. These myths DO exist, especially in my hometown. My parents alone have spouted off at least 6 of those.

]]> By: Jenssen http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2175 Jenssen Sun, 20 Aug 2006 04:38:47 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2175 nice very agreeable stupidity is the dam problem and without that i feel religoin will take care of itself nice very agreeable

stupidity is the dam problem
and without that i feel religoin will take care of itself

]]> By: Myself http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2142 Myself Sat, 19 Aug 2006 14:48:53 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2142 How many people are you really going to change with your logic The only people you will reach are the ones that aleady agree with you. I say fuck them They are a crazy dozing beast ( deffinately not sleeping ) Leave them all to their own fate And dont piss them off. We will be jews to those crazy nazi's if were not carefull and i know you who read this will not agree. And believe me just typing this shit down feels like the satellite dish flying out of cartmans ass I take this point not to antagonize not to appease but just to offer my opinion agree disagree it dosent fucken matter i will recieve just as musch enjoyment at the stimulation of defending myself as i will speeling on about trippy shit ( although the latter is my favourite ). I live in new zealand and all that i see there is to look farward to Is another fuck another laugh another drink another joint and another love and another book/experience. Enjoy your life excuse the english and my own individual slang. science is my language How many people are you really going to change with your logic
The only people you will reach are the ones that aleady agree with you.
I say fuck them They are a crazy dozing beast ( deffinately not sleeping ) Leave them all to their own fate
And dont piss them off. We will be jews to those crazy nazi’s if were not carefull
and i know you who read this will not agree. And believe me just typing this shit down feels like the satellite dish flying out of cartmans ass
I take this point not to antagonize not to appease but just to offer my opinion
agree disagree it dosent fucken matter i will recieve just as musch enjoyment at the stimulation of defending myself as i will
speeling on about trippy shit ( although the latter is my favourite ).

I live in new zealand and all that i see there is to look farward to
Is another fuck another laugh another drink another joint and another love and another book/experience.

Enjoy your life

excuse the english and my own individual slang. science is my language

]]> By: Kren http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2094 Kren Thu, 17 Aug 2006 19:44:50 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2094 Touche! I also think that some of the coments on your post of the list prove a few as well as actual ways some people think. To Bryan- IMO, even without religion, people would still be f'd up. I think that a lot of religious people use their religions as justification for sociopathic views. Just as well, a quote from K-Pax... "You humans, most of you, subscribe to this policy of an eye for an eye, a life for a life, which is known throughout the universe for its... stupidity. Even your Buddha and your Christ had different ideas, but nobody seemed to want to listen to them. Not even the Buddhists or the Christians. " ...easily points out the hypocracy in a lot of people. Touche!

I also think that some of the coments on your post of the list prove a few as well as actual ways some people think.

To Bryan- IMO, even without religion, people would still be f’d up.
I think that a lot of religious people use their religions as justification for sociopathic views.
Just as well, a quote from K-Pax…

“You humans, most of you, subscribe to this policy of an eye for an eye, a life for a life, which is known throughout the universe for its… stupidity. Even your Buddha and your Christ had different ideas, but nobody seemed to want to listen to them. Not even the Buddhists or the Christians. ”

…easily points out the hypocracy in a lot of people.

]]> By: Bryan http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-2092 Bryan Thu, 17 Aug 2006 18:28:07 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/08/17/are-the-myths-about-atheists-real-or-not/#comment-2092 I do whole heartedly agree with all of your statements. Although I am buddhist, I do agree that most of the population is out of control do to the fact of religon, I seriously believe that if everyone was athiest then our country would be a better place, Though it would be nazi-like to do this and totally ethicly wrong to change religon. When I declared I was bhuddist I was under public scrutiny. I feel your pain I do whole heartedly agree with all of your statements. Although I am buddhist, I do agree that most of the population is out of control do to the fact of religon,
I seriously believe that if everyone was athiest then our country would be a better place, Though it would be nazi-like to do this and totally ethicly wrong to change religon.
When I declared I was bhuddist I was under public scrutiny.
I feel your pain

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