Religion
Related: About this forumExtremism a foe of believers and atheists
Sunday Herald Sun
January 27, 201312:00AM
A friend says he still feels a twinge of anxiety when he tells someone he is an atheist.
"I see the look in their eyes that states 'Uh oh . . . better keep him away from the children'," he says. "It's got to the point where I tend not to be open about my atheism."
In some parts of the world it is physically dangerous to admit atheist belief.
In Bangladesh this month, atheist blogger Asif Mohiuddin, 29, was stabbed repeatedly by three suspected Islamist fundamentalists and is in a critical condition in hospital.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/extremism-a-foe-of-believers-and-atheists/story-e6frfhqf-1226562462466
burnsei sensei
(1,820 posts)Extremism is dangerous to everyone, but to the extremist, it is addictive.
It also provides a direction in the world, sometimes a community, sometimes a home.
If societies functioned, if people could be provided meaningful diretions in the world and stability by way of secular means, they wouldn't go so far into themselves by doctrine and become criminal or potentially so.
Self-righteousness, righteous anger, despair over wrong, these act like narcotics on people-- and they're particularly powerful where societies don't function.
rug
(82,333 posts)skepticscott
(13,029 posts)were stabbed, shot, or otherwise physically assaulted last year by gangs of "atheist extremists"?
rug
(82,333 posts)skepticscott
(13,029 posts)The same one you referred to. Or do you not know what "the last year" means?
rug
(82,333 posts)Flick
rug
(82,333 posts)humblebum
(5,881 posts)Or are you just referring to gangs?
skepticscott
(13,029 posts)flick
humblebum
(5,881 posts)longship
(40,416 posts)The religious extremists would have atheists in the closet, shut out of the discussion. I can no longer do that. Non-believers, no matter what they call themselves, should have a seat at the table no matter what anybody might think about it.
This is not to be merely confrontational, but to be part of the discussion. The more extreme elements would have us shut up.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)It's too bad you have to sign in to read the article.
dimbear
(6,271 posts)Mocking atheists. You love that? Really?
cbayer
(146,218 posts)And as images that mock others goes in this group, it can't hold a candle.
okasha
(11,573 posts)when you've tsk_tsk'd some of the cartoons mocking theists. Your double standard is flapping in the breeze.
dimbear
(6,271 posts)religion. I use it often, but not without being scolded for doing so. Goose, gander.
rug
(82,333 posts)It's too bad there are so few artists here.
okasha
(11,573 posts)nt