Comments for Freethought Arizona

Comment on Sam Harris: The Problem with Atheism. by Polybius Slenderman

Polybius Slenderman — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:37:00 +0000

There will come a day when we don’t need to identify as atheists, but it is not today, and it will only come if we keep it up. The main thing responsible for changing minds is visibility, and to the extent it becomes impossible for people not to encounter an atheistic viewpoint when searching for answers, the label itself will be largely responsible.

Comment on Sam Harris: The Problem with Atheism. by Forky Witherspoon

Forky Witherspoon — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:14:00 +0000

Quoting proverbs? Lol what century do you live in, mental midget?

Comment on Sam Harris: The Problem with Atheism. by John Kieffer

John Kieffer — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:24:00 +0000

Sam Harris, who is apparently not a sociologist, does not understand how social change occurs, particularly in this case changes in religious worldviews.

He should read Peter Berger’s *Sacred Canopy* in which Berger asserts how worldviews are created and how they are destroyed. According to Berger, the first step to that destruction is to simply challenge the “taken for granted” status of some “normative” belief. Using the word “atheist” (vs “humanist,” “free thinker,” “secularlist,” etc) to define oneself does just that: it clearly challenges theists’ “taken for granted” status of the very foundation of their religious beliefs.

And that challenge, conveyed simply yet powerfully by the word “atheist,” uttered throughout countless social interactions, initiates the first phase in altering belief in god characters.

Comment on Sam Harris: The Problem with Atheism. by bodhi

bodhi — Wed, 08 May 2013 06:36:00 +0000

Be proud to be a rational human (that’s basically atheist).

Comment on Sam Harris: The Problem with Atheism. by bodhi

bodhi — Wed, 08 May 2013 06:35:00 +0000

You damn well should be proud to be an atheist, because most people (i.e. “the masses”) are delusional. Just like LGBT folks, staying in the closet as individuals has only slowed our integration into society as equals, and allowed fears and mis-perceptions to reign supreme. An “atheist” is thought of as an immoral sinner that hates God and has no reason to be good.
Who among us would say that fits? I don’t hate God, because God doesn’t exist; just like Ra, Zeus and Quetzalcoatl don’t exist. I’m not immoral either… I use the Golden Rule, I think of us all as one big family and take karma (you reap what you sow) to heart. Many Christians I know fail miserably to be good people, but think they’re going to Heaven anyway merely because they “believe”.
So we need to be heard. Don’t be stupid about it people, just be visible. All the Christians want people to know they’re Good Christians. So let everyone know you’re a GOOD ATHEIST. That’ll change their minds the same way that homosexuality has slowly become accepted. There is still plenty of resistance in the world, and there are consequences for “coming out”, but it’s right that we do speak up and it’s right that they accept us as equals.

Comment on Sam Harris: The Problem with Atheism. by bodhi

bodhi — Wed, 08 May 2013 06:18:00 +0000

You damn well should be proud to be an atheist, because most people are delusional.

Comment on Sam Harris: The Problem with Atheism. by Freethought_Arizona

Freethought_Arizona — Wed, 08 May 2013 05:20:00 +0000

Sarah,
No problem. Recovering from Religion is part of the greater freethinking community and we have an active chapter here in Tucson.

Comment on Sam Harris: The Problem with Atheism. by Sarah Morehead

Sarah Morehead — Wed, 08 May 2013 05:03:00 +0000

Thanks for mentioning Recovering From Religion. Seems like a small thing, I’m sure, but I truly appreciate your thinking of us! Here’s a video where I talk a bit more about what we do and how we do it Thanks for all you do, very interesting article! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyJGR-2RJCU

Comment on Sam Harris: The Problem with Atheism. by Freethought_Arizona

Freethought_Arizona — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:51:00 +0000

I agree that it’s a natural state of being but it’s OK to be proud that your application of reason has allowed you to overcome early religious indoctrination.

Comment on Sam Harris: The Problem with Atheism. by Ryan E. Hoffman

Ryan E. Hoffman — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:36:00 +0000

You shouldn’t be “proud to be an atheist.” It’s a natural state of being. It’s a default position. Pride always cometh before a fall. Never forget proverbs.