Comments on: Atheists “Aggressive”? Really?

By: PsiCop

PsiCop — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:43:30 +0000

Actually, when anyone shows up at my door unannounced, I consider it "presumptive" at least, and — yes — possibly "aggressive." Using "free speech" rights as an excuse also doesn't work. "Free speech" is a legal right, not a moral imperative. There are all kinds of special-interest groups, for example, who, while they may have a legal right to "free speech" and hold demonstrations, are not morally entitled to, say, block traffic or destroy property in the process.

As for "not being sure about atheists and political power," I'm not sure how credible your uncertainty is. There are no atheists in Congress. Not one. As for atheism being "hot," I'm not sure it is either. I think that theists such as yourself feel personally threatened by the presence, on bookstore shelves, of books on atheism, and are creating a moral panic that has no objective basis.

If it makes you feel better to believe that atheism is sweeping the nation and going to destroy our civilization as well as yourself, go right ahead. But it's fallacious to assume your feelings have any verifiable foundation. They don't, and what's more, you know it.

By: tomsheepandgoats

tomsheepandgoats — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:45:59 +0000

I suppose it is a form of aggression, but I like to think of it as the exercise of free speech. When the politians come calling to your door before election day, is that "agression?" Or if they or the neighbors stop by with some petition they'd like you to consider? Atheists and political power, I confess, I'm not sure about. But it can't be long in coming. Atheism is "hot" now, and the people embracing in are among the most respected and credentialed of society. Perhaps one cannot run for office right now as an atheist. Why not keep that to oneself for now, same as Eisenhower kept his JW background to himself?

By: PsiCop

PsiCop — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:05:33 +0000

Thanks for the comments.

The idea that atheists possess any political power is laughable. It is impossible for an atheist to be elected to any office in the United States. Atheists therefore cannot "use the political process" because there are none who have any political power at all.

You are right, of course, that most missionaries will leave if told to. But … they return. A few months later, maybe even a year later. It may be a different pair of missionaries even. But they return. They are persistent, relentless, and unrepentant about it.

That is a form of "aggression," even if you choose not to admit that it is.

By: tomsheepandgoats

tomsheepandgoats — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:53:09 +0000

No argument on points 1-4.

Regarding point 5, if you disagree with Jehovah's Witnesses, they go away. They don't afterwards try to force their views upon you through the legislative process, as they are strictly uninvolved in politics. Athiests, I believe, do use the political process to write their views into law….to the extent they are able. Thus, one could easily say atheists are more "agressive" than Jehovah's Witnesses.

So Billy would have a point were he speaking of us. But, of course, he's not.