tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381224391260954323.post6041245036440015054..comments2023-05-26T01:08:22.886-07:00Comments on The Religion Virus: America Hates Gays, but Hates Atheists Even More!Craig A. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569974341270668010noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381224391260954323.post-43233845935069518452011-07-30T11:51:54.221-07:002011-07-30T11:51:54.221-07:00To Anon - I am a proud atheist and where i come fr...To Anon - I am a proud atheist and where i come from (Québec) atheists talk very openly of their ''beliefs''. I would say religion is a superficial aspect of our lives here. Religious people of all sort and also atheists all live along. But anybody here who would read your comment (religious or not) would be equally shocked. Talking this way will certainly not help your cause. I do not agree on the dogmatic effect of religion (and so religion itself), but in no way would I talk of someones beliefs as an infection. There is a MAJOR differentiation between dogmas and faith. The way you say religion is wrong is exactly what i find disgusting about religious institutions. The lack of a broader and accepting vision of ''reality''. I do not beleive in God or any entity of this kind but until it is proven wrong i shall keep my thoughts for myself. I and only I have lived and seen what I have. Everybody has their own path leading to who they are, religious, atheist, good or evil. Personally i think respect outweighs any other ''belief'', whichever.Carl Jodoinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381224391260954323.post-64452393395070255252011-06-29T13:11:12.328-07:002011-06-29T13:11:12.328-07:00Note to Anon - I deleted your link about gay marri...Note to Anon - I deleted your link about gay marriage because your web site is infected with malware and tries to attack your visitors' computers.Craig A. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10569974341270668010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381224391260954323.post-18547431156232904422011-06-27T13:43:41.880-07:002011-06-27T13:43:41.880-07:00Anon -- without even addressing the merits of whet...Anon -- without even addressing the merits of whether religion is a "mental disease," your approach is counterproductive. At the risk of sounding self serving, I suggest that you read my book, <a href="http://www.thereligionvirus.com" rel="nofollow"><i>The Religion Virus</i></a>.<br /><br />Religion is very appealing and "infectious." What you're doing is like blaming someone for catching the flu. It doesn't do any good to criticize and berate someone because they believe the same thing that the great majority of society believes. Especially when the ideas have evolved over many thousands of years to be incredibly appealing and infectious.<br /><br />A better approach is what I'm suggesting in the blog: admit who you are, and thereby help to normalize atheism in society. This, along with efforts to keep accurate science and history in our schools, will do more to promote rational thought and a secular country than we can achieve through insults to our theistic friends and neighbors.Craig A. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10569974341270668010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381224391260954323.post-11333403337650453182011-06-27T13:37:20.887-07:002011-06-27T13:37:20.887-07:00Jack - There are really two separate issues: What ...Jack - There are really two separate issues: What people believe, and whether they respect one another. The first goal is to get more of us to go public. Once that happens, I hope you're right that the social pressures are eased. Right now, people can't even contemplate atheism in many parts of the country because it's social suicide.Craig A. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10569974341270668010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381224391260954323.post-56063402721860633862011-06-27T13:28:32.497-07:002011-06-27T13:28:32.497-07:00Thing is, unlike every other discrimination issue,...Thing is, unlike every other discrimination issue, Atheists shouldn't be treated as equals. That implies that religion has some merit, when in fact it is all BS, and detrimental to society. Everyone should be an Atheist, believing in things that aren't real is a sign of a mental disease. People who are Atheist for the right reasons simply have a healthier mind than everyone else. I don't think we should ever bother trying to be accepted by religious fools, instead we should keep on refuting their claims using logic and science. We are a growing minority, and eventually, hopefully, the entire world will only believe in reality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3381224391260954323.post-52323434981144928552011-06-27T09:27:13.248-07:002011-06-27T09:27:13.248-07:00This is a nice post, Craig. It harks back to when...This is a nice post, Craig. It harks back to when Harvey Milk told California's gay community to "out" themselves to as many people in their lives as possible. I think that our doing so, while initially uncomfortable, will in the long run make a big difference. So many "believers" treat religion as merely a social opportunity (not that there's anything wrong with that) that I think we could see a swelling of our ranks as people realize that it's not social death to consider the Tooth Fairy and Jehovah as equally implausible.Jack Mahoneyhttp://www.maineprep.comnoreply@blogger.com