Atheism - leave the poor bastards alone, man.

[logansrogue]

I get pissy when certain Archbishops pick on atheists during Easter sermons. For a few reasons:

- Atheism has nothing to do with Easter.
- There is so much to learn about oneself and spirituality by studying the depths and truths of Jesus' story. There really is no reason to lash out at other people.
- They get enough shit for not believing in things that most people do.

Also, this archbishop just got it *so* incredibly wrong. Atheism is not a religion. It's the complete absence of religion. What I think Archbishop Jensen was scrabbling for was that some atheists can be just as zealous as any religious person about their beliefs. But their beliefs are not of a religious nature.

I've had some pretty horrible things said to me by certain people that believe in atheism, but I have the presence of mind to understand that that's just a few people with chips on their shoulders and they're not representative of those who hold that particular belief system. I mean, I think Richard Dawkins is a total fuckneck, but I know that not all atheists are like that. I'm not the usual person to see coming out defending atheism. Honestly, it's not a thing I look into much nor think about - I'm pretth apathetic about it, I'm busy with my various obsessions.

But ultimately, I felt the need to say, "Hey. I believe in God, and Archbishop? I think you're a loudmouthed twerp. Lay off the atheist folk. Shut up and think about Jesus, that's what this weekend is about after all." So here's my soapbox moment.

Comments

[honorh.livejournal.com]

Atheism is a religious belief, in that it's a belief about God/god(s)/deity/FSM. However, it's not a religion in itself. That's like saying *not* collecting stamps is a hobby. And, yeah, this weekend should be about the most important part of Christian beliefs, not about attacking the other side. So I agree with you.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

You make a good point. Sometimes I fail with the logics.

[flyingreptile.livejournal.com]

atheism is not the rational philosophy that it claims to be. ... Dr Jensen told the congregation that atheism is as much of a religion as Christianity.

I find it kind of strange that those "defending" religion so often use religion as a synonym for irrational.

[bewarethespork.livejournal.com]

"Hey. I believe in God, and Archbishop? I think you're a loudmouthed twerp. Lay off the atheist folk. Shut up and think about Jesus, that's what this weekend is about after all."

Hell to the OH MY GOD YES.

Believing in God does not give anyone the right to be an asshat.

[lauredhel.livejournal.com]

One of my favourite tweets this week was by BestChurchofGod:

"It's “Jesus Day" not Easter. Eastre is the Pagan goddess of spring. Worshiping her = Hell & candy. But mostly Hell."

[come-love-sleep.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty damn atheist, but you know what? I think Dawkins is a total fuckneck too. It's like, way to make us all look like smug assholes, dude. XD

[honorh.livejournal.com]

So, Richard Dawkins is the equal and opposite of Pat Robertson? If we got them together, would the universe implode?

[angriest.livejournal.com]

I used to think Dawkins was too, but then started reconsidering a bit. The media do a pretty exceptional job of picking the most contentious thing he says at any one time, and then quoting it without context - or sometimes actively misquoting him entirely and making him look like more of a dick than he is.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

No, I can't forgive him for the things he's said about people that believe in God. Even calling his book "The God Delusion" is highly offensive and assholish.

Loathe him.

[angriest.livejournal.com]

The thing is I don't honestly think Dawkins calling a book The God Delusion, or writing that religious people are suffering some weird psychological mania, is any more offensive than a Christian telling me I am going to hell because I don't believe what he or she believes - just to give the obvious example. Obviously that's just my opinion, and doesn't necessarily excuse his behaviour or how he expresses his views, but I've been led in recent times to realise that the way he gets represented in the media has a lot more to do with how we receive him than anything he actually writes or says.

Basically we have a society where it's acceptable for religious people to act in one way, and we're conditioned to either accept or ignore it, but an atheist to act in the same way stands out as being an asshole.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Means nothing to me, Grant. He's an asshole. I don't care what he believes. And I think people that tell you you're going to hell are assholes too. A person is either an asshole or they're not. And Richard Dawkins IS one. Can't convince me either way.

[nephron.livejournal.com]

If you are an Archbishop, and you can't think of a way of talking about Jesus and Christianity in your Good Friday sermon, you are doing it wrong.

ETA: I mean, this is the most significant day on the Christian calendar.

[annlarimer.livejournal.com]

I think Richard Dawkins is a total fuckneck

Thank fuck it's not just me.

[pharaoh-katt.livejournal.com]

"It's about our determination as human beings to have our own way, to make our own rules, to live our own lives, unfettered by the rule of God and the right of God to rule over us," he said.

"What we're really seeing, once more [is] an example of the contest between human beings and God over who rules the world."
So... Atheists are actively telling a god they don't believe in to f- off? Riiiight -_-;

dear Bishop,

I used to believe in god, and I think you're a fucking arse. And would still think this if I still was Christian.
Fuck off,
Kitty.

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

The real surprise for me here was discovering the George Pell was the Church leader who wasn't being a dick.