I’m not sure I like the idea of regulating religions, cults, whatever just on the face of it–we’ve got to watch what we wish for–what if they made atheism a crime! (Citizen! Show your Bible!).

I think we need to show tolerance in the broader sense and deal with violence as a criminal matter as it comes up. I didn’t post to the Scientology thread, but I was opposed to outlawing it, not that Elron’s crowd gets any sympathy or respect from me.

But I tend to be tolerant person, I don’t really care what anyone does or says unless it affects me directly or personally. I live my life and don’t bother anyone about how they live theirs, and as long as I get the same respect back, I’m fine. But get in my face or rain on my party, and the wrath of the FSM will be on yer haid Brother!

I think organizations that have been demonstrated to be fradulent should be banned. Regardless of religious belief. Or maybe not, as there is some room for abuse here…
Well, now that I think about it, actually I do feel safer just allowing all beliefs and banning the violent and destructive behavior.

Dang, I don’t care that much what people believe as long as their beliefs don’t say they should blow people up (or otherwise affect their lives in a hurtful way).

Why would any sane nation outlaw atheism? We are not the violent dangerous ones.

We mustn’t assume though that atheists are non-violent as a result of our atheism. There’s nothing about atheism that leads one to a peaceful lifestyle.

I hate to bring up the example of the Soviet Union because that has been beaten to death and has been used by theists to unfairly malign atheists… But the fact remains that churches were destroyed, property stolen, lives destroyed, and lives lost as a direct result of a state imposed atheism. That’s just a fact.

Atheism is neither inherently good nor bad. There can be good atheists and bad atheists. But it seems like so many people who post here think that atheism necessarily leads to moral righteousness. I don’t think that’s the case at all. (I don’t think religion leads to a sense of morality either, but that’s a separate issue.)

And actually, if you look at it objectively, atheists certainly do come off as self-righteous a-holes sometimes. I’m guilty of that myself from time to time. I think we could all use a bit more humility when dealing with the 95% or so of the population who don’t share our convictions.

By the way mikayla, I really don’t mean to pick on you personally; this is something I’ve been thinking about for a while now.

Atheism is neither inherently good nor bad. There can be good atheists and bad atheists.

Ah but,

Good people will do good things, and bad people will do bad things. But for good people to do bad things — that takes religion.
– Steven Weinberg

I would argue that athiests (not atheism) are not inherently good or bad but atheism is far better than the alternative. Since we ultimately make decisions between alternatives then atheism is “good” because it is better.

Ah, the dependable benefit of being a stopped clock.

And actually, if you look at it objectively, atheists certainly do come off as self-righteous a-holes sometimes. I’m guilty of that myself from time to time. I think we could all use a bit more humility when dealing with the 95% or so of the population who don’t share our convictions.

Bravo…!!!

If all atheists presented their ideas the way you do, their poll numbers might be a bit higher…

Well, I’m not going that far, and I never do. It’s not the theists that’s the problem, its the strict followers of the violent religions (particularly Islam and Christianity

Well, you’ve done exactly what I knew you’d do. Equating Islam with Christianity…?

OK Dave…tell me when’s the last time a Christian movement declared war on the rest of the world?

When was the last time a Christian group beheaded 3 innocent teenage girls…?

When’s the last time a Christian group packed a car with explosives and detonated it in a crowded market square…?

What Christian group is funded by a radical government to target airlines…?

Please don’t include individual acts of insane individuals…

Nor the “one family” which claims “God Hates Fags”…

Phelps says that he is a preacher who believes that homosexuality and its acceptance have doomed most of the world to eternal damnation. The church at Westboro which he leads has 71 confirmed members, 60 of whom are related to Phelps through blood or marriage or both.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Phelps

Seriously Dave…show the statistics…

When you make such asinine statements you weaken the resolve of all to deal with the real threats to Western Society…

those who honestly think their preacher is 100% right and will do whatever he says — they are the problem. Power corrupts.

So by your statement…atheists, who believe that they are 100% right when it comes to God…are the problem…because having this power corrupts them…

Once again proving that there is no such thing as “Pure Atheism”…