Comment

Comment by Joan Denoo on June 13, 2012 at 4:28pm

I am painfully aware talking, reasoning, revealing the unintended or intended consequences of religion has made no difference in other's thinking. They boldly go on imposing on nonbelievers as if we had the responsibility to remain silent and take it with good humor and pleasant smiles. 

Well, not after what christians do and say and believe and try to shove down our throats. The only way, at least as far as I can tell, is to be clear in my own head, to be specific and concrete in my writing and speaking, and be willing to use the Hitch attitude when confronted. I/we lose family and friends, but let us just realize that 7,000,000,000 human beings walk on this Earth and we can chose with whom we walk and talk. 

Comment by Alan Perlman on June 9, 2012 at 12:04pm

Joan, Thanks for the eight God-premises.  We don't need ten commandments - we can do it in eight!

Comment by Joan Denoo on June 7, 2012 at 12:11pm

theo-co-dependentism

1. A belief that is learned by watching and imitating others  who display this type of behavior, it maintains relationships that are one-sided, emotionally destructive and/or abusive. 

2. Attitudes, behaviors, customs, traditions and values that foster dependence.  

http://mentalhealthamerica.net/go/codependency

religious

1. A belief in and worship of superhuman controlling power, a personal god that is learned.  A belief that god created homo sapiens to be dependent, passive, and subordinate to god. The Passive Gospel. Historically, it derives from "religare" to restrain, tie back, to give meaning and purpose.

2. Attitudes, behaviors, customs, traditions and values that foster dependent, passive, and submission to god.

http://www.ancientsites.com/aw/Group/189307

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion

Comment by Joan Denoo on June 7, 2012 at 12:11pm

anthropocentrism 

1:  a belief that homo sapiens are the most significant entity of the universe

2:  attitudes, behaviors, customs, traditions and values that foster interpreting or regarding the world in terms of human experiences.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropocentric

sexism

1:  a belief that gender is a primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that gender differences produce an inherent superiority of male gender over female; discrimination against women

2:  attitudes, behaviors, customs, traditions and values that foster stereotypes of social roles based on gender.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sexism

racism 
1:  a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

2:  attitudes, behaviors, customs, traditions and values that foster racial prejudice or discrimination.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism

dominionism

1:  a belief that a person or philosophy has the power to rule and control a country, region, people, resources, etc. 

2:  attitudes, behaviors, customs, traditions and values that claim the right to have power and control over others or things. 

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

exceptionalism 

1:  A belief that a god or philosophy is unusual or uncommon and result in inherent superiority over others. 

2:  attitudes, behaviors, customs, traditions and values that foster superiority and the right to have dominion over others or things.  

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exceptionalism

theocentrism 

1:  A belief that a specific and particular god is the central interest and ultimate concern 

2:  attitudes, behaviors, customs, traditions and values that foster a specific and particular god. 

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theocentric

Comment by Joan Denoo on June 7, 2012 at 12:10pm

Basic fallacies of religion are:

1.  God created man in god’s image. - Anthropocentrism

2.  God created man, male, in his male, god image. - Sexism

3.  God created my race superior to your race. - Racism

4.  God created man to have dominion over all that swims, crawls, flies. - Dominionism

5.  God created man to worship the “one true god.” - Exceptionalism 

6.  God is sovereign – Theocentrism

7. God created man to obey - Theo-co-dependent

8. God created man be dependent, passive, and subordinate - Religious 

Joan Denoo

Sunday, March 28, 2010  original

Thursday,  June 7, 2012  revised 

Comment by Alan Perlman on June 7, 2012 at 10:24am

Patricia...some years ago my wife (maried to someone else) actually let a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses in -- and debated them for days, if not weeks.   Neither side budged an inch.  A couple of weeks ago, another cleanm-cut pair appeared at our door asking if we wanted to talk about the Bible.  Unfortunately, we didn't have time, so all they got was my statement that "we're hard-core atheists here" and my wife shouting from another room that the Bible was a book of horrible, primitive fantasies and God a deranged sadist. Where does one start?  Do I want to damage family relationships by belittling their superficial Judaism?  From the other side, mistrust of atheists shows up in polls that show people more likely to vote for a woman, a gay person, a Jew -- almost anyone but an atheist -- for President.  I think change has to come from the top, with an openly secular national figure -- a congressional leader or even the Prez.  Hard to believe that nearly all politicians pay at least lip service to religion and dare not utter a word against it.

Comment by Alan Perlman on June 6, 2012 at 8:06pm

Patricia,

As a PR person (speechwriting), I'm aware of the marketplace of ideas.  Atheists are way too quiet.  A bus ad or billboard here and there won't do it.  For starters, how about every religion story on TV or in the news has a quote from an atheist organization stating that, scientifically speaking, the events being celebrated just didn't happen?

Comment by Alan Perlman on June 6, 2012 at 1:20pm

Religion is at the same time the benefactor of immense social approval and the cause of immeasurable misery.  It is not enough to just be an atheist.  We must actively oppose religion, its bigotries and other horrors, or it will, as Bill Maher suggests, be the end of us.

Comment by Joan Denoo on April 17, 2012 at 12:12pm

Patricia that has been my experience as well: not bring up religion, but others start and I give my best reasoning. With some, it is easy for me to stay calm and even have a little fun with questions, like, "Do you really believe ...?" My dear cousin warns her husband not to bring up religion (he is "born again") and we are not together more than "Hello, how are you?" and he starts. He tries his very best. He then goes on a hunt for some pretty or different or unique bird house and the next time we are together he gives it to me, kind of a peace offering. And the cycle begins again. My back yard has many splendid bird houses. I enjoy our debates. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on February 15, 2012 at 7:22pm

Silence has never been a benefit for me. I am glad to know there are others who are able and willing to take a stand. Your technique is sound! I like having a reputation .... that cuts down on idiot talk. 

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