http://atheismplus.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=857
http://atheismplus.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=920
There are a few in there attempting to defend it, but the general consensus is that it's a failed philosophy.
*There is no god*
*Worships the state*
“Since people are concerned that ‘X’ will not be provided, ‘X’ will naturally be provided by those who are concerned by its absence.""The sweetest of minds can harbor the harshest of men.”
http://voluntaryistreader.wordpress.org
Well the first reply starts with this:
Very many things are well documented, and as this thread develops I'd be happy to point to various sources of data. We know, for instance, that: - participation in a democratic society should not be determined by one's financial worth. The entire set of principles behind Atheism+ completely contradict that assertion.
- participation in a democratic society should not be determined by one's financial worth. The entire set of principles behind Atheism+ completely contradict that assertion.
"various sources of data ... participation should not be determined"
I decided that was enough. I scanned the page and saw words like class, social justice and neoliberal used repeatedly. Who cares if they're atheists, that's not the relevant classification in this discussion. It's certainly not their atheism that determines their political beliefs, no matter how much they insist both spawn from their super-special rational minds.
Well I have to say that I thought that the conversation was interesting in that it took a rather unique outlook, which was the focus around power structures and libertarianism, which is something that I've rarely heard talked about. I also think that the libertarians there did a remarkably good job of defending themselves and showing what the free market really was, and how it brings about a favorable distribution and destruction of power beyond what is necessary in society and the outcome of voluntary behavior.
What I found interesting and scary was not that they were engaging in any sort of "state worship", rather what disturbed me was the way they seemed to be worshipping equality above all things, and kept using it as their standard of value and the ultimate end... If one actually thinks it through instead of just treating the value of equality as a given we find that the concept of equality as being necessarily positive is sooo dumb.
It was also great when they were talking about how things were only good for straight white males in the late 1800's when the very reason why this was the case was because THE STATE withheld the political rights of people, and is a case of exactly why its powers should be so thoroughly limited.
Yeah, equality sucks when everyone is equally poor because of anti-market sentiments. Nothing says "Equality!" like giving a group of people power over others.
Equality sucks because men are unequal.
I'd argue equality is a religion unto itself, complete with a state priesthood (diversity directors), theologians (civil rights lawyers), holy texts (UN Declarations), penance and reconcilatory rituals (diversity seminars) and blasphemy laws and inquisitions (Google "Canadian Human Rights Commission").
Atheists are some of the stupidest people on the planet.
I'm an agnostic, but I am that way for different reasons. For example, communism and, really, the far-left in general, supports state atheism, which I would never in a million years support regardless of how I view religion. Many atheists get pretty arrogant in their position because when they feel like they've broken away from something that most humans have supported since the Bronze Age, they love to advertise that.
As I heard mentioned in another thread (or maybe it was this one), they are just sheep following a different shepherd. But there are those of us who have actually thought about why we are irreligious without joining it for a sense of thrill.
As an atheist myself, I was being a bit facetious, but I think you're spot on.
Many atheists get pretty arrogant in their position because when they feel like they've broken away from something that most humans have supported since the Bronze Age, they love to advertise that.
Yup, once you've broken out of one box, it's a lot easier to ignore your other cognitive dissonances. The groupthink within atheist communities only further keeps them from any kind of sensibility.
Yes. Standard Socialism (SS) and Marxism have already advertised themselves as being the political ideologies for atheists. When they join those "progressive" mindsets, it automatically turns them off to anything where religion could be looked on as acceptable in society, as their old questioning thoughts have been swept away by arrogance at how they feel they have broken away from an ancient tyranny of the mind.
So they go from worshipping god to hating the idea of god and worshipping the state. Giving up one bad habit and replacing it with another.
On a personal note, how many of you here are atheists. I am. But my religion matters to me culturally. I would like to marry into my own religion and keep some semblance of connection. Although I don't do any kind worship or follow religious practices.
There are many atheists on this board, who reject both state and godly worship. I think the minarchists tend to be the theists of the board, but this is merely my estimation from stalking these boards for a good while.