[jesaya]

I am going to assume the OP means 'vociferous atheists' - in which case the answer is 'nothing' because they are entitled to be as vociferous as they like as long as they stay within the law.

I know it can be annoying when people bang on about stuff you don't agree with and put adverts on buses etc, but they really are allowed to do this and they are not actually hurting anyone.

:::files thread in the 'get a grip' section:::

[flobadob]

Originally Posted by Lyricalis

If there was a rise in atheist attacks on religious people, then those blathering on about 'militant atheism' might have a case, but the harshest actions I've seen by these supposedly aggressive atheists are a few barbed words and some impatience.

Hardly in the same league as the September 11 attacks or the numerous inquisitions of the Catholic Church.

Or perhaps the several thousand clerics executed by Republicans during the Spanish Civil War?

[Lyricalis]

Originally Posted by flobadob

Or perhaps the several thousand clerics executed by Republicans during the Spanish Civil War?

So now that civil war was between Atheists and religious people? Strange, that's not what I've read.

[flobadob]

Originally Posted by Lyricalis

So now that civil war was between Atheists and religious people? Strange, that's not what I've read.

Funny that nutters accuse a mild-mannered Archbishop of Canterbury of being personally liable for all the crimes of Torquemada, the Borgia Popes and Osama Bin Ladin, yet when atheists execute clerics for their religious conviction, it's all somehow kind of different. They probably did it for other, far more commendable reasons. To stop them buggering choirboys, eh?

[KarlSomething]

Where are these militant atheists, and what are they doing? What specifically is it that you want to stop?

[MrsWatermelon]

Originally Posted by KarlSomething

Where are these militant atheists, and what are they doing? What specifically is it that you want to stop?

I don't know about the OP, but I would like to see certain types of atheist stop deriding and insulting anybody who believes in a god. It really makes me angry and I'm not even religious.

[flobadob]

Originally Posted by KarlSomething

Where are these militant atheists, and what are they doing? What specifically is it that you want to stop?

I want them to stop making arses of themselves. Atheists don't need manifestos, or organisations, or leaders, or alternative ceremonies.
The majority of people in Britain are atheists not because they have been convinced by the arguments of atheist writers, but because religion has simply lost its place in the modern world. It's not something they need to think about.
And I want them to stop being so rude.

[Lyricalis]

Originally Posted by flobadob

Funny that nutters accuse a mild-mannered Archbishop of Canterbury of being personally liable for all the crimes of Torquemada, the Borgia Popes and Osama Bin Ladin, yet when atheists execute clerics for their religious conviction, it's all somehow kind of different. They probably did it for other, far more commendable reasons. To stop them buggering choirboys, eh?

Perhaps you could enlighten us and tell us the reasons they gave for doing it?

As for this Archbishop guy, well you deserve plenty of attention when you have a title like that and give your opinions on things. Long gone are the days when we just took the words of an old guy in a dress as gospel, if you'll pardon the pun.

[boksbox]

Originally Posted by coolfighter1993

I'm not religious, I'm an Agnostic. I don't know if there's a God.

But Militant Atheists are just as bad as the religious groups they fight.

Forcing their ideals on everyone just like some religious people.

Can it be banned?

Perhaps the religious types should come with some evidence of the existence of their various deities to shut us atheists up...

[flobadob]

Originally Posted by Lyricalis

Perhaps you could enlighten us and tell us the reasons they gave for doing it?

As for this Archbishop guy, well you deserve plenty of attention when you have a title like that and give your opinions on things. Long gone are the days when we just took the words of an old guy in a dress as gospel, if you'll pardon the pun.

Because they didn't like priests? Just a guess, you know. I'm sure they probably had a jolly good reason for it all.

[jesaya]

Originally Posted by flobadob

I want them to stop making arses of themselves. Atheists don't need manifestos, or organisations, or leaders, or alternative ceremonies.
The majority of people in Britain are atheists not because they have been convinced by the arguments of atheist writers, but because religion has simply lost its place in the modern world. It's not something they need to think about.
And I want them to stop being so rude.

Well I want to have a pony, but we don't always get what we want. They have every right to say and do whatever they like - as long as they don't break the law.

[Chester666666]

Originally Posted by flobadob

Funny that nutters accuse a mild-mannered Archbishop of Canterbury of being personally liable for all the crimes of Torquemada, the Borgia Popes and Osama Bin Ladin, yet when atheists execute clerics for their religious conviction, it's all somehow kind of different. They probably did it for other, far more commendable reasons. To stop them buggering choirboys, eh?

You mean that homophobic sell-out with no principles?

[flobadob]

Originally Posted by Chester666666

You mean that homophobic sell-out with no principles?

If you like to take that simplistic view, yes, him.

[jesaya]

Originally Posted by boksbox

Perhaps the religious types should come with some evidence of the existence of their various deities to shut us atheists up...

Well, I doubt that would work unless God pops down and has a word in person (some might say he already has, several times) - so I think we are just going to have to put up with you

[Chester666666]

Originally Posted by flobadob

If you like to take that simplistic view, yes, him.

Simplistic? Accurate more like
He's a tit

[Lyricalis]

Originally Posted by flobadob

Because they didn't like priests? Just a guess, you know. I'm sure they probably had a jolly good reason for it all.

Lots of people don't like priests, and they aren't all atheists, in fact I'd say they were the minority. It's a bit of a stretch for it to be just about not liking someone. I don't like what the banking sector did, but I'm not about to go and execute a bunch of banking heads!

[captainkremmen]

Originally Posted by AndrewPd

I agree that some people appear to be trying to enforce atheism and don't respect anyone elses opinions and treat any of their critics even other atheists and agnostics like Taliban supporters.

Indeed, but some religious folks are just as bad.

[flobadob]

Originally Posted by Lyricalis

Lots of people don't like priests, and they aren't all atheists, in fact I'd say they were the minority. It's a bit of a stretch for it to be just about not liking someone. I don't like what the banking sector did, but I'm not about to go and execute a bunch of banking heads!

OK, because they didn't like priests, they were a mixture of anarchists and Marxists, they had guns, and they knew that they could get away with it.
Really, you should pop down the library and read Homage to Catalonia. You'll see how much hostility towards religion there was from atheists in Spain at the time.

[MidnightFalcon]

Originally Posted by Stiffy78

I like that Someone on DS.

It might have been you actually, was it you?

At least the message stuck.

[mrcreosote]

I think everyone should be entitled to their own beliefs - however strange they may be - as long as those beliefs do not impinge upon the liberties of other people.

I never really understand atheists who hope to wear down religious types with hard facts and reasoned argument. Faith is, by definition, dependent upon an absence of proof so facts and reason are unlikely to do anything to deter anyone committed to their beliefs. Likewise, I can never understand religious types who think they can convert atheists back to the fold by threatening brimstone and fire.

Live and let live, that's what I say. Let people believe what feels right to them.

It's when people feel their beliefs should allow them to enforce how other people, who don't share their beliefs, live their lives that I have a problem...

[Richard46]

Could the OP explain clearly what it ithey think atheists (militant or otherwise) should be banned from doing?

[Stiffy78]

Originally Posted by MidnightFalcon

It might have been you actually, was it you?

At least the message stuck.

I can't take credit for that one I'm afraid but I do agree.
I'd much prefer opinions I oppose were voiced publically so they can be challenged rather than driven underground.

[Voynich]

Originally Posted by Richard46

Could the OP explain clearly what it ithey think atheists (militant or otherwise) should be banned from doing?

No because the OP is inactive.

[flobadob]

Originally Posted by mrcreosote

I think everyone should be entitled to their own beliefs - however strange they may be - as long as those beliefs do not impinge upon the liberties of other people.

I never really understand atheists who hope to wear down religious types with hard facts and reasoned argument. Faith is, by definition, dependent upon an absence of proof so facts and reason are unlikely to do anything to deter anyone committed to their beliefs. Likewise, I can never understand religious types who think they can convert atheists back to the fold by threatening brimstone and fire.

Live and let live, that's what I say. Let people believe what feels right to them.

It's when people feel their beliefs should allow them to enforce how other people, who don't share their beliefs, live their lives that I have a problem...

I agree with that. By being rude, all the nutty atheists are going to do is make the religious more steadfast. If they just ignored religion, it would go away eventually.
And whenever I hear someone rail against religion with passion, I can't help but feel that there is a good deal of religious feeling hidden deep down. I'm not surprised that Dawkin's was a Christian when he was younger, because he still seems to have that need to persuade everyone. And he's not even a proper atheist, but a fence-sitting agnostic.

[KarlSomething]

Originally Posted by flobadob

If they just ignored religion, it would go away eventually.

With every major religion working hard at recruiting people, attacking education and facts, even working towards turning their countries into theocracies, if they're not already so?