Philosophical Vegan Forum

Have a personal account of stupidity in your life regarding atheism? Want to vent? We would love to hear about it.

when i get upset and start to rant, theists actually believe i am a tool of the devil and that i must worship him to be so mad at theism. This gets me even madder because i know for a fact i think the devil is also a fictional character. but it seems no matter what i say or how i phrase it, they are convinced the devil has my hand.

What could i say to make them understand that i do not believe in ANY higher power other then the power of my own mind?

The point is that Theists believe in the Supernatural.
There is no credible evidence for any Supernatural event.
God and the Devil are Supernatural and therefore they do not exist.

TheBiPolarAtheist wrote: What could i say to make them understand that i do not believe in ANY higher power other then the power of my own mind?

Im not sure there is anything you could say. Often times their minds are already set firmly.

TheBiPolarAtheist wrote: What could i say to make them understand that i do not believe in ANY higher power other then the power of my own mind?

It's not a matter of what to say, but how you say it and even then they may still ignore you. However, try to remain calm and cool headed. If you show anger this will only enforce their belief that you are in league with their spaghetti-man below. Try not to refer to their "Underworld ruler" as the devil, Satan, shaitan, etc. and refer to him as something slanderous or insulting (as you would their God; e.g. spaghetti-man below).

Although it may only start a new "debate: or argument ask them to explain certain things about both of their spaghetti-men in their religion (e.g. You are aware that God as killed more people then Satan according to the Holy Bible?).

Nevertheless, just remember to be calm and cool headed regardless of what you choose to say or ask. Also learn when to walk away...after all don't feed the trolls!

being biploar i have a very hard time not showing my emotion when i speak, but thnx for the advice everyone. ill work on it.

This shit just happened today long story short some guy was explaining something to me that went like: "see it's god's love that allows them-" and I kinda interrupted cause I don't care for any explanations where a belief in gods is needed. I said "what if you don't believe in God?" Get this he said "Well, you got to work that out with him". So I need to work my disbelief of something by talking to the thing I don't believe in? Brilliant. Then things went got really weird after that....but yeah.

DDDx8 wrote:Then things went got really weird after that....but yeah.

Sounds like they became weird the moment he brought up god.

TheVeganAtheist wrote:

DDDx8 wrote:Then things went got really weird after that....but yeah.

Sounds like they became weird the moment he brought up god.

That is when it felt weird. Before he just asked me what I thought of the religious protesters against gay marriage or homosexuality or whatever. I did not like how the protesters were treated, sure I did not agree with them but it just seemed, I don't know, wrong to be mocked like that for expressing your right for freedom of speech. I wouldn't want to be mocked if I was protesting something, I wouldn't want my points to be drowned out by stupid jokes, attention whoring idiots and the laughter of people because of that. But then I thought well but I think that kind of mocking would be okay for the west boro baptist church people, and then that is when that one guy said "bet I could convince you otherwise" and then comes the God's love bullshit.

But yeah, I guess my question is should we just mock protests we don't agree with? Or do we just Ignore them? Or what? I try to treat people in a situation the same way I would want to be treated in that situation and If I am protesting something I would want to be heard. When It comes to the religious protesters I always try to be reasonable and ask questions and try to make them look silly with counter arguments, and if I fail then I know what to expect next time. But with all the fucking stupid people around it is impossible to carry out a reasonable debate in that situation and so it just turns into a mock fest. What are your thoughts in how to approach protests we don't agree with?

But yeah, I guess my question is should we just mock protests we don't agree with? Or do we just Ignore them? Or what? I try to treat people in a situation the same way I would want to be treated in that situation and If I am protesting something I would want to be heard. When It comes to the religious protesters I always try to be reasonable and ask questions and try to make them look silly with counter arguments, and if I fail then I know what to expect next time. But with all the fucking stupid people around it is impossible to carry out a reasonable debate in that situation and so it just turns into a mock fest. What are your thoughts in how to approach protests we don't agree with?

while i think mockery can have its place, i don't think its something that is particularly helpful as it doesn't present atheists in a good light, and it doesn't convince anyone to change their irrational perspectives.
I think addressing people's beliefs without mockery, in a serious tone is most likely the best solution. The golden rule seems most appropriate. Id suggest pick your battles, as there is a time and place for everything, however every moment is not necessarily the right time and place.