Hardcore aethists -- worse than crazy preachers on campus?

I'm not talking about your regular mainstream agnostic/aethists. I'm talking about the hardcores that go on campuses and give speeches about how religion is evil and will be the downfall of humanity. I think they are just as bad if not worth than those crazy preacher who stand out in the middle of the quad damning everyone to hell(being a Christian, I'm appalled by these guys too). Recently there was an article in a local newspaper about an a hardcore aethist author hold what seemed to be an anti-religion(not anti-christian, just anti-religion) rally. People were cheering at first but I think most of them got turned off pretty fast.

 

I think he may have gone a little to far with the chants... but I actually dicussed this on my debate forum (www.VerbalBattle.com) after I had a visit from some tricky mormons who used some snakey tactics to get me to agree to look at this book they had... turned out it was the Mormon bible, but they totally misrepresented it. Anyways, that visit got them thinking how terrible the act of going around trying to push your religion on someone is... I myself am predominetly atheist.. I feel there may be a higher power, but I do not think anyone on this Earth has any comprehension or ever will of what that power is, nor does that power give a damn about what goes on her on this little planet... anyways... I was thinking how news worthy it would be if myself and other athiests peacefully went around knocking on peoples doors trying to covnert them to athiests... could you imagine the turmoil this would cause???

 

The worst is that they indoctrinate our children into their BS, and make us pay for it

 

I think this makes me more mad than anything!! In the city I live in our daycare options are totally limited to churchs... and it drives me absolutely mad that my girlfriend has to send her daughter to a daycare and pay them $30 a day to fill her head with Jesus propaganda.

 

Heh, the best part about this is it can apply to either group of people. Personally, I think they are just as bad as the preachers. Getting someone to agree with your ideas is like selling them a product, very rarely does it work with "in your face" tactics. The best way is to present the good things about what you believe, present a simple method for people to educate themselves further if they want to, and leave it at that. Both these hardcore atheists and the crazy preachers come off the same way: they don't do anything but make people laugh and go "ha, that guy is doing nothing to further his cause and his beliefs."

 

That's bad, but they are not forcing you to do it...
We have to send ours because it's required by state law, if you don't they file a suit and can take your child away for 'negligence'

 

Which state is this?

 

Are you kidding me??? It is state law to subject your kids church propaganda?? I think you just blew my mind if that is what you are saying.

 

I think he's saying its a state law to send them to daycare, man. Reading comprehension...

 

I dunno... why would he say "At least they are not forcing you" obviously the government here is not forcing me to.. but if I want to go school and work during the day than I have to put them in daycare because I would not leave them alone in a house unsupervised... it sounds to me he is saying they are forced by law to bring their kids there either way.

 

No I was talking about evolution propaganda... I am not sure about kindergarden, but you have to school the child when he reaches compulsory school age, assuming that you applied for birth certificate. Otherwise the school distrinct goes to court and files truancy charges. I am pretty sure it's the same in all or near all states, except that compulsory school age differs

 

Can't homeschool? Tons of states give you that option.

 

Yes, probably will next year... Dept. of Education still tells you what to teach the child even if you homeschool though

 

You should teach your kid all the subject if you want him to have a well-rounded education. Evolution is a subject is biology just as religion is a subject in social sciences. Whether you tell him creation or evolution is true, that is your choice.

 

I firmly believe children should have all the evidence before them to learn about. No matter what is believed by others, the children can grow up and make an informed decision instead of a forced one.

 

In that case, we should add Scientology into public schools. I mean, the awesome theory of Xenu and his minions should be taught to young kids so they could make up their minds, no ?

Religion must NOT be mandatory in public schools. It should maximum be a choice subject, something extra for those who want to study it.

 

Let's not forget the staunchiest defenders of atheism: the communists. These dudes killed more people in 50 years than all religious wars in the entire human history combined together.

 

Stalin and company simply replaced religion based on an unseen deity to a religion based on the cult of personality. They were both religions.

A true atheist doesn't preach, and believes in personal freedom to believe what one will.

 

I had to sing songs for both: communists and Christians. The Christian songs I enjoy more (MUCH more). They seem to be more inspiring somehow and to give more hope.

 

I'm sure that's true. But you are proving my point - there are no atheist hymns.

I subscribe to the view that any creed that condemns your fellows based on one's absolutist vision is suspect, at best, and downright dangerous, at worst.