Extremism a foe of believers and atheists

[rug]

Sunday Herald Sun
January 27, 201312:00AM

A friend says he still feels a twinge of anxiety when he tells someone he is an atheist.

"I see the look in their eyes that states 'Uh oh . . . better keep him away from the children'," he says. "It's got to the point where I tend not to be open about my atheism."

In some parts of the world it is physically dangerous to admit atheist belief.

In Bangladesh this month, atheist blogger Asif Mohiuddin, 29, was stabbed repeatedly by three suspected Islamist fundamentalists and is in a critical condition in hospital.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/extremism-a-foe-of-believers-and-atheists/story-e6frfhqf-1226562462466

[burnsei sensei]

1. I've been following Asif's story.

Extremism is dangerous to everyone, but to the extremist, it is addictive.
It also provides a direction in the world, sometimes a community, sometimes a home.
If societies functioned, if people could be provided meaningful diretions in the world and stability by way of secular means, they wouldn't go so far into themselves by doctrine and become criminal or potentially so.
Self-righteousness, righteous anger, despair over wrong, these act like narcotics on people-- and they're particularly powerful where societies don't function.

[rug]

2. That is one of the worst instances in the last year.

[skepticscott]

4. And how many religious believers

were stabbed, shot, or otherwise physically assaulted last year by gangs of "atheist extremists"?

[rug]

8. Depends on what decade you're talking about.

[skepticscott]

10. The one I specified

The same one you referred to. Or do you not know what "the last year" means?

[rug]

14. Of course I do. Do you know what myopia means?

[skepticscott]

17. Yawn

Flick

[rug]

20. This contribution was brought to you by skepticscott.

[humblebum]

13. Were you referring to the church burnings in Texas or the shootings in the Gabby Giffords incident?

Or are you just referring to gangs?

[skepticscott]

16. Yawn

flick

[humblebum]

18. Unwilling or unable to answer, I'm not sure. But there are many more examples.

[longship]

3. That's why I am open about my atheism.

The religious extremists would have atheists in the closet, shut out of the discussion. I can no longer do that. Non-believers, no matter what they call themselves, should have a seat at the table no matter what anybody might think about it.

This is not to be merely confrontational, but to be part of the discussion. The more extreme elements would have us shut up.

[cbayer]

5. Love the graphic.

It's too bad you have to sign in to read the article.

[dimbear]

6. Hmm. A cartoon caricature of an atheist.

Mocking atheists. You love that? Really?

[cbayer]

7. I don't see it that way. I see it as an satirical portrayal of atheism as religion.

And as images that mock others goes in this group, it can't hold a candle.

[okasha]

11. Get back to us

when you've tsk_tsk'd some of the cartoons mocking theists. Your double standard is flapping in the breeze.

[dimbear]

12. In my universe, mockery is a powerful tool of argument. It has a long tradition in

religion. I use it often, but not without being scolded for doing so. Goose, gander.

[rug]

15. I agree. Mockery is a fine artist.

It's too bad there are so few artists here.

[okasha]

19. Still flapping.

nt

[rug]

9. That's odd. It wasn't there when I posted it.