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The Delusion of Atheism [Spirituality & Religion]

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaQpENJLx-I]

The main delusion of atheism is that its followers believe that it exists.

They are deluded into believing that no gods exist, yet they have their own gods that they worship and put their faith in.

They can't understand that there is only one true God, Yahweh, who has revealed Himself to mankind through His Spirit and through His Word, yet they try their darnedest to discredit Him and His Word instead of taking time to understand Him and His Word.

They keep claiming they have evidence for their type of science that evolution happened instead of God, Yahweh, creating the heavens and the earth but fail to produce evidence so far. They, however, have shown evidence that intelligent design happened instead but still claim it's evolution.

They mock, ridicule, and insult hoping that these actions will set them above those who believe, on the contrary, the opposite happens and their mocking, ridiculing, and insults fall back on them. Plus, these actions prove that they have no such evidence to support their claims in that evolution happened or that God, Yahweh, doesn't live.

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zonavar68 · 51-55, M

Remember that all forms of Christianity (just focusing on them for now) are cults, and the true believers will either refute you or ignore you or start a war with you for disbelieving what they believe because what they believe is the Truth and nothing else can be or is allowed to be the Truth in their eyes and minds.

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PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@zonavar68 This is why nobody takes anti theists seriously. Because they make sweeping generalizations and present them as fact even when that generalization is probably false.

Graylight · 51-55, F

@zonavar68 Traditional religions are not cults. They don't come close to satisfying the criteria.

Sharon · F

@Graylight [quote]Traditional religions are not cults.[/quote]
What do you claim is the difference then?

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@Sharon Just a few things off the top of my head.

Maintream religions don't use predatory psychological techniques like love bombing, they don't making you cut off contact with outsiders, they don't have their own lingo to further solidify ingroup/outgroup dynamics, they don't pit members against each other to "divide and conquer." They don't make you financially dependent on the group..etc.

Sharon · F

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow That quite a good description of christianity. They use various psychological techniques, including threats of eternal damnation, to dissuade members from leaving. They often strongly discourage members from associating with non-christians and others "in league with Satan", who will try to lead them "away from god". They redefine everyday words to fit their narrative and claim those who question their perverse definitions can't understand because they don't have the "holy spirit" in them to guide them. Members of different christian sects often contradict each other claiming only theirs is the correct interpretion and everyone who disagrees is obviously wrong.

[quote]They don't make you financially dependent on the group.[/quote]
I'll give to that one. They try to take everything instead, leaving members dependent on whoever will take pity on them.

Nice try though. Either you've been thoroughly taken in or you're high up in "the organization".

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@Sharon Maybe if you are talking about the Branch Dividians. But you can't seriously suggest that your local Anglican church compares to Scientology. Come on.

That is stretching things beyond the breaking point.

Sharon · F

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow [quote]local Anglican church compares to Scientology.[/quote]
That's right. As I said, though, [i][b]"Members of different christian sects often contradict each other claiming only theirs is the only theirs is the correct interpretion and eveyone who disagrees is obviously wrong."[/b][/i]

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@Sharon That still doesn't back your claim that it is equivalent to a cult. This is just reductio ad absurdum. If you take the most extreme fringe element of any group you could make literally anything a cult.

basilfawlty89 · 31-35, M

@Sharon that's also a bit reductive though. For example, the Catholic church enjoys decent relations with Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, they don't claim they aren't Christians and are going to hell.

You can't judge all Christians based on fundamentalist evangelicals.

Sharon · F

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow [quote]If you take the most extreme fringe element[/quote]
Which is the extreme fringe through? Presumably the one you diagree with. Not all religious groups meet all your criteria of a cult but that doesn't mean they're not cults.

Sharon · F

@basilfawlty89 [quote]You can't judge all Christians based on fundamentalist evangelicals.[/quote]
The question remains though, which are the "true christians"?

basilfawlty89 · 31-35, M

@Sharon but what you're doing is often referred to as nutpicking.

If I were to judge all atheists by Sam Harris, I'd assume all atheists are rabid Islamophobes who believe in right wing authoritarian governments.

If I were to judge all atheists by New Atheists, I'd assume all atheists are intolerant of others freedom to believe what they want and routinely hate on any religious person.

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@Sharon [quote] Not all religious groups meet all your criteria of a cult but that doesn't mean they're not cults.[/quote]

Actually, that is exactly what it means. Cult has a very specific meaning.

By your loose definition everything from the Catholic church to Avon is a cult.

This is the same shit "new atheist" anti theists pull by calling all believe mental illness. I strawmans all religion and trivializes mental illness in one go.

Sharon · F

@basilfawlty89 That's a problem we all face. Some christian groups routinely judge Atheists by the actions of a few extremists. Just look at some posts from certain christians here, attacking non-christians and even other, moderate, christians. I don't know if having a taste of their own medicine will change them but it can show third parties that it can work both ways.

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@basilfawlty89 It is interesting how so called "New Atheists" just swap out what is the "one true way" for their own and continue with the same doctrine of conversion.

Sharon · F

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow [quote]By your loose definition everything from the Catholic church to Avon is a cult.[/quote]
You're applying the "no true Scotsman" fallacy. I wouldn't call a business a cult but the Catholic Church would fit that description.

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@Sharon The problem with that is this attitude sends a clear message to people like me who are polytheists who share very little with Christians or any Abrahamic religion that we are next on the crusade list. You can't build trust when you feel that the moment the "extremists" have been dealt with that I am going to get a knife in the back from "allies".

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@Sharon No, I am pointing out you are making the definition of cult so loose it applies to literally anyone you don't like. You are changing the definition of the word to fit your agenda.

basilfawlty89 · 31-35, M

@Sharon I'm well aware, hence why you can't make sweeping generalisations of Theists or Atheists.

I've seen Atheists who are just as dogmatic and refused to recognise anyone as an atheist if they believe in anything supernatural, dualistic or anything beyond reductive materialism, even if they don't believe in any deity.

I could argue groups like that have trappings of a cult too: you're lovebombed, shamed for having contrary views, shamed for questioning anything that isn't dogma to Antitheists, etc.

Sharon · F

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow [quote]I am pointing out you are making the definition of cult so loose it applies to literally anyone you don't like. [/quote]
No, you are making the definition of cult so tight it can't apply to groups you broadly agree with. That, in essence, is the "no true Scotsman" fallacy.

basilfawlty89 · 31-35, M

@Sharon not to try to speak for him or anything, but you can't infer his motivations from that. Polytheists regularly get attacked by Christians and other Abrahamic faiths.

He'll, I'm a Henotheist and have faced crap for it from the evangelical crowd on here.

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Sharon · F

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow [quote]share very little with Christians or any Abrahamic religion that we are next on the crusade list. [/quote]
The "anti-theists" are merely reacting to the arrogant attitude of christians. Members of other religions tend not to force there beliefs onto others so there is no need for others to fight back, they have nothing to fight back against.

How many proselytizing post have to seen from members of non-christian religions? How many times have you seen them attacked by Atheists?

Sharon · F

@basilfawlty89 [quote]Polytheists regularly get attacked by Christians and other Abrahamic faiths.[/quote]
Exactly, yet christians then complain that their victims fight back. That's sheer hypocrisy.

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@Sharon From where I am sitting, right now you are just as bad making generalizations and trying to convert those who disagree with you.

This is what I mean when I say as a polytheist I get this crap from both sides.

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