Epic Fail: C̴h̴r̴i̴s̴t̴i̴a̴n̴ Jordan Peterson Surrounded by 20 Atheists | The sequel to: "1 Atheist vs 25 Christians (feat. Alex O'Connor)"

[TomC]

Worse case scenarios Soviet and Chinese communism. Atheism as part of a state political ideology.

It looks to me like leaders of primitive and authoritarian societies, like Stalin and Mao, turned Communism into the official state religion. Then proceeded to behave like high priests usually do.
Tom

 

[bilby]

Worse case scenarios Soviet and Chinese communism. Atheism as part of a state political ideology.

It looks to me like leaders of primitive and authoritarian societies, like Stalin and Mao, turned Communism into the official state religion. Then proceeded to behave like high priests usually do.
Tom

^This.

The Soviet Union, Maoist China, and North Korea were not atheist countries; They were countries whose leaders declared themselves the head of a single state religion, to which no competitors would be tolerated.

They are no more atheist than Iran; You are just not allowed to express any unapproved beliefs.

The idea that the USSR was atheist is largely US Cold War propaganda, in which "atheist" actually means "not Christian" as much as it means "not religious". We are supposed to resile in horror from the label "atheist", like good 1950s American suburbanites. We are not meant to actually think about atheism, just to fear being prohibited from praying.

 

[GenesisNemesis]

Atheism as a political ideology seems to go hand in had with general suppression of individual rights. North Korea.

Pood, you are pmma facie evidnce.

Prima facia evidence of what? Are you comparing my views to those of North Korea??

New Atheism - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

New Atheism or Neo-Atheism, sometimes referred to as scientific atheism, is a 21st-century movement attributed to some atheist academics, writers, scientists, and philosophers opposed to superstition, religion, and irrationalism.[1][2] New Atheists advocate the antitheist view that the various forms of theism should be examined, countered by rational and scientific arguments, and criticised, especially when they exert strong influence on the broader society, such as in government, education, and politics.[3][4]

What do you do when the fight against irationalism itself becomes irational?

Orwell's Animal Farm applies. The oppressed become he oppressor.

Gosh — I oppose the new atheist movement. I fully support protection of all freedoms of religious expression and condemn any government that tries to suppress them.

I'm not sure what Steve's implying, at the same time. No one influential enough in the New Atheist sphere ever suggested banning religion, for example. So how exactly is "the oppressed become the oppressor" relevant to the New Atheist movement?

 

[DrZoidberg]

I believe I said organized atheism can be as crazy and ideological as any theist.

Atheists in the past have quoted Dawkins much as Christians quote the bible.

I don't think they did.

New atheism was a trend. It died. Because its not a religion and didn't have prophets. Imho.

I have also said many times atheist just means rejection of gods. In terms of actual beliefs there is no singular atheist.

In he past Z was promoting his atheist church.

That too died. About 5 years in a general realisation spread in the movement that you can be an atheist and belong to any existing religion. You can interpret god metaphorically. So starting our own atheist church was redundant.

Two in the core group became priests.

We did start a bunch of "churches" across Europe. They're all still going. General purpose community centres. Workshops and activities. Which is nice. But no religion really.

I got a girlfriend who was Christian around then. Joined her to church services. When we broke up I stopped.

I went to a catholic service two days ago.

I like religion. But haven't picked a team. I don't feel a need to.

I identify as atheist because it makes things simple, but to me theism ad atheism are flip sides of the same coin.

Debate is important because of the social and political power of Chrtianity here in the USA.

I identify as an atheist simply because I don't believe in magic, the supernatural or god. We don't chose our beliefs.

 

[DrZoidberg]

Longer answer

I'm also on team atheism. While I like religion I do acknowledge its problems. And its fun to make fun of stupid superstituous people.

In the theist/atheist divide I am comfortably on both sides. I personally see no conflict.

And I'm not even agnostic. I think the word for my beliefs is "post-atheist". I think belief in God is such a rediculous notion that I can't see the point of even giving it a go.

And I have had "religious experiences". I've "met God" and felt the divine presense. Powerful spiritual experiences. As described by religious people, many times. I just think its a quirk of how human brains are wired. Its psychology. Not magic. These exstatic states can be induced. Religious ritual are all about optimising the setting and priming the brain for it.

Its like I have peered behind the curtain and seen Oz. But just because I have done so doesn't make the illusion worthless. We're emotional beings. Of course illusions can be powerful and meaningful. Our emotional sides have a childs intelligence. We can't think our way out of emotional distress. That's where, I think, religion are the most powerful.

Its similar sentiments that were said by others in the "Syntheism movement". Its not just me.

But its also important to understand that what we created was a container for a type of religion. Not one teaching with one dogma. Our template was more Paganism. Rather than just Christianity. There was near infinite space to disagree and create co-existing splinter groups. While sharing physical space. It turned out to be an excellent model to organise anything. I have given only the most superficial description of the movement and how its organised. The intelligent way we set it up is why the "churches" keep going even though the religion is... pretty much... dead. Its origins are certainly unknown by anyone who joined the last couple of years.