Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins
(Post 4115680)
Yes, they do.
Well, no, that's not entirely correct. There are those atheists that populate the more zealous end of the spectrum who have most certainly made it their mission in life to stamp out any form of theism. Dawkins, and his fart catcher stuart, are two ready examples.
I'm not convinced that Dawkins or Stuart give a fig what anyone else believes nor do they have any sort of mission to convert anyone to anything. Why would they?
The only "zealous" atheists I'm aware of are those who zealuosly oppose their tax dollars being spent for anything related to religion or to support religious causes. They object to "in God we trust" on our currency and a lot of other similar references to spiritual beliefs which they do not themselves hold but which impinge, by their perception, on their religious freedom, i.e., being free from having others religious beliefs foisted on them at their tax dollar expense.
Since I believe in separation of church and state, I don't find that unreasonable.
There have been many religious movements through the ages, all in opposition to other religious movements or organized religion. I know of no "atheist movements" that have, or are, doing that, but am not surprised that the very concept of atheism is anathema to any true believer and is often, in their minds, percieved as a threat, not unlike many percieve homosexuality as a threat to their belief system.
Ah yes, good old organized religion; I see them as clubs - that they like to beat people over the head with.
Of course, the same holds true of the theists. The zealots in their ranks would crush any form of atheism as well. They see it as coming from the devil himself, to be fought in all of its many guises.
Of course, that's more often true than not, since to "not believe" is in itself, in their minds, a "sin".
Casual atheism, or casual theism, present no threat to one another. Members of both camps can engage one another and rationally discuss their differences. Maybe even enlighten one another. Agree to disagree. The zealots on either side simply cannot do that, and go a long ways out of their way to threaten the other's very existance.
Again, I see atheist zealots as political zealots with no ambitions to abolish religion - they just don't want to have to deal with it and certainly don't want their tax dollars to foster it. They don't believe what a theist believes, nor are they interested in changing theist beliefs. Why would they? There's not a "Church of Atheism" to promote.
Religious zealots, on the other hand, can border on the criminally insane. All too often they cross that border and we have Jonestowns, etal.
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