Can atheists avoid the pitfalls of fundamentalism that have caused chaos in the...

GbmM · 10-03-2009, 04:15 AM

...bigger religions and the world? Signs of fundamentalism:
1. literal-minded with a narrow focus (here it is mostly on Christian fundamentalists)
2. intolerant of different views
Can the atheists avoid this? or are they like their religious rivals?
Tymcail: " that isn't being narrow minded, it's being rational." sigh.
? I agree that this could describe all people.
John T, that is a very interesting point. Thanks

linz · 10-03-2009, 04:38 AM

Despite your desire to lump atheists together as if atheism is a religion, the truth is that atheism quite literally, and quite specifically, only means that we lack a belief in god(s). There is nothing else that all of us have in common.

Rabid Kitteh · 10-03-2009, 04:53 AM

Science is very literal minded

The God of reason · 10-04-2009, 04:09 AM

"Can the atheists avoid this? or are they like their religious rivals?"

Yes. To the second part.

meatball · 10-05-2009, 04:11 AM

Atheism inhabits the ethereal gaps outside of religions and religious views.
There is no such thing as fundamental atheism.

Tymcail · 10-06-2009, 04:05 AM

atheism isn't a religion...
a-theism like a-sexual
a-theistic means not-theistic
they do not believe in theism
theism is the belief in at least 1 diety ( a god)
an atheist is not religious by definition and they are not narrow minded. They simply seek observable evidence before they are willing to accept anything as true or even relevant. that isn't being narrow minded, it's being rational. Now an atheist who says "I know for a fact that there is NO god" IS narrow minded because there is no way (at least with modern knowledge) to know that for sure. However, i have never heard an atheist say this.
I'm an atheist by Definition and YES i am intolerant of religion. Primarily because of the intolerance and violence that it has stood for for countless centuries, the wars and bigotry that it has inspired and the ignorance that it breeds. Now I would never kill or harm people for practicing religion because above all i believe in freedom. However, i would do all in my power to educate and free people from the blinding power of theism.

To quote George Carlin about religion, "It's all bull**** and it's bad for ya"

Jiraiya™ · 10-08-2009, 04:02 AM

Can you avoid the pitfalls of not using the dictionary? Atheism is only a lack of belief in god(s).

clarkyboy56 · 10-10-2009, 04:00 AM

1.Some Atheists are narrow focused too. Never met a literal-minded Christian.
2.How can you be tolerant of different views when your saying Christians have narrow focus and are literal minded.
The only pitfalls I've seen are with Muslims. And if you don't want to be a religious rival don't call other religions narrow focused and literal minded.

pastafarian pliqht ? · 10-12-2009, 04:03 AM

Avoid it? I don't have "religious rivals", but I do laugh at/ pity extremists/ fundies...

Nick · 10-12-2009, 04:08 AM

Sounds like your describing people in general... All people have signs of fundamentalism, and Atheists are no exception.

Everyone has a filter in their conscious and subconscious mind... accepting information that conforms with their beliefs, and blocking that which contradicts their beliefs... this holds true for all people: Atheists, Christians, Buddhists, etc etc etc...

Can PEOPLE avoid the pitfalls of fundamentalism?

"Minds are like parachutes... They only work when they're opened."