Internet Atheism

SiD the Turtle

SiD the Turtle

SiD the Turtle

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Flame suit engage!

Anyone else noticed that if you're the slightest bit religious on the Internet you're branded as a backward yokel?

This isn't just about OcUK but here here's a good example: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18483435

Now I'm not religious and believe in evolution, but accept that some people don't and think that god may have created everything a few thousand years ago and did it so well as to fool science to this day. Why does the Internet have such a problem with people who have a non-standard opinion on religion?


Note: this isn't a debate about which viewpoint is right on the subject of evolution, but whether the Internet is unfairly rude to those who disagree.
 
This is the internet, if you say 2 + 2 = 5, you will be corrected.

Whether you say 2 + 2 = 5 because of religious reasons or not, it doesn't matter, it's still wrong.

We can't gloss over ignorance just because it's part of a religion.
 
I don't think the internet is a very understanding place for anything like this. I'm also not religious at all but I often cringe reading posts, seeing videos on the internet basically preaching about don't bother about religion etc.

But with it being the internet it is expected, women get treated as second class, casual racism floats at every corner, sexual orientation is always questioned/joked about.

It is just the internet and you can't take anything at all at face value as you know the people making such strong comments probably wouldn't be half as vocal in the real world about their opinions.

So yeah, dunno where I'm going with this xD But it is expected on the internet and I would say to both sides of the arguments, religious or atheist just deal with it because arguing won't fix a thing in an anonymous conversation!
 
A better question would be why should religion get a special pass that other equally irrational beliefs don't.

You'll often hear people on here say stuff like "Don't diss religion" or "You should respect people's beliefs" etc but you rarely hear those people defending the moon-landing hoaxers or people who believe in ghosts. Why not?

Furthermore, I find when people like the OP say people are 'insulting' other people's religious beliefs, all that's actually happening is that person is being made to defend something that by definition is illogical. Challenging belief != insulting belief.
 
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SiD the Turtle said:
Note: this isn't a debate about which viewpoint is right on the subject of evolution, but whether the Internet is unfairly rude to those who disagree.
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Probably. It's much easier to be rude to someone when you don't have to deal with a face to face interaction. I've little doubt that some people are as dismissive of religion (or whatever) in person as they are when discussing it online (I'm using discussing in a very loose sense) but I'd imagine it is rarer.

It's also much more difficult to gain an understanding of someone from disconnected posts on an internet forum, if you meet someone in person it is much more likely that you will be able to come to a (vaguely) reasonable understanding of their position. If you only see parts of their opinions and what has formed their worldview it is hard to place it and comprehend it - you might liken it to having a 2 minute conversation with someone on the bus, that's nowhere near enough to fully understand most people.
 
Imagine the out cry if a Christian/Catholic/Muslim posted from his AMD powered PC that he drove a Vauxhall with winter tyres on it. :eek: + :p
 
SiD the Turtle said:
Anyone else noticed that if you're the slightest bit religious on the Internet you're branded as a backward yokel?
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That would be the difference between talking politely to someone's face and sitting anonymously behind a keyboard. People always post stuff on the net they'd never say in person.
 
SiD the Turtle said:
Why does the Internet have such a problem with people who have a non-standard opinion on religion?
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Because some people just can't handle the fact that it's not always possible to dismiss others out of hand on the basis of a lame and inaccurate stereotype.
 
sadbuttrue said:
Atheism is no different to Religion. Both sides have 100% faith in their beliefs. I always find arguments between the two amusing.
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I don't think you know what atheism is. A lot of people make the mistake that atheism must walk hand-in-hand with the Theory of Evolution, the Big Bang Theory and the like... when the reality is that atheism just means a lack of belief in any (see:all) deities. It has nothing to do with how they see science as an answer to our originations... so let's just nip that straight in the bud. Atheism is NOT like a religion at all.

And to answer the OP's question; it's the internet! Really? You offer a platform where people can remain almost anonymous whilst discussing what they 'believe' and nine times out of ten you'll find it turns confrontational and argumentative just because 'it can'. Be it religion, your favourite car, computer components, favourite game, favourite football player... it always happens. It always degenerates into stupidity. Human nature I suppose! :D
 
A lot of people just take popular views to appear cool/knowledgable, it's the old animal instinct people don't want to be seen to be different from the crowd and be cast out of the group so they just go along with the general consensus.

In terms of organised religion I don't believe it but I'm not an atheist either and I don't see how evolution rules out a 'creator' or whatever you want to call it.
 
sadbuttrue said:
Atheism is no different to Religion. Both sides have 100% faith in their beliefs. I always find arguments between the two amusing.
Click to expand...

Atheism is simply the lack of belief in a deity, an atheist isn't asserting that they know a deity doesn't exist (Well some might) but rather they haven't been convinced that a deity does exist, so atheism is simply a lack of belief.
The burden of proof lies with the person claiming a super-natural being exists, an atheist doesn't have any burden of proof (and doesn't require faith).
 
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