Do atheists know more about religion ?

Of course I brought up the claim that Socrates was an atheist? How else could I counter the absurd claim that he wasn’t? Equally absurd is the statement, “Socrates didn't believe in Greek religion and that doesn't make him an atheist” when by every standard of the laws by which he was judged proved that he was an atheist. Definition: Atheism is commonly defined as the position that there are no deities. It can also mean the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. A broader definition is simply the absence of belief that any deities exist. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheist Many lingu... [More]

The biggest reference is my personal life. Many friends that I know that were Catholics (most people who attended Catholic schools) have turned into agnostics, non-believers and atheists. On the other hand, only one person I know actually went from being Christian to being a Muslim. I questioned those that went away from Catholicism, and they all had the same answer- religion has become something that controls people. When I questioned them about changing to other religions, some agnostics said that they were looking around for other religions that they saw as fit (for years), while some other... [More]

I really wish I had the attention span to read through these 9 pages, but I don't, so I'm just going to answer the OP directly. I think it's a simple matter, really. It's a phenomenon that can be witnessed across the entire religious spectrum. People will go through the motions without really knowing what it means or what it has to do with their chosen religion. This, in itself, is what creates the hypocrites within religions. They believe they are Christian, or Muslim, or Jewish, or Pagan because they go through the motions, but they actually have no true grasp on the philosophy behind their ... [More]

I really wish I had the attention span to read through these 9 pages, but I don't, so I'm just going to answer the OP directly. I think it's a simple matter, really. It's a phenomenon that can be witnessed across the entire religious spectrum. People will go through the motions without really knowing what it means or what it has to do with their chosen religion. This, in itself, is what creates the hypocrites within religions. They believe they are Christian, or Muslim, or Jewish, or Pagan because they go through the motions, but they actually have no true grasp on the philosophy behind their ... [More]

One that is directly related to a well-rounded education (meaning: critical-thinking skills), which is where it gets complicated and argumentative in nature. For instance, few Evangelical Christians have a foundational education in Jewish Studies, yet their religion is foundation-based on the OT. No Hebrew or anything about Hebrew. No Biblical-Hebraic culture and history. No Torah, Talmud, Midrash, et cetera. No literary theory. No academic criticism. How is it possible to claim understanding without the means of basic comprehension? I have to disagree with you about Islam, Judaism, Paganism, ... [More]

One that is directly related to a well-rounded education (meaning: critical-thinking skills), which is where it gets complicated and argumentative in nature. For instance, few Evangelical Christians have a foundational education in Jewish Studies, yet their religion is foundation-based on the OT. No Hebrew or anything about Hebrew. No Biblical-Hebraic culture and history. No Torah, Talmud, Midrash, et cetera. No literary theory. No academic criticism. How is it possible to claim understanding without the means of basic comprehension? I have to disagree with you about Islam, Judaism, Paganism, ... [More]

Is this your last weak stand on the matter? Because I definitely don't see much substance or strength in it. I will explain why. The most used argument by someone who doesn't agree with an idea of Socrates is how the scribes might have added that particular idea. If you are going to do that, might as well consider the whole of Apology and other books written about Socrates, as something Plato and his other students, just wrote up in their leisure time. It's better to consider all Socratic philosophy as gibberish than leave it to the people to choose what they approve. Otherwise, you have accep... [More]

I will accept your argument and deem myself as a newcomer by my own standards, as you mentioned. It's great that you are honored and the people that honored you can have it that way, but with me, it has to be the old fashioned way. Besides, you claim yesterday that Jon Stewart was fired only supports the need for such a necessity. You have chosen to mention my error about Jon Stewart on two occasions. I recognized my error and like a man I apologized to everyone with dignity. You should try that sometime. It would be much better than the laughable, feeble “I was so glad that someone besides ... [More]

I agree with you to an extent. I, myself, am Pagan, yet I have met very few Pagans who have any idea where most of their rituals, etc come from. Most of them do exactly as many of the Christians you mentioned do.. .they accept things because they have been told by a teacher or coven leader, and they accept that without questioning any further. This goes against one of the most universal beliefs within the umbrella of the Pagan religions, which is to never stop learning, yet these people think that they are perfect Pagans. There are people like this in every religion. It's not the religion itse... [More]

I agree with you to an extent. I, myself, am Pagan, yet I have met very few Pagans who have any idea where most of their rituals, etc come from. Most of them do exactly as many of the Christians you mentioned do.. .they accept things because they have been told by a teacher or coven leader, and they accept that without questioning any further. This goes against one of the most universal beliefs within the umbrella of the Pagan religions, which is to never stop learning, yet these people think that they are perfect Pagans. There are people like this in every religion. It's not the religion itse... [More]