Today, was Holy War declared on atheists?

[flobadob]

We've all heard over the past couple of days that atheism is coming to the fore around these here parts. Now apparently atheism is being linked to Naziism. In fairness, it seems obvious that the more atheists there are, the less religious people there are, hence less money flowing into their(Vatican) coffers. These guys are just doing what any other gangster would do, protecting their own interests. The worrying thing is that their gang is bigger and, I would go out on a limb and say, more extreme than the atheist's gang. Should a fight break out, I wouldn't give atheists a hope in heck of winning what would most likely be a bloodbath(look at the history). Is this a declaration or war on atheists?

[flobadob]

If you read this elsewhere it was a mis-click, sorry.

[B00]

I do think what he said was pretty rich coming from a former Hitler Youth member. Still, I guess its a case of do as I say and not as I do huh?

[beso]

Those who make this accusation have it backwards. Religion has much in common with Nazism.

The Hewbrews had "The Promised Land"
Nazis had "The FatherLand"

The Hebrews villified the people already living in The Promised Land then committed genocide against them.
The Nazis villified and committed genocide against the Jews and others.

The Church and the Nazis hate homosexuals. (Yet both had gays among their ranks.)

Both the Church and the Nazis brutally supressed all criticism.

Both the Church and the Nazis are led by personality cults.

Both try to control every aspect of behaviour and see it as their duty to spread their influence and control.

Both are intolerant, dishonest and blatently hypocritical.

[flobadob]

It did seem to be a use of scare tactics, a la Bush administration.

[jomifl]

having just seen on TV some of the coverage of the pope's visit I can only say that I am lost for words (almost). Seeing all those happy smiling faces, the joyous expectation of seeing god's representative on earth I was overcome with an overwhelming feeling of despair for mankinds future. After all the centuries that have passed since the enlightenment so many apparently intelligent people still believe in a form of witchcraft. absolutely stunning.

[jomifl]

Flob there isn't an atheist gang.

[Davethedog]

Ratzinger lies he has lied for thirty years about the children and the form Hitler youth would manipulate the truth to suit his ends,

This is about the Nazis

http://atheism.about....ok-notes-betrayal.htm

But a little research reveals that whenever they are needed the church looks after thier own onterests first and people 2nd.

[New Judge]

The world is full of religious zealots of various denominations, all trying to impose their will and ideals upon their gullible followers.

The Roman Catholic Church is no different. It has some dangerous doctrines, especially those concerning birth control which would see the world’s population expand to an even greater level than currently forecast if everybody followed their teaching.

For very good reasons England virtually proscribed the Roman Catholic Church and in the early 18th century measures were taken to ensure that there could be no Catholic influence over the Throne. Unfortunately this was not accompanied by similar measures to ensure that infiltration into Parliament could not occur.

This current Papal visit is ludicrously billed as a “State Visit”. It is preposterous that an enclave of the size and with a population as small as the Vatican (about 100 acres and 800 people – no bigger that a small English village) is afforded the status of a State. It is no more than a religious headquarters in much the same way as Canterbury (though far smaller) and in terms of size can more properly be compared to the UK Mormon’s Headquarters near East Grinstead, which occupies a respectable 32 acres. The fact that the Italians found it necessary to establish it as a separate state in 1929 to solve a purely internal problem is their affair and there was no need for the rest of the world to slavishly recognise the results of their internal wranglings.

The Roman Catholic Church should not be encouraged to promote its views in the UK. Its leader should not be afforded “Head of State” status if he should decide to pay us a visit any more than the Archbishop of Canterbury should be if he visited Italy. As for representatives of his organisation commenting on our facilities, like most religious fanatics they’re best ignored.

[flobadob]

Well if a war kicks off they had better make a gang post haste.

[naomi24]

Flob, yes, in a way I think it has been. The church does seem to be gunning for the atheists - even if it is clearly in an effort to divert attention from its well deserved shame.

NJ, I agree with most of what you say, except the bit about ignoring religious fanatics. They've been ignored (read 'respected') for long enough, and in my opinion it's time the rest of us stopped pussyfooting around them and met their outdated dogma with rational thinking at every opportunity. ;o)

[wolf63]

My brother (a lad who is an oracle of knowledge and a degree in the two boring subjects of politics and history) told me that one of the Bushes (spelling?) commented that atheists shouldn't be allowed to vote in the US.

So religion means you are stupid enough to vote for Bush.
No religion means that you are too smart to believe all the crap you are told.

[Davethedog]

Problem is Wolf that in America Christian Fundementalist hold sway especialy in the south so whichever Bush said it used it to appease these people,

I am with Naomi we need to stand up and be counted, but as we don't have a church or even congregate in any form how? Naomi ever thought of standing for Parliament?

[naomi24]

;o)

[flobadob]

Guys, I'm sitting here and to be honest there is a little fear running through my veins. We, in Ireland and Britain live in quite a civilised society, I feel. Although we complain about this and that we are basically free to do what we want within the law. However, can you imagine if the church continues this drive to associate atheists with nazism etc? It could come to a point were religious people are being given the okay to attack people who have no belief in a God. It's a sickening enough feeling to think I could be imprisoned or killed in the name of a mythical being.

[flobadob]

Movement then.

[naomi24]

Eddie, There is no belief system in non-belief so I don't see how it could become a religion - and I think you can certainly declare intellectual war on a concept or a state of mind. It could easily be defined as education.

[Zabadak]

You poor things! The Pope makes a (rather stupid and certainly inaccurate) link between Atheism and Nazism while trying to be nice to his Brit hosts for standing up to Hitler, and suddenly it's Holy War!
Yeah, right. All over the country Anglicans are storing up holy water to drown the few hapless atheists who refuse to convert. Baptists are sharpening the corners of their hymn books deal out really nasty gashes to dissident agnostics. Methodists are considering the best ...um.... Methods to round up and sterilise unbelievers. Jehovah s Witnesses are redoubling their efforts to bore non-theists to death on their own doorsteps. Secret hit squads of Catholic nuns are preparing to pray really nasty curses down on the innocent godless. Catholic priests have done enough practising on choirboys: it's now "bugger an evolutionist" week. The Provisional Wing of the Salvation Army is lacing its soup with arsenic to slay the wickedly unbelieving homeless. We're organised, guys, and we're coming to get you like we haven't done for nearly 400 years! We're only days away from appointing a new Atheist Finder General, and there's nowhere you can hide!
Conceded, there may be a few militant Islamists who would like all of us to live under Shariah law and don't mind blowing themselves up to achieve their goals, but they tend not to discriminate against atheists in particular: they just hate everybody.
I think the Pope wants his faithful followers to be more positive about their faith, which seems to involve being nicer to people in future and standing up for what they believe, whether or not its precisely Central Doctrine. This worries you?
Elsewhere on AB, someone was complaining that believers don't join in the debates enough. Now the secret's out: we've just been watching and waiting for ol' Ratty to give the signal. This time it's confessional!