Is 'Atheist' a dirty word?

[naomi24]

At least twice on AB recently, on threads quite unrelated to religion, I been accused of being an atheist. I say 'accused' because the word was spat out as an accusation clearly as a last resort in order to muster support from others for the accuser's floundering argument. Whilst I found the superstitious naivety of it somewhat amusing - it reminded me of the witch-hunters of the 17th century - actually in this day and age it's quite worrying that apparently intelligent people believe that absence of faith can justifiably be used as a weapon. So, is atheist a dirty word, and if so why?

[sandyRoe]

Catholic's used to have a concept of 'invincible ignorance'. An atheist might fall into that category. Ignorant of God's love and invincible in their determination to keep God out of the hearts. More to be pitied than anything else, I suppose.

[naomi24]

Mmmm... I expect so .......... but you my dear friend can at least console yourself with the thought that you tried....... and, let's face it, almost 'got' me once or twice! :o))

[wildwood]

Sandy, I've been through it all as a child. Tried to talk to God but he didn't reply. Prayed for my older sister not to die at 14 but didn't do any good. Have learned that there are millions of poor children starve every year on this earthly 'creation'. It is a crook I tell you.

[karenmac60]

My in laws are very religious (in that middle class, we must be seen to be at church or people will talk - we are pillars of the community, kind of way), but my husband and I are atheists. They have never liked or approved of me because they wanted him to settle down with a nice church going girl even though he is an atheist himself. When he suffered from kidney failure in his early 20s he was told that maybe now he would see the light and start attending church and praying, and more or less making out that his illness was punishment for his lack of faith - what a thoughtless thing for parents to say to their seriously ill child. I think they would be more approving of paedophiles than 'atheists'.

[naomi24]

wildwood, having taken my lovely 'Sandy' head off and replaced it with my serious head, I can empathise with that.

[sandyRoe]

There is more rejoicing when one lost lamb is found... But when an immovable object shows that the force deployed against it isn't irresistible. It dents the confidence. :-(

[sandyRoe]

I have a confession to make. I'm not the religious nut that I sometimes appear to be here in AB. I adopted that persona to tease Naomi.
Wildwood's post shows that religion isn't a suitable subject for joking.

[naomi24]

Sandy, ha ha! And you think I didn't know that? :o)

And that applies to Wildwood's post too. :o(

Karen, I have friends whose son is gay. They are fervent - and consequently terrified - bible bashing Baptists and their church leaders have told them that their son's sins are worse than those of any paedophile. Isn't it absolutely disgusting?!!! Seriously - how can anyone respect that?

Bedtime. Night all. Sleep tight - and much love to you. x

[mibn2cweus]

God or no God, I'm sorry for the both of you that your prayers went unanswered Wildwood.

[Answerprancer]

LMAO Sandy, you had me totally fooled - good on ya !
God bless.

[jake-the-peg]

People's loss of faith is usually related to really bad personal experiences.

They discover that evil does prosper in the world, and bad things happen to innocent people. They loose faith in religion because they were always taught that religion was meant to be just.

I guess that was the appeal of certain herasies like Catharism popular in 12th Century southern France.

Catharism was a dualist herasy like Manichaeism - it taught that there was a "good" and an "evil" God equal in power. The later created and ruled the world and that people should attempt to become "perfect" and escape to the latter.

If you weren't up to it you would just be reincarnated to try again.

I think such ideas would strike a strong chord in the modern world - their time might be right for a revival

[naomi24]

//I think such ideas would strike a strong chord in the modern world - their time might be right for a revival //

I do hope you're joking Jake. Religion creates enough problems in this word as it is. We can do without more to add to the misery.

[jake-the-peg]

I'm starting to think "If you can't beat them rule them"

2011 may be the year I start my new religion

[naomi24]

Teaching them the error of their ways so they don't pass their bad habits on to their children would be a better idea.

[naomi24]

Ha ha! Hiya pixi. Have one of my best custard pies. Sperlatt! :o)

[naomi24]

Yes, I like them too - and both Mibs and Theland are great fans of my famous pies, so you're in good company. :o)))

[Answerprancer]

I've heard people come up with the ridiculous notion that atheism in itself is a religeon.
Yeah right, atheism is as much a religeon as not collecting stamps is a hobby.

[naomi24]

That’s been said here many times, AP, and that Richard Dawkins is our ‘priest’ and The God Delusion pretty much our ‘bible’. During one discussion it transpired that one religious Aber genuinely seemed unable to comprehend how people manage to live their lives without a book and other men to guide them - and I think that applies to a lot of believers. They just don’t understand that some of us aren’t dependent - which is why they erroneously view Atheism as a religion. I don't think they can conceive of a life without 'group' therapy.