dps.inspect #fundie

dps.inspect #fundie freerepublic.com

That’s really stupid, atheists believe that belief in God is man’s biggest problem, you know, all wars are fought in the name of God and what not; so an atheist would likely let the injured be and move onto another. I guarantee that if a voodoo practicing Haitian were injured and a Christian were helping him, he’d be very glad, and he would know that a Christin would not accede to the wish of invoking demons... while the atheist, in his ignorance, would accede and allow for demonic intervention. If the atheist wishes to know whether or not demons exist, stay and live among those who practice voodoo or other paganistc practices, and challenge them to a, shall we say, contest.

75 comments

old comment by breakerslion

In the words of the immortal Archie Bunker, when challenged about his views on gun violence, "Would it make you feel better if they was pushed outta windows?"

Humans would find a "reason" to fight without religion. It might be harder to find dupes to do the fighting for you though. So much for your knowing how "atheists" think. Belief in God is not perhaps the biggest problem, it's just a problem in that it's a socially engineered form of mental illness that exists for ulterior purposes. In some societies, past and present, it's mandatory, and that's coercion, and that's morally bankrupt. As for demons, most atheists don't believe in them, either. Ditto for leprechauns, goblins, dryads, satyrs, cherubs,.... The only invocation would be, "Out! Out you demons of stupidity!"

old comment by Brendan Rizzo

What? First of all, not all atheists believe that EVERY war is due to religion, or that religion is even a motivating factor in most wars. (I shouldn't have to mention both World Wars; religion had little to do with either.) What they are claiming is that, for instance, the Thirty Years' War or the Crusades would have never happened if there were no religions... and they are at least partially right there. (Then again, I have heard that the pointless destruction of the Thirty Years' War is what caused Europe to start to question religion and began the Enlightenment; if this is true then that changes things significantly.)

Was there a reason to point out the nationality of the voodoo practitioner? That comes off as a bit racist: there are a lot of voodoo practitioners in New Orleans, after all. It's not just in Haiti. But everything after the words "and a Christian were helping him" is practically word salad. Where is my ranch dressing? ... And besides, if any atheist actually did what you advise and challenged the voodoo practitioners to prove that the spirits which they invoke actually exist, the atheist would win. Atheists look down on voodoo and other forms of spiritualism (as in, invoking spirits. Spirituality is completely different and is something that atheists and skeptics have no problem with) just like Christians do. The difference is that they actually know what it is instead of immediately claiming it's demon worship. They oppose it because it is primitive and there is no evidence for any of its claims.

old comment by Canadiest

So,,,Atheist have more respect for others beliefs? Kinda knew that, we put up with Christian nonsense until it try to control us or the system.

You guys have more in common with Voodoo, you both believe in demons and possessions. You should understand them better as they carry similar bagage.

However,,,if you take Christian missionary works history into account we find you lot aren't helpful, one common missionary tactic is to take donated assistance (often from secular organizations) and refuse it to them unless they convert.

Aid workers and doctor organizations have removed or banned missionaries in many areas for this repeating tactic

old comment by emau99

so an atheist would likely let the injured be and move onto another

Tell that to the atheists currently serving in the military--although, if you do, I recommend that you do it from a distance.

I guarantee that if a voodoo practicing Haitian were injured and a Christian were helping him, he’d be very glad...

I agree. IF the Christian helped a Haitian, the Haitian would be blad for the help. What's your point?

Incidentally, have you helped any Haitians lately?

...he would know that a Christin would not accede to the wish of invoking demons...while the atheist, in his ignorance, would accede and allow for demonic intervention.

OK, I'm sorry, but you've completely lost me. What the hell are you talking about?

old comment by Swede

Ever heard about the Red Cross/Red Crescent? No, the cross is not a reference to the Cross of Jesus, but the cross on the Swiss flag. It doesn't have the form of a Christian cross at all.
I've been a member of the Red Cross for more than 30 years, and I would never let an injured person die, if I could do something about it, regardless of religion, gender, skin color, sexual preference, age, political interest or any other reason. The only valid reason I can think of is that if someone tried to kill other people, I would tend to the "others" first, before I took care of the would-be killer.

I neither believe in gods nor demons. I believe in humans, and in human decency.

old comment by thatotherguy

That’s really stupid, atheists believe that belief in God is man’s biggest problem,
I'll give you one counter-example to that: me. I believe that there are much worse problems for mankind than belief in a fictional entity. It's like saying that the belief in Santa Clause is the biggest problems that our children are facing today.

you know, all wars are fought in the name of God and what not;
Not true either, and no I don't believe this. Most wars are fought in the name of much stupider things than said fictional entity.

so an atheist would likely let the injured be and move onto another.
Say what? This doesn't follow from your initial point. Why would an atheist, even one who believes that belief in God is the worst thing facing humanity today, do what you just described. This makes NO SENSE!

I guarantee that if a voodoo practicing Haitian were injured and a Christian were helping him, he’d be very glad, and he would know that a Christin would not accede to the wish of invoking demons... while the atheist, in his ignorance, would accede and allow for demonic intervention.
No, an atheist wouldn't ask for demonic intervention: we don't believe in demons either. Then again, I'm not sure I understand your point here, so I'll let that slide. Oh and what's a "Christin"?

If the atheist wishes to know whether or not demons exist, stay and live among those who practice voodoo or other paganistc practices, and challenge them to a, shall we say, contest.
I don't understand your point here either. I get what you're saying about the atheist living among pagan/voodoo/etc. peoples, but what's this about a contest? A contest between the atheist an the pagan? A contest between a christian and the pagan? We don't need anything like that to know that demons don't exist. We're fairly sure demons don't exist because we've never seen or heard any credible evidence for a demon. Or for God.

old comment by Papabear

"That’s really stupid, atheists believe that belief in God is man’s biggest problem, you know, all wars are fought in the name of God and what not; so an atheist would likely let the injured be and move onto another. "

Except that studies show non-believers to be more compassionate than believers.

"If the atheist wishes to know whether or not demons exist, stay and live among those who practice voodoo or other paganistc practices, and challenge them to a, shall we say, contest."

What does that even mean?

That a voodoo-practicing nutjob acts erratically and may claim to be a demon or under the control of a demon doesn't prove that demons exist, only that someone may be a loony.

old comment by Scorpius of The Fridge

So, let me get this straight, according to dps.inspect:
1. Atheists think religion is humankind's biggest problem.
2. We also think that religion is the cause of all wars.
3. SO, if we happen across a person who has been injured in a war caused by religion, which is humankind's biggest problem, we're NOT going to help them.

Apparently, we're all just happily sitting back and letting the religious folks kill everyone, even though it's a massive problem, and doing absolutely nothing about it. Hmmm. Okay, then.

old comment by TheReasonator

"and allow for demonic intervention"

If it will make the patient feel better then yes I would say some demonic incantation for the placebo effect. It's NOT like demons are actually real, but if believing that demons are going to help the patient will help the patient heal I'd do it.

@Brenden Rizzo,

Actually both World Wars have religious factors. Without antisemitism there either wouldn't have been WWII or another scapegoat would've been found. Antisemitism has its roots in Christian stigmatization of Jews dating back to the beginning of the Catholic Church.

WWI involved a set of military alliances among the major European powers, but Britain, Germany, and France wouldn't have felt as much of a need for an alliance without their colonial expansion and part of the justification for colonialism was that the "Good Christians" were taking over heathen cultures to transform them. In a nonreligious world the "economic development" side of the justification would've probably carried enough weight to have lead to colonialism, but we can't be sure.

EDIT: Not to mention that Hitler did invoke Christianity on many occassions to justify his regime.

EDIT: And no WWI would've meant no WWII so any religious factors that lead to WWI would've necessarily been involved in WWII.

EDIT: Also, consider how much anti-Soviet animosity helped lead to WWII. Britain and France didn't want to put too much pressure on Germany early on, hoping Hitler would turn on the Soviet Union. Although even without the "Atheism" factor this would've still likely happened linking communism with atheism was used heavily in anti-communist propaganda.

old comment by Drax

@TheReasonator: I don't agree that religion was really a major driving force behind colonialism. It was certainly used as an excuse for colonialism, but for me the real driver for colonialism was greed for economic wealth combined with nationalism. I don't believe that the colonial powers really, truly gave a rat's about bringing 'development' to the 'natives'. They just wanted their resources.

As for WWII, I think the prime causes were the Treaty of Versailles combined with the Great Depression. Antisemitism was obviously a major cause of the Holocaust, but I wouldn't say it was a major cause of the war itself. I think WWII would have happened even without Hitler and the Nazis, though the timing might have been somewhat different and the events would have unfolded somewhat differently. All in my opinion of course, as there's no way to know for sure.

old comment by Doubting Thomas

atheists believe that belief in God is man’s biggest problem

I don't believe that belief in God is man's biggest problem, though it does contribute a lot to our problems. Especially when people are doing evil because they think it's their god's will.

I guarantee that if a voodoo practicing Haitian were injured and a Christian were helping him, he’d be very glad

That is, when Christians like Pat Robertson aren't saying that God makes bad things happen to Haitians because they practice voodoo.

If the atheist wishes to know whether or not demons exist, stay and live among those who practice voodoo or other paganistc practices, and challenge them to a, shall we say, contest.

What kind of contest, singing? Thumb wrestling? Demons are just as imaginary as angels & God.

old comment by Anon2

while the atheist, in his ignorance, would accede and allow for demonic intervention.

Nope. As an Atheist, I would summon qualified medical help would I encounter an injured person.

Qualified medicine, brought to us by science.

If the atheist wishes to know whether or not demons exist, stay and live among those who practice voodoo or other paganistc practices, and challenge them to a, shall we say, contest.

Sure. And I know who would win. I would win this contest. Demons don't exist, as "god" or angels don't exist. To observe a voodoo ritual is surely interesting, but it remains a pointless magical ritual. Pointless as any christian ritual, which is nothing but magical incantations.

dps.inspect #fundie freerepublic.com

75 comments

Confused?