[Roosta]

Most younger atheists I know seem to waste a lot of time posting anti-religion memes and whining about religious extremists yet I see them doing very little to progress humanity or doing legitimate researching disproving God.

I find religious people annoying but these guys are just as annoying too...

I think this issue has to be addressed if the atheist community wants to progress more as they're ruining the movement.

Disclosure: not really an atheist but have looked into it.

[Skullmeat]

I'm an atheist. The people who post the anti-religion memes are assholes. It's fine that others believe in god, just don't shove it in my face, and I wont do that to you. I believe in science. I also don't believe in some of the concepts of religion. The idea that my talents, my hobbies, my music, etc, are against God, and submit me damnation is to me, simply wrong. Why am I constantly punished for, according to religion, were given to me by god? If god created me, then why am I punished for that? Second, the Idea that one religion is right and the others are wrong, has tainted it. There's simply too much bloodshed over it. I will live my life to what I believe is right and wrong. I don't need god to tell me those things.

[The Real Slim Shady]

doing legitimate researching disproving God.

You can't disprove someones imagination.

Also, the burden of proof should rightly be on the person making a claim. If I told you that I could read your mind... and then refuse to read your mind... should it really be up to you to prove if i can/cannot really read your mind?? of course not. if you told me that there was an invisible kitten sitting on your lap that I coudnt see or touch... should I really be the one to prove if it's really there or not?? now if you told me that there was an imaginary being up in the sky watching everything i do and will punish me if i dont do what you say... should it really be up to me to prove your claim??

No.

I think this issue has to be addressed if the atheist community wants to progress more as they're ruining the movement.

I disagree. Religion is fucking stupid. I don't post meme's on any topic... i think they're stupid. but at the same time if they can get people to think about how stupid their thought process/belief is... shit might change.

[Roosta]

Also, the burden of proof should rightly be on the person making a claim...

I disagree. Religion is fucking stupid....

The first statement, I can see your point and respect your thoughts on the second BUT I don't see how this method is truly effective for "deconversion".

Those memes just piss people off and seem immature. From my understanding the point of atheism is to get people to open up their minds and to not waste precious time on what is perceived to be imaginary ideas in order to live a better life without being restricted to such ideals. Pissing them off is NOT going to persuade people to do just that... Likewise, I see why atheists get pissed when religious people post up random bible verses and spout "God love us all" statements all the time as that is equally pointless as it's not going to convert atheists into believers.

[Megan]

People who tend to share those types of things tend to be the less intelligent athiests anyways, they hate their lives and thus cause religion is meant to make your life better project their hatred on to said religion.

As for religion its self, I see nothing wrong with having faith even if it is what I would consider irrational, if it helps people get by in life then fair play...

Anyway, something I can't stand is the "PRAY FOR X" or say "AMEN" posts on facebook, a prayer won't do shit, the whole "Pray for Paris" thing annoyed me.

What the fuck will prayers do? Contrary to popular belief the movie Bulletproof Monk was not a documentary and prayers can't stop bullets, pray for Kevlar instead. Kevlar will save your life not some omnipotent spaghetti being.

[Nil]

I don't see it as a movement. To me these are all just arbitrary labels to try and categorize people based on their degree of belief in something. I think a group trying to "progress" and/or start a movement is a separate entity than people simply claiming to be an atheist, or a theist. If I tell people I'm an atheist, I don't want that label to mark me as some sort of a community member, especially one attempting to progress a movement.

Most younger atheists are usually just edgy teens looking to be different, upset with life, or like to upset others. I doubt there's very little experience, research, or thought that went into their beliefs to the point where they think they actually have the capacity to argue one way or the other or sway another person's opinion. Hopefully it's just a short phase in their lives and they will come to respect and be open-minded to others as they mature. But it's no surprise that these proclaimed atheists are the loudest on the internet, and the internet is where most of the population even gets interaction with atheist viewpoints. That leads to a negative connotation associated with the label which I don't see being cleared any time soon. Depending on where you live, you're better off avoiding religious conversation if you don't believe in God. As these negative connotations lead others to judge you immediately as hateful, bigoted, extreme, and often times, a Devil-worshiper (LOL).

[Jiggly]

I once thought of myself as an atheist, with the impression that it meant I did not believe in God and nothing more than that. My beliefs have changed somewhat but I still withhold the idea that atheism does not = hate.

[meow]

I agree with you completely. It's okay to be an atheist for a legitimate reason, however if you asked most edgy teens who call themselves atheists a good reason why they chose to not believe in a god, you'd get the generic "it's stupid to believe in a magical man blah blah.." rather than something actually intellectual. The kids that post anti-religious memes are just obnoxious teens looking for attention. By making threads like this, you're helping them accomplish their goal which is to get a rise out of people.

[Megan]

I don't see it as a movement. To me these are all just arbitrary labels to try and categorize people based on their degree of belief in something. I think a group trying to "progress" and/or start a movement is a separate entity than people simply claiming to be an atheist, or a theist. If I tell people I'm an atheist, I don't want that label to mark me as some sort of a community member, especially one attempting to progress a movement.

Most younger atheists are usually just edgy teens looking to be different, upset with life, or like to upset others. I doubt there's very little experience, research, or thought that went into their beliefs to the point where they think they actually have the capacity to argue one way or the other or sway another person's opinion. Hopefully it's just a short phase in their lives and they will come to respect and be open-minded to others as they mature. But it's no surprise that these proclaimed atheists are the loudest on the internet, and the internet is where most of the population even gets interaction with atheist viewpoints. That leads to a negative connotation associated with the label which I don't see being cleared any time soon. Depending on where you live, you're better off avoiding religious conversation if you don't believe in God. As these negative connotations lead others to judge you immediately as hateful, bigoted, extreme, and often times, a Devil-worshiper (LOL).

Your username is a huge checkmate to atheiests. Out of curiosuity why did you choose your username? I feel it may have relevancy to atheism?

[Nil]

Your username is a huge checkmate to atheiests. Out of curiosuity why did you choose your username? I feel it may have relevancy to atheism?

To clarify, I'm not actually atheist. I'm currently undecided but the only thing I know for certain is that I won't be a part of any organized religion.

There's really no reason I chose my username other than I try and get it if it's available. I do wonder if anyone ever gets perplexed when I get into religious discussions and talk in a secular manner though. And I think most people's initial reaction is to be kind to me because no one can really know for sure if I'm actually a God so it's better to be on the safe side I guess. It all works out well.