interesting news article

[torn asunder]

the decline of self-declared x-tians... what do you think it means for our country? are the implications good? bad? a combination?

please *discuss*, *debate*, but keep it polite and respectful, ok!? i'm saying this upfront, because i won't hesitate to remove any inflammatory posts.

i'll add my thoughts when i get a chance later.

(p.s. did i use that word, "demographics", correctly? just seems odd-looking for some reason...)

[Scary Guy]

(fine I toned it down)

We've got a LONG way to go.

http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=265

http://www.outcampaign.org

Edited April 8, 2009 by Scary Guy

[taysteewonderbunny]

*points to last link in above post* Do I really have to buy the t-shirt?

[Scary Guy]

*points to last link in above post* Do I really have to buy the t-shirt?

Yes but you don't have to do it from there.

http://www.myspace.com/thearrogantatheist

Those are pretty stylish :D

We really need to start wearing our non religion on our sleeves.

Although the shirt in the last link in the first post does give money to the Dawkins foundation :D

Edited April 8, 2009 by Scary Guy

[taysteewonderbunny]

Two things, though:

1) I am trying to phase t-shirts out of my wardrobe for the most part, so I'm not buying new ones.

2) I am very open about my atheism, but do not want to appear anti-religious because I'm not, even if I do believe theists are mistaken. (A rather haphazard viewpoint, I'll admit, but I have my reasons. Maybe one day, if I ever do get to writing out my ethical theory, I'll be able to explain myself. Yet, as a relativist, you should have some tolerance of this, yes?)

[Scary Guy]

Two things, though:

1) I am trying to phase t-shirts out of my wardrobe for the most part, so I'm not buying new ones.

2) I am very open about my atheism, but do not want to appear anti-religious because I'm not, even if I do believe theists are mistaken. (A rather haphazard viewpoint, I'll admit, but I have my reasons. Maybe one day, if I ever do get to writing out my ethical theory, I'll be able to explain myself. Yet, as a relativist, you should have some tolerance of this, yes?)

I have as much tolerance for them as they do for me, which has always been my stance.

There are those that are cool and don't try to push their faith on me and I respect that and am cool with it. Then there are others that... well lets just call them fundies. I can get into heated debate too. Push me hard enough and I'll get delusional too, subgenius style.

"We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children are smart." - Henry Mencken

[Scales]

I'm happy America is getting less religious. I feel it needs to happen.

I've said this before, but I think A LOT of stigma comes from organized religion. I like dressing gothic to the ridiculous extreme; I've toned down my wardrobe for the most part because I'm often solitary, deal with anxiety/depression, and in being solitary I am not always up for the verbal abuse or some of the stares. I believe in the philosophy that clothing is primarily for decoration. Subsequently, I grew up Christian, I live with Christians, and MI is filled with churches and Christians. Back when I was a Christian I would have looked at myself all gothed-out and would've assumed something like I worshiped Satan and was a potential killer. IMHO, the correlation between organized religion and stigma is pretty clear.

I think Dead Kennedy's "Halloween" expresses what I'm saying pretty clearly, and a lot of people, DGN'er or not, know what I'm talking about. People confine themselves, from there, their happiness.

I find it ironic that while organized religion contains romanticism and art, it also expressively confines it.

[TitsMcGee]

I was at Borders the other day and I was walking through the religion section and there was a spot for Atheism books. The irony was not lost on me.

Edited April 14, 2009 by TitsMcGee

[Enishi]

I think it all depends on how the groups who replace Christians choose to conduct themselves.

[Scary Guy]

I think it all depends on how the groups who replace Christians choose to conduct themselves.

I agree wholeheartedly. I'm smart enough to know not to do "bad" things because I don't agree with them (and the prison system scares me which is another deterrent of me just going around killing idiots). However others might need an imaginary big man in the sky who will make them burn for all eternity if they do so.