Would i be described as militant?

7 Comments

It seems that from music to religion there are so many sub titles for a certain genre of belief, I find it hard to get my head around, recently I've been called an atheist, extremist atheist and militant atheist as well as agnostic even though I don't see how and eco-athiest, how would you describe my beliefs?

I don't believe in any god, I don't believe in anything spiritual or paranormal either, I'm a person of science even though I admit science can't answer everything and there are multiple contrasting theories, but that's true for religion too, plus not everything needs an answer.
I believe that religion is counterproductive to human evolution, I believe the human race should drop religion and focus on science and how we can preserve the earth, don't get me wrong I'm not an eco warrior or vegan etc.
I find it hard to believe that in 2015 intelligent people can believe in something like a creator, its hard to get my head around.

I know there are many people who use religion to improve not only their life but the lives of others around them, however I believe that these people are the minority and that religion causes far more pain than good, plus we're a world devided we don't need religion to further seperate us, but despite this, I hate atheists that hassle people for their religious beliefs like Richard Dawkins, yes I would like to ideally see a world without religion but no one has the right to enforce that, nor should they, people have a right to believe in what they wish, even if I believe it to be counterproductive.

I was recently asked what kind of atheist I was and I just couldn't answer, I was in a room of religious people so I didn't really want to go into all that detail and offend people in the room so I was wondering if there was a classification of a certain mindset in atheism that matches my own?

militant athiest 2
athiest 9
other definition or branch of atheism ( please mention below ) 2
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Comments ( 7 )
  • donteatstuffoffthesidewalk
    9 years ago

    it seems kinda empty minded of yall to not question the nature of yalls own existence or that of the known world around yall

    nobody with half a mind needs a buncha religious bullshit to do that

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  • dom180
    9 years ago

    Anti-theist or antitheist seems like a good match. It's a relatively unpretentious word that describes what you think without inserting combative, loaded language like "militant" and "extreme".

    P.S. If you want a leg to stand on when it comes to your ethics, work to create a better world. Focus more on reducing your own negative impact. Why aren't you a vegan, eco-warrior type? Because it's easier to criticize others than improve yourself. Plus, leading by example is the best way to show other people that your way is good.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      9 years ago

      I love meat far too much, and I'm shallow, I love my TV and gaming consoles , my phone and tablets etc, I respect those that live that life but its not for me, I walk, jog and cycle everywhere and I recycle, admittedly everyone recycles but not using public transport or private transport is a lot more than most do

      I realise that my comment on eco warriors and vegans sounded dismissive and critical, that wasn't intended at all just poor wording

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      • dom180
        9 years ago

        If you like your consumer electronics and meat too much to fulfill your potential when it comes to working to create a better world, your criticism those who like their religion too much to do the same doesn't have a lot of weight.

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          9 years ago

          I wrote multiple paragraphs describing how I found your comment about me eating meat and using electronics as proof I don't do my part a weak, at best, point made but deleted due to lack of time as I'm at work,

          Are you not currently using a phone or computer, and do you look down on those who eat meat? I don't make this as a backhanded snide question, I'm genuinely interested

          If I made a point to abolish religion, if I supported people who did, then I would see your point and it would be a valid one, but as my current behaviour stands I don't think it is as I don't believe people should have to change their belief for anyone, I choose to not own a car, I choose to not use public transport, I choose to recycle and I choose to give to charity, I don't insult anyone's religion, I don't ask people why they believe nor do I try to change their beliefs, my conscious is more than clear,

          It would save me an great deal of time to own a car or use transport, I own a drivers liscence , I don't do these things because it's me doing my part, some do more, some do a lot more, but many do less and many do a lot less, but because I eat meat and use a phone am I not entitled to my own private view of religion?

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          • dom180
            9 years ago

            Hopefully you can see how "I believe the human race should drop religion and focus on science and how we can preserve the earth, don't get me wrong I'm not an eco warrior or vegan etc." sounded to me - initially, at least - that you were criticizing other people for the hell of it without doing much yourself. Obviously you've said since that you do other stuff, which is wonderful! But I'm sure you can see why it sounded to me from your OP that you didn't care about your own contribution.

            You make a good point. My behaviour is far from perfect. I would never claim that it's perfect. You're totally at your liberty to criticize the ethics of my decisions, and your criticism would probably be perfectly valid. In fact, I implore you to criticize me. Criticize the ethics of everyone as I am criticizing you now. Positive criticism feeds positive change, and it's certainly more valuable than inane conversation.

            The point is that these behaviours we're calling "unethical" just aren't equally unethical. It seems to me that the global net impact of exploiting animals absolutely dwarfs the global net impact of religion - especially in Western society. Of course you can criticize religion, because criticism is important, but you've got to keep it in perspective.

            The point is also that I'm not looking down on people. As much as I find their decisions totally, unjustifiably unethical, I absolutely do not look down people simply because they eat animals. If their hearts aren't in the right place I might judge them, and I'll always judge their decisions, but not "them". It seemed to me from your OP that you *are* looking down on religious people, and that's the difference I saw between what you're doing and what I'm doing. As an example, in your OP you question the intelligence of religious people. I don't question the intelligence of people who eat animals or support consumerism. Questioning their intelligence just because they believe in a creator definitely isn't covered by positive criticism. It just unveils ignorance.

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  • theend
    9 years ago

    you may be a humanist.

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