"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”
:Stephen Roberts. b 1967
Galileo on trial before the holy see
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Secularist, Humanist, Athiest, Agnostic....Whatever a person of limited or no faith decides to call themselves there is one thing that we all want. To live a life the way we see fit, that does not interfere with anyone else, and to enjoy that life free from religious interference.
THAT'S IT.......Simple. But we can't! In every day life we are dictated to by religion. In schools, government, the media, and the law. Even on how long shops can open Sunday. Well we have had enough and are fighting back. We are all equal and all have the same rights, the right to religious freedom and the right to be free from religion. Organised religion believes it has the right to defy secular law, the pope has stated that "God's law is above the UK's secular law" It isn't. Islamic preachers state that |
sheria law is above man's law, It isn't. Religion has set it's self up as an unelected body that likes to dictate to mankind, and demand special privileges whilst doing it and wanting immunity from laws that allow it to practice their beliefs of sexism, homophobia, prejudice, and discrimination as they carry out their interpretations of their holy books. The Personal rights, wants, needs and desires of the individual always take second place to the authoritarian, indoctrinatian and dogma of the religious hierarchy. Organised religion demands respect. Respect is earned it is not automatic! Religion believes it has a
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right to dictate and not to be offended. No one has the right not to be offended. BUT, religion offends with impunity. Each religion imposes it's own set of rules on it's followers believing that they have the one true god or gods, they fight and posture both with other religions and non believers for more and more power and wealth using threats, indoctrination and dogma delude with their own self importance. Since the dawn of time religion has in one form or another dominated mankind. Superstition dictates how to live and what to do with that life, right from the earliest man believing that thunder, lightning and earthquakes was an angry god or gods. Some religions have ceased to be, passing into mythology but considered at the time to be very real. But over time mankind has evolved from it's infancy and started to question religious dogma, this has brought them into conflict with those in power with dire, all too often violent consequences. In many Muslim countries to demonstrate against or denounce Islam is a sure ticket to prison or death. Here in the UK no longer constrained by fear and ignorance with laws to protect freedom of speech, people are free to question religion ...Religion doesn't like it and wants laws to ban free speech against it. BUT we will question religion ...........All religions.
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Pope Benedict XVI
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MYTHS
It amazes me that number of myths that have grown up among theists and deiests about Atheists and agnostics. Though it goes without saying that not all people of faith have preconceived ideas about us skeptics and non-believers it is increasing common to have certain questions fired at you time and time again whilst the the inquisitor sits there with an air of superioriority thinking they have all the answers to all the questions because of a certain book or their interpretation of it by either themselves or the hierarchy of their given faith.
We do not worship satan. Satan does not exist. we do not ask for
devine intervention (pray) as there is nothing to pray to. God does not exist. Telling us that we are sinners and that gods wrath will punish us in eternal damnation is meaningless, that is like threatening us with a visit from a Jedi master, Dracula, or the boogie man. They too do not exist. Just because we do not believe in god does not mean we are void of morals, values, purpose or that our lives do not have any meaning, far from it. Just because we are atheists does not mean we are sexist, discriminatory, evil child rapists that go out and commit acts of torture, or want to kill you because we do not believe in your god.....we leave that to religion! who up to now has had a proven track record in these fields and like most records religion seems hell bent on breaking them more and more as time goes on. Holy books are not proof of god
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BASICSAtheist A person that quite simply sees no logical reason for a god or gods. Nothing more, nothing less. We make no philosophical, ideological, religious, or moral claim. A disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings. It is derived from the greek áthe ( os ) meaning simply "godless"
Atheism This is a misnomer, there is no such thing as Atheism. "ism" is a suffix , meaning adherence, following an ideology or theory of something. Atheism is a meaningless term as there is no ideology to follow, no theory. You cannot have an Ideology or theory about something that you consider to be a myth and does not exist. Agnostic A person who holds neither of two opposing positions on a topic. Greek ágnōst (os ), variant of ágnōtos not known, incapable of being known Secular Not pertaining to or connected with anything regarded as spiritual, sacred, temporal or religious. A disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings. pertaining only to worldly things. Secularism A set of values that call for the seperation of church and state. Religion is a private affair and should not interfere in government, schools or public life. secular humanism A set of beliefs that promotes human values without specific allusion to religious doctrines. Secularism = Seperation of church and state
Secularism is a belief in equality in politics, education and the law, regardless of religious belief. What do secularists mean by wanting equality? We have equality right? There is the human rights act! There is the law which prevent discrimination and gives equality to all it's citizens, right! ............ Wrong! Laws that give priviledge to a person because they are religious is not equality. A religious group or individual that claims that their human rights are being violated because they want the right to discriminate, subjugate, or continue a practice that any other ordinary human being is denied because it is against the law is selfish, elitism. What we want. a) There is no established state religion b) There is one law for all and its application is not hindered or replaced by religious codes or processes. c) Individuals are neither disadvantaged nor discriminated against because of their religion or belief, or lack thereof. d) Freedom of expression is not restricted by religious considerations. e) Neither the state, nor any emanation of the state, expresses religious beliefs or preferences. f) Religion plays no role in state-funded education, whether through religious affiliation, organised worship, religious instruction, pupil selection or employment discrimination. g) The state does not engage in, fund or promote religious activities or practices. h) Public and publicly-funded service provision does not discriminate on grounds of religion or belief. i) There is no privileged position in society or advantage in law for any individual or group by virtue of their religion or belief, or lack thereof. j) The state does not intervene in the setting of religious doctrine or the running of religious organisations. |
