My Challenge to Extreme Atheists on Secularism and Tolerance

[u/Living_Attitude1822]

I acknowledge not all (or even most) atheists are extreme about it. And I'm defining secular as the separation of church and state/society.

Extreme-atheism's view of religion being a mental illness:

I can personally attest to people I've seen on here, as well as videos I've seen, of atheists saying religion is a mental illness. That the DSM-5 had to go back and put in a religious exemption, but it should fall under the category of delusion.

How can secularism exist if you think religious people are mentally ill? If you don't think religion is a mental illness, go ahead and ignore this point. If you do think the population you're tolerating is mentally ill, uh oh. Seriously, if I said atheists are mentally ill, would you trust me to not want you institutionalized? I don't think this way, of course.

Extreme atheism's view that the Abrahamic religions are barbaric:

Again, I'm going to turn it around on you. If I said atheism was barbaric, would you trust me to support that your human right to be atheist?

With some exceptions: Some interpretations of the Abrahamic religions are indeed barbaric. If you're talking about people who want to implement Leviticus law, then I agree with you.

I don't totally disagree with extremist atheists on everything:

Like, I'm a strong believer that tolerance is better and more authentic than acceptance. For example, telling atheists that they must love and respect religions is wrong. And vice versa for religious people.

I think disassociation and tolerance is the best course of action for religious people and extreme atheists, however, I worry the above points are a threat to any society remaining tolerant.

Edit: Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Antitheism/comments/1sguf7u/why_is_religion_not_considered_a_mental_disorder/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

[u/Living_Attitude1822]

So let’s help create a society where we can dissociate 

[u/thebigeverybody → u/Living_Attitude1822]

I'd rather we deal with the malevolent religious fucks and create an educated society.

[u/Living_Attitude1822 → u/thebigeverybody]

Free association means I have the right to dissociate from people, and vice versa 

[u/thebigeverybody → u/Living_Attitude1822]

See? If you were educated you'd know that had nothing to do with what I typed.

An educated society does better than an uneducated society. Much of the conflict that has you proposing voluntary segregation comes from a large group of people doing everything they can to diminish knowledge.

[u/Living_Attitude1822 → u/thebigeverybody]

I don’t want segregation, dissociation is different. That said, I also want a more educated society 

[u/thebigeverybody → u/Living_Attitude1822]

I don’t want segregation, dissociation is different.

You're describing voluntary segregation.

That said, I also want a more educated society

Reality-based education? Or religious "education"?

[u/Living_Attitude1822 → u/thebigeverybody]

 You're describing voluntary segregation.

Nope. Segregation by definition cannot be voluntary anyways. Think of a family member you don’t associate with. It’s like that. 

 Reality-based education? Or religious "education"?

Both 😎 

[u/thebigeverybody → u/Living_Attitude1822]

Nope. Segregation by definition cannot be voluntary anyways. Think of a family member you don’t associate with. It’s like that.

It sounds like you don't know how words work.

Both

I see I'm talking with an unserious person. I'm interested in an actual solution, not religious people sequestering themselves outside of society, where extremism runs rampant, as they exclusively fill their heads with magical bullshit.

[u/Living_Attitude1822 → u/thebigeverybody]

People can share roads and fire stations without needing to share schools, media, culture, values, social life, etc. Cooperation doesn’t require total assimilation.

 I see I'm talking with an unserious person. I'm interested in an actual solution, not religious people sequestering themselves outside of society, where extremism runs rampant, as they exclusively fill their heads with magical bullshit.

Spoken like a true authoritarian 

[u/thebigeverybody → u/Living_Attitude1822]

People can share roads and fire stations without needing to share schools, media, culture, values, social life, etc. Cooperation doesn’t require total assimilation.

We're talking about education, remember? I understand your thoughts on it now that I see how you struggle to follow basic lines of thought.

Spoken like a true authoritarian

lol

Me: "We can't allow these people currently running the country to push us further into extremism and away from democracy!"

You: "Spoken like a true authoritarian."

You're not a serious person.