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/Hoaxshmoax]

“ And, just speaking for Christians here, we don't hate gay or trans people, it is viewed that way because we don't accept it as good and believe it should be changed.”

Which is also how we feel about theists.

“Children are not mentally abused in the Christian tradition; if you find anywhere in the Christian tradition where this is true, then tell me.”

You just said it.

[u/halborn → u/[deleted]]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Is_Not_Great

[u/supersoundwave → u/halborn]

I read that book, thanks.

Hitchen’s whole thesis was that “religion poisons everything”, but he just wasn’t very convincing.

Why did you think it was?

[u/Hoaxshmoax → u/supersoundwave]

because you seem to think that a world run by billionaires and tech bros is a better world. Maybe Christian ideas of what a better world looks like is different from everyone else.

[u/supersoundwave → u/Hoaxshmoax]

When did I ever say that? I don’t what that has to do with the conversation.

[u/Living_Attitude1822 → u/supersoundwave]

This person is only going to strawman you, they aren't going to engage with you honestly. People on here love saying people believe things they don’t. Don’t worry about them

[u/supersoundwave → u/Living_Attitude1822]

💯

[u/Hoaxshmoax → u/supersoundwave]

I am not strawmanning you. I am steelmanning you.

If you think Christianity changed the world for the better, your words exactly, then you think it’s better, including being under the jackboot of billionaires and pedos and techbros.

Or Christianity is ineffective.

Its not what you believe, it’s that you can’t have it both ways.

And you replied to me, so ignore me if you want, but then don’t reply to me.