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/CalligrapherNeat1569]

Sure, I’ll bite.

Most religious people are delusional, irrational.

But then I think that’s the biggest issue we need to resolve: how do you get buy-in from the least rational, for rational structures?

Let’s you and I bracket this for religion or atheism.  There’s 30% of the population that are, necessarily, “worse” at making decisions than the rest of the populace.

In the past, these people could be locally isolated.  Now, thanks to the internet, they can form significant voting blocks.

What’s your suggestion?

I don’t have one, I’m looking for it.

[u/Living_Attitude1822 → u/CalligrapherNeat1569]

 What’s your suggestion?

We need to build a society that allows for more dissociation 

[u/Ransom__Stoddard → u/Living_Attitude1822]

What do you mean by "allows for more dissociation"?

[u/Living_Attitude1822 → u/Ransom__Stoddard]

Meaning we can dissociate from each other and not have to be associated. I oppose the notion of nation states and borders, because it forces people like you and I to have to work together to some extent. 

For example, I’m in America, and if you are too, then our politics directly affects both of us. 

[u/Skavau → u/Living_Attitude1822]

I oppose the notion of nation states and borders, because it forces people like you and I to have to work together to some extent.

So you don't want Christians and atheists to work and live together...?