Atheists and theists may not be rigid polar opposites. Nor need they be, imo.

[pinto]

I think the separation of church and state issues at hand in the US today are a clear harbinger of common ground. The ideological lines blur in response to the 1st Amendment debates.

To be honest, I've no clue about the presence or absence of a deity. I like some of the discussions it entails, though. And I welcome support for our constitutional standard from any room in our various houses.

It's a touchstone for me, one I feel we ought to uphold.

cc - Justice Scalia.

[rug]

1. Despite his name, he has a point.

[intheflow]

2. Good joke, and of course...

his name is a pun on

[littlemissmartypants]

3. How do we know octapenis is male?

Could be a woman having a laugh. Just sayin'...

Love, Peace and Shelter. Lmsp 🙅

[intheflow]

10. I did think of that.

But decided to go with the generic male pronoun rather than writing "him/her." Sometimes English is awkward.

[MellowDem]

4. People who think others that don't believe what they do will got to hell...

are pretentious assholes. But you can still kick back many drinks with them and enjoy their company.

[cbayer]

9. Perfectly done.

[AtheistCrusader]

5. I'm not seeing any common ground.

Then again, I'm not an optimist.

[mr blur]

6. In a strict sense they must be polar opposites.

But that doesn't mean that we can't agree on certain things. Just, perhaps, on the reasons for those things.

[trotsky]

7. Did someone say they were?

They are two groups of people who disagree about the answer to a single question.

People who like black licorice and people who don't like it aren't polar opposites either. People who like it are just gross and weird and wrong, that's all.

[cbayer]

8. I agree and think we are all on the same page on that issue.

But I also think tolerance, understanding and support for the right to believe or not believe without interference or prejudice are things we could also hold in common.

That will only happen if people stop thinking they have the one and only right way, though.

[trotsky]

11. "support for the right to believe or not believe without interference or prejudice"

I am opposed to the belief of the Phelps gang and the RCC that homosexuality is evil and wrong. I am going to interfere with that belief whenever possible. Are you saying that's wrong?

[Starboard Tack]

14. How come you don't seethe difference between a belief and the right to believe?

[Act_of_Reparation]

12. Who, pray tell, is saying atheists and theists are polar opposites?

I honestly have no idea what you're talking about.

[AtheistCrusader]

13. I, too, am not entirely clear what the OP is on about.

[Warren Stupidity]

15. well they are "polar opposites" with respect to theistic beliefs.

certainly we can all disagree over that

[Act_of_Reparation]

16. On that one issue, yeah

On the other hand, there are literally dozens of not-religion forums hosted by DU, wherein theist and atheist may, and often do, think in perfect unison.

But I don't think the OP cares about that, because it sure sounds to me like the old "civility" canard come to rear its ugly head once again. It's shorthand for: "Atheists STFU"

[trotsky]

17. ...

It's shorthand for: "Atheists STFU"

Bingo. "Quit making a fuss and criticizing religion, or expressing the opinion that sometimes religion is responsible for bad things."

[pinto]

18. I didn't mean it as shorthand for anything other than what it is.

While our differences may play a part in defining us, which I think is true, our commonalities offer a bigger voice on some issues. I mentioned separation of church/state as one glaring situation today and there are many others. It was Justice Scalia's comments that got me thinking along the rigid polar opposite line when he literally labeled out country as a Christian nation. That is polarism in the extreme coming from a Supreme Court Justice.

I do favor civility, not as a canard but as a matter of simple respect for other points of view. I try to participate here as I would with anyone in day to day life. Don't always succeed in either venue.

Last night I bellowed across the courtyard on a very quiet Tuesday night to a neighbor, "Who the fuck do you think you are?"
He was raking up some flowers I'd laid out to dry on the walkway along the courtyard. Was drying them as a gift for my sister, so he had it coming. LOL.

[trotsky]

19. Do you think vocal atheists and extreme religious fundamentalists are polar opposites?

There are some who think atheists who write books and wear disrespectful T-shirts are just as bad, just as extreme, as people who murder in the name of their religion. Do you think that's a valid comparison? Do you think it's helpful in the context of this discussion board to find common ground?

[Act_of_Reparation]

20. It absolutely is a canard

Imploring everyone to put aside their differences and "come together" suggests we are "apart" in some way. This isn't the case. We're on the same page where church/state separation is concerned. We're on the same page on a lot of other issues. Just because we chew each other out over religious questions doesn't mean there's a gulf between believer and non-believer that is precluding them from working together.

I do favor civility, not as a canard but as a matter of simple respect for other points of view.

Yes, it most certainly is a canard.

When you say you "respect" "other points of view", that isn't really what you mean, is it?

No, you respect certain points of view; points of view you feel are worthy of respect. So do I. So does everyone else here. Conflict arises because what is considered worthy varies from person to person.

[cbayer]

21. Look a couple posts up.