Why I Marched. (Good news about Religion for March 22)

[guillaumeb]

From the short article:

I have learned from our ancient Jewish sages that at no time can we care only for ourselves. Social justice goes beyond attending to the impoverished and the stranger. Social justice is about advocating for them..........

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/why-i-marched_us_58867727e4b08f5134b623a5?section=us_religion

Putting faith into action.

[guillaumeb]

2. Talk is easy, but acting is setting an example for others.

Believers must act their faith, not just talk about it.

[trotsky]

3. "Believers must act their faith"

ISIS is acting their faith.

Franklin Graham is acting his faith.

Paul Ryan is acting his faith.

So saying "believers must act their faith" - well, they do. And that's often a big problem.

[guillaumeb]

4. It can be.

Just as the atheistic leaders of China are acting on their beliefs. Self-labelled atheists who are every bit as intolerant as Graham and others like him.

[trotsky]

5. Oh really?

What specific "atheist belief" are the Chinese Communist leaders acting on? Please provide book, chapter, and verse from the Atheism Bible. Thanks!

[guillaumeb]

6. The Little Red Book, perhaps?

It might be the closest thing to a Chinese Bible.

[AtheistCrusader]

8. Oh boy. The Godless Communist trope, on DU no less.

Now I've heard it all.

[guillaumeb]

10. I believe that Mao and Stalin worshipped the god of power. eom

[AtheistCrusader]

12. There we have some agreement, and more than your realize.

Stalin's prototype or template, was religion. Instead of god, he set himself at the head, and instead of churches, he substituted The Party.

And like many religions, he permitted no rivals. He was anti-religion, but looked, smelled, and tasted like any other theocracy.

[guillaumeb]

15. My view is that Communism is a religion.

As is democracy.

Stalin grew up in a religious country, so it is not surprising that he appropriated symbols that were familiar to him.

[trotsky]

22. Yes, communism is definitely much like a religion.

But atheism isn't. Thank you for finally acknowledging that.

[AtheistCrusader]

32. Kinda renders your earlier objection meaningless then.

Especially since there's no tenet of atheism that leads to, or requires, or even talks about communism or economic models at all.

[Act_of_Reparation]

16. I believe equivocation is lame.

You should stop doing it.

[guillaumeb]

20. Judge not..............

[Act_of_Reparation]

35. Your rules, not mine.

I'll judge the dickens out of whoever the hell I feel like.

[trotsky]

13. That's a guide to Communism, not atheism.

Try again.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. These days I get a little worried when Religious people 'act their faith'.

[guillaumeb]

9. What about the example in this post?

Does this also worry you?

[AtheistCrusader]

11. Not troublesome, but I cannot guarantee any particular starting place or agenda with anyone of any

religion.

Slight alteration of circumstance, she could easily be a male Hasidic Jew, refusing to sit next to a woman on an airplane.

Are there atheists (who identify as humanists or not) that refuse to sit next to women on airplanes?

Just curious.

[guillaumeb]

14. And she could also be an ax murderer who is hoping to lure victims.

But she actually is a progressive who is also a believer.

There are Boston area atheists who refused to associate with a fellow atheist after that atheist had a political disagreement with some in the group. These intolerant atheists went so far as to ban their fellow atheist from the group.

I found that to be very interesting, and made it the subject of a post that received much negative response from self-identified DU atheists.

[Act_of_Reparation]

17. "These intolerant atheists went so far as to ban their fellow atheist from the group."

[Goblinmonger]

19. Perfect

"There was this guy. This guy on the internet. And he was an atheist. And he was mean to another atheist. So that's the same as a religion that teaches you that women are inferior."

[Act_of_Reparation]

28. Atheists in Boston should welcome Trumpist goons into their ranks...

...but Catholic hospitals shouldn't have to perform hysterectomies if they don't want to.

Seems reasonable, doesn't it?

[trotsky]

31. Totally. n/t

[trotsky]

30. Yep.

You've got it.

[guillaumeb]

21. An interesting comment, in light of the actual post.

But...................

[Act_of_Reparation]

27. tl;dr

[Goblinmonger]

18. That's rich

You are seriously comparing internet discussion board moderation to systemic patriarchy? Holy shit. Are there no limits to the depths people go to apologize for religion?

[guillaumeb]

24. No. The post about a group of Boston area atheists

was an example of intolerance that happened to concern a group of atheists who banned a fellow atheist.

And my point was that intolerance was a human failing not limited to religious people.

[Goblinmonger]

29. It was about political viewpoint.

Much like DU does not allow conservatives. Are you going to use DU as an example of intolerance?

The guy they banned was a Trump-humper on a liberal site. That isn't even atheist intolerance. But, hey, just keep trying.

[guillaumeb]

34. It is a club for atheists.

And the banned member had been a member for a while before Trump's selection.

[trotsky]

23. The "political disagreement" was that he was a Trump fan, and the group wasn't.

You should be honest about your little story of "atheistic intolerance" when you retell it.

Christians value honesty, right?

[guillaumeb]

25. The point was intolerance.

And that intolerance was exhibited by a group of atheists who banned a fellow atheist from a non-political group.

You left that part out.

[trotsky]

26. The group most definitely engages in political activity.

https://www.meetup.com/bostonatheists/events/232242600/

Tell the truth, guillaumeb.

[guillaumeb]

33. The group existed well before Trump was President.

But the group decided that only liberals were welcome afterward.

The entire truth T.

[trotsky]

36. You tried to cheat by moving the goalposts, yet you still lost.

Your first claim was that they were a non-political group. I proved you wrong, and rather than admit error, you change your claim.

But regardless, I am quite content to see you continue to try and rally support for a Trump fan here on Democratic Underground in order to demonstrate alleged "atheistic intolerance." Just keep in mind, several people will always step up to point out what the facts of the situation were, since you prefer to leave them out to make the story fit your agenda.

[guillaumeb]

37. Keep trying.

An interesting mindset.

As to you "proving me wrong", another frequent assertion, from the BA homepage:

Boston Atheists is the largest atheist membership organization in New England, and one of the most active secular organizations in the Boston area. We provide opportunities for friendship, education, and community for hundreds of local atheists. As a local affiliate of American Atheists, we advocate at every opportunity for the advancement of a reality-based worldview.

Looking at the page, there is absolutely no mention that this is a political group, or that there is any political litmus test required for membership. The banned member had been a member for some time before the group decided to ban him for thought crime. An outrageous example of atheistic intolerance from this group.

[trotsky]

38. No need for me to. You lost. Again.

Have your precious last word. Hey, maybe you and that Trump guy can get together and write an article about atheistic intolerance.

Regarding your (now multiple) false statements about Boston Atheists not being political...

http://bostonatheists.org/news/

As anyone can plainly see, they regularly engage in politics. But good luck in your continuing quest to get DUers to sympathize for a Trump supporter. I'll be laughing.

[Act_of_Reparation]

39. Come now, Trotsky.

Everyone knows racists, misogynists, and homophobes are the cornerstones of an inclusive community. The more hateful, ignorant people we welcome into our ranks, the more protected classes will feel welcomed, and want to join us.

Makes sense, AMIRITE?

[trotsky]

40. Well, like I said...

I wish him well in his quest to drum up sympathy on DU for a Trump-loving, Hillary-hating atheist who got kicked out of a decidedly political atheist group in the liberal city of Boston, MA.

[guillaumeb]

41. No, simply pointing out atheistic intolerance.

And the huge number of responses showed that a nerve was touched. And still is.

[trotsky]

42. LOL

You go on believing what you need to.

[guillaumeb]

43. Is that your motto?

If it works, follow it.

[Mariana]

44. Seriously, you're outraged by this story?

This story, by the way, that you've only heard one side of? This outrages you?

Wow, just wow.

[guillaumeb]

45. The story was the subject of another post.

A post that focused on an intolerant action by a group of Boston atheists.

A post that was the subject of much discussion at DU.

Outraged? No, because we all know that intolerance is not restricted to any one type of person.

[trotsky]

46. Well I don't know if he's "outraged," but it's the only thing he has to grasp at...

to try and convince himself that kicking a Trump fan out of a voluntary social club is the same as oppressing women or murdering homosexuals in the name of religion. It would be funnier if he weren't so totally serious.

[guillaumeb]

47. So it went from a political group to a voluntary social club?

Need any help moving the goal posts?

[Mariana]

49. Pssst.

A group can be both a voluntary social group and a political group simultaneously (that means at the same time). Just letting you know.

[guillaumeb]

50. It can. But in this case, it was not exclusively for progressives or liberals.

Your willingness to share your linguistic knowledge is noted.

[Mariana]

48. His own words, from the post I replied to:

"An outrageous example of atheistic intolerance from this group."