"My Fellow Atheists"

[Gnomesmusher]

Does the phrase "my fellow atheist" offend you?

I ask because I left a comment about "being disappointed at my fellow atheists" regarding some stupid drama between a few Youtube atheists and some took offense. Some thought I was lumping atheists in a group and making Atheism sound like indoctrination and that I was implying that all atheists should act the same. Maybe to a certain degree I am hoping that atheists act a certain way, but not just for atheists, but all of humankind.

So I'd like some input. Does the phrase "my fellow atheist" offend you? Does it make you feel like you're part of an indoctrinated group of people? Does it make it sound like I'm applying a code of conduct to all Atheists? Keep in mind that I fully realize that Atheists only have one thing in common but it also can't be denied that there are other shared qualities.

 

[Aught3]

It doesn't bother me in the least.

Keep in mind that I fully realize that Atheists only have one thing in common but it also can't be denied that there are other shared qualities.

I deny it The only thing that being an atheist means is that you do not positively belief in a god.

 

[JBeukema]

Why would anyone take offense? You're simply addressing a group with one thing in common in order to address the members of said group who might also be members of your audience

 

[monitoradiation]

Naw. I'm not at all offended. They're probably having a knee-jerk reaction to being categorized; I imagine some atheists to be somewhat anti-establishment and thus dislike being put into any sort of category.

It's just a label that makes it a bit easier for communication. Which makes me wonder if they'll be offended if you said "my fellow humans".

 

[Cryogeneric]

I'm not offended by it. I watched Thunderf00t's video on this subject and disagreed with certain portions of it.

I agreed that typically we label people by what they believe and not what they don't, however in my opinion we have categories like Christian, Muslim, Jewish and every other religion people may believe in, and then we put the label "Atheism" on the pile otherwise marked "everybody else" or "other".

 

[PJDesseyn]

I have no problem with people calling me an atheist, since that's what I am. I do have a problem with people trying to use "atheist" as some kind of insult...instead of "you jerk", they say "you atheist" and think it's insulting...though I'm only insulted by their ignorance...

To add, if he addresses "my fellow atheists" and you don't like being called an atheist, then he's not talking to you.

 

[Homunclus]

But I guess it is to be expected. People can get a little sensitive specialy with so many people saying that atheism is a religion or that it has a specific belive system.

I think there was a popular youtube atheist that ran into a similiar problem when he mencioned something about having faith...Aperantly he received a bunch of rather angry messages from atheists telling him that you can't be an athiest and have faith.

It kinda reminds me one line from south park: "you can't be non-conformatist if you don't drink coffee"

 

[felixthecoach]

not me. i'm fine with it, just don't assume I agree with your politics or way to handle religious people.

 

[Daealis]

If anything it just gives off a warm and fuzzy feeling on fake unity amongst people, who couldn't be much more diverse. So "my fellow atheists" is like the holy spirit. :lol:

 

[nikskin]

i don't mind.
but i think there should be a better word for it.
it's a negative, it says i don't believe in a god (i don't have any invisible friends)
perhaps Evolutionist would be a better description.
any views on this would be welcome.

 

[GoodKat]

PEARList and freethinker are much more descriptive, and weed out people who are bigoted atheists, or are just rebelling, ect.

 

[JBeukema]

perhaps Evolutionist would be a better description.
any views on this would be welcome.

i disagree; you make it sound like a religion :roll:

 

[Aught3]

Yeah, my personal choice is freethinker. Bright works as well but you're not supposed to label people with that terminology they have to accept it for themselves.

 

[Homunclus]

i don't mind.
but i think there should be a better word for it.
it's a negative, it says i don't believe in a god (i don't have any invisible friends)
perhaps Evolutionist would be a better description.
any views on this would be welcome.

Most "evolutionists" are religious

 

[starfedrogue]

i don't mind.
but i think there should be a better word for it.
it's a negative, it says i don't believe in a god (i don't have any invisible friends)
perhaps Evolutionist would be a better description.
any views on this would be welcome.

Isn't that just conflating atheism and subscription to evolutionary theory?

Creationists would have a field day with that one.

 

[nikskin]

i agree most are believers in a god.
they just tend to gloss over the fact that dinosaurs roamed the earth just a few million years before the world was created in genesis.
:lol:

 

[starfedrogue]

i agree most are believers in a god.
they just tend to gloss over the fact that dinosaurs roamed the earth just a few million years before the world was created in genesis.
:lol:

You don't even need dinosaurs. There are living trees older than the biblical world.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416104320.htm

 

[nikskin]

it must have taken ages to count the rings in the trunk.

 

[JBeukema]

You don't even need dinosaurs. There are living trees older than the biblical world.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416104320.htm

awesome link!