♪'Tis the season to be hatin'♪: Atheists Wage War On Christmas In Times Square. - Polidicks

[QUOTE=HkSniper;38805168]What I find comical is that many atheists celebrate Christmas. Lol. Atheists celebrating a Christian holiday. Of course, we all know why. If there were no presents a majority of people would have nothing to do with Christmas. My question is this - Would atheists make a stink if they were made to work on Christmas Day?[/QUOTE] Christmas is no longer about religion, it's a commercial holiday. Anyone who views it as a religious occasion first and foremost is behind the times. I guarantee that there are already kids today who have no idea Christmas is connected to religion (in fact, I'm pretty sure I didn't even know it was until I was older)

[QUOTE=yawmwen;38804754]and you know religious fundamentalism is the reason why those muslim scientists and mathematicians eventually disappeared right?[/QUOTE] So? My point was that religion as a [i]faith[/i] does not have to stop scientific advancement, as can be evidenced by how it was a reason for advancement up until the 13th century or so. Fundamentalism did slow it, geopolitical problems ended it. The topic on what to do about it is a different argument.

[QUOTE=markfu;38805405]So? My point was that religion as a [i]faith[/i] does not have to stop scientific advancement, as can be evidenced by how it was a reason for advancement up until the 13th century or so. Fundamentalism did slow it, geopolitical problems ended it. The topic on what to do about it is a different argument.[/QUOTE] Just because it doesn't have to doesn't mean it doesn't frequently happen.

[QUOTE=seroyal223;38805368]Christmas is no longer about religion, it's a commercial holiday. Anyone who views it as a religious occasion first and foremost is behind the times. I guarantee that there are already kids today who have no idea Christmas is connected to religion (in fact, I'm pretty sure I didn't even know it was until I was older)[/QUOTE] If you want it to be religious first and foremost, than you can celebrate it that way. If don't believe in such things, you can view and celebrate it as a secular holiday. That's how I thought of it since forever.

You gotta love these kinds of Athiests, "We are being oppressed and should have a choice in our beliefs!" and then they go on to bash believers and tell them that they are dumb to believe in a god.

[QUOTE=Native Hunter;38805107]And for the record Jesus is not a myth[/QUOTE] I guess I'll just take your word for it [sp]LOOOOOOOL[/sp] [editline]12th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Gooby;38805206]tolerant[/QUOTE] ok done [QUOTE]and respectful[/QUOTE] not a chance [QUOTE][B]REALISE EVERYBODY'S ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN BELIEFS[/B][/QUOTE] Oh you mean a belief like "your religion blows and you should feel bad for associating yourself with know-it-all pedophiles and reactionary mystics"?

[QUOTE=Wafflemonstr;38805516]You gotta love these kinds of Athiests, "We are being oppressed and should have a choice in our beliefs!" and then they go on to bash believers and tell them that they are dumb to believe in a god.[/QUOTE] That's just the way progress goes, it's always hypocritical, but it works. It's the same way people bashed civil rights, saying "you can't fight oppression with your own violence and oppression" but it worked

[QUOTE=Gooby;38805206]Could you guys just like fuck off being ignorant dicks and learn to be the slightest bit more tolerant and respectful towards other religions also while you're there [B]REALISE EVERYBODY'S ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN BELIEFS[/B] Sincerely, [B]every other atheist[/B] who's not a complete cunt about other religions[/QUOTE] You should know better than to use [B]"no true scotsman"[/B] as an ad hoc.

[QUOTE=HkSniper;38805168]What I find comical is that many atheists celebrate Christmas. Lol. Atheists celebrating a Christian holiday. Of course, we all know why. If there were no presents a majority of people would have nothing to do with Christmas. My question is this - Would atheists make a stink if they were made to work on Christmas Day?[/QUOTE] It isn't a Christian holiday, though. It's a mish-mash of pagan traditions and the story about the birth of Jesus is just the latest one that was added to the bunch.

Such a great hypocritical discussion. day 1 = "religion is bad" day 2 = "but I like the season of joy" Please get along and deal with it unless there's an actual issue. We're talking about killing the spirit which is inhumane. [editline]12th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=seroyal223;38805368]Christmas is no longer about religion, it's a commercial holiday[/QUOTE] It's not a "commercial" holiday (what does this mean?), it's just a cultural thing where people got used to ending the year with a joyous occassion. Religious people are still celebrating it religiously so that's not quite true.

Is it that time again to post inflammatory religious comments on a billboard?

[QUOTE=AK'z;38806363] It's not a "commercial" holiday (what does this mean?), it's just a cultural thing where people got used to ending the year with a joyous occassion. [/QUOTE] what plane of existence do you live on where this even makes sense

[QUOTE=Dori;38806795]what plane of existence do you live on where this even makes sense[/QUOTE] you ask the right questions doriol

Fun fact: KFC managed to convince the entire country of Japan that buying fried chicken for Christmas was a western tradition. In addition, Christians account for less than 1% of the country's population. The place is a shining example of how you don't even have to be Christian to be involved in Christmas.

Can't we all just be happy and give one another presents? I'm an atheist and I still celebrate Christmas as a time of being with family and loving each other. It's the holidays, both sides should lighten up and just wish good for one another. I dream the day when I can see an atheist and a religious person set aside their views and simply enjoy the holidays.

[QUOTE=EpikMonster;38802761]The human is [B]made[/B] to believe in something higher than him, regardless if you follow a religion or not. Deep inside you know that there's something higher in power than you ever will be. No need to be a bunch of dickheads and start to ruin the Christmas for everyone just because you're an atheist. That shows how ignorant some people can be![/QUOTE] The human is [I]taught[/I] to believe in something higher than him. However, whether there is or isn't a higher being is not something I'm going to delve into with this post.

I'll just leave this here: [video=youtube;CzSMC5rWvos]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzSMC5rWvos[/video]

I remember when someone put up pictures of 9/11 around my school with the caption "Imagine the world without religion" holy shitstorm

[QUOTE=markfu;38805405]So? My point was that religion as a [i]faith[/i] does not have to stop scientific advancement, as can be evidenced by how it was a reason for advancement up until the 13th century or so. Fundamentalism did slow it, geopolitical problems ended it. The topic on what to do about it is a different argument.[/QUOTE] people use arguments like this a lot and it slightly annoys me. i dont think religion as an idea inherently stymies or inhibits science or scientific passion. the dogma of islam and shit certainly do, but not everyone believes in every word of the qu'ran, bible, or whatever. what i, as an atheist, have an issue with is the fact that religion has given power to these groups numerous times in the past. while genocide might not be caused by religion, religion has certainly allowed ideas that enable genocide to flourish. religion is a tool often used by very fucked up people to allow very fucked up things to happen. there is nothing that empowers you argument more than saying "god specifically told us that people need to be killed/tortured". there is nothing you can say that can trump god in the eyes of the superstitious, because god is supposed to be infallible. i dont give a fuck if someone wants to believe in jesus or not. i think it's all garbage, but everyone on this planet believes some garbage, including me. what i have a problem with is when the idea of christianity or having a christian nation inhibits the rights of other groups. my problem is when people are treated as second-class citizens because they don't follow the mainstream interpretation of religion.

[QUOTE=Laserbeams;38802601]Religion is a bad thing and I believe we should get rid of it as soon as possible[/QUOTE] The human organism always worships. First it was the gods, then it was fame (the observation and judgment of others), next it will be the self-aware systems you have built to realize truly omnipresent observation and judgment. Sorry for taking a quote, but it seemed fitting

[QUOTE=Hatley;38802708]Fuck sake, this kind of behaviour makes me ashamed to be an Athiest.[/QUOTE] They made a fucking billboard cry about it. Also that's like not wanting to be white since Hitler also was white. [editline]13th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=GameDev;38807470]I remember when someone put up pictures of 9/11 around my school with the caption "Imagine the world without religion" holy shitstorm[/QUOTE] While I think that 9/11 would have happened for another reason if religion did not exist. Is there really a problem with having one less thing to fight about?

people think atheists are some oppressed race or something

[QUOTE=AJisAwesome15;38808192]people think atheists are some oppressed race or something[/QUOTE] While I agree that these billboards are ridiculous, and that they're probably not helping anything, it's a serious issue that atheists get so much hate in the US. As someone that's not from the country, it seems surreal.

[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;38807172]I'll just leave this here: [video=youtube;CzSMC5rWvos]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzSMC5rWvos[/video][/QUOTE] I completely agree with Niel Degrasse Tyson. I don't have any beliefs of this sort and it's strange because I always thought I was an atheist until I saw this video. I don't have any beliefs because I either know or don't know according to scientific fact and evidence. If there was enough evidence to support God then I'd know that there was a god and still wouldn't need to believe anything because it would be fact. But for now, sorry God but you're losing bigtime in the rational mind. Taking this on topic, people of all faiths have the right to try to expand their 'beliefs' through things like these billboards and there will always be those at the extremes who will try. But needless to say they really shouldn't.

[QUOTE=AJisAwesome15;38808192]people think atheists are some oppressed race or something[/QUOTE] you implying that atheists are treated equally to christians in the usa?

[QUOTE=Chrille;38808233]While I agree that these billboards are ridiculous, and that they're probably not helping anything, it's a serious issue that atheists get so much hate in the US. As someone that's not from the country, it seems surreal.[/QUOTE] For the few years my family dragged me to church, it was a pain in the ass as a kid to have to correct everyone I heard that said "Atheists are devil worshipers". Even as a little tyke I had some damn common sense on the issue. I don't get the negative connotation on Atheism. The belief in America is that a lot of Atheists are dicks, but there are even more so (as I've seen) in those who are religious.

[QUOTE=AK'z;38806881]you ask the right questions doriol[/QUOTE] Well he's right it is in every way a consumerist holiday used for everything from temporarily spiking employment to rapidly generating profit and if you think that's wrong let me post for you one of many videos in which masses people trample and fight each other in order to get some cheap electronics.

[QUOTE=POLOPOZOZO;38808522]Well he's right it is in every way a consumerist holiday used for everything from temporarily spiking employment to rapidly generating profit and if you think that's wrong let me post for you one of many videos in which[B] masses people trample and fight each other in order to get some cheap electronics[/B].[/QUOTE] I wish the holiday was brought back to the original idea of giving. It's like no one really [I]makes[/I] things [I]themselves[/I] anymore. I haven't bought a gift for years doing that, and those gifts tend to be the most valuable to my friends/girlfriend. Now it's like "JESUS FUCK LET'S BUY 100+ GIFTS ALL CHILDREN NEED PREMANUFACTURED SHIT". What happened to buying some cloth and sewing a nice pillow or stuffed animal for someone on Christmas?

[QUOTE=Corey_Faure;38808620]I wish the holiday was brought back to the original idea of giving. It's like no one really [I]makes[/I] things [I]themselves[/I] anymore. I haven't bought a gift for years doing that, and those gifts tend to be the most valuable to my friends/girlfriend. Now it's like "JESUS FUCK LET'S BUY 100+ GIFTS ALL CHILDREN NEED PREMANUFACTURED SHIT". What happened to buying some cloth and sewing a nice pillow for someone on Christmas?[/QUOTE] You're such a shitty consumer. Jeez man, get with the times.

Yeah, I wish we could go back to the original idea of the season, too. People really should GIVE more ...roasted animal sacrifices to appease the spirits of winter. Then we can all feast until we throw up, booze until we can't see straight and orgy until we can't walk! Seriously, pagan holidays sounded like a fucking laugh riot. They're just so utterly ridiculous and over the top in comparison to modern religions which try to at least have a veneer of credibility.