ALTER2EGO -to- EVERYONE:

Atheists consistently attempt to take the higher ground by pointing fingers of accusation at theists and accusing theists of committing all sorts of human rights violations in the name of "cultish religions," as they are fond of putting it. According to atheists, it is the belief in God that has caused people to commit the various atrocities common to mankind. Remove religion, belief in God, and belief in the Bible—the atheists argue—and the result will be world peace. This latter conclusion is mortally flawed for the following reasons:

1. Atheists have committed human rights violations en masse throughout history. For instance, Joseph Stalin—the atheist—ordered the deaths of at least 40 million people (20 million of which were everyday Soviet civilians), compared to the 6 million killed by Adolph Hitler the Roman Catholic "Christian."

In other words, the problem is not the Bible or God. The problem is people, including those in false religions which have failed to teach the masses Biblical truths. An appreciation for Biblical truths and Jehovah's righteous standards of what's right and what's wrong is the only detriment against people committing human rights violations. Blaming God for the crimes of false Christians is an attempt at passing the buck.

"See! This only I have found, that the true God made mankind upright, but they themselves have sought out many plans." (Ecclesiastes 7:29)

"They have acted ruinously on their own part; they are not his children, the defect is their own. A generation crooked and twisted!" (Deuteronomy 32:5)


2. Atheism is itself a religion aka a cult. While atheist will argue that they don't believe in any god, the issue is not merely non-belief in God or gods but in having ANY sort of belief system. The belief system of atheism is centered around the philosophy of "secular-humanism."


3. Atheism is a religion according to a 2005 Wisconsin federal court ruling. Since, by definition, all religions are classified as cults, atheism is therefore a cult.

ALTER2EGO -to- EVERYONE:

Below are four sets of evidence that expose ALL atheists as hypocrites for pointing fingers at theists. Remember, atheists routinely consider themselves to be "secular-humanists." Keep that in mind when you read what's written under the subheading: "EVIDENCE #3..." where the term "religion" is defined. When you get there, focus on definition #2 and keep your eyes on the words in bold print.

NOTE: Everything in my posts that's printed in dark red is quoted verbatim from the identified sources.


EVIDENCE #1 FOR THE HYPOCRISY OF ATHEISTS:
"Court rules atheism a religion
Decides 1st Amendment protects prison inmate's right to start study group

Published: 08/20/2005 at 1:00 AM

A federal court of appeals ruled yesterday Wisconsin prison officials violated an inmate’s rights because they did not treat atheism as a religion.

"Atheism is [the inmate's] religion, and the group that he wanted to start was religious in nature even though it expressly rejects a belief in a supreme being," the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said."

The court decided the inmate’s First Amendment rights were violated because the prison refused to allow him to create a study group for atheists.

Brian Fahling, senior trial attorney for the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy, called the court’s ruling "a sort of Alice in Wonderland jurisprudence."

"Up is down, and atheism, the antithesis of religion, is religion," said Fahling.

The Supreme Court has said a religion need not be based on a belief in the existence of a supreme being. In the 1961 case of Torcaso v. Watkins, the court described "secular humanism" as a religion."
http://www.wnd.com/2005/08/31895/


EVIDENCE #2 FOR THE HYPOCRISY OF ATHEISTS:
"Has Atheism Become a Religion?
1) As recently reported in the New York Times, military personnel who identify themselves as "Atheists" have requested chaplains to tend to their spiritual needs.... Having their own chaplains, the article explains, would give Atheists a sense of legitimacy and help validate their own system of values and beliefs.

2) The U.S. Government reports that in 2008 those identifying themselves specifically as "Atheist" composed the 18th largest group of 43 possible categories of "self-described religious identification."

3) Similarly, it's worth noting the degree to which Atheists routinely, strategically, and often vociferously position what is often described as their "secular-humanist" views against religious traditions.... Religious faith is clearly their primary opponent in the contest for the intellectual allegiance of the population, which makes it hard not to conclude that they offer their views and beliefs as a viable alternative to traditional religious systems.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-..._b_867217.html


EVIDENCE #3 FOR THE HYPOCRISY OF ATHEISTS:
DEFINITION OF "RELIGION":
1. any specific system of belief and worship, often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy: the Christian religion, the Buddhist religion, etc.

2. any system of beliefs, practices, ethical values, etc. resembling, suggestive of, or likened to such a system: humanism as a religion
http://www.yourdictionary.com/religion


EVIDENCE #4 FOR THE HYPOCRISY OF ATHEISTS:
DEFINITION OF "CULT":
1a. a system of religious worship or ritual

1b. a quasi-religious group, often living in a colony, with a charismatic leader who indoctrinates members with unorthodox or extremist views, practices, or beliefs

2a. devoted attachment to, or extravagant admiration for, a person, principle, or lifestyle, esp. when regarded as a fad: the cult of nudism

2b. the object of such attachment
http://www.yourdictionary.com/cult

Do you intentionally format your posts like this to deter potential counter arguments?

Why are you judging atheism based on U.S court decisions?

Have you never travelled outwith your narrow little world and seen what else there is out there?

You can say whatever you want about atheism, but it is not the same as secular humanism. Atheism is merely a single position on a single issue. That's it.

Alter2Ego, do you think that people that don't believe in leprechauns are in a cult?

1. So? I have not heard one atheist on this forum argue Hitler killed 6 million people and was Christian therefore Christianity is bad. There is a reason. It's a nonsensical position.

2. Baseless assertion

3. A federal court also decided that Intelligent design is not science, does this settle the matter for you?

FLAWLESS VICTORY

Since you don't refer to any atheist by name in ascribing these actions and beliefs, I've decided that you must mean me when you talk about atheists. So, your claim here is false. I have never pointed a finger of accusation at a theist and accused him or her of committing all sorts of human rights violations in the name of cultish religions.

This is false. I don't think theism is responsible for the various atrocities common to mankind.

This is false. I don't believe that if we get rid of the Bible, religion, or theism that the result will be world peace.

While I am not interested in defending Joseph Stalin or comparing who is worse, your numbers here are wrong. According to our most recent research, it seems that under Hitler the Germans killed between 11 and 12 million noncombatants and the U.S.S.R. under Stalin killed between 6-9 million (these do not include noncombatant battlefield casualties). Since Hitler also bears a greater responsibility for the millions who died during WWII, I should think his butcher's bill is much higher.

Then why are so many atheists not secular humanists? Also, your reasoning here is flawed. In order for atheism to be a religion, it is not enough that you show that the person who is an atheist is religious, but that her atheism is her religion.

ALTER2EGO -to- DANTON32:

What are you complaining to me for? I wasn't the judge at the Wisconsin federal court in 2005 who ruled atheism is a religion. And I most certainly wasn't the judge in the 1961 case of Torcaso v. Watkins, in which the court described "secular humanism" as a religion. Since secular atheism is the philosophical position of atheism, you will have a hard time overcoming its implications.

In any event, since your argument is that atheism is not a religion, maybe you should file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court so that the Wisconsin federal court decision from 2005 can be overturned. I don't hold out much hope for you, as I believe the statute of limitations has already ran. But one never knows; do one?

How does a judge saying that some other atheist's atheism is a religion make me a hypocrite? I don't get it.

How is it that some people serving in the military wanting a sympathetic person to talk to about their spirituality make me a hypocrite? I'm still not getting it.

Since atheism is not a "specific system of belief and worship" nor does it involve a "code of ethics and a philosophy," how does that definition make me a hypocrite? Also, since atheism is not a "system of beliefs, practices, ethical values, etc." how does that definition make me a hypocrite?

Since atheism is neither a lifestyle nor a principle, how does that dictionary definition make me a hypocrite?

What's that got to do with the fact that two different courts in the USA made a ruling that atheism is a religion? Intelligent design is an entirely different topic.

CONFIRMED:

If you can't see that if what you're posting is true then the corollary is also true, then it doesn't say much for your thought process.