The most random based conclusion I've perhaps ever seen on this forum. There should be an award for this. This has NOTHING to do with atheist. And note... an atheist does not believe in 'nothing.' They simply do not have a belief in a supernatural God.

Atheism isn't really an ideology. Since when is not believing in something an ideology? Is not believing in Santa Claus an ideology? A way of living your life?

So... do you hate the Old Testament? Just curious since God has no problem killing thousands of kids to punish parents and such... your God doesn't seem to share the same respect for life that you do.

Ok, so you and that poster you quoted don't proclaim you are atheists because the only reason for doing that is being a douche.

You then (and the poster you quoted) then go about doing this by emphasising that you are indeed atheists, and claiming all other atheists are douches.

Makes sense.

PS- kurto, I win.

LOL. Yes. Though I find it very confusing. He's a self-hating atheist who seems to be arguing that he doesn't have morals?

Its interesting that he seems to despise and think little of atheists... when of all the atheists on this forum, he's the only one who seems to be an outspoken racist and kind of a rude jerk (IMO of course).

The 'other team' is welcome to him.

a theist making inthedark's posts would be much less remarkable than an atheist making them, whether or not the posts contain admissions of atheism. there seems to be so much incentive to appear "less biased" that his calling himself an atheist, for me, only slightly increases the chances that he actually is one.

Good point, something I also considered. I believe its called a Loki troll in internet parlance.

Other than the self-selection issue that's been raised, theism or atheism doesn't change your basic personality. Introspective, analytical types will be that way regardless. So will shoot-from-the-lip action junkies, dogmatic control freaks or head-fluff dreamers.
Age and peers will have more effect on your personality-based behavior than variations in theistic stances.
There is major self-selection that goes on. Certain personalities are more attracted to a type of approach ( sometimes it's a basic part of the personality). That applies even within specific sects and (sub)cults. Compare Splendor with NR or Peter. Didn't they bring that personality to their theism? Would they be a lot different as atheists?

Atheists that you find in a theist culture ( rather than an essentially atheist one) tend to either have rather scientific analytical mindset or be quite straightforward pragmatic doers. The fluffies and the hierarchal leaning ones usually are magneted by some theist group.
Not so simple as I respresent it, but it's a subject I find very interesting. It could be how my limited exposure has over influenced me, but I have a huge extended originally catholic based family, and you can almost pick the new sect they've ended up in by personality type. It never ceases to fascinate me.
It's a version of Iranians are muslims, Kentuckians are christians where personality plays the role of your local culture ( well, I guess you can't get more local than that).
my experience wouldn't happen in a more locked-in culture ( you'd see sub-sect cases though), but when you have lots of exposure and freedom and are not super indoctrinated then personality is one of the strong forces in play.

And it actually makes sense that another significant subset of atheists would be the "anarchist, anti-establishment" types, since its a logical, predictable way to be anti-establishment in a predominately Christian/theist society. I guess I was never exposed much to that group of atheists since I'm usually pretty strongly turned off by anti-everything types.

Though people certainly have personalities seperate from their beliefs, they are often intertwined.

I have no doubts that there are some people who would be jerks if they weren't theists. I mean... if there compulsion is to act differently but they restrain themselves because of their religious beliefs, then I would argue they may act differently as atheists.

And... people's beliefs, I'm sure, influence parts of their personality. (as well as has an influence on their peers and there upbringing)....

Shoot... got meetings. But I think I got the gist of my thoughts out. That is, I agree with you but to an extent...

Not quite. I believe I could maybe work in the idea that I'm an atheist without being a douche, but there's no upside. The water has been so fouled today in America by Harris ,Dawkins, et al that I gain nothing disclosing my atheism save enmity. Why would any sensible person do so?

Yup, douche.

NB - Disclosure on this board is not disclosure in RL.

2nd NB - This has been an especially odd thread since over half the posts don't pass my ignore filter.

Maybe if you were more heavily armed, you wouldnt be so afraid of this enmity.

or he could just invite them fishing in florida. nine times out of ten they'd be friends for life.

Let's play "spot the douche":

So... you're at a party. Somehow the subject gets around to people's faiths. Someone says, "I'm Jewish."

"Oh really, I'm Lutheran."

"I was raised a Catholic but I really don't believe anymore. I consider myself an atheist now."

"Oh really? I don't know, I just think something's out there."

Hmmmm. I'm having trouble spotting the douche. Matter of fact, anyone who thinks someone in the above conversation is being a jerk is probably the jerk.

(for the record, I've seen plenty of conversations that go just like this.)

he did say maybe.

According to ITD and DDY from the thread he linked earlier, apparently conversations like that are not ubiquitous. Its more like:

"Yeah, I'm Lutheran."

"Oh really **** LUTHERANS ALL OF YOU STUPID CHURCHIES ARE MINDLESS DRONES!!!!" **uses his guitar to smash the coffee table, paints his fingernails black and pierces his glans**

[QUOTE=InTheDark;2276488]Not quite. I believe I could maybe work in the idea that I'm an atheist without being a douche, but there's no upside. The water has been so fouled today in America by Harris ,Dawkins, et al that I gain nothing disclosing my atheism save enmity. Why would any sensible person do so?
QUOTE]

additional notes
(1) If InTheDark admits he's an atheist and receives nothing but hatred and ill will -- then this suggests that the problem is with the theists for being bigotted against people who don't share there beliefs. Since most atheists I know don't going around showing hatred and illwill to people simply because they learn someone is a theist; it would show that the douche ratio is much higher in theists. (again - this is granting that InTheDark's original post is meaningful. Which is a whole other matter.)
(2) Does it cross his mind that the opposite can be said as well? That is, It may be just as appropriate for a believer to say, "I believe I could maybe work in the idea that I'm a Theist without being a douche, but there's no upside. The water has been so fouled today in America by fundamentalists attacking gays, engaging in wars, attacking science, etc. that I gain nothing disclosing my Theism save enmity. Why would any sensible person do so? "

Your avatar seriously puts me on tilt.

If that was reality then i would agree. Though I'd be curious to see what circles these people hang around if this is really there experience. I've never seen a conversation go remotely like that. (certainly atheists and theists once entered into a debate can get heated and rude - but both sides are equally guilty.)

I have to admit that I had a period of being a reality show junkie. The "God Warrior" was easily one of my favorite reality show experiences of all time. I still quote her.... "it was DARK SIDED! Psychic... Gargoyles....."

SHE'S NOT A CHRISCHUNNNNNNUH!

Don't start putting words in my mouth here kiddies. I was just relaying my personal observations. I don't know you fools and don't care about your beliefs. If you want to be atheist, duwhutchalike.

But if you go around berating other people and thinking that they are stupid for having religious beliefs, you might be a hudge douche.

Can we point out that adults who believe in Santa Claus are intellectually infantile?

If so, what's the difference?

Edit to add: Also, leading Presidential front-runners who say things like "And that’s what we need to do is amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards rather than trying to change God’s standards so it lines up with some contemporary view of how we treat each other and how we treat the family" are supported by millions of people. So, if all Christians kept their crazy ideas to themselves, there wouldn't be as much eagerness to show the world how crazy these ideas really are.

Wow, that was easy. Proved my point in 1 post!!!

so, anyone that considers themselves a Christian has crazy ideas and identifies with Huckabee? You realize that by taking this view, you are no better than Huckabee or anyone who supports his quote above?

check yo self, my friend........

I'm going to keep quoting myself more. Hey SMP!!!!

Yes, by definition.

Also, check your reading comprehension. My posts says nothing about all Christians identifying with Huckabee.

no, but you quote Huckabee and then say:

So, you're linking Huckabee's (very scary, we can agree on that) quote to all Christians. Don't say you didn't just do it, cause you did. Your implication was VERY clear.