Let's all start using the phrase "God-myth" instead of the word "God" from now on

[es35]

If all atheists started saying "God-myth" instead of "God" we might be able to finally change the obsession of our country with religion. This would force believers to have to prove what they are referring to day in and day out. They would have to present objective evidence for their god and for their claim that he gave them the right to rule over society or else continue to hear us say "God-myth" each and every time.

[Cartoonist]

1. How about God Smith?

[AlbertCat]

2. Well...

... it's shorter than "Imaginary Magic Friend".

[mr blur]

3. You would get done for hate speech,

Or attacking peoples' religious freedom to believe, or whatever bullshit the Xian-Privileged can find to throw at you.

[Binkie The Clown]

4. Or one could name some specific god like Zeus, or Odin, or Shiva.

"Do you believe in god?"
"I don't believe in Zeus, do you?"
"No."
"Then you're an atheist too."

[Freelancer]

5. Better to keep the deists+anti-theists+agnostics on your side in this fight.

Using the term "God-myth" is pretty loaded. Even if it may accurately reflect your take on the Universe, it's not a very inclusive choice of terms. The problem is that it peels your rhetoric away from at least three groups that are, otherwise, allies of atheists on a number of issues. A lot of deists, anti-theists and agnostics aren't going to be with you if you go there.

[mr blur]

6. Then they're part of the problem, aren't they?

So you're suggesting...what? That we should be nice quiet atheists and not antagonise the privileged, the fantasists and the fence-sitters? Have fun with that.

[cleanhippie]

7. +1

[Freelancer]

8. I wasn't trying to antagonize.

I'm pointing out the downside of antagonizing the very people who would stand with you and support you in about 85% of what you'd like to accomplish. That's all.

If you're all about getting as many people pissed at you as possible, that's your prerogative. Go for it. But, IMO, the suggestion that substituting "God-Myth" for "God" in the course of discourse is just... coarse.

All of your conversations with anyone will just hit a brick wall right at that interjection. Whatever good ideas were bracketing that phrase -- before it or after it -- will be lost. It's like going to a job interview with a neck tattoo sticking part way out from under your collar. It just stands out in competition with your mad skills and resume -- unless, of course, you're applying to do ink at a tattoo parlor.

Is 'parlor' even correct parlance now? I dunno. I enjoyed the digression, though.

Thanks for engaging.

[mr blur]

9. And thanks for patronising, I guess.

[Freelancer]

10. You're welcome.

Last edited Tue Apr 12, 2016, 06:24 PM - Edit history (2)

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