A clever video response to CNN's recent Atheist-bashing at GeekArmy.com

[Up2Late]

I found this while doing some surfing and thought some here might enjoy it. Unfortunately, when I tried the web address on the video it didn't work, so I don't know how old this video it.

Also, This is the only page I've visited, so I don't know how "kid safe" the site is or not.

Here's the link to the page with the video: <http://www.geekarmy.com/political/CNN-Atheist-Bashing.html>

[DFW]

1. Compared to the hysterics shown on CNN

The "Geek" comes across as a voice of calm sanity.

Not every religious person is as frightfully insecure in their faith
that they need to shout it at the top of their lungs, or make false
claims about the faith of the Founding Fathers, but CNN certainly made
a very poor choice of people to put on national TV if promoting (Christian)
religion over atheism was their purpose (and it certainly seemed like that
was their purpose). Either that, or CNN's hidden agenda was to promote
atheism by putting on such poor defenders of Christianity as to make them
and (their) religion look foolish. If that was their intent, then they succeeded.
Somehow, though, I think that was not what they had in mind.

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. Smart kid. Good presentation. Where'd CNN get...

... that 'panel' from?

Jesus. ( no pun intended). A real "think tank" they've got there.

[DFW]

3. They could use a bit more think and a bit less tank.

[papau]

4. CNN's recent Atheist-bashing ? Biased -yes & with no atheist on screen -but bashing?

As was said on the atheist video makers site, by an atheist, about his neighborhood:

"A few argumentative types, but nothing you wouldn’t face being a Christian talking to other people with different beliefs"

video transcript /video maker's site:

http://coffeeghost.net/2007/04/05/fair-and-balanced/#more-24

For the record, the fundi anti-constitution nonsense does annoy "even" me - but this was no where near the personal attack on a group that the Dawson and Harris books and speeches are.

Seems like the young atheist is a sensitive fellow - which is fine as he does God's work to prevent injustice, but I saw no "bashing", and unless there is more in the complete tape of the 3 minute sequence, the word was a bit over the top - IMHO, of course.

[ieoeja]

5. Thanks!

According to papau the following is NOT bashing...


"We’re an Atheist country."

"I think Christians need to shut up. They need to shut up. I think they need to shut up."

"It’s obnoxious and they do need to shut up. They need to shut up and stop using those violent, militant tactics."

"I’m not even willing to believe that (Christians are discriminated against). That’s news to me. I mean I heard that, I read that, I just don’t believe it."

"But this is an Atheist country."

"Crying wolf all the time and saying they’re being imposed upon."

"What does a Christian believe? Nothing. And what are these Chris- They need to shut up. I think they need to shut up. Also who are they to-"

"They are on the attack, and it’s obnoxious."

"They need to shut up."

"Right on."

"They do need to shut up."

[papau]

8. nope - it's not bashing - it's garbage - but where is the intelligence, logical ability, maturity,

wisdom, and personality put downs of a Dawson or Harris.

Let's look at your modified quotes one by one:


1. "We’re an Atheist country." (

If this was the fact, how could anyone - not on DU - object?

2. "I think Christians need to shut up. They need to shut up. I think they need to shut up." -

LOL = Like this was not heard for real on DU and every atheist site at Easter. A poor form of conversation and communication - but where is the "bash"?

3. "It’s obnoxious and they do need to shut up. They need to shut up and stop using those violent, militant tactics."

Again the Easter posting by atheists on DU that were like that were commentary? - or were they "bashing" - since that was a discussion posted over and over again here on DU. I tried to point out that the Christian in your face folks were right wing evangelical fundi's - not the type of Christian that posts on DU - but no luck. To the CNN person that did the atheists are obnoxious I would say the equivalent - that not all atheists are obnoxious. But I grant you the use of the word "obnoxious" requires pointing to some fact lest it indeed br just "bashing".

4."I’m not even willing to believe that (Christians are discriminated against). That’s news to me. I mean I heard that, I read that, I just don’t believe it."

Again a discussion of facts - granted it will go nowhere - but what is the bash? Perhaps you feel a different opinion about how much of a victim the atheist is in today's United States is "bashing" - most folks would not use that word in my opinion.

5. "But this is an Atheist country."

As to population and culture this is again a true statement of fact - but as to law and rights and the Constitution there is no "state" religion, and Freedom of religion - and I consider Atheism a religion, based on its belief in what it can not prove and its ritual of bashing non-atheists, and therefore covered by Freedom of Religion.

6. "Crying wolf all the time and saying they’re being imposed upon."

Again a question of fact - poorly worded as it does not allow for a modicum of truth in the opposing statement - and does not use "some of the insert group" rather than the blanket "they". But again, is this a bash? Many folks believe the statement to be true at least to some extent of all parties to the discussion.

5. "What does a Christian believe? Nothing. And what are these Chris- They need to shut up. I think they need to shut up. Also who are they to-"

Now come on! :-) How many times have folks got angry with me when I point out atheists do believe in the unprovable idea that thee is no God - and scream back at me "I believe in nothing" - seems like the speaker is taking your side so that can't be a bash, now can it? :-)

6. "They are on the attack, and it’s obnoxious."

How many Dawson/Harris speeches say that the atheists are on the attack and must remain so? And how many times have folks said getting in "my" face is obnoxious. Seems a common analysis of the situation - perhaps even truth - and again could be applied to the right wing fundi evangelical that atheist or that is Christian.

7. "They need to shut up."

again I refer you to the Easter posts on DU - and note that the Dawson/Harris snide name calling is missing.

8. "Right on." and "They do need to shut up." is a standard response on DU often given by one atheist to another atheists bashing of the religious posting - one of the reasons R/T has become boring

And again there is none of the gold standard bashing that one hears fron Dawson/Harris and others.

[Up2Late]

6. Hey, you got the link to work! It didn't work last night...

...I wonder if his blog has been under (internet DOS) attack by the so-called Christians?

So, have you READ the Dawson book or just been told about it?

[papau]

9. I read his venom and noted the lack of logic and truth and snide asides while sitting in Borders - I

refused to pay for it and after a while it became as Dd Sade noted in his book and should have been treated and edited by the publisher the way de Sade handled the problem in the last dozen chapters of his book.

I did not like the Marquis de Sade's efforts, but appreciated that neither did he as exhibited by those later chapters, and I found Richard Dawkins (I often screw up his name and say Dawson - but we call that a senior moment) less literary. I now consider Harris the more adult of the two.

An Example of Dawkins (from his beliefnet interview) is below - it defines "snide" put down and - IMO - lying to make a point.

Dawkins is asked about "intelligent people who accept evolution and do marvel at scientific advances" but "suddenly find themselves wanting more-wanting a specifically religious dimension to their lives that science can't fill?"

His response was "Well, I've never met one." - Well I've met him - he is either a liar or calling me not intelligent - perhaps snide is the best word.

He goes on to refine what people tell him into the "very same awe and wonder that Wilson and Einstein talked about" - not mentioning Einstein's friend Thomas Torrance's book "Einstein and God" where Torrance notes that Einstein was deeply religious and not an atheist.

Then again the bashing - defining the non-atheist as not intelligent

"If they're genuinely intelligent, it does not involve the supernatural."

The question had excluded intelligent people brought up in a faith who were religious out of bad habits - people who were "not brought up religious" are stupid if they are not religious.

Yes, I've read Dawkins - a fellow that makes a lot of unprovable assertions and states what some might call lies and others call insults.

In any case I am glad I was able to get you a working link. Again my take away is that the young man is not a bad person or doing a bad thing - and indeed I applaud his motive of protecting our rights under the Constitution. But I do feel he is a bit sensitive, and I do not see much in the way of bashing going on - although I do see bias by CNN against atheists in the way the panel was setup.

[Up2Late]

10. Thanks for clearing that up, but let me try to put you mind at ease. I don't know if you've ever...

...been famous, and by that I mean, you're the author everyone's at a conference or book signing to meet and talk to (or argue with) kind of famous, but I have.

I had my 15 minutes of fame back in the 1980's when my Documentary on Learning Disabilities first came out. So, I was suddenly getting introduced to hundreds of different people at the National Convention for Learning Disability educators as the "Director" of my film, and I have to tell you, I don't remember any of the people I was introduced to that weekend.

So I wouldn't give it too much thought, I doubt Dawson remembers most of the people he meets on a day to day basis, unless you're more famous than he is.

[papau]

11. LOL - so true - my "fame" is only in my dog's eye's - w/perhaps some in the family n/t

n/t

[Up2Late]

7. kick n/t

:kick:

[lwcon]

12. Kick (sorry I'm too late to R)

___

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