And I personally don't care about calling it magic, and don't expect anyone to lie. It's not my favorite phrasing, but I am totally not the boss of exactly what words other people choose to express what they think and believe. (Though, wouldn't that be an awesome job? I would kick ass at that job! As would most Buffistas.)
Except for the tiny, tiny handful of people who truly do think that all religious people are deluded, mentally deficient, criminally insane, child abusers or all four at once. Those people are encouraged to lie, so that I don't reach through the Internets and punch them in the head.
No, I wouldn't expect them to lie about it, but I would also not expect them to tell someone that they are wrong without being asked. That being said, I expect that if an atheist says "I'm an atheist", they are often flooded with questions and people trying to tell them they are wrong.
In my experience, they don't even need to say it to hear *unprompted* that they're wrong, and this is living in one of the more secular bubbles in the US.
In other parts of the country, like Texas (where my husband's aunt disowned her brothers for being the Wrong Sort of Christian), I expect it's worse.
I wouldn't expect them to lie about it, but I would also not expect them to tell someone that they are wrong without being asked.
But there's a double-standard there, isn't there? Saying "Prayer is magical thinking" is interpreted as disrespect towards religion, but saying "Prayer is real" is accepted as a neutral statement of religious belief.
That's been a problem, simply by stating my position people assume I'm looking down on them. Therefore, I just try to avoid the subject.
Ayup.
JZ, what's the calf circumfrence on those boots? Those boots are hot -- I'm a 9, but I bet I could wear 'em with chunky cocks.
In my experience, they don't even need to say it to hear *unprompted* that they're wrong, and this is living in one of the more secular bubbles in the US.
Whoops. Yeah, I got that even in "we don't talk about personal things"-riffic MN.
But there's a double-standard there, isn't there? Saying "Prayer is magical thinking" is interpreted as disrespect towards religion, but saying "Prayer is real" is accepted as a neutral statement of religious belief.
I think Dawkins and others have made this exact point, with varying levels of frustration.
(Ahahaha. I've just realized I'm a culturally atheist vague theist. There are so many levels of hard to explain there.)
I'm a 9, but I bet I could wear 'em with chunky cocks.
It took me so long to figure out what you meant here! I am dying of laughter!
OMG, SOCKS!!
Jon Stewart CLEARLY is at fault.
I bet I could wear 'em with chunky cocks.
BEST TYPO EVER.
And I'll need about an hour -- I left them at home so I'll have to run down there to check (pretty sure Hec is out and about selling things and Emmett is home but doped and flu-y).
But there's a double-standard there, isn't there? Saying "Prayer is magical thinking" is interpreted as disrespect towards religion, but saying "Prayer is real" is accepted as a neutral statement of religious belief.
I definitely see your point, maybe intent is the key here. A atheist who says "prayer is magical thinking" knows and either intends to or doesn't care about offending the believer, while saying "prayer is real" is not intended to offend.
(and FTR, I am engaging in an intellectual exercise here. I absolutely respect everyone's belief or lack thereof. I suppose that technically, I'm Christian, so am biased in that direction, but am trying to be neutral :) )
