Atheists and their jargon of insults

[Eli G]

"Magic", they say.
They say "miracles", "supernatural", etc etc etc ... they even say "spaghettis" and in their minds is an insult. So they are.

What is really "miracle" or "magic" or "supernatural" in an atheist mind?
IMHO, they are just things they cann't explain with their current personal knowledge ... and there is soooo much happening in the world right now that most people cann't explain, that I would say miracles are happening all the time and atheists cann't negate it. Insulting is the way their brains deal with it.

 

[Eli G]

I love atheists. That's why I try to educate them all the time; they hate me for that.

 

[Eli G]

The persecution complex is all yours (post#2).

Can you tell the readers what do you think would be "magic", "miracle", "supernatural"?

Do you think that in the future any of the things you consider that today may be just something normal or natural?
Let's say not just "in the future" ... it could happen just in another place, or circunstances.

There was a time when I didn't know anything about people with photographic memory. When I realize that capacity in some persons my mind just exploded. I'll say it is SUPERNATURAL.

 

[Orbit]

The persecution complex is all yours (post#2).

Can you tell the readers what do you think would be "magic", "miracle", "supernatural"?

Do you think that in the future any of the things you consider that today may be just something normal or natural?

Well, this is the second thread you've posted where the OP casts atheists in a negative light. And none of the atheists who have responded have cast religion in a negative light.

You want me to define for you words that can be found in dictionary? What for?

There is a famous quote: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." (Arthur C. Clarke). I suppose that encapsulates my thoughts on the matter.

 

[Daemon Sophic]

Yeah. I think you're projecting @Eli G . Most atheists are trying to help you see the world for what it is; to get your mind away from wandering around in a fairy dreamland, where everything is magic and unicorns and candy rainbows.

"Magic" is usually just something unusual or new that we, or at least you, don't understand....... yet.
"Unicorns" are often misperceptions and third-hand misreported things or events that don't quite, or don't remotely resemble what really was there.
And rainbows are neither made of Skittles, or signs from a god who promises not to annihilate life on Earth......again.

If an atheist cannot explain something, then usually it is an entreaty to figure it out. And while they certainly can enjoy a rainbow or a beautiful sunrise; they don't tend to say, "Oooooh! Maaaaaaagiiiiiiic!" and actually think so.

 

[Eli G]

Yeah. I think you're projecting @Eli G . ...

We all think things ... That is not supernatural.

Some atheists in this forum are pretty aggressive with believers. I don't think that is educative in any way. Maybe some clarifications of concepts will help that kind of atheists change their behavior and focus on debating topics and not persons.

...
"Magic" is usually just something unusual or new that we, or at least you, don't understand....... yet.
...

That was the only useful thing I got out of your post. Thank you for your contribution and have a nice weekend.

I will wait for others.

 

[Quintessence]

Some atheists in this forum are pretty aggressive with believers. I don't think that is educative in any way.

You're not wrong. But is it helpful to do the same right back at them in return?

I don't think that is educative in any way either.

Especially since the terms "atheist" and "theist" are almost entirely useless without further qualification given literally everything has been deified by humans throughout history and across different cultures.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

I love atheists. That's why I try to educate them all the time; they hate me for that.

In my opinion, your negative attitude towards atheists is your problem. If your intention is to "educate" them in an effort to convert them to your beliefs and way of thinking, then your approach is misguided and you will ultimately fail. I've observed the atheists on this forum (such as @F1fan, @Subduction Zone, @SkepticThinker, and @It Aint Necessarily So), and I believe that they are well-educated people who, for one reason or another, have chosen not to believe in deities or anything else supernatural. Speaking only for myself, I'm not interested in convincing the atheists and other skeptics on this forum to believe as I do or try to convert them to my religion. As far as I'm concerned, they are more than capable of deciding for themselves whether they want to believe me or not. Lastly, I can't speak for anyone else, but I think your posts demonstrate a prideful attitude. It's as if you believe you are morally superior to them because you're a Christian. I feel the same when I read your responses to other theists, such as myself and my good friend, @Trailblazer, who is a Baháʼí. I believe that respect is earned, not commanded, and during our past interactions, you haven't earned my respect. Quite the contrary, to be honest.

 

[Eli G]

You're not wrong. But is it helpful to do the same right back at them in return?

I don't think that is educative in any way either.

Especially since the terms "atheist" and "theist" are almost entirely useless without further qualification given literally everything has been deified by humans throughout history and across different cultures.

For me, treating all types of people with dignity is very important. I have never denigrated any atheist on this forum or any other.

When I refer to atheists as a group, I simply mean their common beliefs and practices, which they normally do on their part about believers. It doesn't affect me at all, and it is completely expected, that atheists talk about us, believers, in their own terms and in reference to our common beliefs and practices... as is my case with respect to atheists, which is totally acceptable and normal.

You have to know how to distinguish the difference between singling out a group and denigrating it. In Cuba we have a saying: "courteous does not take away from bravery."

A good start: can you focus on the topic?

 

[Subduction Zone]

For me, treating all types of people with dignity is very important. I have never denigrated any atheist on this forum or any other.

When I refer to atheists as a group, I simply mean their common beliefs and practices, which they normally do on their part about believers. It doesn't affect me at all, and it is completely expected, that atheists talk about us, believers, in their own terms and in reference to our common beliefs and practices... as is my case with respect to atheists, which is totally acceptable and normal.

You have to know how to distinguish the difference between singling out a group and denigrating it. In Cuba we have a saying: "courteous does not take away from bravery."

A good start: can you focus on the topic?

Your two recent threads indicate that this is not true.

I also explained why many use the language that you object to. Have you given any thought to how your actions, or the actions of other theists could have driven atheists to that point? My best friend on this forum is a theist. I have no problems with his beliefs. He has no problem with my beliefs.

 

[Eli G]

Can you tell the readers what do you think would be "magic", "miracle", "supernatural"?

Do you think that in the future any of the things you consider that today may be just something normal or natural?
Let's say not just "in the future" ... it could happen just in another place, or circunstances.

There was a time when I didn't know anything about people with photographic memory. When I realize that capacity in some persons my mind just exploded. I'll say it is SUPERNATURAL.

Back to topic.

 

[Twilight Hue]

"Magic", they say.
They say "miracles", "supernatural", etc etc etc ... they even say "spaghettis" and in their minds is an insult. So they are.

What is really "miracle" or "magic" or "supernatural" in an atheist mind?
IMHO, they are just things they cann't explain with their current personal knowledge ... and there is soooo much happening in the world right now that most people cann't explain, that I would say miracles are happening all the time and atheists cann't negate it. Insulting is the way their brains deal with it.

I think it's more a hope that someday, albiet fleeting, that more people will be able to refine their sense of discernment as to what's actually real and happening and whats not as it applies to the waking world, and the world in their minds.

 

[osgart]

Some religious people make very well out of their religion. As an atheist myself I find some Christians to be very caring, understanding and wise. The religion itself has some lesson worthy things amidst a whole bunch of harmful nonsense.

The thing about atheists is that they have a strong motivation to see things as they are and not as one would imagine things to be.

Aggressive fundamentalism exists. And theocracy is not at all desirable. The main thing is gods are only found in the minds of believers. So living by the rule of someone's imagination without verification is a threat to civilization.

I myself cannot blanket all religions as fundamentalism. However my experience of religion has been limited to the dominance of Abrahamic religion. Even non believers like Trump wield God as a way to gain power and influence.

I'm even a religious atheist.

 

[Dao Hao Now]

Can you tell the readers what do you think would be "magic", "miracle", "supernatural"?

There was a time when I didn't know anything about people with photographic memory. When I realize that capacity in some persons my mind just exploded. I'll say it is SUPERNATURAL.

It appears you are saying that because something uncommon that you weren’t aware of previously came to your attention and you were impressed by it…..
that makes it supernatural?
That appears to be a stunningly low bar.

Did these persons with photographic memory not have them naturally?
Do all rare or exceptional abilities qualify as supernatural?
If not what is the criteria you use to determine those that are or are not?
Is it how impressed you were by it?

 

[Left Coast]

"Magic", they say.
They say "miracles", "supernatural", etc etc etc ... they even say "spaghettis" and in their minds is an insult. So they are.

What is really "miracle" or "magic" or "supernatural" in an atheist mind?
IMHO, they are just things they cann't explain with their current personal knowledge ... and there is soooo much happening in the world right now that most people cann't explain, that I would say miracles are happening all the time and atheists cann't negate it. Insulting is the way their brains deal with it.

Some atheists do get insulting and condescending when they criticize religion, it's true. Many of them have been hurt by religion, so they have reason to treat it with hostility.

I agree with you that unexplained things happen all the time. Are they supernatural? I don't know. I think for many theists, they see something they don't understand and they label it as a miracle or God or whatever because they don't understand it. Especially when it's an event endorsed by their religion. Similar events endorsed by other religions are usually dismissed. We could probably all do a better job of trying to be reasonable and empathetic towards one another.

 

[Revoltingest]

They say "miracles"...

That's not an insult.
Now this is an insult....
"Sky fairy"

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

Some atheists do get insulting and condescending when they criticize religion, it's true. Many of them have been hurt by religion, so they have reason to treat it with hostility.

That is true.

I agree with you that unexplained things happen all the time. Are they supernatural? I don't know. I think for many theists, they see something they don't understand and they label it as a miracle or God or whatever because they don't understand it. Especially when it's an event endorsed by their religion. Similar events endorsed by other religions are usually dismissed.

I believe that there are supernatural phenomena that occur in our world that cannot be explained away or debunked by science or religion.

We could probably all do a better job of trying to be reasonable and empathetic towards one another.

Agreed.

Oddly enough, I haven't had a major problem with atheists on the forum insulting me. There was one who insulted me once, but it hasn't happened again, and it was a long time ago. There are a few Abrahamic theists, on the other hand, who have been a major source of contention for me on the forum.

 

[Left Coast]

That is true.



I believe that there are supernatural phenomena that occur in our world that cannot be explained away or debunked by science or religion.



Agreed.

Oddly enough, I haven't had a major problem with atheists on the forum insulting me. There was one who insulted me once, but it hasn't happened again, and it was a long time ago. There are a few Abrahamic theists, on the other hand, who have been a major source of contention for me on the forum.

Your views about the supernatural, from what I have seen, are repeatedly couched in the language of, "This is just what I believe, I'm not trying to convince you." I suspect that makes you less ideologically threatening to atheists than some other theists.

 

[cladking]

I have never denigrated any atheist on this forum or any other.

Almost all theists believe there is a God. And most atheists believe there is no God. I can understand the former but the latter is inexplicable. How can anyone who fancies himself a scientist conclude there is no God?

People often overlook the magic that is life and the anomalies that show massive holes in their knowledge but how do they overlook the fact that reality is so complex?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

"Magic", they say.
They say "miracles", "supernatural", etc etc etc ... they even say "spaghettis" and in their minds is an insult. So they are.

What is really "miracle" or "magic" or "supernatural" in an atheist mind?
IMHO, they are just things they cann't explain with their current personal knowledge ... and there is soooo much happening in the world right now that most people cann't explain, that I would say miracles are happening all the time and atheists cann't negate it. Insulting is the way their brains deal with it.

I don't speak for all atheists, but when I use words like "magic," "miracle" and "supernatural," I am referring to claims of events for which our present science has no explanation and which is, at the same time, seemingly impossible. Notice I don't just say "events," but rather "claims of events." That is because, for the most part, the event in question is just that -- a claim, said to have been seen by a few, but never, for reasons unkown, reproducible.

It should come as no surprise that claims of miraculous cures, for example, actually never -- NEVER -- include restoring missing limbs, or even smaller things like fingers. It comes as no surprise to me that the illnesses that are claimed to me miraculously "cured" by phoney pastors never happen to have any pre- and post- x-rays. I always wonder why that is.

Ever watched a magic show? It's an interesting thing that the magician who is able to saw a lady in half, or pull a live dove out of his ear, is able to do the same thing night after night as part of the show. What is also clear is that there is always an explanation (carefully concealed, but there none-the-less) for how the "magic" (which is in fact a trick) is done. I know many of them myself, and can do quite a few.

So, what is all this "soooo much happening in the world now that most people can't explain?" Give us a few examples, and I'll bet you dollars to donuts that an explanation is not all that hard to come up with.

You see, sadly, I don't see anything happening in the world that can't be explained (except for so many Republican Americans worshipping Trump). No manna is falling from the sky every day. There are no angels (or demons) chasing people around the streets. Zombies aren't climbing out of their graves looking for brains to eat (except in very bad American movies).

So there's your challenge --- if you "say miracles are happening all the time," then give us some examples so that we can judge for ourselves.