Atheists: CNN Special 3/24/15 9:00 PM ET

[BGIF]

Atheists: Inside The World of The Non-Believer.

On a promo earlier today it was mentioned that you can go to divinity school (Harvard, I believe) for a degree as an Atheist Chaplain specializing in godless prayer.

 

[BobbyMac]

Atheists: Inside The World of The Non-Believer.

On a promo earlier today it was mentioned that you can go to divinity school (Harvard, I believe) for a degree as an Atheist Chaplain specializing in godless prayer.

Where else but Harvard? Its the only place smart enough to do something so stupid.

.

 

[irish4ever]

Where else but Harvard? Its the only place smart enough to do something so stupid.

.

Possibly University of California - Berkley?!?

 

[connor_in]

I don't believe in atheists

 

[connor_in]

There are no atheists in foxholes

 

[Buster Bluth]

There are no atheists in foxholes

There are plenty of them...

 

[Circa]

Where else but Harvard? Its the only place smart enough to do something so stupid.

.

Just a question, Why is Godless prayer not understood in a place where we try to understand the meaning of our own self? There are people making fortunes off of the inevitable, and the reason always seems to start with numero uno. Thy self; in which doesn't understand him... or herself.

 

[connor_in]

There are plenty of them...

Not according to Harry Morgan on MASH

 

[dshans]

Where else but Harvard? Its the only place smart enough to do something so stupid.

Step into my parlor.

My tuition isn't nearly as steep.

I'm just not sure that a degree from dshans U would have a similar ROI.

 

[BobbyMac]

Just a question, Why is Godless prayer not understood in a place where we try to understand the meaning of our own self? There are people making fortunes off of the inevitable, and the reason always seems to start with numero uno. Thy self; in which doesn't understand him... or herself.

Try instead the proper words, meditation or thought. The word prayer has a meaning which cannot be separated from the interaction with a higher power.

.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Taking the concept of the "show about nothing" to a whole other level.

 

[woolybug25]

Atheists: Inside The World of The Non-Believer.

On a promo earlier today it was mentioned that you can go to divinity school (Harvard, I believe) for a degree as an Atheist Chaplain specializing in godless prayer.

Where else but Harvard? Its the only place smart enough to do something so stupid.

.

I haven't seen the promo, but I read the articles on CNN and don't see where he specifically uses the term "prayer", but he does use the term "congregation". He admittingly notes that he is adapting the definition of the word.

For Epstein, who started community-building at Harvard nearly 10 years ago, the idea of a godless congregation is not an oxymoron.

“We decided recently that we want to use the word congregation more and more often because that is a word that strongly evokes a certain kind of community - a really close knit, strong community that can make strong change happen in the world,” he said.

Church without God – by design – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

Seems like atheists cannot win regardless of what they do with some people. They scare believers on a deep level. One where rational debate and/or respectful dialogue goes out of the window. Take this for example, a group of atheists choose to gather to discuss community and the importance of compassion. Believers often accuse atheists of simply not caring or putting thought into the world around them. Here this group is doing exactly what people say they are missing, but yet they are still being ridiculed by you.

Maybe they're not the ones being "stupid"...

 

[IrishLion]

I think that goes both ways, Wooly.

In my own personal experiences, I've experienced far more atheists that are openly hostile and condescending towards religion than I've met religious people who are openly hostile and condescending towards atheists.

I think this is a case where the loud minority kind of over-shadows everything, on both sides. It's dangerous for believers to generalize all atheists, just as it's dangerous for atheists to generalize all believers.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I think that goes both ways, Wooly.

In my own personal experiences, I've experienced far more atheists that are openly hostile and condescending towards religion than I've met religious people who are openly hostile and condescending towards atheists.

I think this is a case where the loud minority kind of over-shadows everything, on both sides. It's dangerous for believers to generalize all atheists, just as it's dangerous for atheists to generalize all believers.

Well said. I can see the stereotypical Southern Baptist being wheeled out in front of the CNN cameras to spew emotional anti-atheism rhetoric & presume to the audience that ALL Christians are the same while Christians are scolded to not believe all people of another group are the same. I've spoken to Atheists, Muslims, Nation of Islam, Wiccans, undecided & Christians at a medium security penitentiary. Most are open to a good message regardless of their religious affiliation &/or beliefs. Personally, I don't have enough faith to be an atheist.

 

[Cackalacky]

Soooooo...... did anyone actually watch the show? Or can we move this discussion to one of the several open theistic/anti-theistic threads.

 

[Cackalacky]

What Did We Learn from CNN’s Special Report on Atheism?

The CNN atheist special covered American Atheists more than atheism in America

 

[Buster Bluth]

Soooooo...... did anyone actually watch the show? Or can we move this discussion to one of the several open theistic/anti-theistic threads.

So we can get back on topic:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3xMoBsozcUE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Circa]

Try instead the proper words, meditation or thought. The word prayer has a meaning which cannot be separated from the interaction with a higher power.

.

You my friend are probably right about words. They are created they are absolved, they most definitely are infinite in an issue such as.. I never figured into my deviation as to the frolics of our language.

 

[Circa]

Soooooo...... did anyone actually watch the show? Or can we move this discussion to one of the several open theistic/anti-theistic threads.

Haaa.. Thats good stuff and true. This is a topic that would cause others not of the understand to pick. Good Thread for the obvious.

 

[amgarvey]

I think that goes both ways, Wooly.

In my own personal experiences, I've experienced far more atheists that are openly hostile and condescending towards religion than I've met religious people who are openly hostile and condescending towards atheists.

I think this is a case where the loud minority kind of over-shadows everything, on both sides. It's dangerous for believers to generalize all atheists, just as it's dangerous for atheists to generalize all believers.

I agree that it goes both ways. Both sides seem to have a deep seated scorn for the other which I suppose is just human nature sadly. If you don't believe what I believe then you are an idiot and the cause of all the worlds problems/incapable of morality. I'm an atheist and often feel stuck in the middle. I loathe the army of internet atheists who are unbearably smug and believe they are superior solely because they don't believe in a god. And I am alarmed by believers who cannot understand a morality that is not derived from fear of punishment or desire for reward. The spectacle Phil Robertson made of himself recently is a prime example.

 

[RyCo1983]

I agree that it goes both ways. Both sides seem to have a deep seated scorn for the other which I suppose is just human nature sadly. If you don't believe what I believe then you are an idiot and the cause of all the worlds problems/incapable of morality. I'm an atheist and often feel stuck in the middle. I loathe the army of internet atheists who are unbearably smug and believe they are superior solely because they don't believe in a god. And I am alarmed by believers who cannot understand a morality that is not derived from fear of punishment of desire for reward. The spectacle Phil Robertson made of himself recently is a prime example.

+1
On all accounts.