Inspired by some of the discussion in this thread. I don’t think it’s appropriate place for that discussion there, but hey why not have a separate thread for it

If I think religion is not good in general, am I Reddit and cringe and basically Richard Dawkins?

  • vegeta1 [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
    28·
    15 days ago

    I have legit misgivings about religion but even I see how hawkish new atheists and their types are. Got dawkins cheer leading imperialistic actions and calling himself culturally Christian. How does one take it? Not to mention how phony the other so called horseman of atheism are. I mean look at this shit

    • ClimateChangeAnxiety [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
      19·
      15 days ago

      That culturally Christian thing pisses me off so much, because it’s not even an unhelpful phrase in general, the problem is that he’s proud of it.

      I’ll fully acknowledge I am “culturally Christian,” but that is in no way a value judgement, just a factual observation that I grew up Christian and still celebrate Christmas and Easter and shit. In the same way someone is “culturally Jewish” if they celebrate the big Jewish holidays but don’t believe in god or go to temple.

      • TraschcanOfIdeology [they/them, comrade/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
        5·
        14 days ago

        But the thing is that you poke into “cultural Christianity” a little bit and it falls apart instantly, the same way that whiteness does.

        There’s very little tying some of the most Christian regions in the world together (like Poland, Italy, the Philippines, Latin America, the US, Russia, all very devout places in very different ways) except for some vague agreement on doctrine and dogma, and not even that.

        It’s always a shorthand for western, european imperialism, because sure as hell they’re not thinking about Egyptian coptic Christians when they’re identifying with “cultural Christianity”

          • TraschcanOfIdeology [they/them, comrade/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
            3·
            14 days ago

            And even if it was true, you have to be some kind of unique techno bro piece of shit to want to quantify the value of a people’s lives through technological discovery. Like, your culture is only worth something if it produces le science, not because it has a right to exist and thrive by virtue of existing. Might as well get rid of all art that’s not bazinga sci-fi marvel slop to make you go awooga

            The whole other thread about China had me thinking about this all day. How fucking slimy do you have to be to say “the Chinese people would be worth so much more if they invented more gadgets”

          • vegeta1 [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
            2·
            14 days ago

            I also notice how a lot of atheist online who are noticeably quiet about the famous atheists who do convert to Christianity like Russell brand or ayan hrsi especially when they cosign far right rhethoric . It definitely would be a hell of a lot louder if one of em converted to islam

          • Muad'Dibber@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
            2·
            14 days ago

            Hilariously Sam Harris writes books on meditation now, joined the McMindfulness camp. Its even impossible to criticism him on /r/buddhism without western-supremacists jumping down your throat.