Dylan Galos isn't saying anything against religion. He's simply saying that he's an atheist and a moral person. The only thing that can really be offensive about this is that he's an atheist. That's it. The fact that atheists exist offends people.
In the U.S. I suspect it has a lot to do with the Cold War and the "Red Menace". The Communists were officially atheist and they actively suppressed religious freedoms. I guess that people came to conflate atheism and Communism. It probably all falls back to a more general human behavior regarding people with different ideas. You can see the same thing happening now with Islam: "The people we feel threatened by are Muslim, therefor Muslims are our enemies."
On the other hand, some people seem to simply be threatened by people who disagree with them. The Evangelicals I grew up around were just as offended by Buddhists and Hindus as by atheists. I've even come across people who actually took offense because I didn't care for a particular band or style of music. I made it clear that I was not claiming that there was something inherently inferior about said music and that I didn't think anyone was wrong to like it, but I was still treated as though I'd made a personal attack.
I believe the people offended by atheism are people whose faith is the "blind" variety. They make no effort to think about their belief, and may secretly harbor doubts about their faith and worry that they may be wrong. Their failure to analyze their beliefs gives them no rational basis for their faith. Their sense of who they are is based on their faith, and the thought of it being unfounded is as disconcerting to them as if they were finding out they aren't actually human but the result of a lab experiment in genetic manipulation in cats.
Those believers who have examined their faith, who have doubts about aspects of conventional religion and who recognize that there are valid arguments against their belief, tend to be unafraid of and un-offended by atheism and atheists. I believe this is because they have a handle on the foundation of their faith, have examined and understand most or all of the big questions and have reached a conclusion that seems right to them. Many atheists went through a similar rational process and reached a different conclusion.
Dylan Galos isn't saying anything against religion. He's simply saying that he's an atheist and a moral person. The only thing that can really be offensive about this is that he's an atheist. That's it. The fact that atheists exist offends people.
Comments (69)
it is offensive to be an atheist or just about anything. just ask the right-wing fundamentalist christian who murdered nearly 100 people yesterday in Norway. he'll tell ya.
It does not matter what you are, someone is just gonna hate you for it.
Awesome post.
I can see your theories and they sound plausible, I can definitely see that. But like ^ said, being anything is going to offend someone.
Love the cartoons!
I agree completely. Wish I could rec this a billion times.
Christanity isn't supposed to be hateful at all, I blame the individual people and groups that make it out to be this way. I'm ashamed of how people sometimes act. I think if it works for you, then that's good and there's no harm in that. Nor do I believe that being atheist makes you immoral in any way. I was an atheist for the longest time and I was/am still a very moral person.
I believe the people offended by atheism are people whose faith is the "blind" variety. They make no effort to think about their belief, and may secretly harbor doubts about their faith and worry that they may be wrong. Their failure to analyze their beliefs gives them no rational basis for their faith. Their sense of who they are is based on their faith, and the thought of it being unfounded is as disconcerting to them as if they were finding out they aren't actually human but the result of a lab experiment in genetic manipulation in cats.
So very true Krisko. Most of these people are blind to everything except to what they think is right, and how much better they are to everyone else in terms of character and belief systems. If you never question and doubt, how can you even experience life or all that it has to offer? How can you be open minded if you don't do any of those things?
i really enjoy your posts. you have a very strong argument.
People are holding onto religion by their last string, as they fuck the pastor's wife. "O nooo... A sign... My four mistresses can't see this".
I agree. What happens is that people have a wrong understanding of what atheism actually is which thankfully to you I've come to understand dearly. Hate is never an answer and people really need to learn to let go of the differences and use what they've been taught for the better good of humanity. Not everybody is out to get you. Religious sectors need to stop spreading hate and do as they're supposedly taught spread the love!!!
Bottom line: there's always someone who has to complain about something...
In Little Rock, a bus turned down an ad from Atheists and Agnostics earlier this summer. They're filing for a lawsuit now. Here is the link. But the fact of the matter is why are we as atheists so threatening to them? And why would someone turn down money? I mean, if I were an advertising agency or bus company or whatever, I'd be happy to get as many ads as I could so I could be making all the $$$$$$$$$.
I admit that I don't know anything about the Freedom from Religion Foundation or their agenda, but I don't like them much for their name alone. It encourages an "us versus them" mentality. There's nothing offensive about being a proud atheist. I obviously don't encourage it, but you're free to do what you want; it's no skin off my back. Promoting the idea of "freedom from religion", however, is rather offensive. I'm not offended as a Christian because, frankly, I'll have faith regardless, and no one can make me compromise. I'm offended as an American because it goes against freedom of religion.
@grammarboy - For some of us, myself included, becoming atheist truly was gaining freedom FROM religion. Religion was killing me (quite literally), and I needed that freedom. Likewise, the FFRF encourages the freedom of religion by letting people be free of religion, in their personal lives and in government.
If I were the pastor of such a church, I would be happy to let an atheist group put that billboard up on my property. It would lead to some very interesting discussions. I would just preach a sermon series (advertised on the church sign, of course) called "Can an atheist really be good without God?" I would host a Christian-atheist debate on the subject, maybe a "Get-to-know-an-atheist event" of some sort that wasn't about debate, but just the members of the church and the members of the atheist group hanging out together. I think that church dropped the ball.
I wouldn't mind it. But Jesus, do you really read 20 books a week?
But anyways. Yeah. I've noticed that people, Christian and other religions, tend to go. WHAT? They DON'T believe in a higher power? And steer clear away.
It's wrong.
As a Christian or not.
I agree. People who are insecure about their beliefs often lash out at or fear others with different beliefs. For example, I see lifelong Christians who are absolutely venomous towards atheists and skeptics, and these Christians tend to be the ones who were raised in the faith and who know nothing else. By contrast, apologists and vocal Christians tend to be less fearful of atheists and more confident in their views.
It's offensive for anyone to have any belief structure.. to someone. Why should atheists be exempt from this?
I'm looking for a question mark at the end of that list sign.
People are going to dislike you regardless of what you believe... Whether you are part of a religion or not. I have people that hate me simply because I'm a Christian and they don't know anything else about me. Meh. Seems to be the way of ignorant people...hate what you don't know, understand, or disagree with.
funny u posted this...I just was saying the other day how I don't know if I believe in God or not. Just saying that is usually so shocking to people, including my family, which is y it's something I usually keep to myself lol. They say I'm an Athiest but I am not, I believe in something spiritual, but not necessarily a God.
Don't hate me because I'm Christian
Oh there are some people who will get downright violent about music or movies. It's scary.
I wonder if the people who are offended or threatened by the idea of atheism or even another belief system are the ones who know, deep inside (or at least strongly suspect) that their belief systems are wrong and are certain that a long conversation with someone who thinks otherwise would cause them to renounce their current faith in the name of this new one. Seems like back in the day, new religions were cropping up regularly and people were often converting from one to the other, or often from one branch of Christianity to the other. But something, be it social pressure or just an unwillingness to change, makes it unthinkable for them to consider such a thing.
I wonder if people would be more or less offended if someone had posted a billboard with a Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist declaring their beliefs to the world. Because I see Christian billboards all over (some of which are frankly quite disturbing to me) and there's no controversy over that. If they can exist, why not an atheist billboard?
I seriously hate to say it but I am going to start beating Christians. There past manipulation and there present self righteous arrogance is growing on me like a tumor.
@DominatingThinspo - hahaaahahaahhaha