Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Are all atheists stupid?

A few years ago, Richard Dawkins said that Jews “more or less monopolize American foreign policy.” (Should I create a "DA JOOOOOZ" tag, for conspiracy theory nutcase posts?) Dawkins' burble was noted and commented on at FreeRepublic, at which point I commented:
Gosh! An atheist is a moron!
Who could ever have figured THAT?!
Now, some four years later, I get this private message in FR email, which I quote with some censoring:
"Are you implying that Atheists [sic] are stupid? I mean, who’s dumber, someone that believes in a magician that was reincarnated 2000 years ago, (and left NO proof of his existence) lives in the sky and judges everyone when they die, or people that believe in the EVIDENCE that supports evolution. [sic] You need to pull your head out of your preachers [sic] [hiney] and look around. The answers are all around you. Not in the f****ing b******t BIBLE.
Dumb[dude]."
To this learned discourse, I replied:
So, I'm trying to understand. You think I should look at this --

[I quote his message in full]

-- and that I would be driven by that to think, "My, atheists are thoughtful, deep-thinking, well-read, reflective, honest, open, intelligent, articulate individuals"?

If that is your thought, and if that thought is representative of all atheist thought, then yes, atheists are stupid.

Dan

(Do not miss each "if.")

No reply, at present.

27 comments:

JackW said...

Just curious ... at what point does this turn into casting pearls?

Robert said...

That is hilarious. It is like when I hear somebody from the GLBT community talk about protections against hate speech and then see what they say on blogs and how they act towards true Christians when they have their rallies. It is hard to get people to take an honest look in the mirror and do a thorough self-examination. That's why I have to keep on reading the Bible every day...so I can see how far short I fall of Jesus.

Kay said...

Nothing like holding up a mirror calmly and waiting for the incensed fallout. What are the odds of the crazy Atheist writer suddenly having an epiphany, do we think? One can only hope...

DJP said...

Sometimes it needs to be Proverbs 26:4, and sometimes it needs to be Proverbs 26:5.

mikeb said...

"the fool says in his heart there is no God" pretty much answers the question in your headline.

lee n. field said...

If militant atheists were as smart and rational as they think themselves to be, they'd just shut up and enjoy their competitive advantage. Jut let us poor believers go our way, they'll win in the end. "Evolution in action."

But they're not, so we get people getting all bent out of shape in a private message about an offhand 4 year old forum post.

JG said...

....in other words, "Thanks for proving my point."

Although part of me does take pity on people like that who are obviously oblivious to how they are presenting themselves, and what's more, wouldn't care. But that's the softy in me.

Bike Bubba said...

What Mikeb says. Make sure you send him a note for Atheism Day next April 1. :^)

Anonymous said...

Why are atheists so angry?

DJP said...

Some minds deeper than mine say they're angry at God for not existing. I think it's the opposite. Some whistle past the graveyard; others stand and scream at it.

Marla said...

Lee has is right. I've often thought that if atheists are right, why don't they just enjoy their (supposed) superiority and leave everyone else alone.
I think it is evident that they certainly *know* God exists,hate Him and are driven to derangement by anyone who acknowledges and *loves* God. (Rom 1:19-20)

RT said...

Vis a vis Romans 1:19ff, the atheist knows full well that there is a God and either rails against that knowledge or tries to bury it under the cares and accomplishments of this world's distractions. Both responses warp the atheist into something pitiable, but at least the latter sometimes produces an interesting dinner companion. I have a good friend who has, almost literally, been everywhere and done everything (except, of course, going to hell which I every so often remind him is in his future) and he is a joy to talk to. Ranters like Dawkins and your erstwhile correspondent, on the other hand, are just tedious, repetitive and insufferable.

Merrilee Stevenson said...

I'm sure there are a number of former atheists who are very grateful that someone cast them a pearl of great price.

And I think atheists do believe in a god which exists in their own minds: their intellect. They worship intellect. Their own intellect, that is. And perhaps they tolerate the intellect of others who think like them, but even then they are a pretty conceited bunch. They may even tolerate an intellectual who professes to be a Christian, as long as that person doesn't believe in a six-day creation and/or proselytize.

Herding Grasshoppers said...

Shaking my head at the irony.

I'd want to just write, "Yes, thanks for illustrating my point."

DJP said...

I'm stealing from myself an idea around which I'll probably fashion a post ere long, but this little missive also showcases the modern atheist's favorite substitute for rational thought: reductionistic mockery.

So, were I to respond in kind, I could have said for instance, "Am I supposed to take seriously bits and bytes generated by the flapping appendages of some bulging mass of animated meat?"

JSA said...

"Am I supposed to take seriously bits and bytes generated by the flapping appendages of some bulging mass of animated meat?"

LOL!

Pierre Saikaley said...

Atheists are angry for the same reason convicts are angry at police and judges.

And they'll push down the knowledge of God they have,(a witness against them) to the point of stupidity, no matter how much intellect that same God has measured unto them.

Rhology said...

The "bulging" part of the "bulging mass" comment, while funny, is sort of harsh. ;-)

Rhology said...

Atheists are angry for the same reason convicts are angry at police and judges.

And as Doug Wilson quotes someone else (Chesterton?) saying: Atheists can't find God for the same reason that criminals can't find a policeman.

Scot said...

Dan introduced me to one of my favorite arguments (which I believe he got from Doug Wilson).

"There is no God, and I hate him."

At the FRer was being real and honest. He was just expressing what was on his heart.


These New Atheists are rather laughable. What I'm concerned about is how they actually managed to get a foothold in American culture.

Pierre Saikaley said...

@Scotter:

"These New Atheists are rather laughable. What I'm concerned about is how they actually managed to get a foothold in American culture."

It didn't take much. North Americans(I say it that way cuz I'm Canuck) consume almost anything "new" under the sun.

Scot said...

Hmmm, there should be a <\heavy sarcasm> tag after my post.

@Pierre, that wouldn't surprise me. Like the Athenian crowd, all we (North Americans) seem to care about is the latest and greatest.

I should have been clearer: how are so many young people being duped out of their Christianity by the loud shouting of Dan's example, etc?

I'll probably post more on my blog, I don't want to derail this post too much.

threegirldad said...

And as Doug Wilson quotes someone else (Chesterton?) saying: Atheists can't find God for the same reason that criminals can't find a policeman.

Widely attributed to Chesterton, yes, but with variations in the wording, and never sourced {sigh}. Until someone proves otherwise, I say that it's apocryphal.

Thomas Louw said...

"Are all atheists stupid?"

This is a trick question?

Always Reforming said...

Sometimes they make it too easy.

Always Reforming said...

Stupid athiests...oxymoron?

Always Reforming said...

Now I feel dumb...I meant smart athiests. Stupid athiests is a bit redundant. The joke isn't well defined anyway. Take it however you like it.