ificouldhietokolob Wrote:
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> koriwhore Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I dont identify myself in negative terms
> because
> > its negative. I prefer affirmative terms like
> > humanist, naturalist or pantheist, that don't
> > demean and alienate"others". Im anti tribalism.
>
>
> Hmm. Above, you wrote:
> "I am not an atheist.
> I am an anti fucking bullshitist"
> And just now, you wrote "Im anti tribalism."
>
> Those are "negative terms," aren't they?
I'm trying to make a point that identifying myself in negative terms is divisive and alienates people who are whatever I say I am opposed to.
I get that it's a polemic in a debate with Theists, but even Bill Nye says he's not an Atheist and he debates guys like Ken Hamm.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/22/bill-nye-on-belief-in-god_n_4645891.html>
> > I get that and if I had to pick a side I'd say
> > agnostic, like Einstein, Sagan and NdGT,
> because
> > like Sagan said, "An atheist would have to know
> > far more than me about the Cosmos."
>
> Agnostic and atheist aren't mutually exclusive,
> you know.
> And Sagan was referring to a particular batch of
> atheists who declare "there is no god." Which
> isn't the definition of the word, but it is what
> some atheists declare.
Like Bill Nye says, "Atheists are really agnostics, because we can't know whether or not there's a giant entity running things or choosing not to. We need to transcend tribes to realize we're all in this together. No I don't think the world would be better off without community or tribes."
>
> > What are you talking about?
> > He doesnt like alienating people from his far
> more
> > imporoant work of scientifically educating the
> > public by self applying a negative, meaningless
> > label.
>
> Yet you apply negative, "meaningless" labels to
> yourself...(see above)?
Like I said, I, like NdGT, Einstein, Sagan and Nye, prefer affirmative identities that don't alienate others, like humanist or naturalist. I don't really identify myself as an "anti fucking bullshitist" I was just trying to illustrate that it's offensive to go around telling people you identify yourself in terms that are completely opposed to their identity. That's not transcending tribalism, it's reinforcing it.
>
> What I was talking about was the quote you gave
> from him:
> "If atheists have a problem with me wishing
> astronauts, 'God's speed' then I am not an
> atheist."
>
> As I pointed out earlier, not all atheists have a
> problem with that. I suspect most don't. But he
> generalized that to be all atheists. He should
> know better.
>
> > Insisting he is an atheist is like insisting
> > Caitlyn Jenner identify as a man because she
> has
> > xy chromosomes.
>
> No, it's not. I suspect you really can see the
> difference, at least I hope so. If not, then work
> on that.
Maybe you can work on articulating the difference.
I fail to see it.
He doesn't identify the way atheists want him to identify, because he doesn't like the way atheists behave, for example, insisting he's an atheist, when he insists he's not.
He also prefers to avoid discussions about race, for the same reasons. He doesn't want to alienate people he's trying to educate, by focusing on identity politics, which he thinks are poisonous and detract from his more important mission.