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John W. Ratcliff Male Lake Saint Louis, MO United States: Like

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Being an atheist only defines what you don't believe..

Started this discussion. Last reply by John W. Ratcliff Mar 20, 2012. 20 Replies 1 Like

So, being an atheist defines fairly well what you don't believe. I get that. But, what do you call what you *do* believe?Another question. Why do atheists care what people believe in the privacy…Continue

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Brent Feeney left a comment for John W. Ratcliff

"A very belated welcome aboard! =) Hope this finds you well - great to see another St. Louis rep here!! I live in South City myself."

Apr 17, 2012

thewoodenwand commented on John W. Ratcliff's blog post Why do atheists care what theists believe?

"Get out there, all of us need to talk to people, be real social not just facebook and blog. Unfortunately if religious people would leason to reason (and accept logic) there would be no religious people. Weak minded, uneducated and people who want…"

Mar 24, 2012

Novacovici Daniel commented on John W. Ratcliff's blog post Why do atheists care what theists believe?

"Sure we have the right to be stupid and believe whatever nonsense we want to believe. But when this believes can have a major impact on other people's lives, don't you want that those believes are true believes? When an arab sheik asks the…"

Mar 23, 2012

thewoodenwand commented on John W. Ratcliff's blog post Why do atheists care what theists believe?

"Almost gets you made enough to go to church, well I do I go to a Unitarian Church to try and explain to the supposed neutral leader there is no need for a God if you have morals. But very week he spouts off about haw there is a God."

Mar 23, 2012

thewoodenwand liked John W. Ratcliff's blog post Why do atheists care what theists believe?

Mar 23, 2012

Richard ∑wald commented on John W. Ratcliff's blog post Why do atheists care what theists believe?

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Mar 23, 2012

thewoodenwand commented on John W. Ratcliff's blog post Why do atheists care what theists believe?

"In certain groups not caring about fellow members is fine. In the real world if the guy next door gets a delivery of large torture devices and children's toys and a walk-in safe UPS, you wonder. When children are seen seen entering and never…"

Mar 21, 2012

Bob James commented on John W. Ratcliff's blog post Why do atheists care what theists believe?

"Being in a group, such as it is even a 'group', that is dismissed as immoral because I don't believe in an unprovable entity... and the associated dogma surrounding that entity; and being placed in a particularly low category of trust…"

Mar 20, 2012

Loren Miller commented on John W. Ratcliff's blog post Why do atheists care what theists believe?

"I don't want to believe; I want to KNOW. [emphasis mine]-- Carl SaganI've had all sorts of experiences, some ordinary, some very much not. The internal ones I tend to keep to myself because I can no more relate to another person precisely…"

Mar 20, 2012

John W. Ratcliff commented on John W. Ratcliff's blog post Why do atheists care what theists believe?

"@Loren, I think you are missing my point. I'm not suggesting that *you* accept as evidence or believe something based on the experience of someone else. What I'm asking you to do is admit that to the person who had the…"

Mar 20, 2012

Loren Miller commented on John W. Ratcliff's blog post Why do atheists care what theists believe?

"The eyewitness can be in love with his own testimony all he wants ... but if he wants me to buy into it, he can provide something more to back it up. I mean, I'd look pretty foolish if I simply told the customer, "Hey, your system's…"

Mar 20, 2012

John W. Ratcliff commented on John W. Ratcliff's blog post Why do atheists care what theists believe?

"@Loren I agree that eyewitness testimony is indeed very weak. It is weak to you. It is weak to me. You know who it's not weak to? The eyewitness."

Mar 20, 2012

John W. Ratcliff replied to John W. Ratcliff's discussion Being an atheist only defines what you don't believe..

"@Sandi People always say that right up until the first time they see a ghost. Fortunately for you, and for me as well, we have never had to suffer that indignity. I do have sympathy for my fellow man who has the misfortune of having…"

Mar 20, 2012

John W. Ratcliff replied to John W. Ratcliff's discussion Being an atheist only defines what you don't believe..

"@Sandi, I get that you don't get anything out of attending a religious service. It's not like I rush out to Mass every Sunday or anything. But, I do enjoy auditing religions. And, I do actively attend New Age events such…"

Mar 20, 2012

Loren Miller commented on John W. Ratcliff's blog post Why do atheists care what theists believe?

"John, you and I know that eyewitness evidence is WEAK. I've learned that lesson the hard way from too many customers who THOUGHT they knew what was wrong with their systems when they couldn't buy a clue at K-Mart. Add to that,…"

Mar 20, 2012

John W. Ratcliff commented on John W. Ratcliff's blog post Why do atheists care what theists believe?

"Personal experience is evidence. In many respects it is the highest form of evidence. Each of us, individually, forms our personal beliefs about reality almost entirely based on our own personal experiences. The vast bulk of data…"

Mar 20, 2012

John W. Ratcliff's Blog

Why do atheists care what theists believe?

Posted on March 19, 2012 at 3:04pm 16 Comments 1 Like

Every time certain atheist spokesmen get themselves reved up for a rant they almost immediately begin by making fun of how stupid is to believe in religious ideas.

Is this a productive approach? Doesn't this amount to shooting fish in a barrel? How does it help the 'cause' of freedom *from* religion?

Don't we still have freedom *of* religion in this country? Don't people have a legal right to be stupid or believe in stupid things? How does it hurt or affect…

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At 10:51am on April 17, 2012, Brent Feeney said…: A very belated welcome aboard! =) Hope this finds you well - great to see another St. Louis rep here!! I live in South City myself.

At 10:55pm on March 19, 2012, Ruth Anthony-Gardner said…: I agree with you that communications skills are important. I recently posted a discussion along those lines, well more psychological, but got little traction.

At 6:04pm on March 19, 2012, Steph S. said…: Enjoyed your blog. Thanks!

At 5:56pm on March 19, 2012, Steph S. said…: Greetings! Welcome to the site!
Thanks for joining my group! Welcome to Geek & Nerd Haven.

At 4:04pm on March 19, 2012, Ruth Anthony-Gardner said…: Welcome, John! Glad you could join us. :D It's great the way you jumped right in!

Please consider joining a group to meet people and talk about anything that's on your mind, Hang With Friends. You might also want to look at Geek and Nerd Haven and Pantheism-Naturalistic Spirituality. After you've searched for stuff that interests you in "Groups" above and in the "Forums", don't forget to look at recent activity which hides along the right margin of the page all the way at the bottom.

At 3:44pm on March 19, 2012, Dr. Terence Meaden said…: Hello John

Welcome to this world of rationality, truth and peace, where common sense helped by science leads to freethinking wisdom as you know.

We invite you to make good friends by joining the busy group "ORIGINS: Universe, Astronomy, Life, Earth, Humans, Religion, Gods, Atheism, Evolution, Darwin..." with 666 discussion topics and 3333 members.

http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/originsuniverselifehumankindanddarwin
Terry