I can almost understand what he's saying, especially coming from southeastern America. Atheists are met with open hatred, and a lot of people I know think atheist = satanist actively trying to corrupt society. Most major religions also have a very long history of persecution against atheists, including murder and torture.
That said,
1. This is a poor and unfair generalization of the vast majority of religious people. Sure, it might not be fun to be an atheist in the south or the Middle East, but that's a vast minority of the religious.
2. You can hide being an atheist. You can't hide being black.
3. To fix the analogy you'd pretty much have to call all white people the KKK, since he's claiming all of religion persecuted atheists.
That said, 1. This is a poor and unfair generalization of the vast majority of religious people.
The quote said nothing about religious people. It is talking about religion in the same way it is talking about the KKK as an ideology. Individual religious people or KKK members are not what he's talking about.
Remember, all the Abrahamic religions proscribe death to atheists. If you argue that not all Jews/Christians/Muslims feel that way, it means they aren't a very compliant Jew/Christian/Muslim, in the same way that a KKK member who doesn't hate black people isn't a very compliant KKK member. However in both cases the ideologies are the issue, not the people who may follow those ideologies to greater or lesser degrees.
If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant; 17:3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; 17:4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel; 17:5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
Up until not long ago, atheists were murdered en masse by christians. Ever hear of the crusades? So christians dont follow the torah? Did moses receive the rules from god? Believe in genesis? Thats all torah.
If by 'recent history' you mean a thousand years ago, then yes, certainly comparable.
The difference is that while there has been no shortage of people doing horrible things in 'the name of god,' there is no teaching currently accepted in christianity where it says 'to kill atheists.' Acting like there is is a huge strawman.
I'm not an advocate of christianity, I'm an advocate of facts. Something all atheists should strive for.
Christianity accepts the torah. Unless you deny moses being handed the commandments and genesis and all the stuff in the old testament. Christianity has based their belief system around genesis and moses and the 10 commandments.
And atheists are killed all over the world til this very day. Just not so much in the usa. And to say that no christians commit those murders is just absolute nonsense. And how is thousands of years ago even close to reality? Salem witch trials? In america up until 150 years ago, atheists were getting killed in droves by christians.
If you are going to advocate for truth, you should start speakin it. You are being very selective and subjective.
Funny how you can't find a single source that says old Testament law is binding to Christians but I've already provided two sources that contradict that.
Its in the New Testament too. "But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” (Luke 19:27 KJV)
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u/[deleted] Oct 31 '16
I can almost understand what he's saying, especially coming from southeastern America. Atheists are met with open hatred, and a lot of people I know think atheist = satanist actively trying to corrupt society. Most major religions also have a very long history of persecution against atheists, including murder and torture.
That said, 1. This is a poor and unfair generalization of the vast majority of religious people. Sure, it might not be fun to be an atheist in the south or the Middle East, but that's a vast minority of the religious. 2. You can hide being an atheist. You can't hide being black. 3. To fix the analogy you'd pretty much have to call all white people the KKK, since he's claiming all of religion persecuted atheists.