Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
Atheist Penelope
nastek:
--- Quote from: CaseyKoons on 14 Dec 2008, 22:26 ---I have indeed meet atheists like Penelope.
There are atheisms of skepticism, even sincere doubt, that challenge the idea of god.
There are also atheisms of certainty, of faith in there not being a god.
I also agree that it fits what we seen from Penelope. She seems to have defined what she is/isn't likes/dislikes very carefully, and rails violently against that which stands against her norms. That certainly reminds of me of people I know. :wink:
--- End quote ---
Excuse me, but isn't god challengin the idea of atheism? If you say sth. exists, you have to prove it, not vice versa. Just a thought...
As atheist I don't usually go out of my way to tell people how I disagree with their believes but have met religious people that act like they are ofended by my opinion... Go figure.
Susano:
Granted, every person is different, but strip 1289 is basically the usual silly criticism against outspoken atheists in caricature form. And this does bug me a bit. Personally, I see no reason why us atheists shouldnt be outspoken. We have the weight of arguments on our side, dont we?
Susano:
But that is exactly the annoying fact which the strip gets wrong. Sure both sides think they are right - but normally Atehists dont go aroudn screaming "we are right" like christian extremists, do, but rather go "Its likely theres no god because <argument1>, <argument2>, <argument3>". Whereas the theological christian arguments are "Its in this series of book once started by an insignifcant tribe of goat herder some millenia ago" and the philosophcial arguments are all baffling stupid.
Its not about permission to believe silly things. Of course, everybody is free to do so. Its about regognicing them as silly, and not giving SOME silly beliefs a preferred treatment just because they have the word "religion" and some centuries of history to back their silly claims!
Usopp:
--- Quote ---Granted, every person is different, but strip 1289 is basically the usual silly criticism against outspoken atheists in caricature form. And this does bug me a bit. Personally, I see no reason why us atheists shouldnt be outspoken. We have the weight of arguments on our side, dont we?
--- End quote ---
To the best of my knowledge, noone really likes people who are really outspoken about their beliefs, right or wrong. Even Jesus was mostly the kind of passive, listen-if-you-want kind of preacher.
--- Quote ---Its about regognicing them as silly, and not giving SOME silly beliefs a preferred treatment just because they have the word "religion" and some centuries of history to back their silly claims!
--- End quote ---
It's also about respect for another's beliefs. Do you think that calling someone a buttfucking-stupid idiot is going to make them any more amenable to your claims? Remember what Jeph taught us about calling someone "irrational" now, and maybe you'll gain some insight.
Tyrus:
--- Quote from: Susano on 15 Dec 2008, 10:42 ---But that is exactly the annoying fact which the strip gets wrong. Sure both sides think they are right - but normally Atheists don't go around screaming "we are right" like christian extremists, do, but rather go "Its likely theres no god because <argument1>, <argument2>, <argument3>"
--- End quote ---
A lot of which boil down to "There's not enough evidence, God", as put by Bertrand Russell and paraphrased by Penelope. And some atheists get very worked up about the fact that some (indeed most) people hold some form of religious belief, like Richard Dawkins and Penelope. Penelope is just presenting various views with the intent to output some humour at the end of it all, not intended to represent what "atheists" are, either for or against.
I'd also pay attention to the word normally in your second sentence. Penelope may not be a "normal" atheist in your sense of the word.
I really wouldn't worry about it. I found it an interesting twist as Penelope has up to now been more or less displaying all the signs of being a stereotypical raised-as-and-continuing-to-be-Christian girl (at least until the erotic poetry event, in my view). The revelation about her lack of faith puts a neat spin on her character.
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