[MD] Atheistic Philosophy vs Anti-theistic

[John Carl]

Hey Arlo,

You've been here a while, have you figured out the difference yet between
 atheists and anti-theists?

I'll tell you.  People always say "semantic difference" as if such things
minimize meaningful difference in wordage, but not to writers,  words are
more important than that to writes.  Especially writers of Philosophy.


Atheists are convinced that God does not exist, Anthi-theists are just
pissed off at Him.

Both atheist and fundamentalist cheese ME off - I get irked with certainty.
 Maybe its because I'm jealous, I wish I had that much certainty about
something, I could get something accomplished for a change.    Maybe its
because I'm concerned, a perfectly enlightened being such as myself feeling
great compassionate and righteous indignation over children arguing over
their labels.. Tsk tsk.

I dunno.  I just do.

I know that there is something in me and in humanity that genuinely wants,
needs to worship.  To fall before something bigger than self, in order to
avoid the great immorality underlying all moral systems - taking the self as
ultimate value - Atheists don't seem to have any understanding of this or
compassion for those who do... they get all prickly about it and lots of
their argument correlate with a kind of control freakishness that has to
have all the answers, cut and dried and defined empirically - with a
moralistic tone, as if empirically defined facts were the highest value, the
greatest moral goal, the object of worship.

But then, that's exactly what atheists point out about fundamentalists, and
it's exactly right!  They too are of a certain stripe that wants all
definitions of god-in-the-pocket which they can whip out and inflict upon
you whether you asked for it or not.  That kind of certainty is especially
annoying, the kind that tries to inflict itself.

But there ain't none of those around here.  Believe me.  I can smell 'em a
mile away.

Besides, the whole name "fundamentalist" is a complete misnomer.
 Fundamentalism is another word for what metaphysicians do. Looking into the
fundamental basis of self and reality.  (not that those are two separate
things, but you know, I can't DO metaphysics while I'm talking ABOUT
metaphysics or the conversation gets convoluted.)  What goes by the name
fundamentalists these days is more like a reactionary uprising of populist
strength, programmed to follow orders, devoted to their guns and following
their leaders who think that the God of Wrath wants them to descend upon the
atheistic academics who got us into this mess in the first place.

And honestly, I can see why you'd get all prickly when thinking about them.
 They give me the shivers too.

What are ya gonna do?  It's like Bobby Dylan always said, "ya gotta serve
something"

I believe I'll  salute Ed Abbey's ragged flag of reason, posted to Platt
earlier.