Slashdot Mirror
Ireland's Blasphemy Law Goes Into Effect
stereoroid writes "As of January 1, it is a crime in Ireland to commit Blasphemy. The law was changed in July 2009 to fill a gap in the Irish Constitution, which states that it is a crime but does not define what it is, an omission highlighted in a Supreme Court decision in 1999. To mark the occasion, Atheist Ireland published a list of 25 blasphemous quotations on the blasphemy.ie website, from such controversial figures as Bjork, Frank Zappa, Richard Dawkins, Randy Newman, and Pope Benedict XVI. (The last-mentioned was quoting a 14th Century Byzantine Emperor, but that's no excuse.)"
Atheism is a religion. Atheism has everything in common with other religions. Set beliefs, morality, purpose in life, etc. Agnosticism is not a religion because it has no definite beliefs, morality or purpose. Atheism does.
Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
atheism is more than simply lack of belief in a deity. consider some definitions:
atheism - assertion that no deity exists ( http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism )
agnostic - the existence of a deity is unknown and unknowable ( http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agnosticism )
skeptic - i doubt there is a deity ( http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skepticism - see #3)
therefore, atheism != agnosticism && atheism != skepticism.
atheism is simply the assertion of a universal negative. such an assertion is both unproven and unprovable. therefore, atheism is a religion ( http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion - see #2 and #4). atheism is a religion of blind faith. the sooner mankind learns to accept it, the better off we'll all be.
While I am a Christian and do not accept atheism, agnosticism, or skepticism... I at least have more respect for an agnostic or skeptic. why? they are wise enough not to assert a universal negative, which is logically indefensible. I would still argue that an agnostic's claim can be disproved and that a skeptic's beliefs are unwise, but I can at least respect the wisdom not to make the leap to atheism.
And yes, I realize quite a large number of slashdotters do not believe in God, but before you post "yeah, but prove God exists," or "and do you belief in the tooth fairy, big foot, flying spaghetti monster, etc." please consider my argument. I did not say my post PROVES God exists, only that atheism CANNOT disprove it and is foolish to assert there is no deity. the positive argument/assertion for the existence of God is another post/discussion entirely. this post is merely to point out the fallacy of atheism as a doctrine.