It is one thing to having convinced yourself to belief or not believe in God. It is quite another to be on a mission to convince others that their opinions are wrong. I have nothing against atheists, or agnostics, or theists. To each their own, but it is brilliantly clear that some people have an ax to grind against the personal religious or not religion of others. No need to belittle is there? Or is there a need to belittle in order to make oneself feel superior, and or a constant need to reinforce a belief that is not actually actualized in a manner that has brought inner contentment.
Stephen Roberts: I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours One of the most irrational of all the conventions of modern society is the one to the effect that religious opinions should be respected....That they should have this immunity is an outrage. There is nothing in religious ideas, as a class, to lift them above other ideas. On the contrary, they are always dubious and often quite silly. H. L. Mencken
No, if I believe in one god I am not an atheist. My reason for not believing in many gods is that I feel there is only one. So, you feel there are none? [edit] nevermind. He feels they are silly. Fair enough.
Don't you have ANY thoughts of your own? roberts argument is just plain stupid because I don't dismiss all other possible gods in the first place. Menchen is asserting a straw argument claiming religious opinions must be lifted above all other ideas.
The way to deal with superstition is not to be polite to it, but to tackle it with all arms, and so rout it, cripple it, and make it forever infamous and ridiculous. Henry Louis Mencken