Why do so many people think this quote is deep or witty?

[Rio Rebel]

"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."

I've heard some compelling arguments for atheism, but this isn't one of them. It makes as much sense for a single man to say to a married man,

"I contend that we are both bachelors. I just married one less wife than you did."

That "one" makes all the difference. I am no more a bachelor for not loving all the other women in the world, than a person is an atheist for believing in one God and none of the others.

If you put 100 different fruits in front of me, I can still pick out the pineapple. Just because I don't believe the other 99 fruits are pineapples doesn't make the one pineapple any less a pineapple.

 

[Spendthrift]

ill back you. its not the most intelligent quote ive read.
but people are often stupid and often like stupid quotes or ideas.

go figure!

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Sounds like something Maya Angelu would say on Oprah. I think she could say "My ass is itchy" and everyone would think it was so deep and meaningful.

 

[vi edit]

I've only seen the first part of it used: "I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do.".

And I have only really seen it used in reaction to a Christian who refuses to accept that there are other religions (Hindu, Islam, Taoism, ect).

I have never really considered to be remarkably intelligent, and it's only meaningful if the person who it was directed at is intelligent and receptive enough to "get it".

 

[SWScorch]

it makes sense. Any religious person dismisses all other gods except theirs. EWG- Christians dismiss Allah, Jehovah, whatever; Muslims dismiss he Christian God. Atheists dismiss all of them.

 

[Lithium381]

<< Sounds like something Maya Angelu would say on Oprah. I think she could say "My ass is itchy" and everyone would think it was so deep and meaningful. >>



HAHAHAHA ^



Maybe somehow it's a parable of some type? Has an alternate meaning, some people may read too far into it..*shrug*

 

[Azraele]

<< Maybe somehow it's a parable of some type? Has an alternate meaning >>


I think that the quote is trying to do several things. First, it says respect my beliefs, and I will respect yours. Second, it's attempting to give a common ground to atheists and non-atheists alike. However, there is one tiny flaw in the quote's thinking. It implies that Christianity does not believe in any gods other than their God. In that respect, a Christian is an atheist when it comes to say, Buddhism. If I remember correctly, though, Christianity does not state that there are no other gods, just that a Christian will not take any gods before God.

 

[Rio Rebel]

At best, it makes a point - that another perspective would dimiss "your God" just as you might dismiss "their God", hence the person quoting it is dimissing all "Gods".

But it really doesn't get you anywhere. Logically, it's ridiculous - no matter how many things are "not A", it has no bearing on whether THIS thing is "A". A billion examples of things that are Not A bears not the least bit on whether this specific thing is A.

And even putting aside logic, and looking at the point sympathetically, it still doesn't really say much. It would be far more sensible to say "I consider the idea of God to be superstition and I don't believe God exists, for the same reason you don't believe in Odin, or Zeus, or Vishnu."

I still hold that this quote is a failed attempt at witticism.

 

[Red Dawn]

<< I still hold that this quote is a failed attempt at witticism. >>

OK

 

[Azraele]

<< "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." >>




<< I consider the idea of God to be superstition and I don't believe God exists, for the same reason you don't believe in Odin, or Zeus, or Vishnu." >>



I dunno. I think the top one says more in its subtlety than the one where you just blurt out the obvious. No offense. As for the pineapple thing. You seem to think that the quote implies that one should believe all gods are pineapples?

<Edit> Woah, Red, that icon's a new look for you.

 

[Rio Rebel]

No offense taken.

I just think there's a difference between subtely and nonsense.

Just as the theist doesn't "get it" about why the atheist doesn't believe in any God, the author of the quote doesn't "get it" why belief in that One exception makes all the difference.

There are plenty of subtle points arguing against theism that I do appreciate. Red's signature got me thinking of the Roger Waters lyrics:

"God wants Crusade, God wants jihad, God wants good, God wants bad..."

Maybe it's just what hits us the right way. In fact, maybe we're both right - after all, I just believe in one less witty remark than you do.

(I may not be good at subtlety, but will sarcasm suffice? )

 

[Rio Rebel]

<< As for the pineapple thing. You seem to think that the quote implies that one should believe all gods are pineapples? >>



Why do I even try......LOL.

 

[Azraele]

<< (I may not be good at subtlety, but will sarcasm suffice? ) >>



Hehe, sure, why not?

As for the quote, I think many see its merit in that it gives a new idea to that of Christianity, one (I think) previously unthought of, that Chriatians, in the light in which the quote presents it, can be considered as a sort of atheist themselves.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Not to be argumentative (okay, to be just a *little* argumentative):

The very definition of a theist is one who believes in God. To try to equate theism with atheism is nonsense.

I have a job in IT. Just because there are hundreds of jobs out there I *don't* do, does this make me unemployed?
I am wearing a shirt and pants. Just because there are millions of shirts and pants (and other clothes) out there that I'm not wearing, does that make me naked?

I am a big believer in truth through metaphor, and sometimes even truth through paradox. But this one just doesn't have any value, IMO.

 

[Nefrodite]

I consider the idea of God to be superstition and I don't believe God exists, for the same reason you don't believe in Odin, or Zeus, or Vishnu."



the original just seems more elegant

 

[silverpig]

I am reminded of a quote by the great Homer J. Simpson.

"But what if we picked the wrong religion, and every day we're going to church we're just making the real god madder and madder?"

 

[Geekbabe]

I like it,it's simple and makes sense to me,unlike a lot of the stuff christians put out in defense of their beliefs.



For the record, I was raised catholic in an Irish neighborhood , belief in god was as unquestioned as the fact that the sun would rise every day.As I got older and began to hear all about how I was going to be dammed to hell for being a real, flesh and blood human who did human things it really turned me off and the Catholic church and I parted company.
I haven't been able to resolve what I believe since then, sometimes it's clear to me that there's a God when I see a thing of beauty or see one person doing something wonderful for another... most times though it's not so clear,when I see and hear the horrible things that happen in our world daily.


One thing I do know, is that other people have the right to believe whatever they'd like,including believing nothing at all.
And if they are nice enough to not get too rude in trying to shove it down my throat,I'll return the favor and keep my should have been gone away a long time ago ,existential anguish to myself most of the time

 

[Rio Rebel]

Nonsense is not elegant.

Then again, this is the same society that buys Michael Jackson albums and watches professional wrestling, so obviously I'm missing something.

 

[Azraele]

You've caught me in a philosophical mood, so I'll argue the other side (it wouldn't be much of a debate without two opposing sides, now would it? ).



<< The very definition of a theist is one who believes in God. To try to equate theism with atheism is nonsense. >>


Think narrower, within the definitions of the quote. A Christian does not believe in Buddha. In that respect, this person is atheist. For example, our friend the Christian happens to live if a neighborhhod of Buddhists. To those Buddhists, their neighbor can potentially be considered atheist (the quote leaves out the fact that the Christian believes in a God for the sake of relevance to the argument, it's all about relative). Relative to the argument, that our friend does not believe in Buddha, he is atheist. Just as to the Buddhists the Christian is atheist, we now introduce the atheist. The speaker of this quote is trying to make Christians look atheist relative to the argument.

I think I make sense. (if I don't, pay me no heed, I'm tired and going to bed in a few )The emphasis is on the point of being relative, albeit a weak one.

 

[Rio Rebel]

<< I like it,it's simple and makes sense to me,unlike a lot of the stuff christians put out in defense of their beliefs. >>



Actually, I find it exactly as ridiculous as a lot of the stuff christians put out in defense of their beliefs.

It reminds me of the sermon I heard once where the preacher explained that Satan can't be omnipresent, because God is already omnipresent, and we all know that two things can't exist in the same place at the same time...

I still laugh when I think of that one.

 

[Maetryx]

Rio Rebel,

I'd like to throw out a heart felt "me too". I like your example of bachelorhood.

 

[vi edit]

<< Nonsense is not elegant.

Then again, this is the same society that buys Michael Jackson albums and watches professional wrestling, so obviously I'm missing something.

>>



Nah. You just think too damn much.

 

[technogeeky]

<< Sounds like something Maya Angelu would say on Oprah. I think she could say "My ass is itchy" and everyone would think it was so deep and meaningful. >>



ROFLMAO!

 

[Geekbabe]

<<

<< I like it,it's simple and makes sense to me,unlike a lot of the stuff christians put out in defense of their beliefs. >>



Actually, I find it exactly as ridiculous as a lot of the stuff christians put out in defense of their beliefs.

It reminds me of the sermon I heard once where the preacher explained that Satan can't be omnipresent, because God is already omnipresent, and we all know that two things can't exist in the same place at the same time...

I still laugh when I think of that one. >>



Eh Rio, having sat thru more 2 hour long old school Irish Priest rants than I care to recall I have to respectfully disagree with you. The argument was seldom simple, rarely quiet and never short and sweet !

 

[Rio Rebel]

Well, when I'm disagreeing with such esteemed company, I should give pause. But against my better judgement, I'll press on:

I understand the point. But when you're arguing against the very definition of a term, you've gone too far, and you no longer have a point.

By the way, by limiting your terms to "atheist" and "Christian", you're not accurately representing the two sides. You should be talking about "atheists" and "theists."

A Christian can never be an atheist, no matter what the subject. He can only be an unbeliever of a different religious system. And while there may be a similarity in that unbelief with the unbelief of an atheist (which I presume is the whole point), the quote fundamentally misrepresents what it means to be a theist.

There are millions of women in this world that I do not love, but I do love one woman, and that love is fundamentally different from a person who loves noone.