Anti-theism or Anti-Monotheism?

[turoldus]

It is my understanding that most anti-theists are actually anti-monotheists as they often seem oblivious to the past or current evils of polytheistic or non-theistic religions. Buddhism or Hinduism in particular are almost always left off the hook. Is it double standard or plain myopia? What do you think of it?

[ignorantianescia]

I think it is mostly unawareness of the ills in other religions. Most anti-theists react against the theism in their own culture and that is Christianity in the greater part of the English-speaking world. Islam is an exception, because of terrorist acts, other cases of violence, western interventions and Muslim immigration having caused increased awareness and also alarmism (Shari'a fearmongering). Christian fundamentalisms and Islamic fundamentalisms are not realities most of us face on a daily basis, but they are more visible in our cultures than other fundamentalisms.

Not many people are aware of the Hindu fundamentalism that became prominent in India during the 80s. Some of their more controversial proposals were about demolishing mosques built on ancient Hindu religious sites. But on a more personal level you get sporadic reports of Christians (2005) and Muslims (2004) beaten up by fundamentalists. I don't know of Hindu or Buddhist fundamentalism active in the West, but I don't expect it to be much.

Does anybody know why the hyperlink makes "Christians" appear as "Chr istians"?

[unkleE]

I would draw the opposite conclusion to you. Most anti-theists I "meet" are on the internet, which may be a poor sample, but they seem to be anti anything theistic (which seems logical to me) - they often repeat the cliched (and erroneous IMO) idea that they reject all god for the same reason I reject all apart from the christian God.

[fortigurn]

I have experienced the phenomenon you describe, and I have seen some atheists pit Buddhism against Christianity in their attempts to discredit Christianity, arguing that Buddhism is an inherently peaceful religion which is not responsible for any evils (though they still dismiss it as juvenile nonsense), simply because they're completely ignorant of the bloodshed for which Buddhists have been responsible, and the rampant problems of sexual abuse in many Buddhist communities.

[elephantchang51]

Well I live in Thailand which is overwhelmingly Theravada Buddhist and thus atheist,and I have no illusions about how violent people who are at least nominally Buddhist can be.The problem as ever is human nature.
I have as little time for 'new-age,arty-farty'Westerners who eulogise about Eastern religion with little or no experience of the East,as I have for Fundie Creationist monotheists.