1. Comment #98371 by rnewson on December 13, 2007 at 2:28 pm

The US House of Representatives recently acknowledged how great Christianity is, this is divisive. A presidential candidate recently insisted that freedom requires religion, this is also divisive. A former president didn't think atheists could be citizens, divisive.

Any difference of opinion, in any field, is divisive. The implication is that division is always a bad thing. If one half of the division is right and the other half is wrong, surely the division is an advance?

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2. Comment #98385 by USA_Limey on December 13, 2007 at 2:39 pm

I hate these stupid 'debating points' so much I am going to be childish and petulant.

They completely mess up the 'lates visitor comments' section which helps us keep track of responses to the latest articles posted.

So there.

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3. Comment #98392 by latsot on December 13, 2007 at 2:42 pm

Is there something wrong with being divisive?

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4. Comment #98483 by Garnok on December 13, 2007 at 6:12 pm

All those people who fought to abolish slavery or to gain their civil rights, many of whom we are reminded were theists, were said to be divisive yet I see few people complaining about that.

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5. Comment #98692 by f0xfree on December 14, 2007 at 4:09 am

Science unifies.

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6. Comment #101784 by Jake Atkisson on December 21, 2007 at 1:22 am

The statement is spun, twisted and biased.

Divisiveness, as a term, is employed in the negative, rendered in such a fashion as to imply that divisiveness directly equates into undesirability.

This is not, in fact, objectively accurate.

Furthermore, the sheer silliness of trying to lump every separatist movement of every sort, for every reason or no reason at all, into one single thimble is absurd.

Thirdly, the statement is dismissive and not conducive to discussion; it is as poor in form as saying "I'm right no matter what you say, neener neener neener".

And I would treat it as such in any debate I might engage in should such a statement pop up.

Conclusion: Peurile and logically derelict, as well as biased and without useful direction.

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7. Comment #114803 by Ertt on January 22, 2008 at 9:47 pm

The abolition of slavery was also a divisive issue. Christianity was so divisive that many it's founders were killed off. Women's suffrage was divisive.
Nearly everything that could be called an improvement in society was, at one point, divisive.

Should we all agree for the sake of agreement? Are freedom of speech and expression only there for prurient images and gratuitous profanity or is there some value to dissent?

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8. Comment #115083 by 82abhilash on January 23, 2008 at 2:12 pm

Being divisive is not the same a being dogmatic. Other movements are dogmatic and consequently divisive. Our movement is divisive precisely because we question are not ashamed to question dogmas, even amongst each other. If the price of consensus is intellectual dishonesty, then it is of no value to us.

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9. Comment #117256 by decster on January 28, 2008 at 1:02 pm

How many different religions do you know of.
that should answer that question.

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10. Comment #130214 by martino on February 20, 2008 at 7:17 am

This is truly the pot calling the kettle black.

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11. Comment #141650 by straggleyway on March 11, 2008 at 2:43 am

I think this comment is trying to cast athemism as something 'coldhearted' - its not at all. Just because we dont/cant believe in a supernatural being does not imply that I dont believe in our fellow human beings. In fact, I would hope that not holding a supernatural faith brings people together.

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12. Comment #176083 by powerboy on May 6, 2008 at 2:10 pm

The thoughts of human beings are not euphoric. Therefore, the collection of their thoughts will inherently be divisive.

Atheists, however, do not seek to divide, but rather are proposing that humankind reconsider its existence. Because something is divisive, doesn't mean that it is meant to be.

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13. Comment #206731 by Al420 on July 8, 2008 at 5:46 pm

And I suppose religion promotes unity?
Well, I guess it does in that if you kill off everyone who disagrees with you, all that remain will probably be unified...

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