Problems cause by religion

[bluesummer]

Ever notice that the religious are the quickest to get defensive and offended when people question their beliefs, but the non-religious generally find it amusing when people question theirs?

Just something to chew on.

[vashti]

I actually don't see the atheists getting amused. I see them getting irritated.

Pettit - I know there is a rule against religious discussions, but it is rarely/never followed. A moderator just ends up closing athread when it gets too hot./ I suggest you skip over this thread, my friend.

[bluesummer]

I haven't seen this irritation you speak of.

I would also like to add that non-religious doesn't = atheist.

[vashti]

Really? I often see irritated and self-righteous out of the atheists, and yes, I realize that non-religious isn't the same as atheist.

Actually, the response to religious threads by true believers and atheists is very frequently pretty much the same. Irritation and self-righteousness.

[bluesummer]

Well those ARE two polar opposites.

I tend to think of the non-religious as also non-atheists......having an understanding of both sides of the picture, not really agreeing with either of them, yet also not feeling the need to get pissed and self-righteous about it.

That would be me. I describe my self as non-religious because I'm not religious. However, I don't believe in absolutes....as in there is NO God (or higher power), or there is NO way God doesn't exist. To be on either end of an absolute belief is really just kind of arrogant and close minded. I'm open to stuff.

[lovesjoyajm]

There are also religious people who are indifferent to it, because we've realized that although once in awhile an interesting point is brought up, there's absolutely no give-and-take from either side, and it's utterly pointless to engage in any debate/discussion of it.

[Petit Papillon]

There are also religious people who are indifferent to it, because we've realized that although once in awhile an interesting point is brought up, there's absolutely no give-and-take from either side, and it's utterly pointless to engage in any debate/discussion of it.

WHAT am I trying to say from the beginning of this thread? I said it's just fuking senseless to talk about. And plus, against the rules of this forum

[IndiReloaded]

So I take it you all have heard about the lunatics who don't want their son to receive medical attention, right? The ones who want to pray the cancer out of him? What are your thoughts on that?

Two options:

One, if he is young enough (i.e. the brainwashing hasn't taken hold) take the child away & raise him in a sane home. This would require a collective balls by a society that just aint got it, tho.

Two, let them. When he dies, hope the parents are so devastated they kill themselves also. Darwinian solution.

[IndiReloaded]

I tend to think of the non-religious as also non-atheists......having an understanding of both sides of the picture, not really agreeing with either of them, yet also not feeling the need to get pissed and self-righteous about it.

Here Blue, a recent example where I was completely amused (and not at all irritated):

I had a very lovely conversation with a couple of young mormon gentleman a few weeks ago. I was working in my garden, they asked if I would tell my son about the 'truth' of God (pushy, don't you think?), they started quoting Einstein (but hadn't actually *read* his books or papers, when questioned). It was the beginning of the end for them. One of them was just completely stumped at my acceptance of his belief but my refusal to acknowledge its 'correctness'. The other I had scratching his head, he was interested in biochemistry, and I suggested that, in the spirit of openmindedness (which he claimed to value--people had a right to their beliefs), he should at least read a few books on the value of atheism. I promised I would look at their website if they would do the same. In fact, I got them to excuse themselves from me, that doesn't happen very often to these fellows, I'm sure.

It was only fair, don't you agree?

(I am going to hell, if there is one, I'm sure I cost God at least one follower that day. LOL.)

[Rollerderby]

there are two things your mother told you never to discuss, that is religion in politics. Why don't we just open the other can of worms and talk about 9/11 obama and the iraq war?

[Petit Papillon]

there are two things your mother told you never to discuss, that is religion in politics. Why don't we just open the other can of worms and talk about 9/11 obama and the iraq war?

Whether they didn't read the rules (that's why I quoted it) or they are simply looking for fight people.

It's just fuking ridiculous...I quit to post in this thread.

[Lostalien]

Thnaks for all the details!!!! You people rule!

[IndiReloaded]

Atheism can bring many positive values to one's life, but so can learning to not write run-on sentences while attempting to appear intellectually coherent.

True. Good thing I haven't sent this out for peer review just yet. LOL.

Or, mbe I did? Oh well, this type of minor editing is what the minions are for. I'm an ideas person.

[Mish]

Religion is awesome! It brings happiness and hope to billions of people on this planet in a way that nothing else can and it saves many lives. It gives a lot more lives through millions of volunteers working in dangerous parts of the world than it takes through minority of madmen that run around killing people in it's name.

I'm sure that you can take absolutely anything great and just by focusing on all the negative aspects of it make it sound absolutely terrifying. Like taking a beautiful face and magnifying one little pimple one thousand times and then talking about nothing but that one little pimple and how disgusting it is completely ignoring everything else that makes the face beautiful.

[IndiReloaded]

You seem to be a "I have a God complex and I need to get over myself" person.

That's because you are a minion. It is your job to resent your betters. Shrug.