I have religious beliefs, but I don't understand why someone would have a problem with atheists. It's their insecurities I think if it really bothers them. If someone else not believing in god bothers me, then that's something in me they've triggered and I have to take a look it in myself. Some atheists probably practice better Christian values than those who define themselves as Christians really. Live and let live friends.
I think it would be easier to respect that others have different beliefs if they weren't pushed on others.
For example, your religion says it's not OK to drink alcohol, I say "That's cool. I'm atheist and I'd like a beer." Then your side says "Well we don't think alcohol should be available because it's a sin. We're trying to push through a law banning it." and I say "Hang on a sec, WTF."
Atheists never push beliefs on others, because it's not a religion. Take for example the Cranston High School Banner. Opponents of the decision to take it down are saying "You're denying me my religious beliefs." In fact that's not true. As an atheist I think it's just fine and dandy what others do in their own home/car/area. It's when religions try to flex their muscle and step on my own life choice. That's when I get militant. That's when I have to.
i have never ducked the question of religion. i'm an atheist. on a personal level i don't see or feel like its ever an issue to friends or people i associate with.
at the larger level i feel extremely oppressed. i mean... the first thing a presidential candidate says after, "i'm running for president." is "i believe in god." i need to protect my kids from religious extremist trying to force religion into the my kids science class. foreign policy is filtered through religious doctrine. i have to subsidize religion with tax breaks. tv preachers can say any crazy thing and have it codified as gospel.
How are they worse than anti-atheist religious people?
On your other point: I'm not an atheist but I'm not sure you can expect people to respect those who adhere to a belief system that is based on myth (again, from the perspective of an atheist).
Yeah right... Even when I stand up for religious freedom, religious people attack me for being an atheist. Even when I defend their own religious rights, they hate me. I don't attack religious people. I have nothing against religion. And yet, I am hated. I give respect, I get none. I think the religious are the ones who need to make the next move here.
I find it funny that the very basic building block of the top 3 religions is that our downfall was the pursuit of knowledge. From my experience nothing has changed. The pursuit of knowledge and logic are anathema in the church.
Everybody just needs to leave everybody else alone. As long as you don't let your beliefs infringe on others, they're of no consequence. And the second they do, admonish the person, not the group.
But it begs the question: Why was god so STUPID to put the "Tree of Knowledge" smack-dab in the middle of the Garden of Eden? Billions on planets throughout billions of galaxies, and he puts the tree where the ONLY TWO people in the entire universe [with a design flaw of temptation no less] exist.
On top of that, the apple would never have been bitten if Satan was present to tempt them. Again.... "God" could have cast Satan ANYWHERE in the universe, but chose the ONE PLACE where people were. Having said that, why didn't simply FIX Satan?
Come to think of it... Satan wasn't banished or punished, he was PROMOTED.
53% say we need God to be moral. 40% don't believe in evolution according to Dec. 2010 Gallup poll.
Sounds like at least 50% of my fellow Americans need to read a few more books or at least watch some Discovery channel, PBS, and National Geographic. TV sucks most of the time but it might get the job done.
"because truth in fact you are FAR more likely to interfere with someone's life than any religion."
not true.
you are FAR more likely to NOTICE when a atheist is pushing back, which you interpret as interfering, because you are religious.
you probably have pretty much the same religions as the majority of the country.
when that religion does something that's interfering in other peoples lives, you dont notice, because its not interfering in your life.
take for example a courtroom. they often have the 10 commandments displayed. Can't you see how a atheist, or a person from a non-abrahamic religion would feel about that? how that would effect their expectation of getting a fair trail?
that's stuff you never noticed, never even thought about.
the same with publicly funded displays of religion.
nobody has a problem with a public display of religion. but publicly funded, or on the properly of a organisation that should be neutral in terms of religion (like the police, the courts ect). that just is not oké.
If a religious organisation puts up a statue/banner/poster for whatever reason, and it violates the law, we ask that they take it down. It's usually then that a fight starts. It's a fight we usually win because we have the law on our side, but the religious organisation will usually claim that their rights are being trodden upon because they wanted an extra thing. They still have their religion, their faith and their God. They have lost nothing except perhaps advertising, yet they will still complain.
"It shouldn't because US laws have been based on the 10 Commandments historically.
Theft, murder, adultery, etc.."
the first 3 or 4 (depending on what version) deal exclusively with believing in god and having no other god ect.
the first 3 or 4! the first! that would be the most important ones.
and no murder or theft was already law LONG before the 10 commandments.
and adultery IS NOT part of the law thankfully.
i just saw a locked-up-abroad episode from the Philippines. they have adultery in law. a woman couldn't divorce her abusive husband who threw here out, because its expensive.
she falls in love with a Englishman, they have a kid. and then they have to go to jail, and the kid is officially the still-husbands.
thats how f**ked up things can get when you have adultery in law.
mmalon01Feb 7, 2012Buried
I have religious beliefs, but I don't understand why someone would have a problem with atheists. It's their insecurities I think if it really bothers them. If someone else not believing in god bothers me, then that's something in me they've triggered and I have to take a look it in myself. Some atheists probably practice better Christian values than those who define themselves as Christians really. Live and let live friends.
ianzuFeb 7, 2012Buried
I think it would be easier to respect that others have different beliefs if they weren't pushed on others.
For example, your religion says it's not OK to drink alcohol, I say "That's cool. I'm atheist and I'd like a beer." Then your side says "Well we don't think alcohol should be available because it's a sin. We're trying to push through a law banning it." and I say "Hang on a sec, WTF."
Atheists never push beliefs on others, because it's not a religion. Take for example the Cranston High School Banner. Opponents of the decision to take it down are saying "You're denying me my religious beliefs." In fact that's not true. As an atheist I think it's just fine and dandy what others do in their own home/car/area. It's when religions try to flex their muscle and step on my own life choice. That's when I get militant. That's when I have to.
starmanjonesFeb 7, 2012Buried
i have never ducked the question of religion. i'm an atheist. on a personal level i don't see or feel like its ever an issue to friends or people i associate with.
at the larger level i feel extremely oppressed. i mean... the first thing a presidential candidate says after, "i'm running for president." is "i believe in god." i need to protect my kids from religious extremist trying to force religion into the my kids science class. foreign policy is filtered through religious doctrine. i have to subsidize religion with tax breaks. tv preachers can say any crazy thing and have it codified as gospel.
16x9Feb 7, 2012Buried
How are they worse than anti-atheist religious people?
On your other point: I'm not an atheist but I'm not sure you can expect people to respect those who adhere to a belief system that is based on myth (again, from the perspective of an atheist).
leodinFeb 8, 2012Buried
Yeah right... Even when I stand up for religious freedom, religious people attack me for being an atheist. Even when I defend their own religious rights, they hate me. I don't attack religious people. I have nothing against religion. And yet, I am hated. I give respect, I get none. I think the religious are the ones who need to make the next move here.
ogletreeFeb 8, 2012Buried
I find it funny that the very basic building block of the top 3 religions is that our downfall was the pursuit of knowledge. From my experience nothing has changed. The pursuit of knowledge and logic are anathema in the church.
dirtyfriesFeb 7, 2012Buried
Everybody just needs to leave everybody else alone. As long as you don't let your beliefs infringe on others, they're of no consequence. And the second they do, admonish the person, not the group.
murrayc1968Feb 8, 2012Buried
But it begs the question: Why was god so STUPID to put the "Tree of Knowledge" smack-dab in the middle of the Garden of Eden? Billions on planets throughout billions of galaxies, and he puts the tree where the ONLY TWO people in the entire universe [with a design flaw of temptation no less] exist.
On top of that, the apple would never have been bitten if Satan was present to tempt them. Again.... "God" could have cast Satan ANYWHERE in the universe, but chose the ONE PLACE where people were. Having said that, why didn't simply FIX Satan?
Come to think of it... Satan wasn't banished or punished, he was PROMOTED.
icwydFeb 8, 2012Buried
How about, "Why did god not want Adam and Eve to gain knowledge?"
bigbert81Feb 7, 2012Buried
Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's comments like this that fuel the animosity being mentioned here.
downshiftdxFeb 8, 2012Buried
53% say we need God to be moral. 40% don't believe in evolution according to Dec. 2010 Gallup poll.
Sounds like at least 50% of my fellow Americans need to read a few more books or at least watch some Discovery channel, PBS, and National Geographic. TV sucks most of the time but it might get the job done.
meribianFeb 8, 2012Buried
You're only fit to troll places like YouTube. lol
countess666Feb 8, 2012Buried
"because truth in fact you are FAR more likely to interfere with someone's life than any religion."
not true.
you are FAR more likely to NOTICE when a atheist is pushing back, which you interpret as interfering, because you are religious.
you probably have pretty much the same religions as the majority of the country.
when that religion does something that's interfering in other peoples lives, you dont notice, because its not interfering in your life.
take for example a courtroom. they often have the 10 commandments displayed. Can't you see how a atheist, or a person from a non-abrahamic religion would feel about that? how that would effect their expectation of getting a fair trail?
that's stuff you never noticed, never even thought about.
the same with publicly funded displays of religion.
nobody has a problem with a public display of religion. but publicly funded, or on the properly of a organisation that should be neutral in terms of religion (like the police, the courts ect). that just is not oké.
bigbert81Feb 7, 2012Buried
Well, at least you admit that you're a douche. I guess that's the first step...
anonimo99992000Feb 8, 2012Buried
Amen!
ianzuFeb 7, 2012Buried
Calm down, it was a hypothetical example.
If a religious organisation puts up a statue/banner/poster for whatever reason, and it violates the law, we ask that they take it down. It's usually then that a fight starts. It's a fight we usually win because we have the law on our side, but the religious organisation will usually claim that their rights are being trodden upon because they wanted an extra thing. They still have their religion, their faith and their God. They have lost nothing except perhaps advertising, yet they will still complain.
murrayc1968Feb 8, 2012Buried
So... God is a nerd living in his mom's basement?
thefirewireFeb 7, 2012Buried
Gay Marriage, check mate
volaitle86Feb 8, 2012Buried
religion is evil
countess666Feb 8, 2012Buried
@tyho
"It shouldn't because US laws have been based on the 10 Commandments historically.
Theft, murder, adultery, etc.."
the first 3 or 4 (depending on what version) deal exclusively with believing in god and having no other god ect.
the first 3 or 4! the first! that would be the most important ones.
and no murder or theft was already law LONG before the 10 commandments.
and adultery IS NOT part of the law thankfully.
i just saw a locked-up-abroad episode from the Philippines. they have adultery in law. a woman couldn't divorce her abusive husband who threw here out, because its expensive.
she falls in love with a Englishman, they have a kid. and then they have to go to jail, and the kid is officially the still-husbands.
thats how f**ked up things can get when you have adultery in law.