If you are confident in your beliefs then it should not matter either way. I would rather bash the ones making a mockery of both sides.
I have no problem with people having crazy religous beliefs.. However, I can't stand it when they try to convince me that my lack of faith is indicative of a character flaw that I have and that one without a belief in god has no purpose in life... That is absurd to me, I'd rather live every day to the fullest than sit around waiting for a glorious afterlife that in all probability does not exist.
I also get annoyed when people of faith take simplistic approaches when answering legitimate questions, such as, "If the earth is only 6000 years old, how does carbon dating/fossils fit in to that equation?" and they answer with, "God did that on purpose to test your faith".. I can go on and on with those types of responses and they often come from intelligent people that have strongly held religous views... Its just seems to me like religious faith is the only thing in the world where logic, evidence and reason gets thrown out the window, while everything else in life requires more.. But for those that use religion as a motivating factor to improve their lives and to be forces for positive change, I have the utmost respect for... but please don't try to convince me that faith trumps all, especially when we all realize that hard work, making rational decisions and a little bit of luck all determine our standing and happiness level in the world.
I also get annoyed when people of faith take simplistic approaches when answering legitimate questions, such as, "If the earth is only 6000 years old, how does carbon dating/fossils fit in to that equation?" and they answer with, "God did that on purpose to test your faith".. I can go on and on with those types of responses and they often come from intelligent people that have strongly held religous views... Its just seems to me like religious faith is the only thing in the world where logic, evidence and reason gets thrown out the window, while everything else in life requires more.. But for those that use religion as a motivating factor to improve their lives and to be forces for positive change, I have the utmost respect for... but please don't try to convince me that faith trumps all, especially when we all realize that hard work, making rational decisions and a little bit of luck all determine our standing and happiness level in the world.
What about those who believe in Gods?
The problem with any religion is that if you take its scripture literally that way basically IS the only way. How many times in the Bible do you see God's instruction to wipe out non-believers...or talking about the conversion of some from one faith to that faith--a number of both of these kinds of passages were pointed out to me during my Religion studies. Superiority is IMPLIED in all religion. Thats just the fact of the matter. Religion is good in its overall message but those who take it too literally cause a lot of problems.
The problem with any religion is that if you take its scripture literally that way basically IS the only way. How many times in the Bible do you see God's instruction to wipe out non-believers...or talking about the conversion of some from one faith to that faith--a number of both of these kinds of passages were pointed out to me during my Religion studies. Superiority is IMPLIED in all religion. Thats just the fact of the matter. Religion is good in its overall message but those who take it too literally cause a lot of problems.
Faith is a rather prickly thing. Honestly I agree with you on this. It drives me batty to think that people are so closed-minded that they wont accept anything OTHER than their religious teaching. Its this sheep-brained behavior thats causing the US to revert to Christian law.
purbeast0
No Lifer
- Sep 13, 2001
- 53,648
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because it makes them feel good.
i've always noticed that people who don't believe in god have to let everyone know they don't believe in god, whereas everyone i know that believes in god kind of just keeps that fact to themself.
however I know many other people's experiences on these boards are different.
i've always noticed that people who don't believe in god have to let everyone know they don't believe in god, whereas everyone i know that believes in god kind of just keeps that fact to themself.
however I know many other people's experiences on these boards are different.
I have no issue with religion or religious people. What I have an issue with is when they (and this is a minority of them) ask me about what religion I am and then try to convert me (or save me) when I say I am Agnostic. I've actually taken to saying I'm a born again Agnostic because that tends to confuse them.
I have noticed the exact opposite. I have never told ANYONE I am Agnostic who didn't ask (unless if it comes up in natural flow of the conversation). Yet for some reason a good number religious people feel the need to advertise their religion on their shirts, cars, wrists, heads, necks, and in tattoo form (hope I didn't miss anything).
You dont have athiests or agnostics talking about athiest groups/meetings/activities day in and out....its religion that brings this conflict to the forefront.
That is a blatant lie and you know it. Religious symbols are everywhere, churches with signs telling you to repent or go to hell, people standing at street corners with repent signs, missionaries going door to door trying to convince people that their religion is the best one. If the recent polls are true, over 85% of Americans believe in god and religion, which is a super large majority of the population. I don't see that many people driving around with a Darwin Fish on their vehicles, but I see tons driving around with crosses or religious signs on their cars.. I don't see people walking around with "I'm and Atheist" necklace, but I see a lot of people wearing crosses and star of Davids... Just because a few books came out disputing religion doesn't mean that non believers have the loudest voices around. If you want to talk about power and not keeping the facts to themselves, lets talk about religious voting blocks in this country that determine the entire course of elections by voting in unison to support politicians that support "Family Values" such as "defending" marriage, or for their ultimate hope of having "school prayer" to stop those evil kids from having sex.
purbeast0
No Lifer
- Sep 13, 2001
- 53,648
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hence why I put my bolded quote
i lived with a very christian guy my freshman year in college. he was a senior too. he would go to bible studies weekly, and the only music he listened to was christian rap. he would try to preach stuff to me sometimes and it was very annoying. this guy got on my last nerve and I just could not be around him.
that is the only time I have ever seen this type of behavior from a christian.
and for the record, i'm catholic.
purbeast0
No Lifer
- Sep 13, 2001
- 53,648
- 6,528
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where the hell do you live that has people on the corners of every street with repent signs and missionaries going door to door? i don't have any of that crap where I live.
just because people wear symbols doesn't mean it's telling you stuff.
do people who wear LA lakers clothes automatically mean that you should like Kobe? no it just means they like the lakers, just like if someone is wearing a cross around their neck it doesn't mean they are telling you to believe in god or anything.
your stupid ass reply had nothing to do with what I even said. and why is it so hard for people to understand that this is what I have noticed personally not a fucking fact or anything. considering one of my best friends doesn't believe in god and he lets me know probably once a week just by throwing it in random conversatons, and he's really one the only non-believer in god that I am around often, that's where I get most of my views from.
There is one other chick I know that doesn't believe in God, and I've known her for about 4 years, but I just found this out about 2 months ago because she isn't one of those who goes around and spouts it.
And for the record ... I went to a catholic school from k-12th grade.
And now I go to church like 2-3 times a year.
Just because all of this religion was spouted at me while growing up doesn't mean I am in 100% agreeance and believe it 100%.
The main issue people have with Religion is that while its run out of a real use, people still believe in it. It was created to answer questions that at the time were utterly impossible to figure out. That world without answers was scary, so religion was created to instill a sense of calm amongst its followers as well as create a system of rule and order. Guilt is an excellent motivator and I think religion taps that feeling, whether you realize it or not, to keep you on the path.
Now that we've begun to answer most of those questions religion was invented to serve through science, its becoming a vestigial facet of life. People no longer need faith to get by, the world isnt so bleak without imagining the hand of God ushering you along in safety. As a result, this "faith" has become a bit inflammatory because the rationality of science doesn't foster the "faith" way of thinking....these are just my conclusions after studying comparative religion in college.
Now that we've begun to answer most of those questions religion was invented to serve through science, its becoming a vestigial facet of life. People no longer need faith to get by, the world isnt so bleak without imagining the hand of God ushering you along in safety. As a result, this "faith" has become a bit inflammatory because the rationality of science doesn't foster the "faith" way of thinking....these are just my conclusions after studying comparative religion in college.
I agree with Mosh. I think the vast majority of people are very tolerant of religion and other people's beliefs. There is usually some small group of people who are very outspoken on both sides of the equation that make it seem like "all atheists bash religion" or "all Christians bash non-Christians."
In the end, to sum up the question at hand, there is no point to religious bashing whatsoever. In my few years, my personal experience has been that many people's arguments about religion and its validity are about pride, not about God. True faith and the tolerance that goes with it is not about someone being right and someone being wrong; it's about sharing beliefs and ideas through dialogue while understanding that a person's own life experiences dictates much about what they believe. There is no room for personal pride when it comes to faith; we must be humble.
The reason you see some major Christian-bashing now is that the US is now entering an era of Papal rule and they find it infuriating if they arent believers.
ch33zw1z
Lifer
- Nov 4, 2004
- 39,765
- 20,337
- 146
While you are on the right track, Aardvark understands the human mentality of the need to be validated in our beliefs with his statement. Basically, we as humans can prove much about the physical world, but cannot physically prove the existence of a superior being to any extent. So, if needed, Science can bring real evidence...while religions cannot.
So because 50% of the huge 2 person sample size of people you know that don't believe in god talk about it, you can conclude that:
.
Great conclusion, given that the other person in your life didn't tell you for four years.
And how can this be true:
if you later state that you lived with a Christian that annoyed you all the time by spouting religious beliefs???
Settle down Purebeast, I'm not attacking you personally, but your personal experiences are not indicative at all of the reality of things, religion is a huge part of this country and the religous right has been actively waging a campaign to incorporate their beliefs in the the public sector for decades. That is the ultimate in imposing beliefs and has a far greater impact than a few non believers sharing their opinions.
But you contradict your own personal experiences when you make idiotic comments that later refute your own comments. If ALL religious people you know keep their beliefs private, then how do you explain your college roomate? And if all people you know that aren't religious feel the need to bring it up, then how do you explain your friend that you knew for 4 years? You are the one making comments about your personal experiences which you then contradict because of your pre-existing biases.
purbeast0
No Lifer
- Sep 13, 2001
- 53,648
- 6,528
- 126
Okay I should say all people that I interact with and care to be around.
And I don't even "know" my college roomate ... I "knew" him ... about 8 years ago, for 6 months.
Wow talk about picking a moot point.
And I never said that all people who dont believe in god have to spout it ... I said that people do, which I guess I was assuming meant "most" people and you assumed I meant "all" people.
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