Because some people don't know how to grow a thicker skin the rest of have to trod on eggs with our personal view points about politics or religion. I personally don't give a sh*t about any religion that tries to force people into it's narrow-minded beliefs. So what if other folks don't like islam, christianity, or any of the other organized, bloody-minded, death cults called religions that mar our world? So what if everyone doesn't believe the same thing? I personally find that to be a GOOD thing. It would be a very dreary world if everyone were the same. Fact is, the planet and the human populace would be better off without any of these "religions". Just maybe people would actually get along and see the similarities between ourselves instead of fighting over narrow minded opinions. What do you think?
I totally agree with you. Religion causes more death, destruction and misery than anything else in the world, even more than the Bush Administration.
Yes...it's pretty bad when something can even out do the Shrub and Co. on death, destruction and general mayhem. But then again, religions have had more practice.
I don't believe religion defines who we are down deep as a person. I'm agnostic, but I can still get along with most religious people. Ultimately, we are all just human beings trying to live our life in the best way we know how.
Sometimes that is true Rebecca, but it is the thing that defines a LOT of people. They allow it to define them...unfortunately. All the issues with a certain Middle Eastern religion is a good case in point of people allowing something to be the defining factor for them as a people and as a person on a private level. But, like you, I have friends of various religions who don't try to push me into believing their way. We get along fine. I suppose you could label me Mate and I as eclectic agnostic pagans. We have no adherence to any particular religion. We have a bit of loathing for organized religion of any sort and have our own set of particular views/beliefs. We don't try to proselytize or convert anyone to our views...and would be happyif more of the followers of certain religions were as courteous.
If someone believes that not only god exists but also believe that they know what he wants them to do, how he wants them to dress, what he wants them to eat, how he wants them to mutilate their childs genitals and who he wants them to have sex with, and how, how could it NOT define them?
As we get older we grab more baggage and labels but they do not really define us. When we were babies, all of us were pretty much the same. We want to eat, sleep, be loved, feel safe etc. I think we are all the same deep down whether we realize it or not. Religious police that kidnap women for sitting at same table with men, they whip women for getting in car with unrelated male, and beat women for showing their ankle. Suicide bombers and the killing of innocent people all in the name of that "certain middle eastern religion". But, I blame most of that on the society/culture more than the religion. In certain middle eastern cultures they teach that suicide bombers are heros and are glorified. If a child studied islam in a loving environment where violence is not condoned, they would probably never grow up to be a suicide bomber. IMHO, it is the poor environment in the middle east, probably more than the religion. I grew up as an atheist, and have mellowed out into an agnostic. I don't think anyone knows all the answers for sure. But I certainly don't think atheists and agnostics are helpless against overwhelming christian fanatics. In my viewpoint it is usually the atheists that are far more outspoken and aggressive. If a christian dare started a thread saying, "Gosh, I sure love jesus." The thread would be FULL of atheist telling that christian why they are wrong and probably that they are stupid.
If you all followed my ideas, my rules, my laws, and my cult I can guarantee world peace, free cheese and beer, and also the ability to feel as if you are a part of a greater good. Oh, and it would be a lot easier to rule the lot of you.
If more people would start understanding that Christianity = Freedom from the old religious laws, there would at least be a lot less hate towards Christians. I don't think there are any other major religions that have 100% forgiveness from their God for the past, present, and future. Can you see why some of us can't understand why atheists or agnostics don't feel like they have anything in common? We're all three about freedom. We're all three sick of religious dogma. Sadly, all of us Christians tend to keep forgetting that the old laws are there as a guidline for ourselves to be able to have a longer, happier life, and help more people, rather then a tool to stroke our egos and bash other people with, but atheists and agnostics are always judging and bashing us as well, and they are always there to judge us by the laws that they think we are under and laugh at us when we mess up. Maybe that's why we keep forgetting we're free--because you keep trying to tell us we have some level of perfection to live up to that you don't have, but in the same sentence you will talk about how you can't stand us trying to convince you to believe in something, but also trying to convince us how much better the world would be if we all just gave it up! I think that Libertarians will understand this next point: Once you realize that God has forgiven you completely, it actually makes you want to be more loving and forgiving without even being forced to. One thing I've noticed in my life is that atheists are generally bad at forgiveness. Isn't that supposed to be part of love though? And BTW, you don't have to be delicate or tip toe around any religious people--that's just your own guilt. Why should you care if you offend us? It actually just makes us even stronger in our assurance that you are just as bad as us. haha Plus there are people like me who are more then happy to throw it right back at ya'
So I can say whatever I want about atheists and agnostics since you guys won't admit that you're a religion, but you aren't allowed to say anything bad back? Sweeeet
Being an Agnostic is not religious. It is the antithesis of religion. However, there is no dis-acknowledgeable of a higher being. Leave the Agnostics alone. As for Atheist? I don't see them running around and worshiping in churches. They're not organized. Thus, as religion is an organized affair, neither classify as such. Agnostics simply believe in god without following a church - or have not made up their mind, and Atheist disavow the existence of god, but for the most part have no organized following or worship of anything. However, religions, whether they are polytheist, monotheist, duotheist, or polysaccharides (a little joke), do worship in a mostly organized fashion. I don't care really about, or for, any of them.
Then maybe Shawn will pardon us from all these impossible laws, since we can't stop breaking them anyway?
I agree with Jackuul, picking on agnostics or atheists just because they aren't a religion, (or even religious) is petty and pissy. No one would pick on the xians, muslims, or any of the ones that make themselves a target if they weren't trying to convince everybody either by nagging or out and out murder that their religion and god is the only religion and god. There is no "one true religion or god"...it's all conjecture, view points, and bloody-minded opinions.