Comments on: Hostility Towards Religion? http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/10/title_15 A Blog of Atheist Thought Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:30:55 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: spartacus007 http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/10/title_15/comment-page-1#comment-47542 spartacus007 Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-47542 Everyone deserves to be treated with respsect. We shouldn't pull punches, but being too vitrolic and attacking religious people interferes with the message and turns people off. I think its more important to be a good person than necessarily an atheist. Everyone deserves to be treated with respsect. We shouldn’t pull punches, but being too vitrolic and attacking religious people interferes with the message and turns people off. I think its more important to be a good person than necessarily an atheist.

]]> By: karen http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/10/title_15/comment-page-1#comment-47543 karen Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-47543 Religion on a personal basis is tolerable. It's when people want to inflict their religion on others that it becomes an issue. <br /> People must be allowed to have their private thoughts and beliefs. If we want the freedom to be atheistic, then we must respect the theistic thoughts of others. <br /> But religion should remain private. It doesn't belong in the public or government domain. Trying to make it the latter is intolerable. Religion on a personal basis is tolerable. It’s when people want to inflict their religion on others that it becomes an issue.
People must be allowed to have their private thoughts and beliefs. If we want the freedom to be atheistic, then we must respect the theistic thoughts of others.
But religion should remain private. It doesn’t belong in the public or government domain. Trying to make it the latter is intolerable.

]]> By: PusBoy http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/10/title_15/comment-page-1#comment-47544 PusBoy Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-47544 It's an interesting question. I work with a lot of people with disabilities, and they don't want to be "cured." It's part of who they are.<br /> <br /> So, no, we shouldn't try to force people out of their beliefs, no matter how opposite our views might be. <br /> <br /> I think that if we're honest about what we believe, others might examine their beliefs, as well.<br /> <br /> Plus, I don't demand respect from anyone, and I don't give it without merit. It’s an interesting question. I work with a lot of people with disabilities, and they don’t want to be “cured.” It’s part of who they are.

So, no, we shouldn’t try to force people out of their beliefs, no matter how opposite our views might be.

I think that if we’re honest about what we believe, others might examine their beliefs, as well.

Plus, I don’t demand respect from anyone, and I don’t give it without merit.

]]> By: alexatheist http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/10/title_15/comment-page-1#comment-47546 alexatheist Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-47546 Would we extend respect to adults who believe in faeries or the easter bunny? or even zeus or thor? so why is it that those who believe in the abrahamic god deserve our respect? The blunt answer is that they don't deserve respect becasue they are delusional and ignorant. We must stop coddling these fools and enabling their stupidity.<br /> <br /> Rock on Dawkins! Would we extend respect to adults who believe in faeries or the easter bunny? or even zeus or thor? so why is it that those who believe in the abrahamic god deserve our respect? The blunt answer is that they don’t deserve respect becasue they are delusional and ignorant. We must stop coddling these fools and enabling their stupidity.

Rock on Dawkins!

]]> By: Monika http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/10/title_15/comment-page-1#comment-47548 Monika Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-47548 Respect is perhaps not quite the right word because I don't think very highly of theists but if they want to believe in whatever over there somewhere (away from me) then that doesn't bother me. I don't feel the need to proselytise atheism.<br /> <br /> I imagine religious people want to be "cured" of belief about as much as we atheists want to be "saved".<br /> Respect is perhaps not quite the right word because I don’t think very highly of theists but if they want to believe in whatever over there somewhere (away from me) then that doesn’t bother me. I don’t feel the need to proselytise atheism.

I imagine religious people want to be “cured” of belief about as much as we atheists want to be “saved”.

]]> By: Deadly Doomham http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/10/title_15/comment-page-1#comment-47553 Deadly Doomham Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-47553 Unrelated but absolutely urgent:<br /> <br /> GO SEE THE BORAT MOVIE! IT IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE FUNNIEST FILMS EVER MADE!<br /> <br /> Be warned: It is extremely graphic at times, and those uncomfortable with homosexuality or religion-bashing should NEVER even consider watching it.<br /> <br /> But we're atheists, so I suggest we all support this film. Unrelated but absolutely urgent:

GO SEE THE BORAT MOVIE! IT IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE FUNNIEST FILMS EVER MADE!

Be warned: It is extremely graphic at times, and those uncomfortable with homosexuality or religion-bashing should NEVER even consider watching it.

But we’re atheists, so I suggest we all support this film.

]]> By: foot152 http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/10/title_15/comment-page-1#comment-47555 foot152 Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-47555 I feel knocking religion w/o invitation is like kicking the crutch out from a cripple. Curious anybody know where I can find an atheist inspirational message for people who send me those jesus freak chain letters? I feel knocking religion w/o invitation is like kicking the crutch out from a cripple. Curious anybody know where I can find an atheist inspirational message for people who send me those jesus freak chain letters?

]]> By: jcc http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/10/title_15/comment-page-1#comment-47556 jcc Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-47556 foot152:<br /> <blockquote>Curious anybody know where I can find an atheist inspirational message</blockquote>I too would be <i><b>extremely</b></i> interested in reading any such message. Oddly enough, as one whose intellect has been ?sapped? by ?fundamentalist? religion, I seem to retain a vestige of curiosity about how the philosophy of existentialism (which, by its very ?nature,? <i>must</i> expunge hope), could devise a method of attracting new adherents that could, in any way <i>possibly</i>, provide ?inspiration? to <i>anyone</i>.<br /> foot152:

Curious anybody know where I can find an atheist inspirational message

I too would be extremely interested in reading any such message. Oddly enough, as one whose intellect has been ?sapped? by ?fundamentalist? religion, I seem to retain a vestige of curiosity about how the philosophy of existentialism (which, by its very ?nature,? must expunge hope), could devise a method of attracting new adherents that could, in any way possibly, provide ?inspiration? to anyone.

]]> By: suttsteve http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/10/title_15/comment-page-1#comment-47557 suttsteve Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-47557 I think we should respect people because they're people and leave their beliefs out of it. I think we should respect people because they’re people and leave their beliefs out of it.

]]> By: elliejay http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/10/title_15/comment-page-1#comment-47558 elliejay Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-47558 I think it's too hopeless right now, and people would have too little appreciation for it. <br /> <br /> I know I'd love for my family not to believe. They are so easily swayed and misled. I feel sorry for them. I'd love for them to see the world as it really is, and I'd love more than anything for them to appreciate this life, instead of constantly thinking forward to "heaven". This life is so much more beautiful when it's not just some kind of test. <br /> <br /> I wish they could see it like I do. But on a whole, religion can't be "cured" and will do us more harm than it will do them good. <br /> <br /> It's not so much respect as it is hopelessness. I think it’s too hopeless right now, and people would have too little appreciation for it.

I know I’d love for my family not to believe. They are so easily swayed and misled. I feel sorry for them. I’d love for them to see the world as it really is, and I’d love more than anything for them to appreciate this life, instead of constantly thinking forward to “heaven”. This life is so much more beautiful when it’s not just some kind of test.

I wish they could see it like I do. But on a whole, religion can’t be “cured” and will do us more harm than it will do them good.

It’s not so much respect as it is hopelessness.

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