Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
Point taken - STFU should be replaced with "Stop being a hypocrite" I guess.
I believe in freedom. I believe that everyone should be able to choose his or her own religion. I believe that people should not have to be 'attacked' for their choices, especially since it is a personal nature.
I don't like religious people from any religion at all to come into my face and tell me that I should join there religion, and that I made a 'wrong choice' by choosing to be atheist or to be part of a different religion.
Talk about religion, sure. People just have no respect either way. Atheists think that people who believe in religion are 'idiots' or 'backwards' - and that is fine. Religious people think that anything other than their religion is backwards and idiotic.
I just find the unnecessary confrontation of people dogging each other's beliefs (or lack of belief) is stupid. I can respect any religion - as long as people are free to enter into, and leave on their own accord.
I myself am not 'really' religious. Brought up in a Catholic background, but I don't practice nor do I preach. I also don't knock down Islam, Judaism, other Christan denominations, Buddhism (and derivatives) or even tribal religions.
STFU for me = why do people feel the need to point out other people's choices as 'misguided' or 'wrong'. If you don't share that faith, cool. Move along. As long as they aren't getting in your face, cool. As long as that religion is not one based on hatred, or forcing people to do what is not right, great.
People do find relief in religion. When they have nothing else to hope for, at least there is that to give them some measure of support or relief. Religion is not 'stupid', or for the brainless.
I detest any side - from any religion or lack thereof, to go to another person and state that their religion is false, or stupid. People should have absolute right to choose their faith unhindered from anyone else in society AS LONG AS there faith is not hindering anyone else in society. Why people feel the need to go out of their way and jump on someone's faith (or whatever else they may see different about someone) is beyond me.
Seems there is just a huge lack of respect that goes on from all sides - people trying to 'convert' you into a religion, and people that go out of their way to say religion(s) are stupid.
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Freedom of Religion and freedom of speech does not equal freedom from criticism, it drives me insane that people don't get this. Yes you are entitled to hold any belief you want, and others are free to criticize you for it.
No one forced you to come read a thread titled Godless Apostate, you chose to and then got offended at what it contained. That's like going to an R rated movie and then being upset that it contains adult content, and because that offends you they shouldn't even make movies like that anymore.
You say you don't knock down other religions, know why? Because you are in the religion of majority in North America, Christianity. If overnight Islam became the dominant religion in Canada and those beliefs began influencing public policy decisions I guarantee you would be singing a different tune.
I agree, people do find relief and comfort and community and many good things in religions. There is nothing wrong with that, they should be free to worship how they see fit. The problem is when these beliefs effect others through government policy that often fly's in the face of science and reason.