Quote:
Originally Posted by photon
I do hope you see the difference between someone going into your face and you participating in a thread on a discussion forum though, because they are vastly different.
(And I guarentee you it isn't the atheists or Muslims that are trying to create a state religion in NC).
Have you read the main forum at all? People not having respect for other people has nothing to do with religion, there's just a large portion of jerks in the world.
If people can't even discuss something as inconsequential as hockey without resorting to name calling and contempt, how can you possibly expect it with something as fundamental as religion?
Your expectation needs to be altered. Don't expect anyone from any religion to behave a certain way, because there's always jerks. Rather ignore those and just interact (or not) with those that aren't.
And this entire forum is based around a group of people who think cheering for another team makes one idiotic.
Humans have a very deep tribal instinct, that they self-arrange into tribes and view "foreigners" to the tribe differently is expected and something to overcome, not surprising.
Sure, the only confrontation here is voluntary. North Carolina is where it has the clause in their constitution that prohibits atheists from holding office and where they're trying to have a state religion (unnecessary confrontation).
Because sometimes other people are wrong (and sometimes I'm wrong). Having discussions with other people is a basic human need, and discussions around things everyone agrees on are usually boring. Humans are curious and want to learn about the world around them, changing pre-existing beliefs is key to learning, and that'd be impossible if no one ever challenged what someone else thought was right.
I do agree there are good and bad ways to go about it, but see the jerks comment above; there'll always be people who don't go about it the way you want to.
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I actually don't really disagree with anything you said here.
I actually wrote another very long-winded post - and decided to just delete it and leave it just with this thought:
It is not the discussion or even the criticism against religion that bothers me. It is in the disrespectful way in which too many do this. It is no different than 'trolling' - just made to offend and get a rise out of people.
I don't go to church. I don't pray. I don't even think of 'my religion' at all for months on end. I am FAR from a person that would be classified as religious. If I was, I am definitely going to hell for how I led my life thus far. I have loads of friends from all different religions - being an immigrant in a country, raised with other immigrants from all walks of life will do that. Most of my friends are Buddhists, some Islam, some Protestant.. but most are Atheist. If I was to force classify myself into how I lead my life and in what I believe most in, it is atheism, really. That doesn't make me insensitive.
I think what is happening in North Carolina is wrong. However, is it the religion's fault? Or perhaps, it is the people in authority trying to use religion for their benefit? Crooked cops and politicians doesn't make me think that democracy is stupid, or that the rule of law is stupid. Why do people think that just because there are idiots using religion to get what they want makes the religion 'stupid'?
Not sure if I am getting my point across correctly... maybe I don't really have a point, and I am just venting for the sake of venting. It is part of what I feel is happening too much - people are just becoming 'evil' (in a non-religious way, don't worry... I am not here to make you accountable for your sins lol)... people just seem to take joy in hurting someone else - religion or otherwise.
Atheists are no different (in my opinion) from the overly religious that try and convert you. Atheism seems to be a religion now, when you think of it that way. "My Faith is to not have faith."
One of my earliest memories of a kid was when there was a Jehovah's Witness at my door. My mother let her in, being polite. This lady proceeded to tell my mother that she believed in the wrong religion, and because of that she would go to hell, and that we (the kids) would go to hell. My mother was always polite, always warm, always giving. I could see for the first time my mother angry. I didn't grow up to hate Jehovah's Witnesses (actually, dated one in high school for a while). I guess I just grew up hating people who go out of their way to tell someone else that their religion is stupid. Question and criticize is fine - but it is the barbs that are meant to solicit laughs and/or anger out of the other person that I personally feel is wrong.
Hmm... another long-winded post... sorry.