Shouldn't Atheists learn to accept religion?

[Simon Moon]

I'm not trying to upset anyone here. This is my personal opinion and I just want to know if anyone agrees with me. I see so much hate flying around on the internet from both atheists and religious people and I really don't think any of it is nessesary.

I don't know what atheism is to you, but for me it's just a simple view: I don't believe in God. I get very annoyed when religious people try to convert me back to faith (I have one very devout family member who really irritates me) and I think that needs to stop. There's nothing wrong with not believing.

Atheism to me, is the absence of belief in ALL gods that have been presented to me.

But I also don't have a problem with faith.

I completely disagree, for many reasons.

People's religious beliefs don't live in a vacuum, they inform their actions. Religious beliefs, taken from various religious texts lead to real world negative consequences.

Not sure you have been keeping up on current events, but here are a just a few examples of what religious faith has caused: Muslims throwing homosexuals off of buildings with their hands tied behind their backs, Christians trying to get pseudoscience taught in public schools, Christians trying to get laws passed based on "scriptural morality", Christian pastors burning witches in Africa (going on now) based in passages in the Bible, flying planes into building at 400 MPH, etc, etc, etc.  

It really surprised me to see that atheists on the internet seem to have very little respect for religion. I understand that perspective- there really is no sense of logic to it, it's seems silly, and it can be dangerous. But I also think that in moderate amounts it can be a very good thing. Some people (most people) are comforted by faith in a god, and I really think it's something many people need in their lives to feel whole. I think that's probably why they so often don't understand how atheists can go without a God. Religion isn't required by all people to feel happy, but for some people it definitely is. I don't feel that this is a failure on the part of those people, but apparently many other athiests do.

Yep, I have very little respect for religion. Please give me some reasons you think we should have respect, and I will evaluate them to see if they are reasonable. If they are, I will alter my view.

There is some thought, that moderate religion gives implicit support to fundamentalism. 

I think religious faith can contribute a lot to a persons life. Not every persons life -I certainly dont' want it- but why else would it have persisted so long if it didn't mean something? Tolerance of differing beliefs isn't just for athiests. I think it's important that we remember that all beliefs should be respected, even if they seem ludicrous to us.

Nope. Respect is earned, not given.

Please give some reasons that you believe make religious beliefs worthy of respect. 

And no, the fact that some people are comforted by them is not a good reason.



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