Shouldn't Atheists learn to accept religion?

[Joods]

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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.

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

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.

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.

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So what do you guys think?

I only partially agree with you. There is a difference between tolerance and respect. I tolerate religion for the sake of people in my life who believe in it. But I don't have to respect it.

When people push their faith on me and tell me that I'm wrong for not believing in their god, I tell them where to go and how they can get there. I don't push my atheism on anyone so why should they have the right to do it to me? Respect is earned - not given. And until a god - any god, comes and accepts my offer to let me pay for their lunch while we sit down and they answer some hard questions from me - I cannot and will not respect religion. And I shouldn't have to.
Even if it were to happen, I still wouldn't respect religion. Religion breeds fear. For example, just look at what the Abrahamic god requires. Look at what he's done. No, sorry - that gets no respect from me whatsoever.