.... you do have to 'respect' other people's
religious beliefs."
This is a quote from a newly former 'friend'.
'John" and I were sitting this morning, having coffee,
when John looked up from his device (having apparently
just read some earth-shattering news online), and
exclaimed, "They just need to learn some respect."
Wrongly considering that he'd just gotten a dis-
respectful text from his children, I inquired, "what
now John?" John went on to say that he was tired
of all of the intolerance of irreligious people, and
that they should get on with their own lives and
leave people to their religious beliefs. He added
that (atheists in particular) need not necessarily
agree with theistic claims, but that the 'beliefs'
of those with faith should not be disrespected, least
of all by those who are "Without god" according
to John (I hadn't yet told John of my atheism).
I asked what he meant specifically, and he said
that there was an atheist organization in Texas
that was making statements that religious people
are naive and gullible, and that they were stuck
in the stone age (more like bronze if you ask me).
He went on to become very agitated that "These
people" were spewing their crap all over the web
and in the faces of believers. He then made his
first mistake; he asked my opinion.
I told him that I agreed with the atheists; that
religion is a dreaded plague that has harmed
mankind ever since it first conceived of the
notion of a god. I told John that I did not respect
the 'beliefs' of religious people and that I, in fact
hated what those beliefs could produce. John said
I was free to disagree, but that disrespect was un-
called for. He then made his second mistake; he
asked me why I felt I didn't need to respect the
religious beliefs of others.
Rather than simply answering his question, I
posited one of my own. I asked John if he had
respect for the 911 hijackers. John reeled back in
his chair and asked me in a noticeably upset tone,
"Well why on earth would you ask me such a
ridiculous question? Of course I do not have respect
for any of those men." I then said, "Well, if you have
no respect for the men, then what about their religious
'beliefs' that caused them to carry out the attack?
Surely you have respect for their religious beliefs;
right John?"
(insert long awkward pause on John's part)
John's phone suddenly gets an "Urgent" message
and John has to excuse himself. I won't miss
John. Hypocrite!
NOTE:
To all forum members. I know I post a lot of
episodes where my interactions with theists
are the theme of the post. I do not necessarily
post these dramas to gain responses - though
I enjoy the exchanges. I post them to catalog
and highlight the stupidity of religious people.
Cheers!
religious beliefs."
This is a quote from a newly former 'friend'.
'John" and I were sitting this morning, having coffee,
when John looked up from his device (having apparently
just read some earth-shattering news online), and
exclaimed, "They just need to learn some respect."
Wrongly considering that he'd just gotten a dis-
respectful text from his children, I inquired, "what
now John?" John went on to say that he was tired
of all of the intolerance of irreligious people, and
that they should get on with their own lives and
leave people to their religious beliefs. He added
that (atheists in particular) need not necessarily
agree with theistic claims, but that the 'beliefs'
of those with faith should not be disrespected, least
of all by those who are "Without god" according
to John (I hadn't yet told John of my atheism).
I asked what he meant specifically, and he said
that there was an atheist organization in Texas
that was making statements that religious people
are naive and gullible, and that they were stuck
in the stone age (more like bronze if you ask me).
He went on to become very agitated that "These
people" were spewing their crap all over the web
and in the faces of believers. He then made his
first mistake; he asked my opinion.
I told him that I agreed with the atheists; that
religion is a dreaded plague that has harmed
mankind ever since it first conceived of the
notion of a god. I told John that I did not respect
the 'beliefs' of religious people and that I, in fact
hated what those beliefs could produce. John said
I was free to disagree, but that disrespect was un-
called for. He then made his second mistake; he
asked me why I felt I didn't need to respect the
religious beliefs of others.
Rather than simply answering his question, I
posited one of my own. I asked John if he had
respect for the 911 hijackers. John reeled back in
his chair and asked me in a noticeably upset tone,
"Well why on earth would you ask me such a
ridiculous question? Of course I do not have respect
for any of those men." I then said, "Well, if you have
no respect for the men, then what about their religious
'beliefs' that caused them to carry out the attack?
Surely you have respect for their religious beliefs;
right John?"
(insert long awkward pause on John's part)
John's phone suddenly gets an "Urgent" message
and John has to excuse himself. I won't miss
John. Hypocrite!
NOTE:
To all forum members. I know I post a lot of
episodes where my interactions with theists
are the theme of the post. I do not necessarily
post these dramas to gain responses - though
I enjoy the exchanges. I post them to catalog
and highlight the stupidity of religious people.
Cheers!
