Initially, in my mind, I say, “Great..” That’s mostly because I’ve been judged in my life for possessing different views, after telling some members of my family that I’m non-religious. They want to hear why, but they really don’t. As soon as they hear people dismantling their religion, no matter how kindly it’s worded, many of them love to lash out, because I use my brain. It’s so offensive to them, because I simply don’t agree with them. Those experiences in my life have led me to be slightly more judgmental when dealing with religious people, but I’m trying to work on that. I basically always give a person a fair chance, but will lose respect for them because of some of the morals they have adopted from their religion. If they think gay marriage is wrong, I immediately lose some respect for them. If they deny evolution is true, I lose more respect for them. If they believe everything that god does in the bible is moral, I lose practically all respect for them. It isn’t the fact that they are religious necessarily, it’s just who they are as a person, and many of these people can’t think for themselves, and have to be told what to believe in a disgusting, immoral book.
It’s easier for me to be around free-thinkers, because the conversation is much more interesting and diverse. Most of these free-thinkers are atheists. They are much more open to ideas and stimulating conversation. There is nothing interesting anymore to me, listening to a christian, mindlessly repeating what they believe over and over again. Every time you try to get them to think, a bible verse is always quoted. I prefer to be around non-religious people, it saves me from having to get into debates. However, if religion is never brought up, then I don’t really care what you believe, just what kind of a person you are. I prefer being around people with similar interests, and similar morals, although I love listening to other viewpoints. It helps me decide where I stand on issues. When I learn more and more how people think, I use this, and it helps me figure out what makes the most sense. However, I’m done listening to religious apologetics, because I have heard all of the pathetic arguments a hundred times, and they drive me up the wall, because almost every argument is highly irrational. They all cater to logical fallacies, circular reasoning, and unjustified faith, and I’ll take logic based on actual evidence any day, over that nonsense.
It’s easier for me to be around free-thinkers, because the conversation is much more interesting and diverse. Most of these free-thinkers are atheists. They are much more open to ideas and stimulating conversation. There is nothing interesting anymore to me, listening to a christian, mindlessly repeating what they believe over and over again. Every time you try to get them to think, a bible verse is always quoted. I prefer to be around non-religious people, it saves me from having to get into debates. However, if religion is never brought up, then I don’t really care what you believe, just what kind of a person you are. I prefer being around people with similar interests, and similar morals, although I love listening to other viewpoints. It helps me decide where I stand on issues. When I learn more and more how people think, I use this, and it helps me figure out what makes the most sense. However, I’m done listening to religious apologetics, because I have heard all of the pathetic arguments a hundred times, and they drive me up the wall, because almost every argument is highly irrational. They all cater to logical fallacies, circular reasoning, and unjustified faith, and I’ll take logic based on actual evidence any day, over that nonsense.
Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.' -Isaac Asimov-
