What is to be done about religion?

[Little lunch]

I'm going through a phase of accepting that everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
For me at least, it's making my life a lot happier and I'm improving all my friendships because of it.
I know how sucky that sounds here on this forum.
I'm not against trying to steer someone in the right direction with innocent questions without giving them my forced opinion.
And when an opinion is forced on me I feel thoroughly shielded by saying that I'm entitled to my own.
Although I can't say how long that will last. :-)

[Fidel_Castronaut]

^^ accepting other people have other opinions is fine, necessary in fact.

The issue is that you should never be afraid or discouraged from questioning someone else's opinions, or indeed critiquing and criticising them. This isn't a point made to you specifically but all too often we're told that (religious) beliefs are above reproach. That to critique a religious opinion is taboo and shouldn't be done, and that critiquing those beliefs somehow equates to ridiculing the person, or even insulting them.

It's a tiring position to go up against. People who are offended when their views are criticized or critiqued need to realize that the problem lies with their own beliefs, and themselves, not the person critiquing them. So when someone says 'they believe in [god]' and you say 'I think your god either doesn't exist and/or is an arsehole', and they get offended by it and say nonsense like 'you can't say that', stand up to them and ask them why their beliefs are more valid than yours? Why saying their god doesn't exist is somehow bad but accepting that they believe in a god who castigates those who don't believe in it is ok (using an abrahamic-centric deity)?

[Athene]

Chose 3, although 4 applies to me just as well. 

I never felt compelled to sway others to my line of thinking as a theist, and I don't presently; I'm who I am and what I am, regardless of who's on board with me. Not particularly interested in other's religious views on a personal/individual basis, provided they aren't being loudmouthed, aggressive assholes and making trouble for myself and others as a result of them. Outside of that, I typically just don't give a damn.

If I'm aware that such matters are creating turmoil or severely hampering the the lives of people I have concern for, I may broach the subject when the opportunity presents itself...with a mind to help them "clear the clutter"so to speak. Not to necessarily encourage them to abandon their beliefs so much as to simply encourage them to engage in more critical/rational thinking when it comes to problem-solving.

[robvalue]

I'm going through a phase of accepting that everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
For me at least, it's making my life a lot happier and I'm improving all my friendships because of it.
I know how sucky that sounds here on this forum.
I'm not against trying to steer someone in the right direction with innocent questions without giving them my forced opinion.
And when an opinion is forced on me I feel thoroughly shielded by saying that I'm entitled to my own.
Although I can't say how long that will last. :-)

Of course, I agree. I let people get on with it, unless they are hurting people.

I like to put out general messages that promote ideas I think are good, when appropriate. And criticize ideas I think are bad. But I'd never target particular people out of the blue and try and harass them into change.

It just so happens that ideas I think are good will generally naturally lead people away from religion as a side effect, should people take note. But I'm not making anyone do anything.

[robvalue]

I don't know if I've explained myself very well!

I have never (as far as I remember) randomly approached someone, even a friend, and started telling them what I think they should believe. I've never gone up to a religious person (and I've known a few) and started an argument about it. This is a terrible approach anyway, in my experience. You're almost guaranteed to fail. The times I have changed people's minds about things in real life have been when people have come to me, wanting to know my opinion. Then I give it, and they consider it. Sometimes they like what I say, and make a change. Sometimes they don't.

If someone asks for my opinion, generally speaking I'll shoot from the hip unless I have a reason not to. Some people are so deluded that it barely matters what I say anyway; and some situations may require tact, of course.

This forum is an excellent example of how I can try and put out what I consider to be good ideas, while hopefully being unobtrusive. No one has to read anything I write. Even if I'm writing it to them in particular. And if I'm ever annoying anyone, they only have to say and I'll stop talking to them.

I'll never say I think religion is a good thing (unless someone convinces me that it is). But neither will I ever say they shouldn't be allowed to be religious if they want to. I'll never say indoctrination is a good thing, but I respect that parents have to do what they think is best for their children.

[The Grand Nudger]

Oh good god, missionary atheism would be tedious, agreed.

"Hi, have you heard the no news?"

[brewer]

I'm a big old 3.

I have to live and interact with the believers every day. If they don't bring it up neither will I. IRL I can go days without belief becoming a topic of discussion. Quite frankly we have better things to discuss. If they do bring it up I usually tell them that I'm an atheist and that is enough to change the subject. If they continue then it's game on, but done so with respect. I typically take the "man made fantasy" angle. It's seems to cause them less mental trauma.

Where I live the xtians think everyone is an xtian and don't understand that they may be offensive without even knowing it. If I don't say something they will continue the behavior. It happens at least once a week. Happened while pumping gas two days ago. Some woman pushing credit card applications. When I told her no she told me "Thanks and have a blessed day". I just responded "can't, atheist". I don't think she understood. We have some xtians here that just go blank. They can't fathom a life without belief. I might as well be speaking an unknown language.

I do have open discussions with the xtians that know I'm an atheist. Maybe "discussions" is to formal. It's more like verbal jabs and teasing. We know we'll never change each other and are fine with that.

[little_monkey]

Whatever they may believe, everyone's beliefs are on the same plane and worthy of respect.

They're are all crackpot theories, they deserve NO respect.

[robvalue]

Yeah. I respect the people. I respect that they hold beliefs that they think are sensible. But I don't respect stupid beliefs.

[FebruaryOfReason]

There wasn't an option to vote "let religion die a natural death, as more and more people see the massive weight of evidence against it".

So I went for "fight them on the beaches ..."