Shouldn't Atheists learn to accept religion?

[madog]

The vast majority of Christians believe that evangelizing is important and/or required. Not just evangelicals.

The vast majority of Christians is not every religious person in the world. I'm trying to make the case for respecting religion, not religious indoctrination or forcing religious beliefs on others.

Please listen to what I am trying to say.

Not all Nazi's wanted to kill jews .... should I respect nazism and not its indoctrination?

[Losty]

The vast majority of Christians believe that evangelizing is important and/or required. Not just evangelicals.

The vast majority of Christians is not every religious person in the world. I'm trying to make the case for respecting religion, not religious indoctrination or forcing religious beliefs on others.

Please listen to what I am trying to say.

I was only correcting your assumption that he was referring to evangelicals when he said evangelize, because you said evangelicals are not moderates. But moderate Christians do evangelize. That doesn't make them bad people. Just vaguely annoying.

[Losty]

I think you should read the bible properly before saying that 

Again, the bible is not representative of every religious belief held by every religious person in the world. There are other views. And not every Christian takes everything written in the bible to heart.

The central message of Christianity is supposed to be love.

Why did you now go from arguing that other people's beliefs should be respected to arguing what the central message of Christianity is?

[The Grand Nudger]

I thought the central message of christianity was that we had finally found a suitable scapegoat for our varied and creative "sins" and could now breath that much easier on account of it.

Haven't you heard the good news?

[dyresand]

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.

So what do you guys think?

How about.... no.....?

Most atheists do accept religion i do to a point but the problem is with religion it's in places where it shouldn't be.

I say this with all due respect but... religion and evangelizing needs to leave the developing countries and the third world the hell alone.... it
does nothing to help the people only to cause more issues than there should be. Also secularism would do those people more good than
religion ever world people have died in Africa because of people evangelizing christianity saying gays should be put to death and you have
the catholic church for years say condoms are bad and when that country had its aids problem under control went there and fucked them up.
Religion only should say in the developed countries not migrate to countries that developing and or the third world they simply do not need it.

[lisah]

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.

So what do you guys think?

I don't agree that all beliefs should be respected, although I once did. Especially if they seem ludicrous. How can you respect something that is absurd?

I do think being considerate to others is good, although that might be a little unrealistic at times. Sometimes you just have to say enough is enough.
I do try to get along with people. I don't discuss my lack of religious belief today. Although, I do find myself saying things like "When I was religious . . . ".

Yet, no one has ever questioned what I mean by that. Which I find interesting.

Yes, I do think religion can be comforting. Yet, it can also be all-consuming as well. Anything that is all-consuming should be examined.

Obviously, I am still sorting this out.

[BlueGirl]

I can see that everyone here has extremely well thought out beliefs. I still don't agree with many of them, and I'd love to continue this discussion, but it's nearly one in the morning where I am and I've been awake for nearly twenty four hours now. If anyone's still interested tomorrow, I'd definitely like to continue this, but for now I really need to get some sleep. Thank you for talking to me about this, you've made some very interesting points and I really want to hear more about what you have to say

[madog]

Why do you keep saying we have beliefs? ..... We have the absence of belief in the supernatural?

[Spirian]

I have quite a few Christian friends who don't hassle me about religion. They seem happy, and don't force their beliefs on me, so I accept that they are religious, but I do not personally accept religion.

[dyresand]

I can see that everyone here has extremely well thought out beliefs. I still don't agree with many of them, and I'd love to continue this discussion, but it's nearly one in the morning where I am and I've been awake for nearly twenty four hours now. If anyone's still interested tomorrow, I'd definitely like to continue this, but for now I really need to get some sleep. Thank you for talking to me about this, you've made some very interesting points and I really want to hear more about what you have to say

I have my reasons why you shouldn't respect religion or religious beliefs take a good look at history and hell
there is more than enough movies out there showing the negative impact of evangelizing in the third world and 
developing countries. I stated it before ill state it again due to evangelizing the abrahamic belief and christianity and catholicism
people have died people are in jail and aids gets worse. The catholic church wont outright say but they prey on peoples suffering
they love that people suffer and they take advantage of said people because in truth well off people to the catholic church are nothing to them.
The best example i can give is mother Teresa she and the rest of those nuns love to see people down suffering and nearly dying if that
doesn't say  a lot about why religion should be respected i don't know what will.


Also i'm a atheist i hold no belief in the supernatural there is no beliefs here there is only the lack of beliefs just a fyi.