A Peace of Religion

[Oblivion]

A piece [peace :hippy:] of religion

This is part of Political Polls (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4972), but I wanted to get more into it

If you are atheist, please continue. If not, skip to Number 2

Number 1

So, you are atheist. Do you consider people of religion to be inferior to you? Do you think they are less intelligent?


Number 2

So you have a religion. What is it? Do you see atheism as acceptable? Do you consider atheists to be inferior to you? Do you think they are less intelligent?

[ThatCanadianGuy]

Number 1

So, you are atheist. Do you consider people of religion to be inferior to you? Do you think they are less intelligent?

?

I really don't find religious people to be inferior in the sense that is implied here. As far as intelligence goes, I TOTALLY disagree with the question; people can be dumb or smart as atheists or theists.

I do hear a lot though that people point out "alot of atheists were the smartest scientists" and that is true. BUT I think EDUCATION is the real determining factor here; let me explain.

Polls in the United States show a direct correllation between the level of education you have versus your belief in the supernatural. The more educated people are, the less likely they are to believe. I think that is a very telling observation.

It doesn't just go for science though, if Christians (sorry just an example) read the Bible thoroughly and critically they'd see all of the contradictions, inconsistencies, factual errors, and downright evil tenets written inside. I'm not trying to bash them but the stuff is all in there to see.

I'm gonna stop the post here before I rant; plus my fingers are starting to hurt :P

[Neverender]

Number 2

So you have a religion. What is it? Do you see atheism as acceptable? Do you consider atheists to be inferior to you? Do you think they are less intelligent?

Im Anglican damnit. Anglicans+salvation army+united church+Pentecostals outnumber roman catholics 1-8. nobody in newfoundland would want to be catholic, especially after the mount pershing orphanage trials. (googleize it)

also no..

and no..

but i don't like it when people call themselves athiests. yeah, great, i don't care, but just say the religion you were born as or baptised for. i am athiest, but only on easter and christmas, other than that it dosn't really matter, but i still recognize myself as anglican.

[Oblivion]

What if you weren't born into a religion?
I wasn't baptized, and I have never been to a church
My whole family is atheist, and I have never been anything but

[theOperaGhost]

Number 2

So you have a religion. What is it? Do you see atheism as acceptable? Do you consider atheists to be inferior to you? Do you think they are less intelligent?

I'm Christian. Lutheran to be exact. I really don't have a problem with atheists. Just so they don't push it in my face, because I won't be pushing my religion in theirs. No, and no. Religion doesn't make you more or less intelligent.

[Avalikia]

Number 2

So you have a religion. What is it? Do you see atheism as acceptable? Do you consider atheists to be inferior to you? Do you think they are less intelligent?
I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints (i.e. a mormon). And actually, I can totally see where atheists are coming from, I think. In fact, if you take out just one or two key events in my life, I'd probably be an atheist myself. So no, I don't consider atheists inferior or less intelligent - with the exception of atheists who question my intelligence based solely on the fact that I'm not.

[Curthose93]

but i don't like it when people call themselves athiests. yeah, great, i don't care, but just say the religion you were born as or baptised for.

What the hell? Why would someone want to call themselves, for example, a Christian, if they don't believe in Christ? Seriously... that's bullshit.

[Mzor203]

but i don't like it when people call themselves athiests. yeah, great, i don't care, but just say the religion you were born as or baptised for. i am athiest, but only on easter and christmas, other than that it dosn't really matter, but i still recognize myself as anglican.

If I called called myself the religion I was born into or baptized for, I'd call myself nothing.

"Hey, what religion are you?"

"Nothing"

So that's why I call myself an Atheist. A lot less confusing. Though I will admit I take pride in the fact that I am not religious, and hole the title of 'Atheist' in high regards.

So, while I don't feel that religious people are inferior, I think they need to seriously re-evaluate and see if they haven't been a little misinformed.

[Neverender]

What if you weren't born into a religion?
I wasn't baptized, and I have never been to a church
My whole family is atheist, and I have never been anything but

yes, maybe you are athiest, but what i mean is when say you have a person who was catholic or whatever, but just never went to church, and then calls themselves athiest.

[Oblivion]

But why does it bother you?
Atheism could be considered the religion with no belief
People can't convert?

[Rutherford The Brave]

What the hell? Why would someone want to call themselves, for example, a Christian, if they don't believe in Christ? Seriously... that's bullshit.

Because some people don't have a choice. Some parents make their children catholic whether they believe or not. Plus the whole religion in my opinion (Being Polytheistic) is incredibly hard to believe, the whole concept of rebirth can direct people away from the church. Plus the fact that any written record of Jesus was written several years AFTER his death can also lead people away.

[Callwaiting]

I don't think people who believe in a religion are inferior to me, but when I see someone my age wearing a cross or saying "god bless" it makes me think less of them at first, that they're not a fun person to be around.

[Curthose93]

Because some people don't have a choice. Some parents make their children catholic whether they believe or not. Plus the whole religion in my opinion (Being Polytheistic) is incredibly hard to believe, the whole concept of rebirth can direct people away from the church. Plus the fact that any written record of Jesus was written several years AFTER his death can also lead people away.


No, what I'm talking about was Hitman saying that a person, presumably any independent adult who is an atheist, should identify themselves as Christian just because they were born to Christian parents. He appears to be treating religion in the same regards as nationality or race. That is the problem.

[Oblivion]

No, what I'm talking about was Hitman saying that a person, presumably any independent adult who is an atheist, should identify themselves as Christian just because they were born to Christian parents. He appears to be treating religion in the same regards as nationality or race. That is the problem.

My question is, what if you wernet born Christian, or any other religion?
How would you even tell the difference between the two, one who was born religious but converted, and one who was born atheist?

[theOperaGhost]

I don't think people who believe in a religion are inferior to me, but when I see someone my age wearing a cross or saying "god bless" it makes me think less of them at first, that they're not a fun person to be around.

You seriously think less of a person for wearing a cross or saying God bless? That's like thinking less of a person who is homosexual. I don't know why you think Christians aren't fun to be around.

[Curthose93]

My question is, what if you wernet born Christian, or any other religion?
How would you even tell the difference between the two, one who was born religious but converted, and one who was born atheist?

There is no difference. If you were born a Christian and 'converted' to atheism later in life, you are an atheist. If you were born an atheist, you are an atheist. Ask someone if they are an atheist; if they say "yes", it doesn't matter what they were born as, because choosing to follow a religion is a conscious choice, unlike race.

Being a Christian is not a cultural thing, where you are stuck with it for life. Being Christian relies entirely on whether or not you believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Since an atheist does not believe in basic tenets of Christianity (Jesus is god, died for your sins, eternal afterlife, blah blah blah) they have no reason to be called a Christian by others, and they have no right to call themselves a Christian. The same is true between atheism and any other religion, not just Christianity.

[Halibut]

I am agnostic
and techniquly athism is a religion is it not.
But agnostic is where i wont deny christ, but i dont believan him either.
I believe there is some higher power. i think god and all of that is superficial and causes alot of arguments and wars in this world.

[ThatCanadianGuy]

I am agnostic
and techniquly athism is a religion is it not.
But agnostic is where i wont deny christ, but i dont believan him either.
.

Um... NO. Atheism is the opposite of religion... so its not a religion (obviously). Atheism has no doctrine, no "set" of beliefs (i.e. ten commandments). Atheism is just the LACK of a belief in supernatural things. Therefore... I don't believe in God... so I'm an atheist.

Agnosticism is not really in your definition either. You say you won't deny christ... but what about the thousands of OTHER messiah's preached by other religions around the world? If you don't deny him than you don't deny any of the other ones either. I don't see how you can NOT deny a belief in them... and NOT believe in them. It's kind of contradictory. Actual agnosticism is to say that you don't know for sure; it doesn't mean that you have to "support both sides" as an agnostic. It just means that you don't know either way and are basically neutral until someone "proves" to you that you should be a theist or an atheist.