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Forums → WEPR → Why Follow Religion?
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I have a question to all believers, what's your reason for sticking to your religion? (meaning why do you do it faithfuly, if you just do it cause your parents do it then I don't think you really believe)
- 272 Replies
to be more helpful to people than harmful.
Brace yourself for people flooding you with posts that those people are actually brainwashed sheep led around by cackling pastors and priests.
We have to save our misguided brothers! Listen to logic! I don't like how you force people to believe in God, but I LOVE the way I can diss religion and then tell people that whatever they believe in is BS! I love how I pressure religious folk to recant and believe in science whilst condemning similar converting processes! I love how I slander people for not believing in science, yet I hate it when people criticize science! I love how hypocritical I am and I love the fact that I can't see I am hypocritical!
That's the general vibe I get from atheists. I respect anyone so long as their beliefs don't intrude on mine in a hostile way.
So what do beliefs have to do to earn respect, in your opinion?
Now, how about not respect, but a modicum of politeness when discussing something? Yes, respect is earned, but that doesn't mean that if I don't respect you, I have to immediately piss all over what you believe and then call them moronic.
Humans, of course, diverse a certain amount of respect as humans, but beliefs must actually earn the respect, and these beliefs deserve none.
Beliefs are an integral aspect of what a person is. I don't respect a physical entity, in which case I have to respect every ant that crosses my path. I respect people for their ideas, for their opinions and beliefs, so long as said ideas don't advocate discrimination, hate or violence. Yes, I know religion HAS in the past done all of the above, BUT I accord each religious individual respect, because I know them personally.
Do most priest preach to the non-religious outside a church often? (This is a real question I have no idea.)
they do they usualy take evry oppertunity to try to convince people.
my grandfather was a priester for 40+ years here in a local church. he has told me what he used to believe in and what he thought that was right. (he became atheist in his 70's because of all the scientific evindence that contradics religious speach. that has come out during his life.)
Brace yourself for people flooding you with posts that those people are actually brainwashed sheep led around by cackling pastors and priests.
Of course not... The cackling pastors and priests are also brainwashed sheep. :P
That's the general vibe I get from atheists. I respect anyone so long as their beliefs don't intrude on mine in a hostile way.
I doubt there would be to many atheists speaking up if this were the case.
Beliefs are an integral aspect of what a person is. I don't respect a physical entity, in which case I have to respect every ant that crosses my path. I respect people for their ideas, for their opinions and beliefs, so long as said ideas don't advocate discrimination, hate or violence.
I'm reminded of another quote from my profile. So the question is has respect been shown to the person?
"I respect you as a person too much to respect your ridiculous beliefs." -Johann Hari
Yes, I know religion HAS in the past done all of the above,
In the past?
On a final note the rude disrespectful way of handling religion can have it's place at times. It can get people motivated to prove the accuser wrong. This could end up with the person finding out they were in error with their views. The hard part for the aggressor is to accept when they were actually wrong and to know when such a tactic should and should not be used. The latter can sometimes be a matter of trial and error.
So the question left here is this really the time to use this tactic?
On a final note the rude disrespectful way of handling religion can have it's place at times. It can get people motivated to prove the accuser wrong. This could end up with the person finding out they were in error with their views. The hard part for the aggressor is to accept when they were actually wrong and to know when such a tactic should and should not be used. The latter can sometimes be a matter of trial and error.
Sorry for the DP. Would also like to add in this tactic comes at a risk, in that it could have an opposite reaction where the religious just digs their heels in deeper.
I'm reminded of another quote from my profile. So the question is has respect been shown to the person?
"I respect you as a person too much to respect your ridiculous beliefs." -Johann Hari
In a way, that's mocking the person and disrespecting him, as his belief constitute part of him. A tad contradictory don't you think?
In the past?
Does the Church actively participate in wars as the past?
In a way, that's mocking the person and disrespecting him, as his belief constitute part of him. A tad contradictory don't you think?
If someone truly believed they had pink and purple elves living in their anus, should that belief be respect in order to respect the person or should it be called out for just how ridiculous the belief is?
But for a more realistic example there are beliefs that the world would/will end this year/next year, there are beliefs that the Earth is flat, there are beliefs we humans can ween off eating food and gain all the nutrition required from sunlight.
This can be handled respectfully, if we can take the person seriously and assume they are mature and civil enough to handle being told they are totally wrong. Doing this doesn't mean we have to respect that belief only the person holding the belief. We can find what they think to be utterly ridiculous and nonsensical and still sit them down and respectfully tell them so.
To further the quote with a speech from the the person being quoted.
Johann Hari on free speech and religious fundamentalism
Does the Church actively participate in wars as the past?
Yes religion does participate in war actively in the present day. It does still actively participate in discrimination, hate and violence.
If someone truly believed they had pink and purple elves living in their anus, should that belief be respect in order to respect the person or should it be called out for just how ridiculous the belief is?
No, however that does not constitute a religion, merely a belief.
No, however that does not constitute a religion, merely a belief.
Never said it did, but we can address the ridiculousness that someone has oddly colored butt elves the same way we can address the ridiculousness of a belief in say an all powerful infallible all loving vengeful God who made a flawed universe.
If someone truly believed they had pink and purple elves living in their anus, should that belief be respect in order to respect the person or should it be called out for just how ridiculous the belief is?
All beliefs should be respected. If a person isn't harmed by their belief in butt-elves or whatever other belief they happen to have, then so be it. And if that person's beliefs, whatever they may be, bother you so much, then you should simply not associate yourself with them. Now, if a belief connotes a serious mental condition or presents danger to the believer or to the people around them, then they should get professional help, or you, as their friend, should get it for them. But sardonic comments about their beliefs will still not help them in any way.
All beliefs should be respected.
Why?
If a person isn't harmed by their belief in butt-elves or whatever other belief they happen to have, then so be it. And if that person's beliefs, whatever they may be, bother you so much, then you should simply not associate yourself with them.
Wouldn't that make it harmful, if people where so bothered by their beliefs that no one would associate with them?
Now, if a belief connotes a serious mental condition or presents danger to the believer or to the people around them, then they should get professional help, or you, as their friend, should get it for them.
You mean like thinking a magical man in the sky is controlling everything they do? I would assume that shows a serious mental condition.
But sardonic comments about their beliefs will still not help them in any way.
Why not?
Why?
Because if you want people to respect you and your beliefs, you might not want to be a **** all the time about other's beliefs.
We have to save our misguided brothers! Listen to logic! I don't like how you force people to believe in God, but I LOVE the way I can diss religion and then tell people that whatever they believe in is BS! I love how I pressure religious folk to recant and believe in science whilst condemning similar converting processes! I love how I slander people for not believing in science, yet I hate it when people criticize science! I love how hypocritical I am and I love the fact that I can't see I am hypocritical!
Also this^
You mean like thinking a magical man in the sky is controlling everything they do? I would assume that shows a serious mental condition.
How? People don't necessarily believe that it is a great man in the sky. The belief is that because God doesn't have a physical aspect, than he/she/it cannot have a physical dwelling, so God must live in an area separate from the known universe. Is it insanity to believe that the universe is expanding? If it isn't than show me proof. Also, show me proof that atoms exist-I can't see them! Please prove to me a host of other things that were "roven" by science but can't be seen!
"Hey, I'm gonna make people believe in atheism, but then scoff at their own beliefs while expecting them to accept mine!"
Why?
Common courtesy.
Wouldn't that make it harmful, if people where so bothered by their beliefs that no one would associate with them?
If a friend can be driven away from a person purely because of their religious beliefs, then that person is better off without that particular friend. We all have our flaws.
You mean like thinking a magical man in the sky is controlling everything they do? I would assume that shows a serious mental condition.
They were indoctrinated with that belief, it shows no such thing.
Why not?
Because that will make them hostile towards you, and therefore disregard everything you say. If you are genuinely attempting to change a person's mind, then you would be better off doing so respectfully.
I think that this South Park clip sums things up nicely.
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