Why do people hate religion? (4 Viewers)

[Not-That-Bright]

Just like religion which is only just the opposite. I am just saying Athiesm is similar to religion in the sense they are both a belief.

Alot of things are 'a belief', are these all religions? :/

 

[berra]

i have a religious family, but never did they force me to do the things i didn't want to do, or expect me to be like them. all they taught me were the basic things, which was a very effective strategy as it created awareness in me and wanted me 2 learn more.... but in my own way.

what i've been reading from most of u guys is that ur parents have forced you, or you've been told that "you're going to hell" if your not a Christian, or you have to be exactly like them, there's no "grey areas", everyone says sumthing different, it ties u down, etc, etc.

and yes, u guys r right, there r so many people declaring to b religious leaders and causing corruption through manipulation... and this occurs in every single religion. not just Christianity or Islam, or Buddhism... and this is why there are extremists, who give bad names to certain religions. also, i jst can't understand how there can be a "book" according to matthew, james, paul, etc...

like who gives them the right to preach their personal opinions to others?

and i advise every1 to do their own research (using relevant and non-biased info), and then make decisions 4 themselves...

ne1 disagree?

 

[lengy]

You can look up religions and atheism on wikipedia. It's a good source for trying to understand different viewpoints in the most objective way possible.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

Hitler, like all true socialists, was an athiest.

- There is absolutely no evidence of hitler professing to being an atheist.
- There are many examples of speeches where he professes a belief in God (sometimes a christian God)
- Atheists were targetted for persecution under nazi germany.
- Christians filled some of the highest ranks of the nazi government.
- Hitler aligned himself with various religious groups/churches.

Hitler may not have been a christian, but he definately was no atheist. In the end though, what does it matter?

David Gehrig noted that Hitler still sets the gold standard for "easiest rhetorical cheap shot." He related a comment from Usenet that there is an empirical law: As a Usenet discussion gets longer, the probability that someone in it will compare someone else in it to Hitler asymptotically approaches 1. In other words, atheists looking for a quick cheap-shot may claim Hitler was a Christian; similarly, Christians looking for a quick shot may claim he was an atheist. Know what? Hitler was a vegetarian! Oooh, those evil vegetarians! He also recommended that parents give their children milk to drink instead of beer and started the first anti-smoking campaign. (So by the "reasoning" used in these types of arguments, if you are truly anti-Hitler, you should smoke heavily and only give your baby beer!) Better watch out, though he was an oxygen-breather, too! In other words, does it really matter whether Hitler was an atheist or a Christian or whatever? Just because somebody may hold a particular worldview (along with other views) doesn't make him a spokesman for that view, or even remotely representative of others who hold that view.

 

[mr EaZy]

I know what you mean!!

I also hate religion because religious people frown upon atheists.

maybe there should be a thread saying "why do people hate atheists?"

 

[daledugahole]

Hitler would have alined himself with Christianity because some Christians used to blame the Jews for killing Jesus. Yes it is absurd but it would have added to Hitlers antisemitism.

And really what does it matter whether or not Hitler was Christian or in any way religious. People that do such apalling things can be religious, atheist, agnostic it really doesn't matter it doesn't change things and it doesn't mean that their actions should be a reflection on their religious persuasion.

 

[sunjet]

Hitler was raised as a Catholic and used the christianity to get to power within Germany then basically rejected it during the war due to the whole 'forgiving weakness'.

 

[HotShot]

maybe there should be a thread saying "why do people hate atheists?"

if you did that , you find the same arguments used here will occur there as well - pretty much.

That athiests try to impose their beliefs on the religious.

 

[ur_inner_child]

if you did that , you find the same arguments used here will occur there as well - pretty much.

That athiests try to impose their beliefs on the religious.

On these forums, perhaps atheists are louder, I agree.

Although in the real world, where you compare the religious with the atheists, religious people are louder.

Atheists don't come door knocking or stand by town hall with booklets

 

[lengy]

Generally though, atheists shouldn't really care about religion, since they are apathetic towards it. But given the chance to debate it, we will speak out about it. It's just this thread is a pretty loud representation. You seem to think you are a minority being religious.

 

[HotShot]

On these forums, perhaps atheists are louder, I agree.

Although in the real world, where you compare the religious with the atheists, religious people are louder.

Atheists don't come door knocking or stand by town hall with booklets

yet they create websites.. promoting athiesm.

* Atheist Alliance
* American Atheists
* Positive Atheism
* Freedom From Religion Foundation
* Atheist Foundation of Australia
* National Secular Society (UK)
* TheInfidels.org Site and Forum
* The Brights
* The Scottish Atheist Council (UK)
* Idaho Atheists
* Secular Coalition for America
* Secular Student Alliance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism
this is what i meant that they were similar to religions - they have their own institutions, associations etc.

Then you have athiesfoundation - so just cause they dont stand around and take the extra step doesnt mean that they dont promote their beliefs on others.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

this is what i meant that they were similar to religions - they have their own institutions, associations etc.

Alot of 'things' have institutions, associations etc.... Atheism is not a religion and it's really pathetic to continue to try to make it out as one. Sure, it has some similarities, so what?

 

[SamTan*06*]

if you did that , you find the same arguments used here will occur there as well - pretty much.

That athiests try to impose their beliefs on the religious.

And vice versa. And each different religion to other religions. And agnostics. And evryone.

 

[_dhj_]

if you did that , you find the same arguments used here will occur there as well - pretty much.

That athiests try to impose their beliefs on the religious.

it's probably because of widely perceived notions that atheists are amoral and that their lives are purposeless, coupled with the fact that they hold a different worldview. We tend to hold those who share a similar worldview in higher regard than others.

 

[finishline]

atheists, christians, islamic, buddists and etc, allike have a numerous times in their lives where they doubt if not reject the existence of a supreme being.
I dont beleive ppl hate religion but they rather hav difficulty accepting it for what it is. however the question shouldb more along the lines of why dont people accept religion

 

[lengy]

Religion has been generally 'accepted' for thousands of years because no one sort to question it. Now that it is being questioned you cry foul because you don't have the answers that those who ask the questions seek.

 

[mr EaZy]

Atheists don't come door knocking or stand by town hall with booklets

maybe this was a rare extremist athiest type

i was walking from central to uts last semester (i was going around to both the UNSW and UTS o-weeks to hang out with friends)

then there was this guy dressed in black and handing out pamphlets- he had the biggest frown/evil face ever

i was like- whats with this christian? doesnt jesus love him anymore?

i looked in the pamphlet it was all about "why God is good" but condemns people to hell


i said out loud: OHHHH! so that explains it! (why the fry face)

seriously! wat a detuchbag! :rofl:

i hope u understand why i believe athiesm is a religion to some people

and they also want to impose it on others

type up deism on the internet- these people dont have religion- they believe in a supreme being- kinda like a god but not the christian version type-

like if ur an athiest and u have a tendency to look up to something special -deism is what they'd "sell" u

they call up people - ask them questions and if they find that they're isolated at church and not happy they send them athiestic material and anti religious stuff

not that i care- but it shows that even if u dont have a religion in a conventional sense u can still have something which mirrors it

just because religion doesnt cover it doesnt mean ur free from criticism of what religion gets

----------------------------------------------------------------------
i was at the mosque yesterday- this kid had a necklace- a black rope with a large metallic $ sign at the end and his dad prayed next to him- its an innocent thingy- the boy told me that he bought it himself

i explained to the father:

1) if you wear that- its a symbol that you're a commodity - theres a price tag on ya and people can exploit you as long as they have money

2) people wear symbols like this just as christians wear crosses (even though Jesus never did- peace be upon him) it shows what they commit themselves to the symbol.

people tend to focus on many things besides God. Some would live for money , kill for it, work for it- (excessively)- (socialists have criticized this approach to life.)

Money can be an "ilah" whereas in islamic doctrine- "there is no ilah except Allah"

The guy agreed with me, basically, if you're gonna raise your kids in that kind of environment, innocent as it may seem, what kind of a future will it bring- probably not an islamic one unless some intervention occurs.

i hope you understand the Quranic term of religion= it means "a way to follow" (sabeel) the word "deen" is also used for religion

so take it from me

there is no such thing as an "infidel" in the Quran

that was a christian term for muslims and it means - "o ye without faith"

whereas the Quran even says taht there are people "who say: "we live and die and there is nothing more to that" (something like that)

so islam recognises that kind of attitude- it in fact recognises many people's beliefs and explains them to us from an objective perspective

the word kafir- simply means "ungrateful"- i.e ungrateful to God for having provided all that they have.

There is no ilah except Allah- laa ilaha illa Allah
A simple statement.

An absolute truth- so if you dont want do dedicate yourself to Allah- then who or what will you dedicate your life to. That is the question posed from the islamic perspective.

 

[mr EaZy]

it's probably because of widely perceived notions that atheists are amoral and that their lives are purposeless, coupled with the fact that they hold a different worldview. We tend to hold those who share a similar worldview in higher regard than others.

i agree with that- it comes down to that old notion of "infidel".

look at what the person does and not what they believe about the world around them to judge their character. This is because of the general principle that even good natured people can believe in falsehood ( be it in science, religion etc)

i wouldnt want to be friends with people who would make fun of my religion ... theres this christian i know- weird he just shoots crazy comments like "Allah's not gonna blast you off if you have one sip of this soup"

should i be offended by that? there were athiests at the table and they were telling him to respect my faith- it wasnt clear cut enough for me given that he was willing to listen to my explanations of why i cant eat- (its ramadan! )

 

[lengy]

So you can only be good if you're religious? Just because religion promotes 'being good' does not mean it's followers are. That's so far from the truth. People will do whatever is convenient to them, 'being good' might just be one of them. So there is a 'God'? I means nothing to me. It's not going to change who I am, what I'm going to do with my life. So I'll go to hell, but at least I know I wont be alone. Who gets into heaven? Only the good and boring people. Is there going to be massive orgies and weed smoking sessions for all eternity? Tell me what's so great about heaven? On person's utopia is another's distopia.

 

[HotShot]

So you can only be good if you're religious? Just because religion promotes 'being good' does not mean it's followers are. That's so far from the truth. People will do whatever is convenient to them, 'being good' might just be one of them. So there is a 'God'? I means nothing to me. It's not going to change who I am, what I'm going to do with my life. So I'll go to hell, but at least I know I wont be alone. Who gets into heaven? Only the good and boring people. Is there going to be massive orgies and weed smoking sessions for all eternity? Tell me what's so great about heaven? On person's utopia is another's distopia.

well as i was saying that athiesm and religion are similar. So basically by stating that you can be 'good if u r religious' is saying that anyone has the oppurtinity to be gud. Because everyone has a set of beliefs - which is typically religion.

For example ppl would that indians are religious about their cricket- they believe in it have faith and follow it - which is pretty much what a religion is and their god would be tendulkar.

A lot of you have argued that religion is the cause of violence - personally this i find this a ridiculous and stupendous statement.

Firstly when somone does something wrong or bad they will at all costs try and make excuses to justify their actions. Which basically what happens with religion just an excuse. For eg, Osama claims to be religious and supreme and holy etc etc... but he kills his own people and others and justifies this by calling them martyrs and god's men etc etc. But the fact is it was convienient for him to say that - there was religion out there that he could use to jusifty his actions. But the religion itself does not promote violence.

Just imagine a world with no 'religion' - but remember as humans we all have our own beliefs some common others not. So with conflicting beliefs there will be trouble - with or wihtout there will be conflicing beliefts and this evident by the different economic and politcal ideologies implemented by different countries. By the different ethics people have from different places - like for eg one country may allow cloning and other will not? if religion was not there such a conflict will still exists because people will have different views upon the concept.

so religion is just set of beliefs and in that way it is similar to athiesm. To say religion only was the cause of violence is silly - violence is what makes us HUMAN. we pretty much fight every day - may not be physciall manner it couldbe verbal or even within ourselves.

So athiesm and religions are similar - therefore you 'can' be good if you have set of beliefs. Since everyone has beliefs everyone has the oppurinity to be good.

Highlighted in bold is probably the most important statement of all especially when it comes to religion - its so hypocrictical people say that they are really religious but you will find that they do things whatever is more convienient to them.

In italics - might if that was heaven i am already in heaven :wave: