Why are non-believers interested in religion?

[naomi24]

This question, despite being answered numerous times, has recently been asked yet again. Clearly the misconception that religion is of no interest to the non-believer persists, so perhaps a thread containing all the answers might be beneficial to those who still don’t understand.

[grasscarp]

I was trying to be funny, but I hope to be considered among the misguided intelligenzia.

[keyplus90]

Chakka ////But there are others - Clanad is an obvious example - who are otherwise highly intelligent and totally rational except in that one corner of their lives.////

So the moment you realize that someone is not an atheist then you doubt his/her intelligence. I am sure I have heard that before. Your rationality is that you have wasted few years of your life trying to convince people that homeopaths are wrong and pharmacies should not sell that medicine. I can see you are still working on it. Lifetime mission I believe.

[jomifl]

Keyplus, and your point is?

[naomi24]

Who knows what his point is, but it's nothing to do with the question, that's for sure.

[Andyvon]

I don't usually get involved in these religious questions Naomi - or indeed this very same question when it's come up before. Usually a bit thorny!

I don't like labels but I don't believe in a single superior deity so I suppose I should regard myself as an 'atheist'. However, I'm still very interested in the study of religion in the same way I'm interested in politics. I'm not a Communist or a Nazi but I find the study of Communism and Nazism to be fascinating. It's the same with religions - not just those of today but religions of other times and places such as Ancient Egypt, Rome, meso-America etc.

A significant proportion of people around the world today believe in a single God or numerous gods. There are one billion Catholics, one billion Muslims and millions of Jews who all believe in the same God and a billion Hindus who believe in hundreds of different gods. I find it very interesting to observe how that phenomena affects so many people around the world (84% of the global population today) - not just today but throughout history.
I also find the details of each religion to be interesting in their own rights. Despite my own views I believe everyone has the right to their own beliefs and methods of worship and those beliefs should be respected. I would certainly feel uncomfortable arguing with someone that their beliefs are all rubbish and they should think the same way as I do. However, there do seem to be plenty of people around prepared to attack others for their beliefs - but that's been the way through history.

Those are just some of my reasons for being interested in religion.

[naomi24]

Andy, //I believe everyone has the right to their own beliefs and methods of worship and those beliefs should be respected.//

Many say that, but, with all due respect, it’s a thoughtless statement. If there is no line drawn, then we are on a very slippery slope. Some people, for example, demand in the name of religion female circumcision, or marriage of children to grown men– or the extermination of gays or blacks or doctors who carry out abortions - and none of those practices or philosophies can I respect. Having said that, let us not go down that route on this thread. I’m just pointing out that such a blanket statement has an enormous downside – in my opinion at least.

[Andyvon]

But you are making a blanket statement about all those billions of people around the world who you obviously disagree with Naomi.

There are many millions of people who don't agree with the things that many in the Western world do. We can't just denounce everyone we don't agree with as wrong. I don't think there are many who advocate the extermination of blacks or doctors who perform abortions (are there?).

[naomi24]

Andy, //But you are making a blanket statement about all those billions of people around the world who you obviously disagree with Naomi.//

Yes, I am because I genuinely believe that religion – ALL religion - is damaging. However, that is rather different to saying, as you did, that ALL religious belief should be respected - because that must automatically include the belief held by some that blacks, and doctors who perform abortions, should be exterminated. It’s easy to say //I believe everyone has the right to their own beliefs and methods of worship and those beliefs should be respected//, and such a statement probably comes across to some as rather commendable, but realistically, for anyone possessing an iota of a sense of moral justice that statement cannot possibly be supported. I don’t believe anyone respects ALL religious belief – and if they do, they need to examine the implications of their claim and think again because their principles are seriously awry.

[bazwillrun]

I'm only interested to the degree that it totally amazes me how come so many people are taken in by all the lies and deception, and willing to believe in something which for the greater part has no proof to back it up, just fairy tales and lies , threats and fear to back it up.

[ludwig]

// I believe everyone has the right to their own beliefs and methods of worship and those beliefs should be respected //

Why should religion get special dispensation when it comes to respect? Political beliefs are fair game for criticism and analysis as are beliefs of any other kind. It's only religion where we're expected to maintain a hushed reverance.

I agree with the first bit though, everyone can indeed believe what they like. What they shouldn't do is expect everyone else to respect those beliefs.

To answer the original question - it's a silly question. First of all, most non-believers aren't interested in religion. Secondly, the ones that are have every right to be. It's an interesting topic after all.

[jomifl]

Respect for religious beliefs is all very well, the practises resulting from those belief deserve close inspection and condemnation where necessary. The worst practice of religions and the one that is mostly ignored is the imposition by parents onto their children of their beliefs. It is the 'elephant in the room'.

[chakka35]

keyplus, the answer to the first part of yor post is No, but I long ago ceased to try to argue rationally with you. You just don't have the equipment.

As to the second part, you are years out-of-date. I did not spend that much time and I won. The quackery has been removed and the incident was closed long ago.

Do try to keep up. Or, on second thoughts, don't bother; that wil be lesss tedious for us all.

[joko]

it goes far deeper than art images, songs, faith schools etc - religion can be linked to all sorts of things that opress and distress us

its effects are the number one cause of most neurosis - the underlying sense of being sinful, unclean, unworthy, guilt, worry, being watched, being controlled, etc etc is something that infects our psyche and no matter if we totally disbelieve in god etc, it still affects us.

there are many atheists who would still look down on a women who has had lots of sex ... they would be horrified if their girlfriend had had say 20 partners - why?
because we are brought up to believe that sex is dirty and wrong other than in marriage - and any women who indulges is immoral, sinful and dirty...