The Non Religious

[nailit]

Pardon the pun, but playing devils advocate here. Are the atheists and non-religious who contribute to R&S (and I'm including myself in this) sometimes a bit too quick to condemn, criticise and type ad hominem remarks in response to religious posts?

R&S section (just like news) seems to bring out the worst in people. We all have opinions but wouldn't it be better to try and have a reasoned and *rational* discussion rather than some of the heated exchanges that so often happens?

As I said, I'm including myself in this as sometimes Ive been a bit hasty replying, with some off the cuff remarks that I may not have made in a real life situation.

[naomi24]

In the main I think most non-believers here - at least those who know anything about the subject and therefore have something solid to argue with - meet the religious with reasoned, rational discussion.

[MallyJ]

I don't often reply to posts about Christianity for example because I find it quite rude to be told that I am wrong in my beliefs and perhaps a bit thick because of them.....I find it rather worrying that people with a religion can assume that the belief system I have is not valid...and actually think that makes them rather unchristian. All belief systems are valid if they help the believer to live their life .....

[nailit]

Well, lets call a spade a spade. Most atheists/non-believers THINK that believers are a bit bonkers. BUT does that give us the right to voice that opinion? (only speaking for myself...Ive been a bit vocal that way before now)…
Sure, Ive tried to use reason and its been like banging my head against the wall and the resulting frustration in having my questions ignored or been told to watch hours of You Tube vids has resulted in me becoming a bit 'mouthy' on occasion and I think other non-believers have been the same, but maybe us atheists just need to learn to just ignore the preachy type posts and let them die a death?
Just thinking out loud here...


Tried to rationalise with religionists before (in real life) and it just seems like a waste of oxygen. The minute that I vent my frustration with them, they seem to think that, THAT validates their own world view that im an imperfect human being in need of their salvation.

[Guilbert53]

Sorry but people who keep pushing religion deserve all they get.

Personally I consider religion and the church one of the worst things that man has ever created.

To me the Roman Catholic church are as bad as the mafia (both came out of Italy!) in what they have done in their history. They practiced torture and death if people would not convert to their religion.

I am currently watching Monarchy, the TV series made a few years ago, that covers all the English (then British) Kings and Queens.

It is amazing to see how much trouble religion caused in the past.

Queen Mary burning all the Protestant bishops and others who would not denounce their faith. Others kings and queens at the time also did the same but not the the extent Mary did (Bloody Mary)

The Pope (a religious man!) at the time basically saying it was ok to kill Queen Elizabeth as she was a heretic (the pope basically said you would not go to hell if you killed the Queen). The sort of thing the mafia do.

The religious wars between Catholic countries like Spain and France and the Protestant countries like Britain and Holland.

I also think the "scamming" that went on by the church, basically lying to people about the existence of heaven and hell and purgatory and encouraging people to pay them money for an easy path through purgatory or a quick route to heaven (scamming b***ds).

I saw a program a year or so back about Thomas Cromwell (not Oliver Cromwell) who was employed by the town of Boston, Lincolnshire who made a huge amount of money by charging "indulgences" to people to cleanse their sins.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indulgence

They needed the OK from the Pope to carrying on charging for this (it was the towns most profitable activity) so Cromwell went to see the pope to get permission for them to carry on.

This was scamming at the highest level and to me the Roman Catholic church as just one huge scam organization.

If any other organization behaved like they do they would be arrested for scamming, so they "hide" it behind fancy churches and fancy religious clothing.

I know a lot of this was years ago, but many churches prey on the weak and feeble minded and take advantage of them.

Even today we have people of one religion killing people of other religions (in Pakistan, India, Malaysia and many more) and of course the Muslim Terrorists are causing problems everywhere.

To me the only good religion has done is build some wonderful churches and cathedrals and other religious buildings all over the world.

[Spungle]

As a Christian, apology accepted, Nailit :) Keep on with mocking the religious, if nothing else, it allows you to let off steam.

[Mamyalynne]

I've learned to read the responses including the verbal insults and references and quietly smile - it's the seeming insistence of one trying to prove the other wrong that sometimes bemuses me.

Just live your life how you wish, nothing wrong with research of course but not if it ends up a fight.

[jim360]

"Are the atheists and non-religious who contribute to R&S...a bit too quick to condemn, criticise and type ad hominem remarks..."

How could you say that, you foolish moronic idiot? :P

Lately I think most of the religious-based questions start by already dishing that out, accusing atheists of being ignorant or misguided or biased or similar from the off. If you dish it out, you can probably expect to take it. It's a shame that Answerbank's level of debate has tended to slip, on both sides of the aisle.

[Spungle]

Posting a YouTube video link is not in any way an answer, a question, an argument, or a counter argument. It is simply laziness. If you wish to make a point, ask a question or make an argument, at least have the common decency to debate and be ready to state your beliefs, and defend your position, if you believe it to be worth defending. YouTube is an excellent resource, but it is highly unreasonable to expect others to spend their time listening to or watching a video and responding to THAT when the idea is to have your OWN beliefs to stand by, and facts to provide. Only a suggestion, and possibly one that will get ignored :) But hey, I need to let off steam too! :) That felt great :)

[Old_Geezer]

I hope not.

[nailit]

//How could you say that, you foolish moronic idiot? :P //
LOL Jim...

You know yourself from my previous posts in science that I havnt a clue about the big questions. But that doesn't prevent me from asking them and not pretending that I know that ''God did it, didn't he?''

Just a bit concerned that I may have been less than charitable towards the religious....

[nailit]

Spungle, who you addressing that to?

[Old_Geezer]

Well Guil they were buying the stairway to heaven.
It makes me wonder.

[Spungle]

Nailit, I was posting it to the same person as you aimed this at! : "having my questions ignored or been told to watch hours of You Tube vids" :)

[naomi24]

Mamyalynne, //Just live your life how you wish//

That sounds very commendable – and we hear it a lot - but where religion is concerned it’s the most unwise thing that anyone ever says because you’ll find that many religious people living their lives as they wish have a detrimental effect on the lives of others …. and that’s what many non-believers object to most.

[nailit]

You're perceptive Spungle ;-)
I tried to be non descript....
but hey-ho

[nailit]

BTW, What naomi says ^^^^
This carp affects MY life as well so Im entitled to a say!

[Mamyalynne]

I wouldn't deny you a say, was purely a reply.

[naomi24]

Yes.

[Theland]

Spungle - Wow! You admitted to being a Christian?
Expect some flak.
However, you make a good point.
I post videos because of the sheer amount of evidence in them.
I shall try to watch them and then just write up the evidence.
Come back soon. I need friends.

[Theland]

At last it is clear! Apparently, Naomi, my beliefs impact on others. Do yours? Do mine do harm?