Why aren’t they all just considered ridiculous?

chumly wrote:

Why should there be a moral judgment placed on how one perceives / responds to a given religion or it's adherents?

I think that there are certain things, in a society, that are deemed by many to be sacrosanct, like motherhood and apple pie. Religions fall in this category. It is so much a part of the fabric of many people, that it has attained a place of reverence. Whether this reverence is deserved or not, is a question that might reasonably be argued. Like it or not, disparaging a person's faith is seen by many as a grave social gaffe, at the least.

Why aren't Christians / Jews / Moslems / Buddhists etc simply considered to be eccentric, crazy and ridiculous?

Even many people whom one would surmise would know better appear to take them seriously at least to some fair degree and at least in the context of the popular media and in many cases far beyond that realm too.

Lemme ask y'all something...

Is your feeling that it's right to ridicule religions at all limited by the setting? I mean to say, I think there are things that are acceptable in a cyber forum that might seem otherwise face-to-face. Granted, as someone has just said - this is an internet forum, and pretty much anything goes and sissies take their marbles and go home. But would you approach the subject any differently with real ive people in - say, a classroom? Or would you be just as apt to barrel right into a bunch of people discussing their religions and say some thing like "Well I think you're all deluded and your beliefs are superstitions nonsense?"

Would it constrain or change your words if you had to look someone in the eyes and say 'your imaginary god/friend is hogwash, just like the tooth fairy and Santa'?

As you can easily guess, I ask because I don't think it would be as easy in person - and I think if that's true, then it begs other questions about what the ridiculing person is doing, and why.

and weeping

The Christians and the Catholics are a little stunned when my disbelief floats into a conversation. They have a hard time getting a handle on it.

I don't do well with hypocrites and I find that a lot of believers are hypocrites mainly because it's so hard to keep up the fantasy that there's bound to be failures.

Why aren't Christians / Jews / Moslems / Buddhists etc simply considered to be eccentric, crazy and ridiculous?

Even many people whom one would surmise would know better appear to take them seriously at least to some fair degree and at least in the context of the popular media and in many cases far beyond that realm too.

Given the near universality of religion in human culture and the remarkable commonality of the moral values articulated by the most prominent religions, noted above, one could make a serious case suggesting that one who summarily rejected the possibility of enduring value in any of them was himself a bit out of tune with the reality of human experience.

We should start a thread called "Unifying US & Canada". That would be sure to stir up some ****!

snood wrote:

Lemme ask y'all something...

Is your feeling that it's right to ridicule religions at all limited by the setting? I mean to say, I think there are things that are acceptable in a cyber forum that might seem otherwise face-to-face. Granted, as someone has just said - this is an internet forum, and pretty much anything goes and sissies take their marbles and go home. But would you approach the subject any differently with real ive people in - say, a classroom? Or would you be just as apt to barrel right into a bunch of people discussing their religions and say some thing like "Well I think you're all deluded and your beliefs are superstitions nonsense?"

Would it constrain or change your words if you had to look someone in the eyes and say 'your imaginary god/friend is hogwash, just like the tooth fairy and Santa'?

As you can easily guess, I ask because I don't think it would be as easy in person - and I think if that's true, then it begs other questions about what the ridiculing person is doing, and why.

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I think, and people have told me, that I am no different on this forum than I am in real, face to face, life. I am true to my word. I see no value in hiding the truth. I take time when making judgments about situations and the people in them. I do my best at all times. And I am funny. Maybe funnier in real life, I don't know.

My co-workers all know I don't believe there is a god. It's a question I've been asked and I always answer honestly. Some of them are pretty confused about it. "How come," asked one a few months ago, "that the only one around here who doesn't believe in God is the only one who won't lie to the clients." Everybody laughed.

The Muslims and I have long talks because I am curious about the workings of Islam and they LOVE to talk. They give me books. They like it that I, unlike others, do not resent them taking six days a year off for holy days, in additional to taking the Christian holidays too. I tell them I think it's a racket and that I am starting a new religion where every other Monday is holy.

The Christians and the Catholics are a little stunned when my disbelief floats into a conversation. They have a hard time getting a handle on it.
But I tell them I don't live life waiting for some god to change the laws of nature and make a miracle. I think life is a miracle. I don't need to pray for things to get better while I am doing all I can to make them better. Wasted energy, isn't it?

Some people are a little sad, but I think they are sad that they haven't found another believer to share with. We've had talks about that too. I tell them I'm okay with just having this life and that I think this one life is all that they are going to get as well. Live well once. They wince.

I don't do well with hypocrites and I find that a lot of believers are hypocrites mainly because it's so hard to keep up the fantasy that there's bound to be failures.

But Snood wants to know if I tell people to their face that they are deluded, that their belief is no different than that of Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. And the answer is yes. I don't use the word hogwash, but I have used fairy tale, myth and made-up story.

But I do smile when I am saying it and I shrug "Whatever."

Just for a moment they lose traction and you can see them slipping but then they perk up and re-embrace whatever myth it was they were holding onto and life goes on.

Joe(so it does.)Nation

Hello JOe, how do you separate Catholics from Christian???????

For most however, their lives, instead of being one of calmness supported by faith, seems delicately balanced and the slightest challenge sets them off. They surround themselves with rituals, prayers, song and music, long sessions of reading Bible passages, all in an attempt to shore up their faith when a faith should float on it's own.