Less and Less religious

[Mayane]

My parents never planted the idea of a 'God' in my mind, and never felt there was anything. Even when I first heard of a concept called God I found it impossible. This was around the age of 8. You could say I was an atheist untill the age of 15. Then I've changed into a Agnostic Atheist, since there is a slim chance he might be real. Even though I would always answer the question with: No, he is not real and I don't believe in it. Untill I'm proven wrong.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

We should always tolerate religions. We shouldn't always tolerate the actions of their followers.

Why? Why do have to tolerate religions? Why is tolerance such a value?

Fewer wars. Less death and destruction visited upon people.

[Ovisterra]

Could you give me an example of a religion like that, where all adherents want to kill someone?

The worldview of Osama Bin Laden.

Tip: Osama bin Laden isn't a religion.

[Divair]

I dont understand whats so wrong with religion. Even if it isnt true it gives people a moral compass and makes them want to do the right thing. True some people have misused it over time,but still whats so wrong with it?

You don't need religion to have a moral compass.

[EnragedMaldivians]

Yeah, I'm actually quite pro-American.

Sorry if I think the OP should have been more specific in indicating which country he was actually talking about.

Physicians. Wounds. Pots. Kettles. etc.

The OP linked to a Pew study. Pew Surveys are American. Basic reading comprehension would tell you that he's talking about America.

The Pew research centre is based in America but they've done surveys across the entire world; I've linked to Pew surveys on Egypt on this very site.

I clicked on the link, ascertained which country was being talked about and suggested the OP might have benefited by being more specific. "Americans less and less religious" would have been a better title. No reading comprehension fail on my part. No overreaction either.

You, on the other hand....

[Typhlochactas]

I didn't suggest we should punish the thought. Those are your words, not mine.

"If you just stop the action and not the thought behind it, then you're never going to win."

Pray tell how we "stop thoughts".

I believe my actual argument was something like, 'If somebody has a worldview that lets them kill other people, we should get rid of the belief that allows it'.

The problem is that you assumed I was talking about punishing thought-crime, when I was actually suggesting we should criticize these beliefs in public discourse. The idea of tolerating all religions and keeping quiet about our criticisms gets in the way of that, which is why I posted a response to Ottoman saying that we 'shouldn't always tolerate people's religions'.

[Maltropia]

The worldview of Osama Bin Laden.

Tip: Osama bin Laden isn't a religion.

Oh great, yet another one of my firmly-rooted perceptions of the world has just been wrenched out of the earth. Excuse me while I go reconsider my philosophy.

[Alassus]

(Image)

Little bit too much don't you think?

I don't think so.

[Sulamalik]

Could you give me an example of a religion like that, where all adherents want to kill someone?

The worldview of Osama Bin Laden.

I'm pretty sure that's not a religion.

[Catan]

I dont understand whats so wrong with religion. Even if it isnt true it gives people a moral compass and makes them want to do the right thing. True some people have misused it over time,but still whats so wrong with it?

To be devoted to an organized religion is to be (in some cases, not in others) subserviant to another person or institution. People should think for themselves and not have others tell them what to do. That is how nazism, the crusades, the spanish inquisition, and modern islamic terrorism happens. It is okay to agree with a religion's tenets as long as your belief in them is thought through, but the minute you do not question someone because of their clout in your church is the minute you make yourself a slave.

[Typhlochactas]

The worldview of Osama Bin Laden.

Tip: Osama bin Laden isn't a religion.

My post stated this:

We should always tolerate religions. We shouldn't always tolerate the actions of their followers.

If somebody has a worldview that lets them kill other people, then the best way to stop those actions is to get rid of the belief that allows it. If you just stop the action and not the thought behind it, then you're never going to win.

I was talking about worldviews that let people kill other people. I didn't notice that the poster had made the switch to 'religion', which is not what I was talking about.

Though, Bin Laden's worldview is deeply rooted in religion.

[Southern Patriots]

"If you just stop the action and not the thought behind it, then you're never going to win."

Pray tell how we "stop thoughts".

I believe my actual argument was something like, 'If somebody has a worldview that lets them kill other people, we should get rid of the belief that allows it'.

The problem is that you assumed I was talking about punishing thought-crime, when I was actually suggesting we should criticize these beliefs in public discourse. The idea of tolerating all religions and keeping quiet about our criticisms gets in the way of that, which is why I posted a response to Ottoman saying that we 'shouldn't always tolerate people's religions'.

Might best be done with tact.

Criticizing publicly a group you say is all about killing people will probably make them kill you.

[Ifreann]

We shouldn't always tolerate people's religions.

We should always tolerate religions. We shouldn't always tolerate the actions of their followers.

Yeah, that.

[Typhlochactas]

I believe my actual argument was something like, 'If somebody has a worldview that lets them kill other people, we should get rid of the belief that allows it'.

The problem is that you assumed I was talking about punishing thought-crime, when I was actually suggesting we should criticize these beliefs in public discourse. The idea of tolerating all religions and keeping quiet about our criticisms gets in the way of that, which is why I posted a response to Ottoman saying that we 'shouldn't always tolerate people's religions'.

Might best be done with tact.

Criticizing publicly a group you says is all about killing people will probably make them kill you.

There's worse things than death.

[Southern Patriots]

The worldview of Osama Bin Laden.

I'm pretty sure that's not a religion.

Or was it?

Written by M. Night Shyamalan.

[Great Nepal]

The worldview of Osama Bin Laden.

Tip: Osama bin Laden isn't a religion.

Nonsense!
Osama-bin-ladenism is a actual and only true religion. We shalt tie an anchor to you and throw you in sea to test if your statement was just mistake or blasphemy. Should you float, you are a heretic and thus shalt be burnt alive!

[SD_Film Artists]

Agnostic here.

And I think that it's natural for people to not rely on religion as much as in past centuries, as know a lot more about our world and thus there isn't as much of a gap to say "God did it". But then of course, you could say that God works through science, if you don't take the Bible literally.

[Typhlochactas]

Oh great, yet another one of my firmly-rooted perceptions of the world has just been wrenched out of the earth. Excuse me while I go reconsider my philosophy.

Wow, someone jumped the gun a little right there.

[Maltropia]

Tip: Osama bin Laden isn't a religion.

My post stated this:

If somebody has a worldview that lets them kill other people, then the best way to stop those actions is to get rid of the belief that allows it. If you just stop the action and not the thought behind it, then you're never going to win.

I was talking about worldviews that let people kill other people. I didn't notice that the poster had made the switch to 'religion', which is not what I was talking about.

Though, Bin Laden's worldview is deeply rooted in religion.

Was*. And in a poor comprehension of his religion. The majority of Muslims don't mindlessly slaughter other peoples, or consider it right to do so. It's the same in most groups; you get a few extremists who give the whole lot a bad name.

[Southern Patriots]

Might best be done with tact.

Criticizing publicly a group you says is all about killing people will probably make them kill you.

There's worse things than death.

Says the brave martyr risking life and limb on an internet forum.

[Palace of the Rising Sun]

I feel that some people believe in God/s because they want to, they want to have someone with them all the time, they want to have someone to talk to when things are bad. I personally believe there is a God. I also believe that we all worship the same God/s but call it different things. I think that the God that is out there found out that He/She can't change everyone's belief just with a snap of his fingers. He/She must just respond, if He/She does respond, in different ways. So I think that people just worship the same God but call it different things.
Also, religion is a community, people use their religions as a way to come together with other people and do something. They feel that by praying/singing to God/s makes their relationships stronger. (Unless you are trying to be friends with someone of different faith)

[Northwest Slobovia]

I dont understand whats so wrong with religion. Even if it isnt true it gives people a moral compass and makes them want to do the right thing. True some people have misused it over time,but still whats so wrong with it?

You don't need religion to have a moral compass.

In this, we are in complete agreement.

There are days when I'll go further, and say "Religion is to moral compass as lodestone in your pocket is to magnetic compass.".

[Vortropolis]

Little bit too much don't you think?

I don't think so.

Please explain

[Typhlochactas]

My post stated this:



I was talking about worldviews that let people kill other people. I didn't notice that the poster had made the switch to 'religion', which is not what I was talking about.

Though, Bin Laden's worldview is deeply rooted in religion.

Was*. And in a poor comprehension of his religion. The majority of Muslims don't mindlessly slaughter other peoples, or consider it right to do so. It's the same in most groups; you get a few extremists who give the whole lot a bad name.

I was referring to his ideology rather than the person, but the correction is minor anyways.

Sure, you can say whatever you want about how true his worldview is, and whether or not he is interpreting Islam correctly. I'm not trying to argue that Islam leads to these type of things, or that he's representative of the correct interpretation of the Koran. I am only citing him as an example of a worldview that is dangerous to tolerate.

[EnragedMaldivians]

If somebody has a worldview that lets them kill other people, then the best way to stop those actions is to get rid of the belief that allows it. If you just stop the action and not the thought behind it, then you're never going to win.

Could you give me an example of a religion like that, where all adherents want to kill someone?

Well, there was that whole Aztec human sacrafice to keep the sun rising business.