Connections #324 Tuesday 30 April
Quizzes & Puzzles2 mins ago
Why are people that have lost their religion or don't believe in god so interested in religion?
83 Answers
I use quite a few sites and it's interesting to see that those who once were religious and aren't no more or those that don't believe in god have a lot to say on the subject. Me if i don't believe in something and have no interest in it especially if i see it as a web of lies, full of hatred and something that i wasted too much of my life on, i would be happy to never talk about it again, or are those that don't believe in god maybe have a tiny atoms weight of belief hence their constant interest on the matter, something that they cannot completely shun as it's a tiny flame that refuses to go out? Also those that don't believe in god seem to poo poo religious lots who force their views down non religious peoples throats yet the anti-god brigade do exactly the same in reverse, constantly trying to discredit and foist their non beliefs down religious peoples throats.
What do you make of this?
What do you make of this?
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The reason why different sects of the same religion can come to hate one another under one god, is surely tribalism. Humans like to form tribes , to be cooperative, but the unity of feeling, the being one of 'us', though beneficial to the tribe ,brings with it an equal feeling that the others are not just different from but inferior to us and 'wrong'. Since every tribe thinks the same way and the more intense the feeling on one side, the more intense on the other, the result is predictable conflict. And any perceived injustice only increases that conflict, sometimes with devastating consequences
Let's hope that atheists don't form 'tribes' founded on differences of doctrine! That does not seem likely.
Let's hope that atheists don't form 'tribes' founded on differences of doctrine! That does not seem likely.
//Why Are People That Have Lost Their Religion Or Don't Believe In God So Interested In Religion?//
No mythical activity other than religion affects so many people on this planet. It is absolutely fascinating how some very learned and apparently intelligent people can be so easily deceived by what is clearly an unsupported ridiculous faith. The fact that religion gets financial and legislative preferential treatment by authority is enough to speak up about the injustices that has caused more misery in the world than through any other reason.
Having said that, I also belief that religion has a small benefit.
No mythical activity other than religion affects so many people on this planet. It is absolutely fascinating how some very learned and apparently intelligent people can be so easily deceived by what is clearly an unsupported ridiculous faith. The fact that religion gets financial and legislative preferential treatment by authority is enough to speak up about the injustices that has caused more misery in the world than through any other reason.
Having said that, I also belief that religion has a small benefit.
As others have said. Religiosity still has the power to shape and effect our society, from blasphemy laws to curtail free speech and shield their faith fom criticism to patrinomy, arranged or forced marriages,guilting thousands over their sexuality to creating artificial divisions between the different sects of believers,ethnic cleansing, suicide bombers and mass murder.
No surprise then that secularists have plenty to say about some of the more absurd or unpleasant actions of the faithful.
The attitude you say you employ, in your OP ("Me, if I dont believe in something... etcetc) is analogous to the ostrich sticking their head in the sand.
All ideas should be subject to criticism, most especially those insidious ideas, based largely around belief in the absence of evidence, which encourage and endorse irrational , dangerous or downright murderous behaviour.
No surprise then that secularists have plenty to say about some of the more absurd or unpleasant actions of the faithful.
The attitude you say you employ, in your OP ("Me, if I dont believe in something... etcetc) is analogous to the ostrich sticking their head in the sand.
All ideas should be subject to criticism, most especially those insidious ideas, based largely around belief in the absence of evidence, which encourage and endorse irrational , dangerous or downright murderous behaviour.
well said waldo...if religion and its effect wasnt so entwined with almost every aspect of our lives, most people would barely acknowledge it never mind argue about it... as it is it rules, governs, interferes, dictates and generally irritates the hell out of people... from small stuff like sunday shopping to big stuff like abortion and gay rights
At the risk of repeating what others have already said, the reason that the non-religious are so interested in religion is because it affects them profoundly in their everyday lives. Once a person understands religion on a psychological level and realises the extent to which it pervades and pollutes the minds of those who hold those deistic beliefs, they can and will see the alarming degree to which religion has infected the geo-political stage.
You say that, “... the anti-god brigade... [try to] foist their non beliefs down religious peoples throats...”
That's rich. I'm sure you are aware that for the vast majority of the last 2000 years of recorded human history, organised religion has done its best to force feed a monstrous fabrication down the throats of millions of people and as a result, the hierarchies of those particular religions have profited handsomely (from such things as 'tithes' and the selling of 'indulgences').
For the most part of these last 2000 years, you could not criticise religion or declare your non-adherence to it without fear of social ostracisation or worse. Atheism isn't a new phenomenon by any means but the ability to stand up and declare yourself to be a person who simply doesn't believe in god – without fear of reprisal - is rather unique.
Those who are religious do not like their core beliefs to be criticised. In fact, they abhor criticism. They attempt to stymie criticism by legislation (blasphemy laws) and/or by threatening violence to those who criticise them (death threats to those who graphically depict Allah and/or Mohammed).
I find it completely naïve to ask why a non-religious person is interested in religion.
You say that, “... the anti-god brigade... [try to] foist their non beliefs down religious peoples throats...”
That's rich. I'm sure you are aware that for the vast majority of the last 2000 years of recorded human history, organised religion has done its best to force feed a monstrous fabrication down the throats of millions of people and as a result, the hierarchies of those particular religions have profited handsomely (from such things as 'tithes' and the selling of 'indulgences').
For the most part of these last 2000 years, you could not criticise religion or declare your non-adherence to it without fear of social ostracisation or worse. Atheism isn't a new phenomenon by any means but the ability to stand up and declare yourself to be a person who simply doesn't believe in god – without fear of reprisal - is rather unique.
Those who are religious do not like their core beliefs to be criticised. In fact, they abhor criticism. They attempt to stymie criticism by legislation (blasphemy laws) and/or by threatening violence to those who criticise them (death threats to those who graphically depict Allah and/or Mohammed).
I find it completely naïve to ask why a non-religious person is interested in religion.
The answer to your question/s is in the arguments presented . . . read them.
Any belief worth having is worth defending and the consequence of failing to confront evil is to be consumed by evil. The refusal to acknowledge and speak against the hypocrisy of religion makes one a slave and coward, complicit in the inevitable death and destruction that invariably follows in the wake of the sponsors of delusion and fear.
Any belief worth having is worth defending and the consequence of failing to confront evil is to be consumed by evil. The refusal to acknowledge and speak against the hypocrisy of religion makes one a slave and coward, complicit in the inevitable death and destruction that invariably follows in the wake of the sponsors of delusion and fear.
Could I wish everyone Happy Easter x not for a religious debate or any beliefs or disbeliefs, just because Easter makes me happy as today I have a day off.
This post and the answers has made me smile this morning so I thank G*d for that, I hope you all have a lovely weekend whatever your plans are. X
This post and the answers has made me smile this morning so I thank G*d for that, I hope you all have a lovely weekend whatever your plans are. X
birdie //Atheism isn't a new phenomenon by any means but the ability to stand up and declare yourself to be a person who simply doesn't believe in god – without fear of reprisal //
We the obscure in the West have the opportunity to speak largely without fear of murder. High profile atheists are still murdered by the faithful for their belief and even the obscure can die at the hands of God's minions if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Abrahamic religions persist as the fascist phase of primitive humanity. Their simplistic fascist mentality concrete them into an anachronism.
I acknowlege that religions did advance early societies from anarchy to some kind of order but their failing is their absolutism. The bases of modern philosophical standpoints has progressed so far yet we seem unable to avoid enduring the obbsession of the religious who have unfortunately be unable to graduate from preschool when it comes to philosophical morality.
We the obscure in the West have the opportunity to speak largely without fear of murder. High profile atheists are still murdered by the faithful for their belief and even the obscure can die at the hands of God's minions if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Abrahamic religions persist as the fascist phase of primitive humanity. Their simplistic fascist mentality concrete them into an anachronism.
I acknowlege that religions did advance early societies from anarchy to some kind of order but their failing is their absolutism. The bases of modern philosophical standpoints has progressed so far yet we seem unable to avoid enduring the obbsession of the religious who have unfortunately be unable to graduate from preschool when it comes to philosophical morality.
You've acknowledged too much, Beso. Don't concede the creation of order out of chaos to the religionists. The recent Darwin bi-centenary and the marvellous wild-life programs we've seen over the years show us where the rudiments of moral behaviour began: in our evolutionary programming as pack animals without which we would never have survived. Religion began as our first attempts to explain the world and was quickly latched on to and exploited by the alpha set.
Mike11111 - “... 'the geo-political stage' - What the f**k does that mean?”
Are you being serious?
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=geopolitical+define
Are you being serious?
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=geopolitical+define
Mike11111 - “... Could have done without the sarcastic intro, though I should have expected it from you... meaningless sociological twaddle...”
Sorry about that - I couldn't resist. I have an affliction whereby I am unable to suffer fools gladly.
As for it being 'meaningless sociological twaddle', I beg to differ. It's very serious and very real indeed. Religion impacts almost every aspect of our lives and not necessarily for the good of all. If you believe otherwise then you are kidding yourself.
Sorry about that - I couldn't resist. I have an affliction whereby I am unable to suffer fools gladly.
As for it being 'meaningless sociological twaddle', I beg to differ. It's very serious and very real indeed. Religion impacts almost every aspect of our lives and not necessarily for the good of all. If you believe otherwise then you are kidding yourself.
Mike11111 -
You say, “... I wasn't referring to religion rather the gobblydegook on the site to which you directed me, i.e. sociological botox...”.
I didn't direct you to a 'site'. What I did was give you links to the term “geopolitical”. That's all. The links that came back from that search were from Google. Make of them what you will.
You further froth, “... You are so far up your own arse my dear, that you can probably smell your own broccoli...”
Oh dear. That's not very Christian of you. It also shows the level of debate that you seem to think is acceptable.
You say, “... I wasn't referring to religion rather the gobblydegook on the site to which you directed me, i.e. sociological botox...”.
I didn't direct you to a 'site'. What I did was give you links to the term “geopolitical”. That's all. The links that came back from that search were from Google. Make of them what you will.
You further froth, “... You are so far up your own arse my dear, that you can probably smell your own broccoli...”
Oh dear. That's not very Christian of you. It also shows the level of debate that you seem to think is acceptable.
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