Religion And Respect

[Paigntonian]

Today, yet again, when ABers raise issues that touch on religion, they are confronted by a barrage of bile, ridicule and condescension. It is a measure of those who do so that they can only engage in insults, many of them highly personal. I don't recall any of the even slightly religious attacking atheists or agnostics in this manner. And that, I suppose, speaks volumes.

[Peter Pedant]

// This OP should be in jokes.//
where alot of Naomis should be too?

the place for piffle masquerading as deep thought - ho hum normal sunday day on AB

[andy-hughes]

Theland - // Are the last two posts not a display of superiority? //

Instead of making snide remarks about other posters, why not address your inbuilt casual bigotry which surfaces with distressing regularity - against all the tenents of your belief which you are so keen for everyone to share.

[naomi24]

//the place for piffle masquerading as deep thought - ho hum normal sunday day on AB //

Particularly when you're around, PP.

[10ClarionSt]

Andy Hughes @ 23.02:

"Their constant smug superiority, unwillingness to concede the possibility that they might be wrong, their insults, their sarcasm, and their evasion."

This is a general trait on AB, not just with religion.

[Theland]

Snide remarks? Really? Don't think so!
I'm happy with my beliefs.
They are unassailable.
If there are any serious seekers after God, and ask s question I'll try my best to answer.
Where I fail is dealing with the constant and abrasive questions and comments from committed atheists who only post to stir up controversy for their own entertainment and to massage their own ego.
Now, what is your question?

[fiveleaves]

Well said Paigntonian. I post in the Religion and Spiritually where you would think people might reasonably expect to read posts from people who hold a particular religious standpoint.
I wont let the bullies win, however

[naomi24]

Theland, //Atheists who only post to stir up controversy for their own entertainment and to massage their own ego.//

As far as insulting people in R&S goes, you are the worst offender. The OP must have missed your posts. That said there are times (see above) when you don’t even seem to recognise the insults you lob. I don’t post to massage my ego. I figure that if people are posting misinformation as you do, I should be at liberty to challenge that and to offer the evidence to support that challenge - which I do.

[Mozz71]

//Particularly when you're around, PP.//

I don't think anything Peter writes can masquerade as deep thought. It tends to be pure idiocy.

[pixie374]

Theland, that's kind of the point. My post was factual and then opinion. If you disagree, why not say why, instead of throwing at names? How can it be superior if its wrong? It's better to prove than just use insults.

[rowanwitch]

I find the whole religion thing somehow sad, supposedly intelligent beings diminishing themselves creating a higher being, and alongside that structures that mitigate against personal growth and development by demanding obedience out dated codes that while they once served the purpose of reducing unsafe behaviour are no longer needed. Denying themselves joy in this life because someone in the past made the promise of heaven, or some other higher state. Those who have power within the structures abusing or hiding the abuse, and believing repentance means no punishment will be forthcoming. Sad, mad, bad, whichever way you look at it.

[woofgang]

If you think that a poster has been rude or abusive to you personally about any subject then report them. If they are rude or abusive about the subject then its within the rules....and I say this as a person who believes in god. I also believe that god is not injured by the beliefs of others.

[Theland]

I do not intentionally set out to hurt anybody, but my posts are as factual as I can make them.
If my observations see somebody posting to make mischief, or to stir up controversy I say so.
You Nami are the worst offender, and as for posting misinformation I have never knowingly done that.
If however you challenge what I write then back it up with evidence to the contrary.

[naomi24]

Don’t blame me for your neurosis theland. That’s your problem.

I do post information to support my posts - and you ignore it.

[andy-hughes]

Theland - // Where I fail is dealing with the constant and abrasive questions and comments from committed atheists who only post to stir up controversy for their own entertainment and to massage their own ego. //

No, where you fail is not recognising the set up here.

The atheists put up a fraction of the threads started on this site, only nailit regularly asks probing questions.

The fervents however, post questions and say they invite responses, and then get snitty when the responses are not to their choosing, and then say they welcome questions, when clearly they absolutely do not at all.

Others post yards of C & P'd scripture and never participate further, heaven forfend that they should actually get involved in discussing their beliefs.

You in particular bang on about your beliefs, and then get aggressive with people who provide legitimate challenges, then you stoke your martyr fires, then you invite questions, like some sort of biblical groundhog day.

You claim to be happy in your beliefs, but your behaviour indicates anything but.

Every day you are on here handwringing about 'exploring this' and 'thinking about that' as though the entire weight of Christian dogma rests on your shoulders.

While you fervents post, we atheists will question, but as people who are actually are happy in our non-beliefs, if this section stopped over night, I doubt if the atheists would miss it for a moment.

The fervents however would have no platform from which to preach, condemn, patronise, insult and evade as they all do on a daily basis.

If this is how your faith makes you happy, you are absolutely welcome to it, and all your endless going round in circles over years has done is convince me even more that I want no part of it, ever.

[Spungle]

Why shouldnt we respect that others hold different beliefs and viewpoints? The world (nor answerbank) is not split into two factions of 'fervents and atheists' but a multitude of other beliefs and absence of. Petty attempts to divide rather than to seek to understand each other is not only childish, but completely irrational.

[Theland]

Then Andy, as a special tribute to you I shall stop posting.

[andy-hughes]

Spungle - // Why shouldnt we respect that others hold different beliefs and viewpoints? //

I am far from alone in my position - and there is abundant evidence on the site to back it up - that it is the fervents who do not respect non-believers.

It's that built-in superiority, the "I've got something you need and I'm better because of it ..." attitude that lets them walk around with silly superior smiles on their faces all day long.

[Theland]

On this thread that is.

[andy-hughes]

Theland - // On this thread that is. //

You didn't need to qualify that statement, you can no more stop posting than you can stop fretting and moaning about your God - it's as natural as breathing.

[andy-hughes]

Theland - // Then Andy, as a special tribute to you I shall stop posting. //

Grow up.