Question for anyone who stopped 'bashing' religions?

Question

What brought you to change your way of talking to religious people?
Just wondering. I did alot of bashing on here, especially to Christians, but it wasn't working for me anmore... Wondering if there are 'ex-bahsers' out their.

Note: I am not asking why you did it, I know alot of the reasons. I am just wondering if anyone stopped, what brought you to that point?

Answer 1

The subject of religious bashing came up the other day in a question over on Yahoo! Answers. (http://answers.yahoo.com) Here is the link to the question...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Almc2bHuYWj3_ZufeRqpF6_sy6IX?qid=1006051029328

So I started thinking about this and here is what I came up with...
First, let's define bashing. Bashing is going on a full frontal nasty attack with the intent to incite people because of its' hatred or bigotry of something. At least that is how I see bashing. But most don't agree with that definition. To some people bashing is disagreeing with their religious belief system or pointing out what you see as perceived flaws in it. Some even consider comments that you do not believe in that system bashing. However, that is NOT bashing, that is disagreeing and people are allowed to do that, like it or not. People do not have to agree with your religion or follow it as you do, they are allowed to have their own belief system and follow their own way. They also have the right to offer up proof as to why they feel your belief system is false. Just because you don't agree or like what is said about it doesn't mean it isn't factual. Nor is a factual thing proving what they are saying 'bashing'; the truth, whether you believe it or not, is not a form of bashing, sorry. While the U.S. is a predominately Christian country it is not the only religion in the country, there are others and people are allowed to not follow Christianity. From what I have seen on Y!A, despite what some people may think, Christianity doesn't take more of a beating than any other religion and Christians themselves are as guilty as any other group at bashing religions they don't believe in. Sorry people, they are. They can be downright mean and hateful about it as well, just like any other. Christians, however, are more guilty than others of a few things such as trying to convert people of different faiths and being judgmental about things. Wicca takes a regular beating from Christians whereas most other religions don't do such things. On a regular basis Christians call it devil worship or tell Wiccans they are going to hell. Not only that, any time a question about Wicca or Paganism is posted Christians will make sure they answer it with a statement that it is Satanism or you are going to hell if you practice it. Other religions, as a rule, don't do that. More demonization has been done to Wicca by Christians than any other faith. I've heard some of the most outlandish things touted as to what Wicca is that don't even fall into the realm of believability! Yet there are people that do believe it and embrace it wholeheartedly. Sad thing, that. Here is a couple examples of it...


Yes, werewolves are deadly and Satan uses them to punish anyone in the cult or witchcraft coven who defaults or goes against Satan law. In short they are human but when the spirit enters into them they turn into a werewolves and at that time no gun can penetrate them and once they get to their target, they tear their target apart like paper shred. After that they come back to human form and do experience some cuts in their hands where the claws come from and others.May almighty God help you to get more revelations apart from other books read and my reference book.

Hey you pagans, what about all the children that ya'll sacrifice to your sick god (fallen angel) and .........
the bodies you take and bury in fresh graves that are dug for burials the next day, so no one finds them? I can't wait until Christians all around call on the God of Elijah, that anointing will challenge your jezebellic anointing and bring it down to where it has to bow down to The one true, living God, just like in the old testament!!! Say what you want to, I know in whom I believe!


I don't even know WHERE to start with this stuff! No, they aren't real yet some persist in believing this garbage. The first post relates to a man named William Schnoebelen. I hadn't heard of him before so I went and looked him up on the web. Here are a couple links I found...
http://www.holysmoke.org/wicca/bills00.htm
http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=cabc&c=whs&id=4355
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Schnoebelen
http://users.cybercity.dk/~ccc44406/smwane/Schnoe.htm

OK, from what I am gather the man is a full fledged wackjob that cannot have done everything he said he did. If you know anything about the groups he professed to have belonged or was initiated to you would realize that it isn't humanly possible to have done it all. Not only that some of the 'levels' he had attained don't even exist! So he is basically making things sound worse than they are to 'stir the pot' so to speak. Not only that, he is making a good living doing it. That is probably, the money, the whole reason for doing this. Problem is some people read his stuff and just assume, because it sounds good, that it HAS to be right and never go to check the voracity of his statements. After all a 'good Christian' would never lie. We all know better than that one. Religious people will lie just like anyone else, sorry, and that has been proven time and again to be true. Being devout doesn't make you honest. There are plenty devout people out there that do believe the ends justify the means and will stop at nothing to demonize another group and will think nothing about spreading around a falsehood about something eventhough they know it is wrong. While all stories like these have grains of truth in them here and there they distort it and make up so much stuff to go along with it that any truth that may be in there is lost among the garbage. Yet, no matter how outlandish the tale, some people will swallow it and swear it is the truth. Sad, that.

How do we curtail and stop people like the afore mentioned man? That's the million dollar question. He does have the right to say and publish what he wants so the solution comes down to the rest of us. The best way is to totally ignore it. If he isn't making money on this crapola he will move onto something else that will give him what he wants. The only other way is to expose them for the fraud they are by refuting the statements they make. While you will never convince everyone what is said is wrong the majority of people are open minded enough to listen to both sides and look at the facts objectively then make a dection as to whether or not it is the truth. Just because you have faith doesn't mean you are going to swallow every holy cow that comes along. The majority of Christians, as well as other faiths, are great people who are very tolerant and nice. They also see a scam when it's in front of them and loathe what is done in the name of their religion. They do realize that people like this do nothing but hurt their faith and drive people away from it. They don't support this kind of garbage being touted in their name. It's the minority that do stuff like this. It is also the minority that bash other religions and just generally make the whole religion look bad. But I do believe, this is my own opinion so take it as nothing more than that, that they do have to do more to reign in the extremists in their religion and stand up and say that isn't right, that is not what this religion is about. When they start doing that things will start to change and the relationship between the different religions will get better.

Just because someone isn't of the same faith as you are doesn't make them a bad person or evil, they are just different and see things differently. Most people realize that and have a group of friends that are very diverse. The more we ALL learn about other faiths and the belief systems people have the more tolerant and peaceful this world will get. If this doesn't happen this world is going to keep getting worse and the ultimate outcome will be something no one wants, a war that there will be no winners in.

Think about that next time you chose to attack or bash someone else because they don't believe as you do...

Answer 2

I am not the basher. I'm the bashed and I'm not a Christian. Think about it. When umpteen different Christian fundamentalists are saying you'll go to "HELL" because you don't subscribe to their dogma, how would presenting a logical, if not heated retort make you a "basher"?

The contention that I'll go to hell because I don't believe in the same god as you is hardly a tacit condemnation. It's a direct insult. Why should anyone be tolerant of people that spew such hate filled rhetoric?

I don't argue with good Christians, and I know there are plenty. It's the judgmental, undeservedly arrogant, undeservedly pious creeps that mask their intolerance, idiocy, and overtly hateful ways in "Christ" that are my enemies. I'll fight their brand of ignorance to the end.

Of course stewing over it on the internet doesn't do a damn bit of good, but at least it gives me the opportunity to put these idiots in there place.

Answer 3

What is the point? Aside from the fact I believe anyone should be able to think and believe as they wish as long as they allow me the same freedom, why bother bashing them they will not change because of it. The only thing it accomplishes is anger release. Meditating is better for that or a good punching bag. It simply does not good to exert yourself for no gain, why make an effort of futility. Let everyone be as they want to be, no need to tangle for it.

Answer 4

I never bashed people's religions on here, but I did do it in person back in the day (I know, very ballsy).

I have refrained from doing so in the present time because I have come to the conclusion that people are going to believe what they want to believe, no matter how crazy it is and what I say about it. And, now that I am older, they have the right to do so. Also, I refrain from doing so because people get REALLY mad when you do bash their religion....so, I try to avoid that conflict now that I am older.

Answer 5

I just tell the truth and they think it's bashing.

"Bashing" seems to be in the same category as "hate" and depends on who is interpreting the word.

I have seen comments that offered nothing but insults and they were fairly characterized as "bashing."

Having said that, Christians bash others far more than others bash Christians.

Answer 6

I really never started. I'm a muslim, and I am a convert. I respect people of all faiths although I may not agree with them. I realize that one way of life may not fit another person. I follow my religion and just let people choose their own way of life. I also know from experience that you can talk until you are blue in your face and get nowhere. So, live and let live. Leave it to God.

Answer 7

Many religions look ridiculous, including the christian one. Many people express their feelings about that. That's not necessary 'bashing'. Whoever has a strong religion doesn't feel insecure. As you can see, many religious people are not secure in their religion, so they are yapping.

Answer 8

i grew up and gave my head a shake you can believe what ever you want it is your personal choice but who is to say you are right or the other guy is right in the long run they are just people too and they are living life the way they think is right i may not agree with the way every one looks at RIGHT but if it doesn't effect me directly why do i care

Answer 9

I never bashed any religion coz its not morally right to do so. When you cast a stone on others dont think you will be spared.

Answer 10

Years ago, it didn't make me feel good, plus, I was brought up better than that. I didn't like the bad consequences of the actions, so I stopped. Once I stopped, the bad consequences stopped. :-)

Answer 11

I never bashed. Disagreed strongly? Yes. I'm glad to see you change your ways, even if you still don't agree with someone.