ATHEISTS, what do you think of religious people>?

Question

do you wish to "change" their thinking, if so why? and, Do you think that your fighting a losing batte?

Answer 1

I have no investment in changing their beliefs. However, I have a heavy investment in keeping them from imposing their beliefs about marriage, sex, and science on others who don't share their beliefs.

Many (not all) Christians would love to recriminalize homosexuality, prevent the study of evolution, jail women and doctors who are involved with abortion, and limit the free speech of those who disagree with them. These are efforts to turn a free, secular society into one run by a Christian Taliban.

Within their church, they can have all the restrictions they want. If they want more members, attract them. However, they can expect my resistance to any efforts to impose their tight morality on a world that holds different viewpoints.

Answer 2

Well I'm married to a believer of a god,or she says she does. Yes I wish everyone would wake up and smell something. There is a whole world for us to experience. Why are we fighting about gods and spirits that do not exist. Be self reliant and realize that you can help the world and be a good person without fear of a god and hell. No the world will not lose religion but no Atheist is fighting to make it go away. As fast as a person wakes up ten children are born and confused by parents and family about their god.

Answer 3

I have no problems with religious people, although I do have a certain amount of problem with religion. I do have a problem with the need that some people have to feel guilty, or try to make others feel guilty.

As far as changing religious people, yes, to a degree. I don't want to take away your beliefs. I just want people to stop thinking that the "You're going to hell statement," is going to do anything for the argument besides making them feel better.

As far as the 'losing battle', let's look at the numbers. People are increasingly willing to look at scientific facts rather than religious dogma.

Answer 4

Some religious people are so out of touch with reality that they are a threat to society but, for the most part I just think they are a people who reached a different conclusion for one reason or another. I would wish to change the thinking of crazy fundamentalists who spread hate, violence, or would like to force everyone to conform to their beliefs...other than that, I don't care. Since I really only fight for complete freedom of religion and civil rights for everyone, it doesn't seem like a loosing battle since progress is being made.

Answer 5

I'm not an atheist..I'm agnostic. I think some..not all..some religious people go too far and take things way too seriously. I would like to change their thinking about trying to covert everyone and using their religious book of choice as an excuse to treat people bad or start wars. I don't think I'm fighting an losing battle. I don't like to think of it as a battle..rather a huge disagreement. I hope logic wins out in the end.

Answer 6

I actually do want to change their ideas, well some of them.
My problem is with those that believe we are living in a system of rewards and punishments. Those that do good only to get into heaven and that avoid evil out of fear of hell. There is plenty of reason to help. We should be good to each other for the simple reason that we can be. We should accept that we are all different. We may have different languages and traditions, but we are equal.
As to those that do good because it is right, it shouldnt matter if god exists. God wants what is best for mankind and faith doesnt help much.

Answer 7

I'm not fighting any battle.

I think most religious people are just like everyone else.

It isn't the religious people, it is the extremists who give everyone in any group a bad name.

Pat Robertson represents a tiny fraction of all Christians, yet his voice is heard above most others. Same with all other extremists. Represent few, but speak for many in the eyes of others.

But, I don't really care what they think so long as they don't try to force their Puritanical ideas or extremist ideas on me or my community.

Answer 8

I like religious people and wish nothing more than they can live their life by their own personal code, so long as they are not committing force or fraud on other people to meet their objectives.

All I ask is that they not pass laws that coerce other people to participate in their religious ceremonies or force public funds to their denominations.

There need not be a battle here.

Answer 9

The only religious people I want to change are those who kill in the name of thier god.
The others feel a need to believe, and I wouldn't want to take away from them what keeps them going. I do however, wish they would realize that god is not for everyone, and I have no desire to be converted.

Answer 10

As with all types, even religious types can be categorized:

(a) Mindless sheep cowering in fear of a retributive, angry God (Here remember the Monty Python song "every sperm is sacred...")
(b) Thinkers who know that religion is fiction, but are very spiritual in a thankful way
(c) Social religious types who book their place in heaven by opening hospitals and schools.
(d) Idiots and morons who unquestioningly accept any rubbish as dogma (ranging from "Only way to the father is thru the son", "Kill the non-believers by slitting their throats", to "we are the chosen people"....)