What REALLY bothers you about religion?

Question

Is it that you truly don't believe? Is it that what is asked of you, you don't want to give, or you don't want to do? Is it just assenine what some religious ask for? I'm sorry but I do not believe that any GOD would condone war for anyone. God may say die for me, but I don't beleive he would ever, ever say KILL for me.

I believe, but I believe because I choose to. People who don't believe, well you have that right too, but why is it that everyone must always fight over this? This is war too you know...to argue and fight is a type of war. So why not lay down the swords people instead of all this craziness and hatred? Perhaps even the worst extremists in the Muslim religions would eventually even settle down. All they want is to be left alone too. But America tries to shove it's ways down their throat and is only aggrevating it all.

OK I covered a lot more than I intended to here but it is all cause and effect that has led us here. Thoughts?

Answer 1

As cause and effect, the law will work, whether we believe or not. Stop agonizing on the believers or non-believers, as the case may be...all is in hand...it is the law.

Answer 2

Besides seeing the negative effects it has on SOME of its followers, what really bothers me about religion is when people begin to believe its tenets should apply to everyone, as with laws based in religion. If everyone in a nation truly follows that religion, then those laws are fair. If not everyone believes, then laws must be based in concepts not tied to religion. Otherwise, you are dictating that everyone must follow that religion, if only in this one instance.

While the "Founding Fathers" held deep religious beliefs, they also held a deep belief that religion should not be a part of government. Jefferson and Madison especially wrote a lot on this subject.

As for my own beliefs, it is not that something about religion "bothers" me, it is that I have found a set of (non) religious ideologies that better match the most fundamental characteristics of my being.

Answer 3

As a "non-believer," I find that (in a very general sense) I relate 2 ways with theists.

There is certainly a "war"-like relation with a certain group of religious people. Simply stated, I will always combat attempts to subvert the basic principles of modern, pluralistic democracy. This means I will oppose theocratic movements as well as other totalitarian formulations. In a more immediate arena, I will defend the rule of reason tooth and nail when it comes to how we are educating our young - especially in the critical fields of science.

On the other hand I have splendid relations with colleagues and friends who take religion AND reason seriously.

In short, it's not religion as such that causes the rift. As far as I'm concerned it's the arrogant and baseless encroachment of fundamentalism on the body politic (and scientific.) It's bad theology, bad politics, and anti-science.

Answer 4

George Bush & the Republican party are currently waging war on US taxpayers. They are doing so based on their reelections by "born again Christians."

"Born again Christians" are a greater menace to the US & freeedom generally than al qaida or all "Muslim terrorists" combined.

In case you haven't been paying attention, the US is currently bankrupt, militarily occupying two hostile nations, is vilified the world over for our war crimes and the constitution is being replaced by the royal decrees of the executive office.

If that is not a good enough reason to oppose "born again Christians," then I really don't know what to tell you.

I don't care what "born again Christians" do in the privacy of their own homes & churches, but when they elect Adolf Hitler's ideological clones, then we have major disagreements.

Answer 5

Is it that you truly don't believe?
No, I am not bothered that I do not believe.

Is it that what is asked of you, you don't want to give, or you don't want to do?
No, if God existed I would be more than happy to execute his instructions.

Is it just assenine what some religious ask for?
Yes, when they do not have any proof or evidence.

What really bothers me about religion is the lack of evidence that God exists. It also bothers me how easily manipulated people seem to be while under the influence of religion.

Answer 6

I dont have a problem with religion or religious people for that matter. They could all be as religious as they want to be. The thing that bothers me is when they try to force religion upon me. Dont get me wrong, I believe in God but I like to live my life my way.

Answer 7

I'll start by saying I differentiate between spirituality and religion.

What bothers me about religion is the organisations behind it. Organised religion is really where the main danger is.

The problem with organised religion is it lets people give away responsibility for their own spirituality. You go to church, you are told what to believe, and you don't question it. That is, unfortunately, how many churches expect their members to act. Just accept what they are being told.

There are definately not enough churches teaching people to challenge their faith. How can someone truly believe in anything if they've never challenged it themselves. How can someone like that defend their faith.

Organised religion also puts a lot of power in the hands of the pastors/priests/rabbis etc. When someone is willing to believe every word you say, you have a lot of power over that person. This is how extremist churches are able to get people to "martyr" themselves for their church.

Religious organisations aren't all bad, they create communities of people ready to help each other, and in our age, that isn't a bad thing. The problem is this lack of teaching people to challenge what they are taught. This creates societies of biggotry, hate and other "ungodly" values that these same people preach against. It's a horrible form of hypocricy because a lot of the members of these churches don't realise they are being hypocritical.

That's not to excuse these people. As I said to begin with, organised religion as it is today only exists because people try to give up the responsibility to their own spirituality. Unfortunately, if hell does exist, and your church has it wrong, it's not your church leaders that are going to spend eternity "sitting in the corner". It's going to be you. (I'm using you here generically)

People have to realise they are ultimately responsible for their own spirituality, and they have to learn to be read to challenge their own faith. And by this I don't mean ask yourself "do I believe this?" because that will answer with yes. I mean read about opposing point of views, and find out why your view is more valid, for you, than theirs. Play "devil's advocate" against your own faith, and see how you can defend it.

Answer 8

this seems a part of the Christian Doctrine that " my way is the only way " as those European " Invaders " who came here looking for Religious Freedom to worship the way they wanted enslaved and forced their Christian Ideology upon over 500 sovereign Nations who were already here with their established Culture and Societies. These 500 plus sovereign nations had Belief Systems which worked for them.

these Christian Invaders forced their Belief System on others and then moan and groan because their Belief System is not accepted as the one and true way to THE DEITY.

Answer 9

I think people hide behind God and their religion to achieve their own ends. Religion is just their excuse for the evil they do. To have a belief in a Higher Power is one thing, but organized religion inadvertently gives God a bad name.

Answer 10

...I am a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. I have a few questions........
...What reasons can you give me to believe that the Muslim terrorists will ever lay down their weapons?
...How do you rationally deal with or negotiate with people whose goal is to annihilate you and your culture, and to injure as many people as possible?
...How do you rationally deal with people whose goal is life is to become suicide bombers? You can't.
...How intelligent is it to throw down your weapons, when the other side has no intention of doing it? It is not intelligent - we must keep the deterrent.
...You says "Perhaps the worst extremists would eventually settle down"...perhaps? You would be willing to risk that?
...Think, think, think!