Is 'religious freedom' only encouraging insanity?

Question

Im an atheist. I have some christian friends/accquantence. I would think that religious freedom is a more acceptable position to take. Only allowing one set of beliefs or non beliefs is something i would strongly protest. However I am wondering if this is really a beneficail position to take. Should Laws be made or invented somehow to help put a STOP to religious madness.
Or should there be some effort to strongly reinforce scientific education to help combat things like what is in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=037HvQ1TyGM
So many groups are like this one all over the world. I dont think freedom of religion is all that is needed, much more emphasis on education needs to accompany it, outlawing religion is just desasterous. what do you think?
Clearly moderate christianity only encourages this type of insanity to prosper.

dont get me wrong, I understand many christians will take offence to this. But surely there are some christians that see something must be done. Its not just christianity either. There are alien setc, spiritualist sects, and many other religous sects that are just plain insane. I dont think 'religous freedom' is working.

take your time to answer. All answers will be read. I would like some other views on this.

Religous views and non religous views.

i think having a religous taboo is what is helping to encourage these religous nutcases. It would be great if peoples religion was just their personal view, but the fact is they dont keep it that way. Which is what I mean when i say is 'religous freedom' really working. Its seems to give people more power to get fundamental converts. And they really do want to get every one converted, take their money, and rule the world.

SCOTT J
Would you be ok if the oficial religion was made Islam and they practiced the same 'freedom of religion' as you suggest? contary to whats in the media, islam has allowed the existence of other religions amongst their people. even christianity.

i am going to read through the answers. please feel free to take the time and respond to other peoples replies. Its good to hear from the religous and non religous. i think its pretty apparent that some aspects of religion do encourage 'insanity', or maybe its more due to lack of knowledge. Obviously I have my views on religion. I dont think my self to be absolutly correct in all things. Come back often and add to your replies. I am going to bed now. but will come back tomorow and comment.
thanks

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Answer 1

Mmm. I follow what you're saying, but I don't think laws limiting it are the answer here. What is? Heck if I know. I personally would prefer a society where your religion is what you practice by yourself, with like-minded individuals and with your family, and didn't get dragged out everywhere else.

A societal taboo might be a better way to look at it--it's possible that, after the explosion of PC-ism in recent years, the furor could die down to a point where discussing religion in public is flat-out rude.

Scott J: My problem with that would be that once there's a state religion, that religion's laws would become the state's laws--that's essentially the point of a state religion. And that really wouldn't leave much room for anything else. There are certainly religions and practices that can coincide peacefully with Christianity, but there are many (which still aren't hurting anyone) that wouldn't. If the Ten Commandments were made law, that would by default leave only Christians, Jews, and Muslims as being "legal".

I also have something of a problem with the phrase "what we believe". On an ethical level, as in how you treat people, my ethics don't go against Christianity. But on a belief level, mine are very, very different. I wouldn't be part of that "we".

ETA again, because I like this conversation: I also see what you mean about the taboos. But it's still OK for someone to wear a Christian t-shirt, or a Star of David necklace, or a Buddhist mala in public. These things aren't even questioned. What if it were to hit the point where even these sorts of things were considered bad taste? Personally, I don't know if I'd like that, but I do think it's possible. The zeal of the convert would be tempered considerably, and attempts at conversion would be akin to a mugging.

Answer 2

the situation is this. Actual practice of adhering to any of the holy scriptures is not a problem the problem is when people get hthe iea they can make scripture say what they want. This is done right up to the top. As the latest research shows it is not the religions themselves that cause the violent behavior it is the same old forces it has always been. Selfish merchants, power hungry maniacs and others who have evil motives masquarding as religious leaders and no one having the courage to call them to account for their actions it is sort of like the peter principle people who let these maniacs into power will get disgraced if it is shown they contributed to the mess and so the culptit has no ome close to call them into acct. Bush is an excellent example he manipulated the religious into supporting him and then when he became aggressive they were to afraid of being discredited to reverse their support and he got elected a second term. In a place where people grant greater power of an unbalanced nature then the damage is even worse. Because of our unwilling ness to implement the practice of holding membersaccountable (leaders do not like to think they may lose their position so they dilute or remove accountabilty from the group and then we get on this slippery slope and can not stop the greedy and power hungry from carrying out atrocities upon the many. The question always arises who is to judge, and why trust those. the answer is simple if we begin and use the guidlines that are in scripture then no one gets hurt and power is removed from those who are not following the rules. In the example given Bush would have been given the opportunity to admit his wrong direction or be ex=communicated

ah it is too late for me I am goin to bed hope this is understandable buenos noches

Answer 3

It does have it's bad points. But it also has it's good points. I enjoy my freedom, yet I don't USE that freedom to the point of demonstrating to the world what I believe. There should be limitations on what those Freedoms give you. I mean, Freedom of Speech so far has allowed people like Phelps and his group to do a lot of damage to those families who have buried soldiers who have fallen in this war. (This has to be one of the more insane groups we have in the public right now).

I don't think it's going to take just scientific education (this part is what is going to piss off more Christians than you suggesting the loss of Freedom) I believe it's going to take education of, not only science, but also of other religions. If we take away their Freedom of Religion, outlaw religion all together, as far as the public is concerned... is that really going to stop them? I mean, it's illegal to kill someone... yet I see it in the news every night.

Personally, I think the first step towards correcting this problem, and it is a problem (no other country has this problem the same way we do), is to start taxing Religious Institutes. Whether they are a school, a church or merely a gathering of people who have decided to take a name for their group, like Communes. I think this will cut some of it back, simply because many of them wouldn't be able to function on the same level, in the public, if they had to pay taxes on all the money they receive.

I don't think Moderate Christians encourage it. I think it lands more on the Charismatics than it does the Moderates.

BTW, your avatar... was the movie any good? I watched the trailer for it, looks interesting.

Answer 4

I think the facts speak for themselves, the more educated a person is, the less likely they are to believe in religion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religiosity_and_intelligence)
but it is going to be a long, slow process to convinced the conditioned. The religious controllers are very skilled, and we have to not only be equally skilled to deprogram believers, we have to be more skilled. Unlike the controllers, we can't offer the promise of eternal life, or the punishment of hell, we can't condition people 35 times a week like the Muslim controllers, and we can't stop the intergenerational transfer of nonsensical ideas. So it will be a long hard slog, and this YA thread is a good place to start sowing the seeds of doubt. Get excited when you get an angry response from a believer, because it means you've sown such a seed.

Answer 5

It is impossible to legislate thought and intellectual activity. To try and suppress ideas only forces them underground and feeds their growth (Christianity is a good example). The only effective weapon we have against the menace that is posed by the many so called religions is to be found in universal education. This is terribly slow as even in an "advanced" country like the USA it can be seen that the general standard of education is deplorable and still blatantly manipulated by church members.

Answer 6

I'm an Atheist too, and it saddens me to see how people are willing to turn their lives to horrible people like that man in the video. Nevertheless, I am also a firm believer in the constitution and small governments. I think it is not the place of the government to "protect" people or impose that kind of morality. It is a sad consequence that we need to deal with the undesired side effects, but that is the price we need to pay to have at least this form of freedom. If it wasn't so, Atheists like you and me would probably have been banned from the country.

I am completely confident that if we encourage education things will eventually turn, but if they don't, we just need to respect that. I wish they respected us, but we can't compromise ourselves and our ideals because of them; that harms us. In the end, though, who are we to impose on the reality of another human being if it doesn't hurt us? We can disagree and persuade, but actually imposing becomes a huge problem that can backfire us.

Answer 7

Thanks for the information, I was unaware of his guy. To this point everything he seems to be doing seems to be legal and I don't know how you can stop something like it. The Bible warned about this type of thing in Matthew 24:5 "For many will come in My name, saying, `I am the Christ,' and will mislead many." I really think that in time this guy like many others will bury himself and the evil of this will come to light. I just hope that not too many people will be damaged and destroyed before it happens.
It will take off I am sure, because he teaches that there is no sin, and no devil and people love that, they can live as they want.
As far as those who get into this, they go in with eyes open and will not listen to anyone so they will reap what they sow.

Answer 8

there are definitely many different religious belief systems. however there are those who band together with the same basic concepts in any denomination but who will vary in minute details if left up to the individual. seriously doubt you would ever find two or more people who totally agree on any religious belief system because of free will and freedom. getting people to agree on generalities is totally different than agreeing totally on the minute details.

Answer 9

Its quite blatant blaspheme.This country was founded on religious freedom, I believe we need an adjustment to the amendment of the Constitution. In the Bible ,in the book of Matthew it talks about 'false Christs'.A person needs to use discernment on this call.

Answer 10

yes. religious freedom is not the answer.

the answer is to recognize 'humanity' - and the fact that human race is one. And religions are only creating walls between humans. Yes, I also feel that humanity can be taught through education.

outlawing religion will create more boundaries. the bigger can take in smaller. humanity is bigger than all religions. all religions shall merge in humanity.

moderation of religions is not an answer. replacement is necessary. replacement of religions by humanity. humanity is acceptable to all humans. defining humanity precisely is what is required.