Is religious intolerance getting out of hand?

Question

Since my last question started a little too sharply, I'm reposting it here to see if I get more serious answers.

So much intolerance flies up from all sides, so much ignorance and hatred. I have several points to address today.

First, I see far, far too much discrimination from our Christian population. How many questions and answers go up every day that condemn all non-Christians, demand to know why others do not believe in Jesus, ignorantly attack Pagans, Atheists, Muslims, and Jews, improperly label others as Satanists and proclaim that we are all going to "burn in hell"? Too many. And the matter of doggedly reporting every atheist question you see is just out of control. Already several atheists I respect have been victimized by this behavior.

Atheists, now. I see hate from you, too, flying up on all sides. Many of you attack every single religion that exists. You proclaim them all invalid and attack their believers. "Your god is imaginary

and your religion is evil! You're a fool for believing in a higher power! Don't preach to me!" It's as hypocritical as the Christians you argue with for hours on end. The only religions that proselytize are Christianity, Islam, and Atheism.

Other groups cause problems too, but not as noticeably because there are fewer of them. I applaud most of the Pagans/Wiccans I see because they all seem to desire religious tolerance more than anything else.

I don't want you to change your beliefs. I want you to look at your own actions and evaluate yourself as a human being. Are you being truly compassionate and kind? Do not bemoan the state of the world. Do something about it: tolerate your fellow humans. Don't make assumptions about their religions. Language can be a great tool of peace, but when you use it to spread hate and ignorance, it is a weapon with more potential for mass destruction than anything else.

Please, do your part to end intolerance today.

ChooseRealityPLEASE: I am actually all for separation of Church and State, and I am very much against legislation with religious backing. You may be mistaking me as Christian. I am in fact eclectic Pagan, and the thought of this being a "Christian nation" sickens me.

The problem is that no one is going to become physically violent over ice cream flavors. On the other hand, wars have been fought over religion. Furthermore, religion has a deep meaning to many people. It is considered insulting and offensive when you tell us we are "deluding ourselves" simply because we choose to believe in a higher power.

Believe it or not, you are as guilty of faith in that instance as we are; you clearly have very strong faith that our beliefs are wrong, that there is no higher power. An absence of faith would be apathy; what you have is faith in nothingness. This does not say anything about you, however.

I never said that we should allow religion to take over society. I merely said we

should tolerate one another. That is not just abstaining from insulting a religion or proselytizing (to those who said, "You're right, I should try to spread the Word more," you missed my point. Along with many, many others, I consider it offensive to proselytize), but also keeping your religion out of politics and public school curriculums. Religion and faith are very personal, and insulting one's religion (directly or by suggesting that your religion is "better" and "more fulfilling" and "the right path"-- or conversely, stating that another's religion is "the path to Hell") can be very unnecessarily hurtful.

Answer 1

I agree. I understand why a lot of people who aren't Christian and Muslim are angry, though. It's not as if the religious fundamentalists are going to react any better to other points of view, no matter how well-thought out and balanced a comment or question is.

After all, what can you expect from people who believe they know all of God's likes/dislikes and who also believe that God is on their side. And I really do believe that their beliefs lead to very evil, violent actions on the part of many. I know that is going to offend some people, but it's the way I see it.

And I guess I should back up and say that I'm referring to the majority of religious fundamentalists. Also, your point regarding how obnoxiously intolerant some atheists are is a good one.

And some times you will find fundamentalist Christians who are really very polite and likable, from a personal point of view. I've even met some fundamentalist Christians on-line that I wouldn't mind having a cup of coffee with. Just as I've met anti-fundies who I would cross the street to avoid.

Anyway, good question.

Answer 2

Religious tolerance is getting out of control. Everyone is expected to remain all PC on the subject... but why? The religious on many occasions have confessed that there is no evidence for their religious beliefs. They believe because they have "faith" or a "personal experience." Anyone knows that neither of these things are proof, or even evidence of anything. Faith itself is but an act of desperation it the absence of evidence, blind belief.

What is it about religion that demands a higher level of respect than say a person's political beliefs, or favorite flavor of ice cream? You may say chocolate chunk is the best flavor and i could disagree with you and say strawberry is, we disagree and move on... However if you were to say to me that God is real, and i say No he's not it's possible that you may wish physical harm upon me because you disagree.

Religion is so swaddled that currently our government is passing legislation based on religious beliefs. This is far from what our founding fathers had envisioned. America is NOT a Christian nation. We need to start taking steps to de-legitimize religion for our own sake. As long as religion is given such unwavering respect progress will be hindered.

Answer 3

Intolerance is great source of violence and blood shed. I have been living in a Muslim society. The Muslim are comparatively more intolerant than others. Rather they were like that. This intolerance has been a great cause of backwardness in the Muslim states. Most of the Muslims are illiterate. Even the literates are worse that those who are illiterate. They are so narrow minded. And the result can be seen by looking into the Muslims countries of the world.

But unfortunately, in the recent years we see that the West and the US is also moving towards this trend. They are becoming more and more intolerant.

Being a person living in a Muslim society I warn all the Westerners to keep a distance from this trend of becoming intolerant. This will take you back to the stone age, the age in which the Muslims of the 21st Century are living.

Answer 4

People are always coming down on each other's religious beliefs, when the truth is no one really knows who is right until they die. I think everyone should just respect the fact that a person has something to believe in. As long as said belief doesn't cause harm or violence toward anyone else, why come down on it?

Answer 5

Yeah, intolerence is getting a bit out of hand and you make a very good point. I don't agree with athiests, Muslims, Jews, and Pagans religiously, but I'm not going to go and put down other people and report their questions.

Answer 6

Yes, devout intolerance has long gone too a ways! I don't consider there's something irrelevant approximately dressed in a pass. We transfer plenty with my husbands activity and I have met plenty of special individuals from all special backgrounds. In one of the vital areas that we lived I used to be informed that I am going to hell considering the fact that, I used to be now not the equal faith as every person else within the state. I used to be requested why they didn't see me in church and I informed them that I used to be a further faith than they're they usually checked out me as though I had 2 heads. So used to be I am I feel to transform to their faith to fit them? I do not consider so. I see no cause to hide my faith. If I wish to put on a pass I will. If I wish to wait anohter church I will. I believe unhealthy for that lady that she used to be informed she are not able to put on her pass. Why will have to she conceal her ideals. Anyone angry by means of her pass will have to simply recover from it!

Answer 7

"The only religions that proselytize are Christianity, Islam, and Atheism."

*chuckle* i have accused atheists of being proseletyzers before and got a whole bunch of hate mail for it

frankly, every belief a human being has is absolutely ridiculous. when people fight over whose ridiculous beliefs are more valid, that just makes it even more ridiculous. people need to stop worrying so much about other people's beliefs, and read a book instead

Answer 8

I do agree with you
Christians seem to forget we are to really win people over with our actions and speak less
I think we sometimes just get excited and want to win people over to Him.
I have been guilty of it, but since you have sent this reminder I will do my very best from now own to show God's love through my questions and answers

Answer 9

Do you associate spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ (when done in love and respect) with intolerance and hatred, simply because it professes that there is only one way to eternal salvation? ...But I agree with the sentiments of "muffy" below...

Answer 10

if there were more people like u, i think there would be no wars at all

i respect ur point of view