Humanists and Atheists?

Question

I've heard alot of religious intolerance recently from atheists and humanists. Some of it involved wiping religion from the Earth. How could this be (1) legal in the US, (2) in concert with unalienable human rights, (3) and even possible considering religious people are a huge majority (resistance) and enforcing it would be impossible (thought crime)?

Well, religion has persisted for a very long time, I don't think you will ever be able to "educate" people away from religion. Also, it's kind of distrubing to me that you believe you need to "educate" religious people, for two reasons. Firstly is it carries the connotation that they are not as smart as atheists, secondly religious people often "educate" others aswell.

I'm concerned about the fate of the people who will persist in believing in their religions. May it will be a never ending battle.

Wow, that is concerning... One answerer said something about unalienable human rights and I thought further of the phrase. "...endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable human rights..." - Thomas Jefferson.

Could human rights come under attack from people who believe that this phrase and the word creator illegitimizes human rights in America?

I have an IQ of 135 and I have spiritual and religious beliefs. I also think and consider popular science. So am I only half as smart as atheist but somewhere above a fundie?

You all have such unique opinions thank you for the information, I really have learned much.

Can anyone tell me a humanist position on these matters:

Michael goes to the park with his bible, stands on a bench and starts spouting religious verses.

Janie hears about a gay pride parade. She stands on the sidewalk as the parade passes telling people around her about how she thinks homosexuality is disgusting and unnatural.

What are your thoughts on religious people educating their children on religious beliefs?

Answer 1

1. It wouldn't.
2. It isn't.
3. Ohhh it's possible. BUT there would have to be a pretty big let down on the side of that particular religion (the Catholic priests are on the right track)- the religious people would have to see things differently.

If you continue to read on, though there is a lot of intolerance from BOTH sides. You can't blame this on one side of this argument without realizing that the other side is just as guilty- or, more accurately- members from both sides are intolerant toward each other. I agree people on here tend to be harsh toward one another, but this is one of those places where that kind of behavior is appropriate. We don't have the limitations of person to person contact, so the idea of intimidation is gone. There are people who don't bother listening (who would normally just nod their heads in person)- they don't matter. And there are those people who just want to make people angry, and don't care what they say, who are just a "thumbs down" away from invisibility.

On top of all that, we can pick our favorites and those we love to hate. Its a regular ol' community in here where nobody gets along... enjoy it.

Answer 2

Many Atheists in fact do not wish religion to be abolished. What we do wish for is them to cease looking down on those of differing faith or no faith, their ability to inspire members to violence, hate or bigotry and their influence on the education of the young. If a religion actively tries to poose these things from occuring in their members then I am more than happy for them to co-exist with the rest of us. Those that turn a blind eye to this sort of thing or beleive it isn't wrong are the ones I have a problem with.

Religion should not be forced on anyone too young to realize the committment they are asking. Being asked to pray in school doesn't seem such a big deal at the time, especially when half your textbooks speak about God or how humans came from the Garden of Eden. When this person grows they find they've been pushed towards not only religion but one in particular without being given much choice in the matter, and it tints their view of the world, and how they perceive other religions or atheism even if they manage to overcome this and change their philosophy later in life.

Religion also should not proclaim that certain types of people are "less than" for any reason. Our governments and laws create punishment for certain acts, but doesn't proclaim that these people are "worse" on a moral ground. This can be shown by parole and rehabilitation ,where once the sentence has been completed in full the person becomes an ordinary citizen again and regains their rights and privileges. Religion however claims that certain types of people are less then, calling them "unclean", "sinners" or destined for a place of spiritual damnation because of their actions. This inspires hate.

Answer 3

I am Agnostic and Humanist.

My parents attempted to raise me to be Catholic.

While no religion has been proven to be 100% accurate and as indisputably a product or by product of what God or a God wants if God or a God exists, it {religion} non the less as an "ideology" enjoys the opportunity to be put in front of countless children as "truth" before a child even has the ability to think rationally.

And if that were not enough, we have those who are religious attempting to force their beliefs on anyone else, including others who are already religious.

Get your story straight, if anything, it is religious people who are the most closed minded and the most intolerant of beliefs that differ from their own.

Can you pose specific question on Humanist position in it's own questions? By the way I was a Humanist before I knew about humanism.

To answer your question however, I believe people have a right to be religious and even to attempt to persuade others into believe in their religion. I could care less if the person is attempting to persuade others into their way of thinking so long as it does not break any laws and they are not pestering me with the exception of cult like ideologies that can be identified to cause a greater harm to Humanity than any good they create and/or pretend they create.

Answer 4

I haven't heard many atheists advocating this. What they are advocating is that atheists should be more vocal in their criticisms of religion and ask people to justify what they believe before they are allowed to force their beliefs into the public spheres and affect public/foreign policy based on them. What some are advocating is a sort of evangelization of reason and nonbelief along the same lines that religions evangelize their beliefs.

Removing religion forceably is against the constitution of the US which allows freedom of belief/nonbelief for all people. As a Humanist I would argue for everyone's freedom to believe as they wish but defend everyone from the rights of one group to foist those beliefs onto everyone including those who don't share them. Anyone who says religion should be made illegal or forbidden is not a true Humanist. Humanists believe that the facts speak for themselves and people should be allowed to make up their own minds. They do believe that if you hold religion to the same standards of proof that you hold other things it fails and they have the right to call attention to it. They believe strongly in human rights though and would never advocate forcing people to believe or not believe something.

You are absolutely right that it would violate human rights and be unenforceable. Atheists have as much right as religious believers to speak their views though. I have also heard religious people here say we should kill liberals and atheists. I don't think people who advocate such policies either way (religious or nonreligious) should be given the time of day.

Answer 5

You don't do it by making laws. You do it by teaching. Like it or not, the only countries in the world that have the same religious patterns as does the USA are those in the middle east. Most of the rest of the world's moving on. China's animist at best. Europe is secularist, with most Christians even admitting a belief only in the good morals of the stories but otherwise rejecting the truth of the stories. Even india has been seeing reduced rates of reporting hinduism or other religions -- though many are recorded 'officially' as hindu as until in the past few months, many documents required you list your religion and 'none' was not an option -- still isn't, but they allow 'other'.

Really... religion's on the way out, like it or not, and good riddence to it.

Still, until then, feel free to believe what you like. Just don't get mad if someone tries to shove their religion down my throat and I shove it and their text up their backside.

Answer 6

Geez, what are you listening to that you're hearing that? The facts are that religion, on balance, does nothing more than government does for a group of people. Would I replace all religion with government? No, don't be silly. But there's good government and bad government just as there's good religion and bad religion. And people who get that nonsensical notion that their religion is the best flavor of religion or that "what the world needs is more of *their* religion" are definitely in the bad religion camp. The world needs less bad religion. That said, only people that practice bad religion can change that. Education seems to be key. Good luck.

Answer 7

Religion will never be wiped from the earth. Atheism will never be wiped from the earth (until Jesus returns) and that is just the way it is. People who want to rant about it are free to do so, thankfully because of the rights we have under the constitution for freedom of speech. I love this forum where we can hear what so many people think. I love diversity. Keep it coming!

Answer 8

As a humanist and skeptic I have no problem with anyone following the religious beliefs of their choosing. However when religiously intolerant fundamentalists insist that those of us who choose not to believe are to be excluded from society, denied civil rights, or punished for our non belief, then its time to break out the AK-47s.

Answer 9

Well the FACT is, religious types are not as intelligent as Atheists. That is a verifiable and quantifiable fact.
And you know it.
The higher the IQ and the better the education, the lower the tolerance for childish fantasies like god or leprechauns.

Answer 10

Wiping religion from the world is a good thing
Marx was wrong when he said religion is the opium for people. Religion is the pottasium cyanide for people.

Religion actually leads to the violation of human rights