Why do people respect religion so much?

Question

and what is so wrong with being an athiest?

Answer 1

I can’t answer for others, but I respect peoples’ religious viewpoints because they are deeply held beliefs. This means that you have to be respectful when debating them, because otherwise all you do is insult one another.

And there is quite clearly nothing wrong with being an atheist.

I’d like to comment on some other answers:

“There is nothing wrong with being an atheist if that is what you chose to believe.”

That would be a fair statement if the word ‘atheist’ was replaced with ‘agnostic’. An atheist does not ‘choose to believe’. Instead they actively disbelieve. This may sound like a petty argument, but I will give a counter example – there are three groups of people. Those who believe in the tooth fairy, those who do not and those who aren’t sure or don’t much care. Those who believe, clearly believe in something. Those who don’t care could be said to choose not to believe. Those who do not believe have not chosen to believe in anything. They have rejected a belief system entirely.

It would be fairer to say that a Christian has chosen to believe in their religion. This is an active choice to believe in something out of faith. To disbelieve in something that lacks logical argument is not a belief in anything one way or another.

The reason I dislike this wording is that it makes atheism sound like a religion when it’s anything but. I understand that this is a difficult concept for those with religious inclinations, but you should try to understand the difference.

“Atheists are fine (if spiritually in trouble) as long as they keep their place and don't try, though activism, to shut down traditional celebrations of Christmas and so on. This sort of "Godless activism" is why many Christians come close to hating atheists.”

Two interesting parts here – atheists are in spiritual trouble. This is because any who reject a religion are destined to hell and damnation. But then so are all those of different religions. Obviously atheists reject this, and I just thought I’d mention it.

My real point relates to banning Christmas. What planet are you living on if you think this is the case? Firstly, what I think you are referring to are Christmas cards saying ‘seasons greetings’ instead of ‘merry christmas’ and that sort of thing. This is not because of atheists but is part of the politically correct agenda to avoid insulting members of other religions (and I’m pretty certain atheists are not included in this).

If I wanted to be insulting I could point out that Christmas is a pagan tradition stolen by Christianity and has little to do with the bible. And yes, I know I have pointed this out, so am being insulting. But I was indirectly accused of trying to steal Christmas ;)

Answer 2

If there is anything 'respectable' it is A Religion, The Elders of the Religion, the Books of the Religion, The Way of the Religion. How genuinely and selflessly were they interested in My Welfare, my solace, my objectives in Life and in My life hereafter. I cannot pay them back. The least is with my respects. Scratch any human's skin a little and you find a glow of the spirituality within. It is innate goodness. It is ingrained sense of good and evil within all of us, and the cause is A Religion. Is it not a living miracle that all religions point out to One- the Unseen- the-unKnown- the Unique- ! So, inspite of the apparent clash of religions with each other, they all seem to emanate from One Source. A miracle worth respecting. The atheists, the agnostics also are not without a religion. Meditate on this and we shall discover the force of religion engulfing all those,too, who deny Religions. Infact they bother about religions more than the religious. The apt answer to your good question is: the people donot respect religion much enough....

Answer 3

As a practicing Christian this may sound weird, but I have no trouble with atheists - as long as they have no trouble with me. Many of the "answers" in here are exactly why far too many Christians have an issue with atheists - because of their religion-bashing - especially in this country.

It's a well-known fact that the Founding Fathers of this country founded it upon religious beliefs in God and in things like the Ten Commandments - hence there being 10 Amendments of the Constitution and them being known as the Bill of Rights.

It's is also a well-known fact that over 80% of this nation is Christian-based, with less than 10% being atheist. Yet it is a radical fringe of this less than 10% that is trying to push their values (or lack thereof) onto everyone and turn "Freedom Of Religion" into a "Freedom From Religion." Why is it that for over 200 years no one ever spoke out nor ever made a complaint about the Ten Commandments, The Bible or "One Nation Under God"? Yet all of a sudden a lunatic fringe has spoken up and made a real firestorm out of everything from The Bible to the Nativity to Santa Claus!

Some of my friends are atheist and I get along with them very well. They respect the fact that I have a religious background and we all agree that neither will push their beliefs at the other. And they also realize that America is a Christian-based country - just as Israel is a Jewish-based country. If they (my atheist friends) went to live in Israel they would never try to deny the Jews their pracicing religion - and they don't try to here either.

What it comes down to is respect - and far too many of the people that "hate" Christians and "hate" any organized religion just have a real tough time dealing with the concept of respect for anyone - sometimes even themselves. Just look at the majority of the answers in here as an example - "people that believe in religion are stupid." Nice way to respect, eh?

So maybe the question should be - why is it so difficult for an atheist to respect anyone that has religious beliefs?

Answer 4

I don't think that people respect relligion so much as they do fear it. Religion is about fear and social control, not worshiping a Supreme Being. Religion is about mankind interjecting their most greedy, fake elements to be ministers and allege that they speak for God. Now about being an athiest. I don't know how that works either as logic seems to indicate that there must be some force or power that created all that we know in the first place. The Adam and Eve crap is just a fairy tale for the weak minded, but there must have been some start to all of this. And while reilgious leaders control people by telling them that being a strict follower of the manmade scripture and rules will guarantee them an afterlife in "paradise" (very prominent in the conversion of Islam to a hate scripture) it is logical that you cannot completely disappear as nothing can completely disappear. But a silver haired, blow dried money grubbing minister could not expect much of a collection if he told people that the hereafter might just be that you become fertilizer and exist as part of the eco culture. Are you sure you are not just agnostic and not an athiest?

Answer 5

Religion was the original basis for civilisation. Religion is more prevalent in more dangerous areas too - places where there are a lot of natural disasters or with a nasty climate. If people stopped believing in a book, they'd have nothing to swear on in court and civilisation would end - well that's the fear anyway.

There's nothing wrong with being atheist and I reckon it would solve a lot of the worlds current issues.

Can't say I'm actually an atheist, although I'd like to be. The draw of believing in a soul and something more-than-what-meets-the-eye is too great. I wouldn't say I'm a fence sitter either. I'd say "cogito ergo sum". Is that fence sitting?

Answer 6

I have always thought that an atheist is a type of religion. A person can be religious about drinking coffee or booze.
I think there is nothing wrong with being an atheist, but I don't understand why atheists are so fervent against others who believe in a Higher Power.
If an atheist believes in nothing, than what's the problem?

Answer 7

People use religion as a cruch so that they have more to believe in than just a pointless being on earth. It also gives them a peaceful feeling knowing that their loved ones are somewhere better than on earth. And being a athiest is fine as long as there not the ones that throw a big fit about everything they can. TO EACH THEIR OWN!

Answer 8

I think in the past, religion was equal to being a moral and good person. As times have changed, the people have not. Despite all the hypocrisy in religion and corruption of it's leaders and the masses, it is clear now that just because you call yourself a "Christian" it does not mean that you are a moral person.

Consider this: According to a poll done by Sam Harris, 98 percent of the prison population consider themselves as a Christian. 2 percent are agnostic or atheist. This proves that Christianity does not make you moral.

Things are changing....slowly but surely. Keep your chin up and stay strong in what you believe. It's all that matters.

Answer 9

If you want people to respect atheism, then you should also be fair about it, and have some respect for religion in return.

You can respect something, even if you don't agree with it. How about a little tolerance for concepts with which you don't agree?

And please don't give me this story about how religion deserves no respect because (supposedly) it has caused all sorts of wars and everything. It's just not true.

That would be a ludicrous thing to claim, in light of the fact that ATHEIST political regimes (namely Communist ones) have more blood on their hands than anything else in history put together.

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Answer 10

1. I can assure you with absolutely certainty that there are plenty of people on here that have no respect for religion whatsoever, and some are quite contemptuous of it.

2. There is nothing wrong with being an atheist if that is what you chose to believe.