i put out an honest request earlier on for everyone to put aside their religious differences, making the point that we could accomplish so much more in our lives if we weren't so terribly concerned about what happens to us after we die. keep in mind, i wasn't asking people to forsake their religious beliefs, but rather to respect others. for the most part i received good comments about what a good idea it is, but there was a considerable amount of people who didn't care to go along with, telling me i will eventually have to deal with god, and that they'll keep spreading the truth. to me these people seem selfish and are only concerned for their own well-being. is there anything atheists or religious people can think to say to these people to appeal to them?
2007-04-17 09:04:03 · 22 answers · asked by just curious (A.A.A.A.) 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
the first dragon, not when that message is you're gonna burn for all eternity if you don't believe as i believe. some messages are better kept to oneself...
2007-04-17 09:13:05 · update #1
james w, the fact of the matter is you still wouldn't care to do this even if it was god's way. what if he's speaking through me? would it be added to the bible? no. there's too many people who find comfort in the truth they've created for themselves to even listen to god, if he does exist.
2007-04-17 09:16:30 · update #2
vinslave, since you asked... it's selfish because those who are testifying are doing it on the orders of the bible. i've been told it's part of being a good christian, that it's not enough to just believe in jesus to convince others of his love too. in a sense their saying, if you really want to get into heaven, you can't just believe, you have to get more believers. that's why it's selfish. those people don't respect other's beliefs enough to just let them live in peace.
2007-04-17 09:22:43 · update #3
louis l, i don't have any visions of a utopian society where we all dance together in joy all day long. however, i do see a lot of wrongs in this world because people are constantly forcing their religious views on others who just don't want them, and this is happening all over the world.
2007-04-17 09:28:17 · update #4
dan x, certainly i would hope you still respect people's beliefs though as long as their not infringing on yours. and yes i can understand a want to help people. however, i want to help people who are alive. once they are dead you can't help them. and i'm not talking about spiritually. if someone is sick we should help them. if someone is practicing witchcraft, let them.
2007-04-17 09:31:57 · update #5
guess who, i'm not suggesting mixing religion with politics. and no i don't have it backwards. when you're that concerned about yourself, so much that you're worried about what happens to your soul after you die, something you can't prove exists, so much that you neglect others feelings, i think that's the definition of selfish.
2007-04-17 09:35:06 · update #6
This is a very good message. In fact, if we worked together in this world, I believe we could achieve permanent physical life in this world. So we would be even more able to do what you're describing!
2007-04-17 09:06:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You bring up a very good concept.
If people would just learn to respect each other - and teach their children to have respect for others, maybe we would all be better off!
For all of the good that religion seems to do for many people, I sometimes question how it stacks up to the bigotry and hatred that it promotes in its divisiveness. And who is really to say what group is right about all of this "God" stuff? People need to keep an open mind instead of letting someone else do all their thinking for them.
Please don't misunderstand me - I think people have a right to their beliefs - but moderate them with an attitude of tolerance toward other people's beliefs. We are not on this earth long enough for all of the "fussin' and fightin'" that people do over differences in religion. - But it has been the cause of so much suffering and death on this planet!
That song by John Lennon comes to mind: "Imagine" - do you know it? Listen to those words - I think he made his point pretty well in that song.
We could all use a little more peace in our lives!
"You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one!" ....
I'm gladdened to see another person "out there" who thinks like you do!
May Peace Be With You ! Have a great day!
2007-04-17 16:19:25 · answer #2 · answered by Jack Rabbit 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I may choose to differ with people who blame religion all the time...?
Thing is, this is what humans have been doing. No, I don't say they are justified in doing so. But whatever belief, religious or otherwise, people have, they try to IMPOSE it on others. Its not just religion, guys, its everything. Take different forms of states: communism, democracy, imperialism. Or races: whites, blacks, indians, and others. Humans, being the selfish and thought-less creatures they sometimes become, they try to impose their ideas on others. And yes, they do the same with their religious beliefs. And because "You shall burn in hell if you believe otherwise" sounds more convincing, dramatic and thrilling to them, this is what they use the most. With governments, all you can do is kill, arrest, etc. But with religion, you can torment even when you have no power: with your words, by condemning the people of other beliefs of forever burning in hell.
Any religion, belief, race, culture is just DIFFERENT. We do NOT have to agree with ideas that do not appeal us. Or that does not belong to us. And we should have the right to express our beliefs. But we must ACCPET that the diversity exists. And force, either physical or verbal, will do no good.
I am a person of religion, and I don't believe that any religion is based on hatred or bias. What I believe is that, the people who TOOK OVER the matters of the religions in their hands included some who took advantage of the power they had and used it to become more powerful by misinterpreting the teachings and then exploiting the generally illiterate commoners who had no guts to stand before them and express different ideas. And even when they did, they were told they would "burn in hell", and were punished in "this world" as well.
With time, these ideas were nurtured by the people, because of selfishness or ignorance, and became the ultimate "teachings" of the religion.
This is still happening in the world today.
But listen up people, you are not the same illiterate ones as they were yesterday. So, whatever your beliefs and backgrounds are, stand up and show some tolerance. Hatred is on the rise. But that should not mean you can't defeat it.
So what do you think?
2007-04-17 16:44:54 · answer #3 · answered by s_a_b_t 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What's wrong with spreading their message? We can work together on many things, without having the same beliefs. But I would think a person has the right to try to convince others, don't they?
But, there will always be some selfish people, so don't worry too much about it.
2007-04-17 16:10:25 · answer #4 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No...they're brainwashed by the cult they've chosen to take part in, and you can't reason with them. I'm a very open minded person, willing to look at all sides of an issue, but these zealots can't even take a break from their mind controlled state and listen to what someone has to say. It's their right to be this way if they please, but it's a futile effort at best to try to get them to put aside some of their banter for a moment and come together as human beings and work toward a common good.
2007-04-17 16:09:05 · answer #5 · answered by fonzarelli_1999 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you have it backwards. People who are religious and tell you that you will eventually have to deal with God are not selfish, but the opposite. They truly believe that we were put on this earth to worship God, and if we do, we will live in eternal paradise. Their goal is to share their beliefs with you in an attempt to "Save your soul" Even if you do not believe in an afterlife, you cannot call someone who does and tries to share it with you selfish. There have been many wars based on religion, which has an inherent contradiction. Churches, Mosques, Cinegogs, all teach morals, but when combined with politics all "hell" breaks loose.
2007-04-17 16:24:54 · answer #6 · answered by Guess Who 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As an atheist, I understan what you're saying. However, and probably much to your surprise, I understand why they wish to force their religion on us. They want to share with us what they see as the gift of live. They want to save us. They have no idea, of course, that we don't want or need to be saved, and that we would rather free THEM from superstiton and small-minded ideas. But right there you can see that their sentiment and motivation are the same as ours.
I prefer the proselytizers to the people who spew hatred and say they can't wait until the day that I'm burning in hell.
2007-04-17 16:09:37 · answer #7 · answered by Dan X 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The "fanatically religious", which sounds like "magically delicious" from the Lucky Charms commercial are out of their minds in a very intrusive way. So, NO, you will never get them to stop blabbing until they meet their maker, The Flying Spaghetti Monster.
RAmen
2007-04-17 16:12:32 · answer #8 · answered by Primordial Soup 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, some people are that selfish and egotistical. It is clear that their priorities are not to be loving human beings. They use religion as a tool to bolster their self-pride. Unfortunately, all religions have these kinds of people though some religions seem to have more than their share. I don't try to appeal to these people. Our true values are reflected in the way we live our lives. I can't change their values any more than they can change mine.
2007-04-17 16:23:42 · answer #9 · answered by Witchy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How is having a different viewpoint than yours "selfish" exactly? My view comes from a Buddhist logic viewpoint on not causing harm because we see human life differently. If people want to generate bad karma for themselves they can find someone else to do it, I'm not going to contribute is ALL I'm saying. From MY viewpoint, trying to off yourself because you're in pain and suffering is the ultimate in selfishness per the Buddhist definition thereof.
_()_
2007-04-17 16:17:49 · answer #10 · answered by vinslave 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋