Religion and conformity?Is it easier to be a believer or a non-believer today?

Question

I think the situation in the United States and in other countries may be different. But here in South Africa we still have religion in public schools. (Fortunately I finished school 7 years ago).

The favored religion is Christianity and they still open by prayer, sing hymns during school assembly and things like that. So to not be a Christian was a very risk move I made since it immediately singled you out. They would even have these school assemblies where they could say "Everyone who has accepted Christ, now stand up!" This is some background information to illustrate that I have found it to be harder to be a non-believer than to proclaim oneself a Christian. And yet Christians claim persecution, but it is still the largest religion in the world (Or has Islam grown in numbers).

Anyway people would always make mean remarks about "non-believers" or people of other religions and yet show such a high degree of ignorance about any other religion. So this was quite a bad situation.

By the way this is a VERY diverse country I cannot generalize that this is the situation in all schools in this country. But it is a poppular trend. The seperation of religion and education has not received the attention it deserves here.

"popular" sorry

Answer 1

Well, I am a proud Christian, but I do understand what you are saying. IRegarding your question, it is always easier to go with what everyone else is doing for the reasons you stated. People don't want to be an outcast or to appear different.

I know a lot of my fellow Christians can be pretty harsh with non-believers, but that is because a lot of things from the Bible are taken out of context.

Answer 2

I think its the non believer who has the harder time.
I have often felt the strange looks and heard the comments behind my back regarding how I must be a bad person.
Its like its suppose to be an understood that everyone believes in God.
Although there are laws that prohibit judgement based on religion there isnt much in place that protects us from the social stigma of being a non-believer. I think if I was on trial for murder I wouldnt get the same fair jury trial of my peers if the jury knew I was a non believer...and thats because of pure ignorance.

Answer 3

first of all, anyone who would ridicule non believers hasnt read their Bible. Jesus was born poor so that he could be with those who were poor. He said himself that he didn't come for the believers, he came for the unbelievers. Jesus said that a health man does not need a physician, but a sick man is in need of a physician. any true believing Christian knows that. the world is full of people who think they are and claim to be Christian, but their not really. they expose themselves through their works. sure, everyone sins, even saved Christians continue to sin after recieving salvation. you have to know what the Bible says about what is a true Christian. Dont just assume that because someone says they are a Christian that they are. by the way, in this day and age, its harder to be a Christian, I get ridiculed a lot, and i know that I will probably be given the oportunity to die for my God, and I will.

Answer 4

It is certainly easier to be a believer these days (in most countries), those Christians (I will use that religion in this example) who claim that they are being persecuted, because they can not get everything they want (their own agenda being taught in our public schools. This claim is a slap in the face, to the Christians massacred in Cambodia, Guatemala, Armenia, and China in the last century alone. Is is easy to be a believer but it has not always been that way, and my fellow Christians need to respect those who gave it all for Christ.

Answer 5

I feel that, at this time with, the way things are going around the world right now, it is much easier to be a non-believer. the separation of church and, state is critical to the survival of the planet. the theological differences between, the major religions of the world are, the largest motive behind most of the conflicts going on globally, right now. it seems that all of the "better than thou", religious, clerical types are responsible for most of the sectarian and, politically motivated murders committed, internationally, of late. clerics, should devote more time to matters of the soul and, let politicians, take care of diplomatic matters. when a religious becomes power hungry, He is hard to stop. do away with religion and, so it would seem, do away with war.

Answer 6

Whatever is dominant in the country you're in. If I was the sort that just wanted to get along any way possible and was in N. Korea, then I'd be atheist. If I was in France, I'd be secular and profess a faith on the card. If I was in Saudi Arabia, I'd be a Wahhabist.

The easier way is always conformity to whatever the dominant faith or ideology for the area is.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

In the United States it is of course far easier to be a believer, as long as one is Christian or Jewish.

Answer 9

I would really like to help, but under the circumstances, the best I can offer is our website where you can study for a while and see if we don't offer the truth.
You can find Kingdom Halls where you live if you choose us.

Answer 10

It's real easy to be a believer. Just turn off your brain and let the Reverend do your thinking.