How can people justify denouncing as bunk religions of which they know nothing?

Question

I've never met a supposed atheist who knew anything whatsoever about Hinduism,for example,and yet they insist they just somehow "know" that "all" religions are nonsense. They often are seen wearing t-shirts with intelligent slogans like "religion sucks" but if you ask them what religion in particular they are referring to all they just snarl; similarly if you ask them if they have studied all religions. That's another point: I've never met one who ever took a comparitive religion course in college. So basically they're talking from a standpoint of utter ignorance,aren't they? Even with Christianity they don't seem to know much of anything except tv evangelism and oh yeah,there's that Pope guy. Just stuff you see on tv. How can you denounce as false all religions everywhere when you know nothing or next to nothing about any of them?

Answer 1

Yes, there is a lot of ignorance, and what's more, they repeat a lot of myths and demonstrate a very shallow understanding even of the histories they cite. Atheism isn't so much a rational deduction most of the time, as it is an emotional position with rational justifications (not so different than theism in that respect).

It's usually pretty shallow and lacking much in the way of depth of thought. I've met atheists who did have depth of thought, but usually, it's rather shallow and built on a naive scientism. For instance, notice the shallowness of metaphysics in that they argue a disconnect between morality and materialism. I've met some who dealt with it, but they didn't try to maintain the illusion. They embraced the full reality.

However, I will say this for them. If he assert "x" and the other guy asserts "y," and they contradict, then he doesn't need to hit the books continually to evaluate it. The principle of contradiction generally allows him to discard the concept out of hand. Granted, there are occasions where what appears contradictory or nonsensical is true, but it is still not true most of the time.

So, they do have grounds to dismiss some things out of hand, but they are also more often than not emotive and their beliefs justified by reason rather than founded on it.

Answer 2

Beats me. I think they believe they have some conclusive proof that there is no such thing as a God. However, that would not rule out a religion like Buddhism, which does not use such terms.

It's not just ignorance, although that is a factor, certainly. I think they feel it is more "intellectual," more "sophisticated" to be an atheist. Unfortunately, there are sometimes political reasons as well. Remember that the communist party specifically denounces religion per se, regardless of which religion. The Soviet Union, which has fallen and proved that communism does not work, was specifically atheist. It was not Politically Correct to believe in any religion.

Oh, didn't you know that's where the term "politically correct" came from?

Of course, a serious intellectual would study comparative religions, and probably something of religious anthropology as well, and decide for him or her self what to believe.

Answer 3

Technically, I'm an agnostic, but I still agree with your main point. Being an agnostic, I really don't think anyone can know anything too darn concrete about God and Spirit. Everyone is entitled to their opinion or faith. If your faith gives you strength in life, great! That is the function of faith, no?

What I really hate is when people get all evangelical on me. Atheists are commonly evangelical too. Then, when you try to turn it into an actual conversation, they reply with monologue, the same way they learned it.

I have faith. I have a belief that comforts me and gives me strength in life. A cornerstone of that belief is that right and wrong in this life have a spiritual counterpart, it is just unseen and unverifiable by concrete means, in this life. You disagree? Okay. I respect that. I especially respect that if you are a person of faith who is a good example of a good human being.

But yes, if you don't believe in God, or anything other than the physical world, then step the heck off.

I do have to admit, however, that religious violence is a good example of why 'religion sucks.' But I think that has more to do with fanatical people attempting to apply dogma to their own agendas, than actual holy directive. Men send men to war. I don't think any god ever has. They tend to stay quiet and wait for the whole faith thing to pan out.

Answer 4

Thats the problem. A lot of people don't know anything about the religion they're slamming. I was the same until I'd got through wasting my life and decided I wasn't getting any younger I better actually look into it since what religion (in this case Christianity) was hawking about was actually quite an important issue.
I discovered that at the very least that there were plenty of tenets worth following and plenty of truths even if you don't buy into the whole spiritual/God thing.

Everyone should read the Bible at least once in their lives before they decide which path they want to follow.

Answer 5

How can christians justify denouncing as bunk truth although there is tons of evidence that exists... but then support something that has no evidence. Most of us do look into religion but mother nature says religion is like a knitted sweater once you start pulling on the loose bits of wool the whole thing comes apart... don't believe in what is against your conscience, and don't try to fix what should be exterminated..... the devil accommodates peoplewith his religions to keep a hold on them mother nature will not (she'd rather eliminate the human race than work with religions). and don't make a religion in her name for she will curse you.... she is working to eliminate religions off the face of the earth.

Answer 6

You are missing the point as is the norm for believers in imaginary friends.

Atheists do not believe in god. I do not need to read a babbling book of made up myths and mis quoted history to do that. However I have read the bible from beginning to end at least twice, and have studied parts of it for many years. I have a good general knowledge of Buddhism and a couple of other eastern philosophies.

None of my knowledge has had any influence on MY beliefs, as I never have had a belief in god ever.

I read and study them to try to understand what makes others believe in invisible creatures.

god is a fantasy made up by simple bronze age, and earlier people. It has no standing or basis in reality.

Answer 7

I agree for the most part with what you are saying. Even cultures who have never been exposed to what we consider religion have a faith that there is a force other than themselves in the world, and they are appreciative of that.

Answer 8

I was a Christian for many years.

I've read the Hindu Books and I am familiar with them. (Bhagavad Gita)

I also study Mediterranean religions.

I don't know much about Asian religion but many of them don't have gods, so they don't bother me.

Answer 9

Most religions are false this includes many so called Christian religions. Religion itself is not pleasing to God in that religions are not based on true Faith towards God. Religions such as Islam act on what they call faith to please God by murdering children an even themselves, which is not faith but religion. Religions of the world always present themselves on the side of faith, but their so called faith is solely based on the humans actions they themselves can do to please God or what they think will please God. Faith other hand does not require children to be murdered or people to blow themselves up.

Answer 10

Most of them are narrow minded anti-religious bigots who act superior to others who believe in God.