As a non-religious agnostic, many times in a day...at work, at school, out shopping I am reminded by the words & actions of others that most people in the United States believe that I am either:
1) a nonbelieving heretic who is on my way to hell, even though I treat people with respect, and am kind & do good deeds.
2) only need to have my mind "opened" by the doctrine & dogma of their belief system, and be saved.
I don't feel as if I'm going to hell, or that I have anything to be saved from.
"Pursuit implies humility, acceptance, openness, and appreciation, while possession suggests arrogance, close mindedness, and lack of appreciation. Herein lies the rub: if we persist in competing to possess the truth instead of working in unity to pursue it, we are going to face untold grief-and worse, violence." - Arun Gandhi
2007-06-09 09:15:46 · 33 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Neeva C
I go out of my way to make the people around me happy. I do favors for strangers, I spend a lot of time & money working towards helping people who don't have as much as what I have.
I clicked your link out of curiosity, and again I am reminded that, regardless of my actions & words towards contributing towards a better world for everyone... in your mind, because I do not subsribe to the belief that bible is the word of god... that there may be things which are more important when it comes to being a good human being... because of that, you regard me as an unworthy sinner.
Well, I dont regard you as unworthy. I understand that you believe what you believe is right, and as long as you are not harming others in the pursuit of your idea of "being a good person"
2007-06-09 09:26:25 · update #1
Yup second class citizen, yet makes me feel as a first class human being, and a third class sheep.
2007-06-09 09:24:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Inside myself I didn't. I made the mistake years ago of moving from Los Angeles to stupid, ignorant, backwards, redneck Fresno, CA, thinking it was only a few hours up the road. It seemed that there were "Fundamentalist" churches on every other streetcorner. I'm not an atheist, but "yes" the Holy Terrorists DID try to make you feel like you were a second class citizen.
Growing up in L.A., I was used to a cetain social distance. People would talk about where they had fun on vacation or whatever. In hillbilly Fresno, they'd stick their nose into your business when they first met you, and ask, "Are yew married? What church do yew go to?". I began to feel like I moved to Appalachia. This was nearly 30 years ago, and not much has changed. I finally got out of there 4 years ago.
If you were at all "New Age", you had to keep a low profile, even at work. It was okay for someone at work to loudly proclaim "My faith is strong!", and try to vacuum you into an argument. And this was California - only a few years ago.
2007-06-10 09:31:57 · answer #2 · answered by Sam 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe we should trade places :0). I am a Christian, but here in Canada the only religion that is looked down upon is Christianity (too closed minded, etc.) Sorry to hear you're getting pounced on so much (although I suspect that at least some of the people are doing it because they care about you and if there is a Hell they don't want you to go there.) Anyway, my suggestion is to buy a parka and move to Canada :0).
2007-06-09 09:32:08 · answer #3 · answered by abbasgirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"i am a Christian "
So? How does that contribute to answering the question? That is, other than your considerable part in giving the OP that second class feeling?
As to the question... Not a second class citizen, as, no matter how much Fireball and her cronies like to believe it, this is still a nation founded on freedom of/from religion. However, I have experienced the pain of separation from "friends", even those from early childhood, who have decided to sever or curtail contact with me because we disagree on so-called spiritual issues. Except when I can help them, of course.
"Loving Christians" are the most effective atheist makers/reinforcers I have ever met.
2007-06-09 09:25:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Angie is exactly right. The religious right are great at making others feel like less of a citizen because they believe differently.
And it's not just atheist and agnostics. They'll attempt to make anybody of any different belief system feel inferior.
Just the other day I had a couple of JW's come to my door, and when I told them I wasn't interested in being preached to they told me straight out that I was gonna burn in hell.
I told em to f**k off and shut the door.
(I probably should have asked them for their home addresses and asked them what time they had dinner, so I could stop by and bother them with my nonbelief)
Talk about a couple of arrogant pricks.
2007-06-09 09:21:56 · answer #5 · answered by Adam G 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
some women human beings different than their faith and don't think of of themselves as 2d type electorate. Others could want to %. their husbands, jobs, code of gown ect., that's the same in spite of faith or nationality you're some British women human beings have not any desire to be housewives and do each and every of the companion and childrens chores toddler minding, nutrition buying and cleansing who stated its women human beings's artwork besides
2016-11-27 20:32:06 · answer #6 · answered by oberbeck 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do many things in the course of a day, none of which make me question other's faith. Everyone has an opinion. I take what I need as a Christian and leave the rest. Would probably work for you too.
2007-06-09 09:29:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What ever religion you follow, you have chosen a right religion that teaches you to love and respect others and their belief. If somebody tells you that you will go to hell because you are not a christian, I would tell them I will be happy to see you up there and watch their reaction. Tell them, I hope you will receive me there in better manner than the one on this planet.
2007-06-09 09:30:08 · answer #8 · answered by Hari Om 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes, god loves us all and Jesus does to!! Its a perfect world and the Christians are the cherry on top. Oh wait, its the fly on the turd. I'm a heretic, a nonbeliever, but according to Christianity as long as i confess the second before i die, here i come heaven.
PS. When in heaven, don't step on the ducks
2007-06-09 09:25:12 · answer #9 · answered by Lazerus m 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are those sheep who can only survive and relate to life when in a flock. They also need a Shepperd/pastor/overseer etc., to tell them what to do and believe.
On another tack, Christian decibel rates and verbal attacks are in direct opposition with their intelligence and acceptance that they are not the only religious in the world.
2007-06-09 09:25:18 · answer #10 · answered by Terry 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Where do you live? Do you live in an Ahmish community or something? I am in the US Air Force and I have been to many places in the USA and around the world. I have not been to one place where I felt the Christian population controlled the area. To be honest it is the Christians I see that are frowned upon as second class citizens.
2007-06-09 09:20:47 · answer #11 · answered by mxcardinal 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋