For Religious/Everyone: Two part question: 1. How is it too much to ask to keep your religious beliefs...?

Question

...private? I think that your relationship with god would be most holy and humble if it were celebrated in privacy. 2. I can name you ten things that have directly impacted my life today caused by religion. My question is this: Can you, and would you please, name ten ways that atheism or non-belief has directly (read that again....directly) impacted you. This is not one of my voodoo atheist tricks, I just want to know if the lack of religion affects you as much as religion affects me. Thank you in advance for your responses.

Okay, I know this is a discussion forum. I'm not talking about the sharing of ideas. I'm talking about your need to spread 'the gospel.' I know what I believe, and I'm fine with that. It seems that people of religion, especially Christianity, aren't satisfied with knowing themselves. Isn't it a commandment to bring sheep into the fold? Preaching, pamplets, door to door....that's what i'm interested in. This is a discussion forum and that's what I'm trying to do. Have an open, honest discussion.

Why is religion so influential in our government and media, I guess, if you want to cut to the meat of it all.
Okay, since you asked...
1. Buying a pack of cigarettes with the words 'In God We Trust' printed on the money I used. The constitution not only grants the freedom OF religion, but also the freedom FROM religion.
2. My neice was baptized today, and I did not go. Believe me, I heard it from the family.
3. A neighbor of mine stopped by and invited me to church on Sunday. Although I appreciated the gesture, I did not invite him to the bar.
4. Being called 'ignorant' earlier on this forum because I said I was an atheist. I'm an anti-theist, if you want to know. I just hate explaining it to folks when it doesn't really make a difference to them.
5. Having nearly 100% of the members of all three branches of government claiming to be religious.
6. Living in a country that claims seperation of church and state, but doesn't really practice that.

7. Not being able to buy alcohol in the city I live in. This is directly linked to the religious culture here.
8. Being told I'm overly sensitive for asking a question on someone's beliefs.
9. Having to drive 15 miles to the next county to buy a national best seller entitled 'God is Not Great.'
10. Not being able to publicy state the fact that I believe the way I do without being 'non-religiously' persecuted.

Yes, all today...and I have only heard one psuedo-answer for my second part. I realize that in the US you have the freedom to say whatever you want. Please do. I'm not trying to silence you. You make the best cases for atheism. I simply want to know the doctrine of why everyone has to believe what you do, why everyone has to have the chance to hear the gospel, and why it's forced down my freggin' throat everywhere I turn.

Answer 1

if everyone kept their religious beliefs (or lack thereof) private, the world would be a much safer place with less conflict and hypocrisy. sure, that sounds good, but after a while, wouldn't life get a little bit boring? and also, there are always going to be people who wonder why we are here.

10 ways that Atheism has directly impacted me.

- encouragement to question everything
- encouragement to think for myself
- knowledge that smart people and dumb people are everywhere
- greater understanding of evolution
- greater understanding of the less talked about aspects of Christianity
- knowledge that religion is the cause for most of the world's suffering
- heightened ability to think critically
- greater awareness of the world around me
- greater awareness of less-known religions
- greater understanding of what "hypocrisy" means

thank you for your wonderful question. i hope all who answer it take it seriously.

Answer 2

here's my multi-part answer from a Christian perspective

1: Christ told us to spread the gospel-would it not be disobedient to keep silent?

2: this is a 'religion and spirituality' forum-what would you have us discuss-meatloaf recipes? in other words, if religious expression offends you, why are you HERE?

3: here in the USA, we have these concepts of freedom of speech and freedom of religion-if you can't dig that, write your congressman

4: you say you can think of ten things that have directly impacted your life today caused by religion, but haven't listed ANY...

5: maybe if you turned down the famous atheist 'offense-o-meter' down just a tad from the 'hair trigger sensitivity' level, you'd be a bit happier-just a thought

EDIT

THAT'S your 10??? let's check them out:
1: how does 'in God we trust' on currency affect you? does the money not spend?
2: that sounds like a 'family issue'-maybe some family counseling is in order
3: how did a friendly invitation to church offend you? you can say 'no, thanks'-simple courtesy
4: being called 'ignorant' can be unpleasant, that's for sure...but EVERYONE goes through that
5: the consitution prohibits any kind of religious test for officeholders...if the voters elect 'theists', you'll just have to get over it or find some atheist candidates-democracy in action!
6:the constitution says that congress shall make no laws respecting the establishment of religion, nor prohibiting free exercise of religion-can you name an example of where congress has done otherwise?
7: that sounds like a problem to take up with your local government-that's who determines the laws in your locality
8: this falls into the 'overly sensitive' category-are you supposed to be somehow shielded from all criticism?
9: that's an issue to take up with your local bookstore-capitalism in action!
10: exactly HOW are you persecuted for stating your beliefs? is the world supposed to say, 'why, yes...we agree with you wholeheartedly?' does not freedom of speech apply to those who disagree with you?
i still believe your unhappiness is rooted more in your reactions than in the actions of others...and you'd be less troubled if you didn't spend so much time and energy in being offended...lighten up just a skoash-you'll be much happier

Answer 3

How can we keep from rejoicing when our eternal lives with the Creator are sealed??? It's such beautiful news to us, why shouldn't we share it with the world?

And, this IS the religious questions and answers - we are legally allowed to state our opinion, I believe.

Atheism has only done one thing to directly impact me - it has strengthened my belief that there is a God, and I do have a purpose in life and beyond it, no matter what the schools teach or how many people tell me I came from a green puddle of slime billions of years ago.

Answer 4

This is the "Religion and Spirituality" forum. We're supposed to be talking about our religious beliefs!

ADDENDUM: Well, for those of us who are Christians, Jesus told us to go out and make disciples of all nations, teaching everything that He had taught and baptizing them. It's part of our faith to bring the faith to others!

ADDENDUM 2: I'm sorry, I don't think I can agree that the Constitution guarantees "freedom from religion" - at least not in the way you seem to mean it. The Constitution says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof." That means that there's no official state religion, and citizens can go to Church as they please and if they please.

ADDENDUM 3: Did you use U.S. currency - with the motto "In God We Trust" - to buy the book "God is Not Great"?

Answer 5

Imagine you being Peyton Manning and then having your son or daughter ashamed or shy to admit that they are your kids?

We as believers have the knowledge that if people do certain things in this life, it will result in huge problems in the next life. What would that say about a persons character if they knew something aweful was going to happen to you yet refuse to do anything to try to change that?

That and we are also mandated to in Scripture.

Faith in God isnt a private thing, it needs to be a public thing.

Answer 6

An interesting question. Hm.

My friend who was an athiest is now a dedicated Christian. I shed some tears in prayer over him in the transition.

Madeline Murray took prayer out of schools in her son's name. My little group's before school Bible study was cancelled because of it. And her same son later became a dedicated Christian.

No, I guess I have to admit I can't come up with 10. I could probably come up with 10 ways religion has directly (and negatively) impacted me, however.

I keep remembering the "Dune" slogan: "Maud Dib's religion is not Maud Dib."

Answer 7

As a Humanist who believes in religious freedom and freedom of expression, I don't think my religious neighbors should feel obligated to keep their beliefs private. I say, Live your faith openly. Wear your faith on your sleeve! Let it inspire everything you do. But remember that others must have the same right to live according to their beliefs; it's not up to anyone to decide what another's beliefs should be.

"Give to every human being every right that you claim for yourself." ~ Col. Robert Green Ingersoll

Answer 8

Lmao, voodoo. I love it. Rock on/

To the person above me, actually, nowhere does it say you need to talk about religious beliefes. You are merely here to talk ABOUT religion. And spirituality. This is TALKING about religion.

Answer 9

you didn't name 10 ways so why should i? One way: I don't feel like an idiot, as I did when I subscribed to religious mumbo jumbo. I can hold my head high now. I can read anything I want now without fear that I will be tainted by truth.

Answer 10

Tis so easy, go somewhere else and you won't hear us talk about R&S here.