From Q and A I got to read on YA, I realize that many people are unaware of all the suffering, efforts and sacrifices that went into building nations that more or less respect the integrity of their citizens. Women have fought and died to earn the right to be assertive. African americans have fought discrimination. Gay people have managed to get their ways of life, if not respected, at least tolerated.
All around the world, discrimination has been and is still fought bitterly, at the price of human lives.
And here, I see hate, I see bigotry, and I see the capitulation of basic rights that have actually cost human lives. Some of them have to do with religion.
As an atheist, what I fight is not other people: what I fight is the relic of a reverence that has lost its perspective, that has become arbitrary a long time ago, and that under the charisma of forceful leaders can become a new ocean of hate.
Would you please think for yourself?
I don´t ask you to follow me, just to be skeptical.
2007-08-25 20:09:15 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My friend, you are asking brain washed people to think for themselves... it is an uphill battle, and they rarely listen. As to why they surrender their free will, I think it is fear that tells them that if they don't, then they are being influenced by the devil and are doomed to hell. Fear of hell keeps them from thinking logically, as well as peer pressure, convenience, social place and family ties. None of these should be strong enough to keep a person from thinking independently, but the sad truth is, they do.
It is a sad statement on the courage of the human animal, who feels he can't risk it, even if "it" is something as illogical as the threats Christianity puts out.
2007-08-25 20:16:33 · answer #1 · answered by Lady Morgana 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
In a society we are never ever completely free. Everytime we pass a law we are restricting someones freedom to give someone else a different kind of freedom. For example, if society passes a law banning smoking what they are doing is limiting the freedom to smoke to provide the others the right to live in a society without having smoke blown in their face. Basic human rights are open to interpretation. What do you consider a right and what is a priviledge. Marriage, imo, is not a right. It is a contractual agreement between the couple and the state that provides specific benefits for those entered into the agreement. Gvt could easily stay out of marriage altogether. What you consider a right I may not. That is where society comes together to determine, based on their values, what rights and priviledges they will protect to create the society the majority wants.
Discrimination isnt necc a bad thing. Dont you discriminate against people when choosing who your friends will be? When you picked out your outfit today you discriminated against all the other clothes in your closet. I discriminate against people that cuss because I dont want to be around that language.
Tolerance isnt necc a good thing, either. Is it good to tolerate criminal behavior? Should we tolerate children having no respect for authority? Is it ok to tolerate hatred and bigotry?
What exactly is thinking for yourself???? Atheists dont anymore then the religious. There are no new atheist ideas that didnt come from someone else. We are all influenced by the people and ideas around us. We should look at the facts of all sides and come to a conclusion for ourselves what we think is right for us and society when we vote. You can agree with a charismatic leader and still be thinking for yourself. Sometimes those people have good ideas to follow. It seems that you seem to think that if a person comes to a conclusion, even after looking at all the facts, that heaven forbid supports religion or a politician you dont like then they are closeminded or brainwashed.
Noone thinks for themselves. We all get our ideas from somewhere. We just need to at first be open to all possibilities, but eventually we need to pick something to believe in. Coming to a conclusion after looking at all sides is far from being brainwashed or closeminded. And just because people dont agree with you on what basic rights should be doesnt mean they are bigoted or full of hate.
2007-08-26 03:27:43 · answer #2 · answered by cadisneygirl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
O ok i couldn't understand what you were trying to ask for awhile. The reason people follow the Bible blindfolded is because they want something that is constantly reliable, and that is constantly good. But you're right people stop thinking for themselves because they would rather not worry about the fact that good and evil are always changing. The Bible provides a set standard of right and wrong, and people like that because it simplifies things. Wouldn't you rather see in black and white? personally though i kind of prefer my colors.
2007-08-26 03:19:49 · answer #3 · answered by good advice 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I might surrender it to my maker, i surrender my money to the taxes so our soldiers can protect gays witches hores muslims mexicans and the such. but i be dammed if i let you ******* who say there aint no god have the last word
2007-08-26 03:31:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I won't be following you into hell, thank you. Even if you didn't ask me. What you see is evil, that is the problem of this world.
There will come the day when evil will be no more, but not on this earth will it happen.
2007-08-26 03:18:52 · answer #5 · answered by Sweet Suzy 777! 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋