I am an Atheist! I do not wish to disrespect other peoples beliefs!?

Question

A true Atheist (I feel) is not interested in proving religions are wrong! I believe that religious people have the duty to make me believe that religion is right! Athesits I know are not interested in disporoving religion but I just wish socities can live in a 100% secular society rather than religious people making the people in power bow to there religious beliefs (E.G. Muslims wanting to ban a picture of a pig in a an office place)

When i say secular society i mean the social life we live and the place we work i am not asking people to be secular all the time in there own time at home with family people can do as they please and I would be happy with that!

Answer 1

Good for you. I too am an atheist. You don't need me to tell you you're right.

Answer 2

Most of the problems a christian has with atheists are they tend to want to remove everything christian. I don't have trouble with santa claus so why do they have problems with the creche? I don't mean you in particular but a general sense.

There needs to be more sensitivity. I mean few people would argue the BIG TEN are needed, especially in today's world. So why does it need to be fought against just because it came from the Bible? There are alot of philosophies that aren't religious that are excellent examples of how to live. I don't refuse to follow them or get upset when they're quoted just because they didn't come from the Bible. As for the pic of a pig if it's a pet, a joke or just cute it's one thing. But if it's used to slur or deliberately offend then it should be banned. Art or not.

Freddy the Freeloader always said my rights end where another's begins. For this to happen everyone (atheist or christian) has to realize everyone has the same rights.

Many communist countries are/were 100% secular. Laws alone weren't enough to control the masses. Fear of retribution will stop some but after a while or too many inane laws even the fear won't stop an uprising. There has to be morals. W/o a basis for the morals they are only opinions which can change with the right circumstances.

So though there is a fine line between a religious and a secular society for a government to be successful it has to be balanced.

Though a christian I too have problems with those in your face about religion. I'm kinda like that 70s song; "Me and Jesus got our own thing going and there ain't no need to tell me what it's all about". I wish we could all just get along. But if we stop religious freedom, we stop devil worship, we stop atheism (which some atheists proclaim themselves a religion) then what do we have left? Who decides the law?

You say the people. That's well and good but there's an old jewish proverb about get two people together and you have three opinions. Think the government debates too many issues now too long imagine if those issues were governed by opinions with no basis in any belief system beyond personal opinion.

Answer 3

I agree with the gist of this, but not the bit about religious people havin a duty to make others believe. If that were so, why then don't atheists have a duty to do the same?

Yes, society should be secular - governments should have no religious affiliations or, as you say, should not bow to the religious beliefs of any particular group.

We can't disprove religion - it exists right before our eyes. We can't disprove god - the concept was designed by man to symbolise that which we cannot explain, the 'supernatural.'

What we can do is encourage open discussion and free thought.

Answer 4

I, too, am atheist (you should not use a capital letter, it is a common noun). I believe religious people should have the right to practise their religion, but they should not have the right to try to make me follow it, nor should religion have any place in the law! Basically my values are almost the same as those of the National Secular Society, which is like our version of American Atheists.

I am particularly annoyed by the religion and law issue. It is only because of the very vocal minority of practising Christians in this country that we do not have gay marriage: 'civil partnerships' are a concession to the Christians, and an insult to me!

Daniel:
Yes, you do have separation of church and state, but which of our countries is more secular? Which of our countries' heads of state is actually convinced that he is God's represntative on Earth? Lol.

Btw, I didn't actually see a question up there!

Answer 5

I don't know if I'm considered religious or not. I believe that with the fact that something caused this great world of ours. I don't believe in the Jesus thing. My wife is extremely religious but she doesn't force her beliefs on me. I don't know if this country will ever be 100% secular. The town where I live has more churches than gas stations and the people take their religion very seriously

Answer 6

God (or Godess) or duality of Deity - whatever one says, or however one looks at it, is Spirit. Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Wiccans, Moslems, Shintoists - all our religions can be boiled down to a belief into some form of Holy Spirit, or at least to a belief that there is Spirit that transcends all, and that exists within us.

I am a Wiccan, primarily because the Wiccan outlook on spirituality enables me to function as a spiritual person in a society ( England) that is essentially agnostic.

Atheists do not deny Spirit, they simply do not label it by adherence to a particular creed.

There is a lot to be said for your views, but the UK is a silly country. How can I employ a Muslim ( or Jewish) cook, or train one, when one of my most popular dishes is a gratin of bacon, onion and potato? I am equally fazed by some people of Indian ethnicity, who will not employ an onion as this vegetable is supposed to 'inflame the passions'.

I feel that we should be a secular society that respects the wishes of the religious person, but that places the functioning of society as a whole above the multifarious demands of religious zealots. It is, after all, the zealots who cause the trouble. Most Moslems, Christians, Jews, Wiccans and the rest of us simply get on with life.

Answer 7

You contradict yourself sir. On the one hand you say "I believe that religious people have the duty to make me believe that religion is right!", and then you go on to say "I just wish socities can live in a 100% secular society". You should consider what you wish to say before you say it.

Even though I consider myself 'spiritual' (I don't follow any of the 'main' religions), you'll never hear me speak for my religion unless approached to do so.

I must say, Daniel's response brought a wry grin to my face when he stated "Even Christianity promotes freedom of religion". Christianity has only been killing people for thousands of years precisely because they didn't believe the same as themselves ... and they continue to do it to this day.

Answer 8

That is what the separation of church and state is for. We cant, and shouldnt, make you believe a certain religion, or lack thereof. We cant establish a national church or religion. You can believe what you want, practice your beliefs how you want to (as long as it doesnt imposes on another's freedoms). I am a Christian. Even Christianity promotes freedom of religion. You have a choice: accept or decline. We are not forced to believe one thing or another. A good reason for I love living in the good ol' US of A.

Answer 9

They say to 'each his own', however, do those of a religious persuasion respect the views of aethiests? No, they try to tell us their way is better. But is it? Fine, practice religion of your kind in your way, but don't ask the rest of us to condone your ways and beliefs. Aeithiests are the enlightened of this world, we have no reason to be led or herded or rounded up or brain washed to other's ways of thinking.

Answer 10

Religion is a personal thing. Why should anyone have the duty to convince anyone else of anything? I don't give two hoots what you do or don't believe.

Answer 11

I'm a Christian and I respect your decision. I'm glad that you don't want to prove which religion is right. Although I tend to preach about God. I do it nicely. I hate it when people stand on corners tellying us we will go to hell and all. I agree with you on this it is getting out of hand.