Can Atheists Even Agree with Religious on This One?

Question

During a summit meeting in Naples, Italy this week, over 300 religious leaders including Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists have been meeting. The theme of the summit is, "A World Without Violence: Faiths and Cultures in Dialogue." They jointly issued this statement, ”Whoever uses God’s name to hate others, to commit violence, to wage war, they blaspheme God’s name.”

Is this one thing that the religious and the Atheists can agree on?

Answer 1

I would agree in principle, even though the statment begs the existence of a god.

Answer 2

It doesn't matter much if the people committing the violence and war don't agree with it. I'm certain the people committing the violence would simply denounce these 'leaders' as heretics or something else similar.

I don't disagree it's a nice effort and long over due. As a non-theist (someone recently proved to me that atheists lost the war for their own name) the "they blaspheme God’s name" part I don't personally support but then again they're talking to their own so it's in their language.

Answer 3

Yeah, that'll happen. When man lives on Mars.

We all know certain religious groups (not the Atheists, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Orthodoxies, Pagans) can't agree with anybody on anything, which is why they have always started wars in the names of their gods. I think you guys know who I mean.

Answer 4

No, atheists don't believe in God so they don't believe in blasphemy so the point would be moot to them. They would agree if the statement read, "Whoever uses God's name to hate others, to commit violence, to wage war, they use an imaginary being to justify their cause." That is one they would agree with.

Answer 5

i dont know if you can blaspheme gods name with violence, he actually commands it in some parts of the buy-bull. even muhomed told follers to kill non-believers wherever you find them.

i can agree on the fact thats its a good start to putting an end to religious violence. but will people listen is the main question

Answer 6

If that really happens, then i respect it. Religions can be very tolerant, I've seen some religious people who really think that loving others is doing god's work, and they are also very tolerant. But, that's a very few of them, most of the religious people are taught to hate other religions.

Answer 7

Since god is imaginary, and the concept of blasphemy is purely a religious one, I doubt many Atheists could give a crap about a bunch of mental patients having a meeting.

Atheist.

Answer 8

buddhists are considered atheistic.

*shrug*

wars and violence has always been a product of religion. do they think they will suddenly change everything by meeting and talking about it?

... lol

i'll agree peace is preferred though. 300 people talking wont create peace though. especially when they hide these meetings fromt he public. lol.

Answer 9

it's not that i don't agree with it. i think it's a very positive thing. however, with that being said, is this a group of three year olds? it's sad that it takes so many religious leaders to come to this conclusion. it's sad that we live in a world where you have to teach the obvious... to adults of all people. what's wrong with people? you can't blame this on atheism.

Answer 10

atheists may respect the intent, but the wording is still not something to "agree" on.

to understand why, (this is for demonstration - not to insult), substitute the word "bigfoot" for "god." To an atheist, the only difference is that people haven't used Bigfoot as a reason for violence.