Athiest do you believe in Freedom of Religion?

Question

If you don't believe in God, that is fine I respect your right not too and the right to voice why not. But in return do you respect others beliefs or would you go against our founding fathers and abolish anything you do not agree with? And why or why not?

Serious answers get a thumbs up if I agree with you or not, others thumbs down

Answer 1

I believe that every person should have freedom of personal belief and to the free practice of their own religion so long as it is not harming or infringing the rights of others. I believe the way to ensure that the majority don't run rampant over the human rights and civil liberties of the minority is to have separation of church and state. This means I think each child should be able to pray on their own in free time as school if they wish and bring their holy books to read in free time if they want. I don't believe though that the school should endorse religion or have school sponsored prayer. I think Christians who don't believe in birth control should never have to use it and can opt their kids out of comprehensive sex ed if they wish. I don't think Christian pharmacists should have the right to deny someone who doesn't share their beliefs the right to fill their birth control prescription. They knew that would come up when they took the job, in that situation they are infringing on the rights of another with different beliefs. I also think that the scientific consensus not the religious groups who might disagree with scientists should dictate what gets taught in science class. I think these examples give an indication of my beliefs on religion in a pluralistic society. I think even our founding fathers disagreed on religion. Look at Thomas Paine's "Age of Reason", he strongly disagreed with Christianity. Thomas Jefferson and Adams were deists. Many were Episcopalians and Congregationalists who would not see things at all the same as the Christian fundamentalists today who want to eliminate separation of church and state. From what I know of history and the founding fathers they wanted to found a country where everyone could follow their own beliefs but none were coerced to believe any faith.

Answer 2

Atheists aren't really the ones who have a problem with freedom of religion. Most can and do respect that people believe in god or gods - they just want those beliefs left out of the laws.

I find that Christians in particular seem to think freedom of religion means that they are free to introduce their religion into everything - even things that do not affect them in any way. Gay marriage laws are a prime example.

I do believe in God but I would never attempt to force my beliefs onto others by making them the law of the land. Where is the freedom in that?

Answer 3

I absolutely believe in freedom of religion. That doesn't mean I agree with or even respect your religious opinions; but you're entitled to them just as I am to mine. The only thing I will really combat is the imposition of religious ideology on secular society - which is anathema to religious freedom.

Your right to believe and worship as you will is guaranteed by the right of everybody else to do the same. "Christians" who think America should be (or is) a "Christian Nation" ought to consider that. Because even if we agreed that it is, the next question would be, which brand of Christianity? And odds are it wouldn't be yours. Imagine being forced to worship as a (gasp!) Catholic! After all, that's the real reason the Puritans "settled" this country (i.e. pillaged it from the natives); and that's the lesson the Founding Fathers had in mind when they came up with the Separation of Church and State.

Answer 4

I think, not merely believe, that freedom of religion is vital to a democracy. I say anyone has a right to believe as he likes, but he has no right to force his beliefs upon anyone. It is the religious people who have done that mainly. We should not have God on all of our money and in the Pledge of Allegiance. They were added in 1954-1955, contrary to our Constitution. That is forcing the English Christian deity upon every American. Christians and Moslems are worst for forcing their beliefs upon everyone, and they have fought many wars for centuries. There was never a Buddhist holy war (crusade or jihad). It is regrettable that Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, etc. are not more prevalent than Christianity and Islam.

Answer 5

I love my God and I do respect other peoples religion. And the only person that will ever determine whos religion is right or wrong is God.Cause everything in the end boils down to him

Answer 6

Absolutely.

You can believe in God, Jesus, L. Ron Hubbard, Buddah, Allah, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster for all I care.

As long as you respect my right to NOT have a religion and refrain from shoving it down my throat and telling me I'm going to rot in hell if I don't think exactly as you do, all is peachy.

I'm also in agreement with people who say that religion should not be attached to the government. Our founding fathers did not start this nation as a Christian one, they started it as one where you were free to follow any religion (or lack of one) that you wanted. Religion is meant to be followed in the home and in your place of worship... NOT in the courthouses, public schools, and the workplace.

Answer 7

i think that persons ought to have complete freedom to choose for their faith and workout their faith hence. Mocking others' faiths is positively no longer for the superb activity of humanity. regrettably, in contemporary days, some Muslim-majority states have particularly did no longer know the liberty of religion of their electorate, i.e., Non-Muslims and particular Muslims who're seen as heretics and apostates. for many folk interior the West, leaving one's faith (apostasy) is only no longer an argument of large challenge. some could be disillusioned while such an journey happens, yet as we communicate changing religions is so uncomplicated that it only does not arouse plenty antagonism or anger — even the international "apostate" is not often used anymore. That, besides the undeniable fact that, isn't the case in Islam the place apostasy maintains to be a criminal offense punishable by using dying: people who're apostates ought to worry for their lives or perhaps the lives of their families.

Answer 8

It depends on what those believers will do. If they try to force me to follow their beliefs, then I don't believe in Freedom of Religion.

Answer 9

I totaly agree. You can believe whatever you want. It is called freedom.

But at the same time, I believe that no religious belief should be attached to the government, period.

Answer 10

I respect others' beliefs, even those who have no evidential support for those beliefs. I am an atheist because I see no evidence for the existance of god or of gods.