Religious Intolerance

[Walk]

Is it just me (I know it isn't, but I'm just asking you guys), or is it increasingly acceptable for atheists to criticize religion, while there is a growing stigma of religions criticizing each other? This is something I've noticed a lot in message boards, college debates, and even on mainstream TV programs. I'll do some role playing here to explain it.

Situation 1

Muslim: One shouldn't criticize all Muslims. It's only extremists who become suicide bombers. Moderate Muslims are good people.
Atheist: When one believes in an invisible old man in the sky who made the world 6000 years ago, "moderate" is a relative term. Keep your goat-herder cave-man bronze age religious bullshit to yourself in the mosque where it belongs, and away from civilized society.
Commentary 1: What a brilliant insight, Atheist. You're the finest professional philosopher I've ever met.
Commentary 2: Excellent work, Atheist. You're on the way to becoming an actualized ubermensch. Nietzsche would be proud of you!
Commentary 3: Outstanding! It's about time we stood up against dangerous superstitions!

Situation 2

Muslim: One shouldn't criticize all Muslims. It's only extremists who become suicide bombers. Moderate Muslims are good people.
Christian: That's a lie! Islam is inherantly dangerous, and look at this selection of the Koran. These verses prove it! <insert just about any Koran verse here> http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran/ is a good resource for this, by the way.
Commentary 1: I'm disgusted at you, Christian. You should be charged with conspiracy to commit hate crimes.
Commentary 2: It's shocking that so much intolerance still exists. You are an ignorant, chauvinistic excuse for a human being, Christian.
Commentary 3: Christian, We're going to have to ban you from the debate. <calls security> People like you are why the world needs moderators, police, and nerve gas. They're all needed to keep you freaks in line. To the ovens!

Ok, this seems a little extreme, but it's what I've been noticing a lot. Christians get in trouble over debating Islam, even with evidence to back it up (the verses), while atheists can put out blatant hate speech and get commended for it. This is insane. What the hell is wrong with this world?! 

[Guns N RockMusic]

I agree with you, but sometimes I think you're looking to piss people off.

[MCT]

Self-professed atheists are usually self-professed thinkers who manage to lull most sheep into a state of belief in what they say, what they do, and what they fight for. Compliance follows.

And in this day and age, with a professional dilettante on every corner, such patronization is increasingly prevalent, sure. But it's hardly anything new and certainly not worth a thread.

Good one.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Well, seeing that every shred of scientific data proves the world is a whole heck of alot older than 6,000 years, yes, some beliefs are just flat-out wrong.

Flat-out is a nice segway to discussing the Flat Earth movement (International Flat Earth Society) it really exists.  There are people who think Earth is flat.  I bring this up because in many instances, in order to cling to outdated holy books, religions have to trip all over themselves to "re-interpret" passages written many hundreds and sometimes thousands of years ago.  It's quite funny at times, but scary too.

Oh yeah, and to respond to your assertion that the media gives special treatment to Muslims over Christians, in the western world, is absurd.      BTW:  The good ol' christian bible has many passages about slaying "non-believers" too.     

Personally, I don't give a fuck what you believe.  Just don't shove it down my throat.  If my teen-age daughter is raped, don't tell me I have to make her give birth to that baby.  If my kid is in science class, you better shut the fuck up about your religions' particular creation myth, because goddammit, the study of evolution and real science is key to my child's future.  If my dad is dying of Lou Gehrig's disease, he should be allowed by law to end his suffering as he sees fit...painlessly.  If 250,000 frozen embryos are going to be flushed down the toilet or allowed to get so old they cease to be usable, for fuck's sake, use them for scientific study before that happens to allow for research into cures for diseases that kill people!  If my co-worker who happens to be a lesbian and has been with her partner for over 10 years and has beautiful twin children, goes in for a job interview, don't tell me she can't get fucking insurance benefits! 

I have no problem with religion in itself.  I like to think I am a spiritual person, but dammit, I don't shove it down other peoples' throats.   

Ahhh, that felt good.      

P.S. I did like the link to the skeptics annotated bible.  I recommend you use that in your next bible study.   

 

[Shirell]

In my job I've learned to never talk about two things:
1.  Religion      2.  Body weight ..............  it can only lead to bad, man!

[Sakib]

I hate also the way media calls terrorists islamic extremists. If they were islamic extremist they wouldnt support suicide bombings and they wouldnt be betrayed as evil.

Also Walk, i  went on that website about qur'aan anotations. To be honest, being a muslim i really think they're ignorant because the qur'aan is backed up by hadith. Haadith are there to explain the practice of many verses in the qur'aan. Shows blatant ignorance and yeh they cause religious intolerance.

[SLCPUNK]

Self-professed atheists are usually self-professed thinkers who manage to lull most sheep into a state of belief in what they say, what they do, and what they fight for. Compliance follows.

And in this day and age, with a professional dilettante on every corner, such patronization is increasingly prevalent, sure. But it's hardly anything new and certainly not worth a thread.

Good one.

Good one...........

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

christians cannot put islam down, they're both religion, therefore irrational. you don't argue over irrational things by pointing out quotes.

islam is a new thing to us.
it will take time, but it will shrink down to where christianity lies now: christmas trees and lots of hollyday


that link you gave us is super stupid.
i'm gonna make a website to show how the Incas and Mayas were so stupid and wrote such absurdities !! i mean they didnt even have broadband internet !!! so not fetch !

[MCT]

Good one...........

What is brown sugar?

[Axl4Prez2004]

In my job I've learned to never talk about two things:
1.? Religion? ? ? 2.? Body weight ..............? it can only lead to bad, man!

That is correct...in your job.   

[Alina]

I'm atheist , and I dont have anythink against religion people if they not go too far .

 I dont want to hurt anybody 

 IMO religious people dont have any patience to other people or religions, despite that every religion says that you have to learn to be patient to other people, that different
than you are. look how many wars were started becouse of religion.

[Sakib]

I'm atheist , and I dont have anythink against religion people if they not go too far .

 I dont want to hurt anybody

 IMO religious people dont have any patience to other people or religions, despite that every religion says that you have to learn to be patient to other people, that different
than you are. look how many wars were started becouse of religion.

and why were those wars fought?

[Danny Top Hat]

Because people take religion far too seriously.

[SLCPUNK]

Good one...........

What is brown sugar?

I'll tell you what it's not............

[Sakib]

Because people take religion far too seriously.

i dont understand how you can take a religion "too seriously," the phrase makes no sense. As far as i understand if u dont take it seriously you not following it

[MCT]

Good one...........

What is brown sugar?

I'll tell you what it's not............

What is not brown sugar? Enlighten me.

[SLCPUNK]

Because people take religion far too seriously.

i dont understand how you can take a religion "too seriously," the phrase makes no sense. As far as i understand if u dont take it seriously you not following it

Too seriously = exploding suicide belts

Too seriously = Claiming God is killing America because of "fags"

Stuff like that............

[Sakib]

Because people take religion far too seriously.

i dont understand how you can take a religion "too seriously," the phrase makes no sense. As far as i understand if u dont take it seriously you not following it

Too seriously = exploding suicide belts

Too seriously = Claiming God is killing America because of "fags"

Stuff like that............

Blowing building and bomb belts up and claiming god killing US because of fags isnt religious (unless the religion says therefore). Thats called MENTAL or BACKWARD UNEDUCATED THINKING. I hate terminology these days.

[Alina]

I'm atheist , and I dont have anythink against religion people if they not go too far .

 I dont want to hurt anybody

 IMO religious people dont have any patience to other people or religions, despite that every religion says that you have to learn to be patient to other people, that different
than you are. look how many wars were started becouse of religion.

and why were those wars fought?

For example lets take the islamic jihad, I live in Israel and when you watch the
news, and always there is palestins on the news and they always says lets bring the jihad
and distroy Israel. I'm not realy patriotic , but it make you feel bad.

There another wars in the history like? Crusades and theirs holy wars.

[Danny Top Hat]

Because people take religion far too seriously.

i dont understand how you can take a religion "too seriously," the phrase makes no sense. As far as i understand if u dont take it seriously you not following it

I see your point, but there's harboring beliefs and then there's letting a book dictate your whole life.  I don't wanna disrespect because I know how important religion is to you but I do think it's unhealthy in strong doses.

Basically, nobody knows that their religion is accurate, they believe it.  It shouldn't define your personality and, as I said before, it shouldn't be taken so damn seriously.  It's certainly nothing worth fighting over.