Are atheists unnatural and abnormal?

[Alex+R 0]

I thought Muslims didn't eat pork because it is a dirty animal. Nothing to do with religion....

Jews too. Because pigs use their own waste to stay cool in a dry climate above a certain temperature. So Jews and Muslims created a taboo against pork.

There are many Orthodox Christians out there that don't believe in the consumption of pork either. The Ethiopian Orthodox church, for example, is fairly clear on this taboo. Which is cool. More chops for me.

I thought the ban was because of the trich?

Heard this did not work out so well when Islam came to Southeast Asia, where they kept a lot of pigs... the full-body coverage thing was a bit uncomfortable as well in that climate...

[sparkofcreation 0]

What's all this about being "tolerant" ? Do you see anyone who is non-religious trying to take away someone's right to religion? Saying they feel religion is "stupid" or "naive" or whatever because someone else told them to think that?

Honestly? I'm Unitarian Universalist, and one of the tenets of our faith is that what you do is more important than what you believe (like someone said early in this thread about religions that are more of a guide to living your life than requiring belief in a dogma)... which means that there are many, many UU atheists. And I have many, many times walked out of discussions because people told me that my husband would be a nice guy if he weren't a Christian, or my roommate can't be very smart if she believes in God.

So yes, I would say that atheists can be every bit as intolerant as the most literalist Bible-thumpers.

Edited November 14, 2006 by sparkofcreation

[Ladylethal 12]

I just saw this thread for the first time and I rather not even make any love/hate comments. I'm an atheist myself and I've got strong morals, beliefs and sense of justice and of what is good or evil which some claimed religious have not.

[ace13 0]

Basically, you can't force anyone to believe. So what can we do? I think we should try to love everyone and lead by example. If they get the message, great! If not, they are still our brothers and we should love them anyways.

[Alex+R 0]

What's all this about being "tolerant" ? Do you see anyone who is non-religious trying to take away someone's right to religion? Saying they feel religion is "stupid" or "naive" or whatever because someone else told them to think that?

Honestly? I'm Unitarian Universalist, and one of the tenets of our faith is that what you do is more important than what you believe (like someone said early in this thread about religions that are more of a guide to living your life than requiring belief in a dogma)... which means that there are many, many UU atheists. And I have many, many times walked out of discussions because people told me that my husband would be a nice guy if he weren't a Christian, or my roommate can't be very smart if she believes in God.

So yes, I would say that atheists can be every bit as intolerant as the most literalist Bible-thumpers.

I agree. That's why the next paragraph of my post was that I didn't understand why some people were saying atheists are supposed to be more tolerant. I know lots of very prejudiced atheists (like the ones you mentioned) and I'm sure there are some intolerant ones too.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I'm not a big proponent of organized religion. That doesn't mean I'm necessarily against it, it just means that I don't necessarily trust it entirely.

I take a "live and let live" stance. If others want to be of different religions or an atheist, then that's fine by me. I don't really care. They're not affecting me. I have my religious freedom, so why shouldn't they?

[rclouse 0]

Basically, you can't force anyone to believe. So what can we do? I think we should try to love everyone and lead by example. If they get the message, great! If not, they are still our brothers and we should love them anyways.

That's quite admirable, but too many religious people would add "even though they're going to hell" to the end of your statement. That's what is dangerous. When one feels superior to another because God is on their side they can justify even the most heinous crimes because in their mind it's God's will.

[mybackpages 0]

When one feels superior to another because God is on their side they can justify even the most heinous crimes because in their mind it's God's will.

This made me think of the dylan song- with God on Our Side:

Oh my name it is nothin'

My age it means less

The country I come from

Is called the Midwest

I's taught and brought up there

The laws to abide

And that land that I live in

Has God on its side.

Oh the history books tell it

They tell it so well

The cavalries charged

The Indians fell

The cavalries charged

The Indians died

Oh the country was young

With God on its side.

Oh the Spanish-American

War had its day

And the Civil War too

Was soon laid away

And the names of the heroes

I's made to memorize

With guns in their hands

And God on their side.

Oh the First World War, boys

It closed out its fate

The reason for fighting

I never got straight

But I learned to accept it

Accept it with pride

For you don't count the dead

When God's on your side.

When the Second World War

Came to an end

We forgave the Germans

And we were friends

Though they murdered six million

In the ovens they fried

The Germans now too

Have God on their side.

I've learned to hate Russians

All through my whole life

If another war starts

It's them we must fight

To hate them and fear them

To run and to hide

And accept it all bravely

With God on my side.

But now we got weapons

Of the chemical dust

If fire them we're forced to

Then fire them we must

One push of the button

And a shot the world wide

And you never ask questions

When God's on your side.

In a many dark hour

I've been thinkin' about this

That Jesus Christ

Was betrayed by a kiss

But I can't think for you

You'll have to decide

Whether Judas Iscariot

Had God on his side.

So now as I'm leavin'

I'm weary as Hell

The confusion I'm feelin'

Ain't no tongue can tell

The words fill my head

And fall to the floor

If God's on our side

He'll stop the next war.

[Sinergy 3]

I am one for faith, i believe in God, i believe in heaven and hell, i just have no religion, and i practice no religion.

what i hate is when ppl tell me "you can not believe in God if you dont go to church". IMO you dont need to go to church in order to pray or believe in God.

[chri'stina 190]

I still want to know what is wrong with homosexuals getting married legally though...I am particularly interested in a reasoned argument from a religious person as to why homosexuality is sinful?

You should know better than to expect a reasoned argument from a religious person.

Niice inslts thrugh out thsi thread, Makr. Big thumms up.

Soryr about my splellingg, but yo knw I am a Chistrian, afteral. So i'M stoopid.

Well I believe that religious people are stupid.

Marilyn, you're too good a sport. Kick his a$$!

I'll do it for her!!

[mawilson 2,133]

Niice inslts thrugh out thsi thread, Makr. Big thumms up.

Soryr about my splellingg, but yo knw I am a Chistrian, afteral. So i'M stoopid.

And now you're just being naughty. You're not getting any presents from Santa this Christmas.

(You do believe in Santa, don't you? )

[Ecalos 0]

Wow how'd I miss this one?

I don't believe in diddly squat except for science. I'm one of those "needs proof" people