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I try to be tolerant. Really, I do. For the most part, I feel that if people believe in a deity or belong to a religion, as long as they aren't trying to turn their beliefs into the law of the land for the rest of us, that's their business.
But when I see things that testify to the great and vast capacity of certain among humanity to throw all reason, logic, and science to the wind, I will admit, here among the comfort and safety of fellow atheists, that I have to gnash my teeth.
It both frustrates and frightens me that some people in this day and age are so willing to pronounce something that is absolutely ordinary and readily explained to be the act of a deity. I mean, come on, now. Condensation will leave a streak on your toilet bowl if you don't clean your bathroom regularly.
Granted, I do not spend a lot of time pondering this, but when I see it on the news, it trips my wire. It gets me to thinking about people like this in a voting booth, deciding what will be taught in science classrooms, advocating for legislation based on their superstitions, and so on.
What, if anything, tests your tolerance as an atheist?
Living in the deep south, pretty much everything tests my tolerance as an atheist.
You name it, it happens here.
Haha! I am so glad I moved north of the Mason Dixon. There are things I miss about the south, and there are some wonderful people, but living there after I left the church just kept me on edge...
What, if anything, tests your tolerance as an atheist?
I don't worry too much about people believing nonsensical things. Saying nonsensical things, trying to spread their nonsense, is another matter. But then, such is freedom.
My intolerance kicks in when policy decisions start being made and laws start being enacted based on profoundly ignorant bronze age scribblings.
Living in the deep south, pretty much everything tests my tolerance as an atheist.
You name it, it happens here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilac110
That's certainly understandable. I couldn't live there. Northern Virginia is about as far south as I'll go.
Yeah it's not the place for an atheist. I was trying to think of some things that really chap my hide, here's a few:
Forced to live partially in the closet about my disbelief due to worrying about the physical and emotional well-being of others if they knew
The phrases that even I cannot stop saying...."bless you" when someone sneezes, "I'll pray for you" , "please pray for me and my family", "what church do you go to?" (that's my personal favorite) and so on and let's not forget my ever favorite thing to say----THANK GAWD!!!!!!
Cannot escape it, it's everywhere. No joke, every single intersection within several miles of me has a least one church, if not two or more. Every member of my family is fundamental Christian so they don't know. I've put out feelers about how they might feel about a non-believer or (gasp) atheist and it was not pretty. I'm scared.
The complete and utterly ridiculous hypocrisy of it all, southern Baptists are the biggest bunch of drunks around but come Sunday everyone slams anyone else who admits to drinking and begin to perform exorcisms. Ok, that might be an exaggeration but damn.
I'd just like to reiterate the THIRD one......IT'S FREAKING EVERYWHERE!!!!
I have no complaints really. I just don't allow religion or their ilk to exist in my world. If THEY voluntarily come in contact with me, then I make sure to give them a unpleasant experience.
I have no complaints really. I just don't allow religion or their ilk to exist in my world. If THEY voluntarily come in contact with me, then I make sure to give them a unpleasant experience.
Wow.....really? It's hard for me to envision a real life situation where religion wasn't front and center, lucky you. I need to move.
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Maybe.
