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Based on my (limited) 26 years of experience I have brought forth a few peaceful observations that I hope will promote some understanding between the religious and the non.
It is commonly mentioned on here that Atheists over-judge the religious folks. While there are certainly two sides to this I hope to offer some insight. But I think that the perception that atheists get about religious folks comes from the ones who preach the loudest.
When the average Christian says or does something that the atheist agrees with it doesn't occur to them that the noted person was a Christian. Not that they ignore it, but at that point in time there is no need to bring it up. But there are the (relatively) few Christians that wear it like a giant cowboy hat everywhere they go - so it is unavoidable to notice. Thus the wild things they say tarnish the others out there who are more reasonable about it.
The wild-eyed Christians sell themselves as being representatives of their religion. So what they say and do reflects back onto the whole organization. I will admit that a portion of this is lack of understanding is on the part of the atheist, especially the more brash they are about it. But here again - the wild fundamentalists intentionally portray themselves as representing their religion; kind of like a senator or mayor. The atheist does no such thing - they don't have any pack to represent.
The more reasonable Christians could do a little something about this image by showing it when they don't agree with the wild ones. If they don't want the image that the hardcore's put on them they need to make an effort to prove that image wrong. This isn't to say that the atheist shouldn't make an effort to practice a little understanding as well. But the middle of the road folks get a lot of their bad name from those up the food chain and that they can do something about.
The biggest problem I see is that people on both sides just don't seem to be able to deal with the fact that not everybody believes the same way. I can't believe how rude some people on this forum have been to me when I've done nothing more than simply express my opinion. I haven't tried to convert anybody to my religion. I haven't told anybody that God hates them and they're going to Hell. I haven't implied that people who don't share my beliefs are stupid, deluded, naive, brainwashed or anything else. And no, I don't just need to develop a thicker skin. I don't like to be insulted, but I do like to talk about religion, and it appears that the two go hand in hand most of the time. Since nobody really knows for sure whether there is a God or not, whether there is an afterlife, or which religion -- if any -- is true, why can't we just be civil to one another? Why does every conversation have to end up spiraling downhill into a nasty fight?
The biggest problem I see is that people on both sides just don't seem to be able to deal with the fact that not everybody believes the same way. I can't believe how rude some people on this forum have been to me when I've done nothing more than simply express my opinion. I haven't tried to convert anybody to my religion. I haven't told anybody that God hates them and they're going to Hell. I haven't implied that people who don't share my beliefs are stupid, deluded, naive, brainwashed or anything else. And no, I don't just need to develop a thicker skin. I don't like to be insulted, but I do like to talk about religion, and it appears that the two go hand in hand most of the time. Since nobody really knows for sure whether there is a God or not, whether there is an afterlife, or which religion -- if any -- is true, why can't we just be civil to one another? Why does every conversation have to end up spiraling downhill into a nasty fight?
Aw, just get a thicker skin!
(I'm just kidding)
That's what I'm trying to get to the bottom of here. I do share your observation that people tend to get rude when simply expressing an opinion. I think that there are some members who come here looking to pick a fight and they aren't going home till they win. And if they start not winning, that's when it gets personal instead of admitting that they were wrong, or at least withdrawing from the thread.
I haven't exactly developed a thicker skin, but I try not to let these kinds of things get under my skin. There are a lot of people like this out there and I just don't have time to battle them all.
The biggest problem I see is that people on both sides just don't seem to be able to deal with the fact that not everybody believes the same way. I can't believe how rude some people on this forum have been to me when I've done nothing more than simply express my opinion. I haven't tried to convert anybody to my religion. I haven't told anybody that God hates them and they're going to Hell. I haven't implied that people who don't share my beliefs are stupid, deluded, naive, brainwashed or anything else. And no, I don't just need to develop a thicker skin. I don't like to be insulted, but I do like to talk about religion, and it appears that the two go hand in hand most of the time. Since nobody really knows for sure whether there is a God or not, whether there is an afterlife, or which religion -- if any -- is true, why can't we just be civil to one another? Why does every conversation have to end up spiraling downhill into a nasty fight?
Well you are 100% right in my opinion ......unfortunately many who bother to post on religious topics feel that they 'do know for sure' that there is or isn't a God and its 'obvious' that their belief is the right way and those who disagree are just 'too dumb' to get it.I am happy to discuss my beliefs with anyone who is interested,and find the beliefs of others to be interesting.I don't understand why some people can't stick to discussing their beliefs and instead feel the need to constantly tell me what 'I believe' and 'what my church teaches' even if they have never been in my church.It seems contrary to common sense to expect that insulting me or my church is going to cause me to find your church,religion,or lack of one an appealing alternative.
cleatis: The problem as I see it is that the wild-eyed fundamentalists are simply tactless enough to say things which are contained in the religion in general but which the more moderate Christians are loath to express. Why is there so little protest by the more refined Christians? I also wonder at the lack of criticism of the radical Muslims by their allegedly more moderate, 'peace-loving' spiritual cousins. It seems to me that in both cases, the moderate, presumably more ecumenical members would lodge public protests. Or are they simply allowing the radicals to speak for them?
I suppose this problem stems from the more basic "we're right and everyone else is wrong" concept which both religions have. At heart, there seems to be no possibility of compromise.
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......unfortunately many who bother to post on religious topics feel that they 'do know for sure' that there is or isn't a God and its 'obvious' that their belief is the right way and those who disagree are just 'too dumb' to get it.I am happy to discuss my beliefs with anyone who is interested,and find the beliefs of others to be interesting.I don't understand why some people can't stick to discussing their beliefs and instead feel the need to constantly tell me what 'I believe' and 'what my church teaches' even if they have never been in my church.It seems contrary to common sense to expect that insulting me or my church is going to cause me to find your church,religion,or lack of one an appealing alternative.
