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[Late Stage Marxist]

I've been noticing a double standard when it comes to respecting culture, race, sexuality and respecting religion. Even though I'm not what you would call a God-fearing man I'm somewhat offended by how anti-spiritual these boards seem to be. I just think people need to respect the sanctity of religion, regardless of whether or not you subscribe to those beliefs. Discuss.

 

[The Black Gelding]

I just think people need to respect the sanctity of religion, regardless of whether or not you subscribe to those beliefs.

No.

 

[levious]

replace anti-religious with anti-pushing-your-beliefs-on-the-whole-of-society.

I am a catholic who acknowledges evolution and longs for the days when gays and lesbians have adoption and same-sex marriage rights.

 

[olimario]

You hit the nail on the head.
The majority of GAF represent a minority of America that actively lashes out against and condemns Christianity. They take examples in the news of extremist "Christians" who misbehave, apply that behavior to all followers of the religion, and disregard any claim to the contrary.

 

[iapetus]

Just a noisy minority, I think, in the same way that a noisy minority of religious people are utter nutjobs who should be locked away for everyone's good.

 

[olimario]

Just a noisy minority, I think, in the same way that a noisy minority of religious people are utter nutjobs who should be locked away for everyone's good.

I agree with this, except that I think there are more GAF folk like that than you do.

 

[IJoel]

You hit the nail on the head.
The majority of GAF represent a minority of America that actively lashes out against and condemns Christianity. They take examples in the news of extremist "Christians" who misbehave, apply that behavior to all followers of the religion, and disregard any claim to the contrary.

Woah, way to twist the issues at hand.

Religion in government has been the entire deal at the forums. LEARN TO READ. No one condemns personal beliefs.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

I'm anti-activist religious right.

There's a religious left in the country too, but they tend to get drowned out.

I'm a civil libertarian, so I don't really like any when any group wants to control expression of religion, OR when groups are generalized against. Certain political factions cause me fits because on one hand I defend they're right to their religion EXCEPT where they feel it mandates they push that (or any) religion on others.

 

[Dilbert]

Anti-religious? Nope -- I think that people should be able to worship whom/what they want. If you want to pray to your toilet cleaning brush, go knock yourself out.

On the other hand, if you attempt to codify your particular beliefs into law, pass off religious faith as "science," or change the culture so that being non-religious is considered to be un-American or immoral...I'm going to fight you with everything I have.

I will make the further statement that most Americans confuse "religious" with "Christian." That's a big part of the problem.

For what it's worth, I'm officially an agnostic, but barely...mostly on epistemological grounds.

 

[boredJonathan]

sanc·ti·ty n.
1. Holiness of life or disposition; saintliness.
2. The quality or condition of being considered sacred; inviolability.
3. Something considered sacred.

Well seeing as how I, personally, do not believe in holiness it makes it a bit hard to respect it. I can respect that you feel that it is holy. However, why should I have to?

 

[xsarien]

You hit the nail on the head.
The majority of GAF represent a minority of America that actively lashes out against and condemns Christianity.

No. We lash out at blatantly intolerant ideals, and tactics that are patently nothing more than proselytizing with a legislative pen instead of a Bible.

Intolerance of intolerance, despite what you'd like to believe, isn't intolerance in the classical sense.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

replace anti-religious with anti-pushing-your-beliefs-on-the-whole-of-society.

I believe this Catholic.

 

[Kuroyume]

I'm tired of Christians whining all the time...

 

[explodet]

I thought the bulk of GAF either hated or worshipped Nintendo.

 

[boredJonathan]

I thought the bulk of GAF either hated or worshipped Nintendo.

I believe this news.

 

[levious]

yeah, if anything people get accused of bending over backwards to respect beliefs.

Oli,

You should drop your whole oppressed christian attitude.

 

[FortNinety]

You hit the nail on the head.
The majority of GAF represent a minority of America that actively lashes out against and condemns Christianity. They take examples in the news of extremist "Christians" who misbehave, apply that behavior to all followers of the religion, and disregard any claim to the contrary.

Hey aren't you the guy that used to hate fat people?

 

[The Shadow]

Hey aren't you the guy that used to hate fat people?

Used to? Did he repent? Is he hugging fat people in the street now?

 

[Incognito]

Maybe his one and only became fat.

 

[carbonbased]

Used to? Did he repent? Is he hugging fat people in the street now?

:lol :lol

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

Yeah I don't really have an agenda, so I haven't paid real close attention to "the GAF religion wars" until recently as it just struck me as odd. I can see why people are against the union of church and state, but some of the more extreme opinions are unsettling. For example to laugh at someone for believing what they believe in is inherently wrong IMO.

 

[ChrisReid]

Yeah I don't really have an agenda, so I haven't paid real close attention to "the GAF religion wars" until recently as it just struck me as odd. I can see why people are against the union of church and state, but some of the more extreme opinions are unsettling.

The Grand Canyon wasn't made by the Great Flood.

 

[RiZ III]

replace anti-religious with anti-pushing-your-beliefs-on-the-whole-of-society.

IAWTP. I respect mostly all religions and I admir epeople who are religious, but I just don't like people forcing their beliefs on other people or an entire nation like the neo-cons are trying to do.

 

[Dilbert]

I can see why people are against the union of church and state, but some of the more extreme opinions are unsettling.

Such as?

 

[Property of Jumpship]

Religion is for people who cant think for themselves. And then they want to push those beliefs on you, turning the whole world into a Resident Evil game. No thanks.

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

Such as?

see edit

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

Religion is for people who cant think for themselves. And then they want to push those beliefs on you, turning the whole world into a Resident Evil game. No thanks.

Science is for people who can't think for themselves. And then they want to push those beliefs on you, turning the whole world into a Resident Evil game. No thanks. See how moronic that sounds?

 

[DarthWoo]

I thought the bulk of GAF either hated or worshipped Nintendo.

That just made me realize how long it seems that the OT boards have been around. I can barely remember a time when there were certainly OT posts, but they were always marked OT, and usually eyed with scorn by the mods. How long has it really been since the OT board was made a separate entity? I'm thinking somewhere around 01 or 02, but probably earlier.

 

[carbonbased]

Religion is for people who cant think for themselves. And then they want to push those beliefs on you, turning the whole world into a Resident Evil game. No thanks.

Thanks for the spot-on description of me.

 

[boredJonathan]

For example to laugh at someone for believing what they believe in is inherently wrong IMO.

If you are still talking religion in general then I would agree. When we are getting down to individual examples, in terms of gay marriage, abortion and such... then I tend to think that while laughing is not the best way to approach it, there are more grounds to debate those points.

Just believing in what you want is fine, but those two issues in particular tend to bring out the "this is what I believe so you should all follow it" mentality. When following that mentality oppresses certain people and makes assumptions for everyone involved. I'd rather take a hands off approach to those issues and leave it to 'As long as it is not infringing on my personal rights.'

 

[jobber]

it MIGHT be a higher power, but I'm not changing myself to look good in the eyes of it. If it created me, then it would know that.

 

[DarthWoo]

Science is for people who can't think for themselves. And then they want to push those beliefs on you, turning the whole world into a Resident Evil game. No thanks. See how moronic that sounds?

You usually don't see people proselytizing science scripture on the streets, and warning everyone that if they don't believe the science, then they are going to hell. And in Gary Cattell's (for all you PSU alumni) case, that every passing girl is a whore.

 

[etiolate]

Not just GAF, but in the general public there's a religious backlash. I've held Bush responsible for the increase of anti-religious sentiment, but I wonder if he created it or just brought out what's been lurking in people all along.

 

[Fusebox]

Anti-religious?

Most educated people are, although 'anti' implies some kind of deliberate action against religion which wouldn't be the case here.

Extremists?

Lol, yep - gaf is a real hotbed of radical zealots just waiting for the rigght moment to destroy all the religions.

 

[Dilbert]

For example to laugh at someone for believing what they believe in is inherently wrong IMO.

Well, if someone believed that the stars were pushed across the sky by flying sea monkeys, what would you think? It's a pretty funny concept...and, to some people, Christianity is about as plausible.

(Just trying to explain why it's not "inherently" wrong.)

 

[Memles]

I wouldn't call myself anti-relligious...but I'm pretty distant from organized religion.

Oh, and anyone who ignores Science is more idiotic than someone who completely ignored religion. Sorry. Less Matthew Harrison Bradys, the better.

 

[Fresh Prince]

Short Answer: Yes
No time for being a moderate in these times.

 

[Property of Jumpship]

Science is for people who can't think for themselves. And then they want to push those beliefs on you, turning the whole world into a Resident Evil game. No thanks. See how moronic that sounds?

You can actually prove tenets of science. Prove to me there is a God. Bye-Bye.

 

[GG-Duo]

Religion is for people who cant think for themselves. And then they want to push those beliefs on you, turning the whole world into a Resident Evil game. No thanks.

Sir,

Sweeping generalization / stereotype.
Offended.

Thank you for your time.

 

[Loki]

Used to? Did he repent? Is he hugging fat people in the street now?

:lol

Religion is for people who cant think for themselves.

Yes, Property of Microsoft, I (a Christian) clearly cannot think for myself. I wish I could be as suh-mart as you!

 

[etiolate]

You can actually prove tenets of science. Prove to me there is a God. Bye-Bye.

Why do people try to apply the rules of science to faith?

 

[Property of Jumpship]

Sir,

Sweeping generalization / stereotype.
Offended.

Thank you for your time.

Good Im glad your offended maybe you'll wake up. Christianity and religion in general is for losers.

 

[karasu]

You can actually prove tenets of science. Prove to me there is a God. Bye-Bye.

The average person doesn't prove shit. If a scientist says eggs are unhealthy, a good measure of the population will blindly believe it.

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

You usually don't see people proselytizing science scripture on the streets, and warning everyone that if they don't believe the science, then they are going to hell. And in Gary Cattell's (for all you PSU alumni) case, that every passing girl is a whore.

Perhaps this is more of an American trait? I've witnessed nothing like this in Canada.

Well, if someone believed that the stars were pushed across the sky by flying sea monkeys, what would you think? It's a pretty funny concept...and, to some people, Christianity is about as plausible.

(Just trying to explain why it's not "inherently" wrong.)

So you are saying that Christ never existed and that he did not die a martyr? I would say that's pretty difficult to prove.

 

[boredJonathan]

Why do people try to apply the rules of science to faith?

Why shouldn't we?

 

[GG-Duo]

Good Im glad your offended maybe you'll wake up. Christianity and religion in general is for losers.

http://zanyvg.overclocked.org/prowrestling/winner.gif

 

[Dilbert]

So you are saying that Christ never existed and that he did not die a martyr? I would say that's pretty difficult to prove.

*I'M* not saying anything. You made the claim that finding someone else's beliefs funny was inherently wrong. I'm simply pointing out that there are a LOT of beliefs which can be found funny, depending on your point of view...and there are those who find Christianity implausible enough to be funny.

 

[Drinky Crow]

The majority of GAF represent a minority of America that actively lashes out against and condemns Christianity. They take examples in the news of extremist "Christians" who misbehave, apply that behavior to all followers of the religion, and disregard any claim to the contrary.

I call strawman.

Most of us "unbelievers" simply feel that religion should not become public law, and that religion has no place being taught in the classroom as fact, and that folks of differing beliefs should never be held to the laws and creeds of one particular religion.

We don't hate you; we just don't CARE that you think abortion is bad and should be legislated against in all cases; we don't CARE that you think homos are evil and should never have the opportunity to enter into formal marriage; we don't CARE that you think the world was created by an omniscient being and that all laws made on Earth should acknowledge that belief; we don't CARE that your rigid sense of morality is offended by naked boobies during the Super Bowl.

We're for a minimum set of restrictions on human behavior in those cases when the harm to another is not clearly delineated, preferring to give the benefit of the doubt to the accused. Rather than endorse one religion in codified, federally sanctioned form, we prefer to endorse NO religion, and instead let religions endorse themselves on their own time and dollar. We prefer the observable, empirical, and scientific because they are the most common of all to our shared perspective.

It's a society of TOLERANCE, and we accept those of you with religious beliefs as a big part of it, but we don't intend to let you expand the rules at the expense of even a minority. Your faith should be strong enough to survive such a notion, and your common sense should be strong enough to realize that this is the best compromise for a democratic society as a whole.

 

[pestul]

I'm a very spiritual person actually.. can't stand organized religion though.

 

[MrPing1000]

I've been noticing a double standard when it comes to respecting culture, race, sexuality and respecting religion. Even though I'm not what you would call a God-fearing man I'm somewhat offended by how anti-spiritual these boards seem to be. I just think people need to respect the sanctity of religion, regardless of whether or not you subscribe to those beliefs. Discuss.

your avatar negates anything you state