Conflict between the religious and non-religious

Yes, but it hasn't too bad for me (so far) partly because my older brother came out as an atheist a few years before I deconverted from Catholicism.

When I was part of the faithful, I viewed the faithless as misguided.

 

My parents are fine with it, but some people at school asked me "well what if you're wrong?", and I responded "I don't think a God would punish someone for thinking objectively. What if YOU'RE wrong?". That shut them up.

 

I actually experienced a lot more disapproval and rejection for being a Christian.

After I left Christianity, I've mostly kept my spiritual interests and beliefs private and personal.

I think most people now assume I'm atheist until they get to know me better.

Theyre usually very accepting and/or atheist or agnostic themselves, and if they do find out about my spiritual side - it's usually a pleasant surprise for them and we both end up talking about it for interest sake. Occasionally come across some free spirits too and we end up having some deep and soulful discussions

Peace! (*hug*)

 

I really wish I could speak on this, but I have come to realize that I can't discuss faith or lack thereof on this site anymore without getting hurt by someone else or offending them. It only feeds into my depression and disconnect with the community. So, yeah.....

 

As a person of faith...

I don't think you need to have a faith to be a good or moral person and I don't think having a faith makes you a good or moral person either - on the contrary.

In many cases I have more grounded conversations on matters of ethics, morality and social issues with people who don't have a declared faith. Once you dispense with the piety and hyperbole that sometimes comes with religion you get to the heart of the matter.

For me, conflict arises through disrespect and personal or condescending attacks on the other side.

 

I was raised that matters of faith, or lack of same, were totally up to the individual. As such, when I declared my atheism in my early teens or possibly before, no one in my immediate family so much as batted an eye.

Todd

 

I've never had problems with religious people as long as they don't try to spout their nonsense at me. I try to educate where I can, but of course, some people will never listen to reason.

As for your last comment, I may just add that religions are not moral systems, they are just a bunch of moral pronouncements, many of which are immoral. They say nothing about how to evaluate a situation and come to a moral outcome. They just have a bunch of rules that they claim god said and are only good because their god said it without any rational justification.

Secular morality is not just a superior form of morality, but in fact the only form of actual morality. Religion doesn't even factor into it.

Happy days

 

This is why secularism alienates people. Not only is it petty and self-aggrandising, it's also rather inaccurate. If you think that secularism provides a perfectly objective moral framework that religious systems are incapable of, then I think you really need to read into more religion and also look at the faults in many secular ways of thinking. There are merits in secularism, many of which have been adopted by religious people and even among clerics, but to claim it as the only pure form of thinking is both arrogant and wilfully ignorant.

Kindly tell me how a moral system is defined and why religion is inherently excluded from that.

Why is it that the only correct form of thinking is yours?

 

I agree with Aussie 792...

I also want to point out, one of the major religions is Christianity. It teaches a moral code. That is all I see as positive from religion to be honest. In fact that is what I tell people frequently. The reason I am so kool with my religious family members who are still serious bible thumpers is because of that. Dont think because people use it to go against gay marriage and gays in general that its doesnt teach good morals. Every group has fanatics. You cant let that one part represent the whole my friend.

Jesus was never a gay basher, and Christian faith tells you that when Jesus came to earth through mary and the immaculate conception, God destroyed the old laws of the old testament and tell christians to be saved you must accept Christ, and the new law was now to act christ like. So your saying Christ did not exhibit morals? He was perfect, I mean that literally. He never sinned. That is like.... his entire story lol. Havent you ever heard the phrase, "nobody is perfect, only one man ever was, and he died on the cross for it."

I used to get told that all the time when I got in trouble. My parents way of telling me it was ok. But seriously I am blown away to see someone right that religion doesnt teach a moral code. I mean, Islam even teaches a moral code. It also teaches a manner to behave in which is a little strict. But just because you dont agree with the lifestyle demands of Islam (you know, things like dont shave, or something) doesnt mean that you can say it doesnt teach morals. It just happens to teach morals and rules for how to live that dont involve morals. I hope that makes sense.

I think maybe before you start writing things about anything seriously significant, like religion, you should atleast become informed about them. And yes, religion is significant. I am once again reminded of a saying. "Never talk religion or Politics."

 

Most people I know are atheist or agnostic so that isn't a problem. My mother is an atheist as well. Of course, atheism/agnosticism doesn't automatically mean irreligious. Most people still identify as Christian, despite not believing in God.

I've never had conflict with a religious person. Religion in Europe is very much a private matter, and is rarely discussed (in my experience anyway).

 

I told my mom I am an Atheist and I didn't receive disapproval, she just asked me why. My family is very open about religion and don't discriminate.

 

I was pretty much raised atheist, so from my family, no. But at school, when I was in either sixth or seventh grade (I can't remember now), some kids found out I was atheist and they were like, "Being atheist is a sin," and, "You should at least go to church." I was really annoyed. >.<

 

I used to go to a conservative school were most of the kids were extreme Christians and they used to try to argue with me about religion. Or we would be having a casual conversation and they would randomly sigh and tell me that it was "too bad I was going to hell"

 

I'm a Christian, but I don't see atheists as bad people at all. However, I know that my family is a different story - They would completely hate it if I was an atheist because they accuse me of questioning God and look at me funny just when I say I don't believe a few things out of the Bible or I try to reason with them about some scriptures. But no one should EVER be treated badly because of what they believe or don't believe in. After all, it is one's own belief and not something that other people should be able to decide.

 

as an agnostic, i often get hurtful judgement from people who doesn't really know anything about my belief. i came from a catholic school run by a catholic congregation and i didn't like how they tell me that i should believe in god and in the bible but they yet not say it to our muslim brothers. i found out that they do not or only a few of them know of agnosticism and saw me as a "god-less" person. on the other hand, when i went to college, i met religious people who are very open and accepts our differences in faith.

to be honest i have mixed feelings about religious people. first i don't see how someone who is smart enough to not convict a suspect in a crime without any evidence is believing in a story that lacks proof and often times contradict itself. yet they amaze me because i've talked catholics who agree with me about the "faults" and "hoaxes" i see in the bible, and they knew it all along, but they still believe in their god. they (some of them) do not really believe in god because they are certain god exist but they believe in him because they want to, their belief is fueled with nothing but faith. that is something that i do not have towards the so called "Almighty God", that is why i'm agnostic.

 

Even though you weren't this question at me, I responded by starting this thread so that we don't derail this one.

Much of what you said is also indirectly addressed in the new thread.

 

I don't care about anyone else's religion and morality or whatever, so long as they don't try to tell me that theirs is the only way that could possibly be right or bring violence on others for not following it.

 

I honestly don't care. If you want to believe in that, then that's on you. But at the same time, don't try to criticize me because I still believe in God. I'll be respectful and tolerant when you can do the same as well.