By and large one finds little oppurtunity to take up with these type discussions in everyday life. These forums offer that oppurtunity.

While in the daily mix of things the topic of religion rarely comes up. Sometimes a small peak into someone's religious beliefs are gleened from comments such as "Well it's in god's hands now" or "God put that person in my life". In the context of the "daily mix" these comments need not be debated or scrutinized for it then becomes an attack or as one poster put it "trampling" their religion.

But, the second one's beliefs are spelled out in this venue then those beliefs come up for audit. If someone doesn't want their beliefs to be put on the slab and biopsied, then they best keep them in their hearts and minds.

I find that within the spirituality threads that once a person reads a difference of opinion they feel the automatic knee-jerk to DEFEND. Often the reaction is swiftly concocted and hurridly posted with the lightning speed of drawing a sword in battle. These posts often lack professionalism and tact.

Back to everyday life.........It seems to me that in general when someone asserts their belief in god in any public venue that it is accepted and never verbally twined with an opposing view. It is almost an un-written rule of ettiquette not to disagree with a religious person, for more often than not it breeds a state of emotional defense.

The atheistic point of view is, by un-written rules of ettiquette, not allowed to be voiced in everyday life. This double standard seems like an act of pampering to me. That the religious may announce their devoutness or slip their ideologies into any discussion and this is deemed proper, yet to voice an atheistic view is deemed an attack.

Yet as someone who does not belief in God my views are kept from being voiced in order to protect the religious from emotional scrutiny. This double standard I see alot.

Cool Sheri your beliefs define you, your beliefs don't define what is RIGHT.

Check out the two guys I mentioned if you want to learn more on my perspective.

No Sheri. I am pretty firm in what I believe on a personal level. I'm not sorting anything out. I guess since I am not put in a neat category it might come across that way. I just simply believe very strongly what I do and respect others for their convictions as well. If this comes across as "waffling" it doesn't surprise me. But I know where I stand.

I don't think that atheistic views are "not allowed to be voiced" you open your mouth and you speak. I think it has a lot more to do with the person speaking. I have friends from all walks of life and all religions. Because I treat their beliefs with respect I get the same in kind. When someone is a total jerk to a religious person and then starts whining about being picked on for their beliefs its pretty lame in my opinion.

When someone is a total jerk to a religious person and then starts whining about being picked on for their beliefs its pretty lame in my opinion.

I don't think that atheistic views are "not allowed to be voiced" you open your mouth and you speak. I think it has a lot more to do with the person speaking. I have friends from all walks of life and all religions. Because I treat their beliefs with respect I get the same in kind. When someone is a total jerk to a religious person and then starts whining about being picked on for their beliefs its pretty lame in my opinion.

I don't think that atheistic views are "not allowed to be voiced" you open your mouth and you speak. I think it has a lot more to do with the person speaking. I have friends from all walks of life and all religions. Because I treat their beliefs with respect I get the same in kind. When someone is a total jerk to a religious person and then starts whining about being picked on for their beliefs its pretty lame in my opinion.

I am an atheist and I think its ridiculous that they are talking about Dawkins WIFE like a trophy that he has to prove he's somehow worthy???? What a sexist comment to make. First of all its not his first wife so the idea that he's just dancing in marital bliss is ridiculous. He's a person just like everyone else with human flaws. One of his flaws is his exceedingly patronizing and hostile attitude towards believers.

I totally disagree with the bolded part. I think this kind of thinking is a barbaric mentality and the root of all the wars in this world. You can personally believe what you want but deciding that it is the "right" view is in essence pushing your views on others. Your view is probably the right view....to you. But I would expect enlightened people to recognize that it is not necessarily the right view to all.

Wouldn't be much of a discussion if you didn't. Deciding it is the right view is what fosters the belief in the first place. What you are leaving out of the equation (like many, many people) is the practice of humility. When you include this practice into beliefs, then the "barbaric mentality" you claim ceases. Why? Because self is devalued. When self is devalued, the concept of idealogical superiority is quashed. By quieting our selfishness then we can see things in terms of the common good, but it is not possible to completely remove our knowledge, experience, and beliefs completely from the picture. These are things that compell us to act (or not) in the first place.

See where I'm coming from?

First of all, I want to state that I am not in any way sexist, and that I have met his wife (Lalla Ward) a time or two. She is, in fact, quite lovely and any man or woman would be lucky to marry her. And I in no way suggested his choice of life partner made him "worthy"; rather, I was suggesting he had other things to occupy him in his free times than taunts. I can't help but notice you're not decrying my description of his home, salary or occupation, so you clearly understood the import of thr statement. And who are you to suggest he's not happily married now just because he's been married previously? And I never suggested he was perfect; clearly he has flaws. As we all do.

--Jaylemurph

It sounds to me like you guys had some weird up bringing. I was raised in religion and never felt it was done in fear but in love.

This is one theory I have on athiast attack on religious and faith beliefs. Its not a attack on athiasts. Its just a point that was given to me from another athiast.

"What I dont understand is why Athiasts think they have to trample religion. My opinion is their scared to death of it. Your scared because many of the non-faith athiast type were raised in a religious upbringing. You were scared cause granny caught you in the closet with your pants down and told you "Your going to Hell for doing that!" Take away the belief and there is nothing to be scared of right. Take away love thy neighbor and it's okay to be selfish right. Take away God and nobody knows what you were doing in the closet except for maybe granny right. You dont have to feal guilty for what you do if there is no God to judge you in the end.

Why trample on something that does not affect you personally? Why trample something that is just a bunch of hooky made up by a bunch of hooky believing idiots? Why believe their God is threatening if hes just make believe in a make believe book written by hooky believing idiots? Why fear men's imaginary friend/God? The Bible is just written by man why be so insulted by fiction of their theories? Then again why believe in another man's writings? Do you believe in it just because it relates to what you believe? What if its just a bunch of hooky too ment brainwash you to follow his theories just like the Bible? Why You fear the religions so much including Christianity is because of the What If factor of beliefs. Your scared because what if their is a God and a Hell and your going there? What if the Revelation prophesy is true? What if what it says will happen to the Athiasts happens?

Most Athiasts convert to an athiast belief from the age of fourteen to twenty five. Another point to put out is that from Forty to near death most convert back to a religious faith. So I guess I'll see you in church in a few decades."

It's not exactly what I meant Sheri. Sometimes we allow our beliefs to define us, and sometimes we define others by our beliefs (and this is, IMO, what True is stating as the issue, to which I would agree). In my case, the only one I can truly speak of with any authority, I prefer to let my own intuition and experience be my guide above the words of others and especially above the dregs of dead sages (to paraphrase some monk or another).

no need to shush sheri.

Rev, from the beautiful posts of yours i would expect you would to see True's side too, thanks for clarifying, i too see her point and agree...as i see yours too and agree....We most definitely filter others through our beliefs and perspectives, conditionings, man is very subjective,...Hyper would be much better than I at explaining this. so I'm gonna shush.....LOL...

We'll have to let True determine whether or not I saw her side (I hope I got that part right.). The important thing is to at least try.

I'll agree with hyper you don't have to shush. Talk all you like.