As an Atheist, what do you tell your little kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not an atheist -- I'm Jewish -- but FWIW, I don't generally feel like anyone is out there watching over me, nor have I taught my children that.

Same, Catholic (with agnostic spouse). Words like "God is watching" are used in a literary or poetic sense, but it isn't meant literally, like an actual body up in the clouds with a telescope or crystal ball. That's an immature understanding of what God is, and while it is an easy way for little kids to think about it, we are expected to mature in our understanding, even if we never fully understand -- some would argue we are incapable of doing so. Those unable to grasp higher concepts of philosophy or theology, which is a lot of people, maybe most, need the literary and poetic as a guide to understanding, which may never really come. That's ok. Having guideposts that can be understood is meaningful for one's personal search for how to live and how to comprehend the divine.

I remember in my Catholic college Freshman theology class, a theology professor, after the first papers, gave a lecture "for those who never learned a thing or paid attention to theology past Confirmation." It was amusing. In second grade, we learned about the attributes of God (self-existing; love itself; omnipresent; separate and distinct from the created universe, etc.), and generally that is when your mind should be awakening to the difference between God in art and literature (manifested in form and words), and God in philosophy and theology (attempting to comprehend the reality of existence and the divine, pushing the limits of the known, unknown, and contemplating the possibility of unknowable and divine). Humans will always be limited by linguistics in trying to discuss that which is beyond our own experience.

It sounds like religion is the only thing in life that you don't need to/probably can't understand. And you MUST be a part of it or you are going to hell - at least that's what religious people say.

Yeah, doesn't add up, does it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it extremely creepy that some people posting here think they have any say into how other people raise their children.

If you think you have authority over other people’s kids, tell me how you exert or exercise that authority in real life. Also, what would you do differently if someone told you they had a say in how you raised your children?

When you think something is child abuse and brainwashing, unhealthy for both the individual and society, you don't think you have a right to express that thought?

Sorry but your bronze age bullsh*t hurts the world, and some of us are done sitting by passively while cults perpetuate pain and suffering. And no that is not hyperbole.

You are in the wrong country, if you think you or anyone else is going to classify a family being religious and practicing religious freedom as cults that perpetuate pain and suffering. America was founded on freedom, and religious freedom is among those freedoms. You have no moral or legal right to stop people from practicing their religion in the United States. You are severely flawed in your premise that “some of you” are “done sitting by” and going to take away every American’s right to practice their religion.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the freedom of religion in the United States:

Establishment Clause
Prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The Lemon test, set forth in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), governs what constitutes an establishment of religion.

Free Exercise Clause
Protects the right of citizens to practice their religion as they choose, as long as it doesn't violate public morals or a compelling government interest.

Some other examples of religious freedom in the United States include:
The right to collect unemployment benefits if you lose your job because your employer forces you to work on a religious holiday
The right to operate a church without government interference, even if only a few people share your beliefs
The right to use public property to promote your religious beliefs
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from religious discrimination in the workplace
The United States' commitment to religious freedom has been strong, as shown by the 2023 Religious Freedom Index score of 69, the highest ever.

If you don’t like religion, don’t be religious. Simple. Leave others alone. You aren’t in charge of their minds or their decisions. Focus on your own life.

DP but the first amendment you cite is also freedom from religion.

I think it’s funny you’re saying we should leave religious people alone when it’s religious people shoving their beliefs into our political system, using at a reason to ban books at schools, etc.

You.leave.us.alone. Practice your religion on your own time. Teach your kids your beliefs. But stop insisting society function in line with those beliefs.

You should read gotquestions.org to educate yourself about Christianity, you and every atheist who spouts their opinions that are incorrect about Christianity. That way you will have the basic information and understanding about the religion you don’t believe in. And the God you don’t believe in. It’s ok to not believe, but at least you will understand correctly about what you don’t believe in.

It's pretty sad to see you getting your religious information from some random website. Don't you attend church, or read the bible yourself?

Also, don't christians hate when atheists derail their threads? But here you are doing it on an atheist thread? Also likely violating TOS of the site by copy and pasting whole pages of garbage info from that website?

I think that everyone is allowed to think whatever they want, but atheists who think Christianity is crazy and harmful should not post their opinions about Christianity as fact.

I don’t represent any atheist thought as fact about atheism or how atheists think. Atheists should refrain from speaking for Christianity or Christians, especially if they don’t know the basic principles of Christianity.

Ie, “God sends Christians to heaven if they are good.” (Which is what an atheist posted in this thread.)

Christianity does not teach that. Atheists might have been taught that, or might believe that because they heard another atheist say it. But what most Christians believe about that is here:

Going to heaven—how can I guarantee my eternal destination?
https://www.gotquestions.org/going-to-heaven.html

The part that is the most important: Faith in Jesus is the one means of going to heaven. Those who have faith are guaranteed to get there.

Ok? That’s it. The link has a more detailed explanation.

Atheists: please stop misrepresenting Christianity because you don’t believe it. It’s completely fine for you to be atheist. Really. You can have an opinion about every single religion you don’t believe in. But not knowing the facts about what religions believe is the part that you should correct. That’s it.

Fine, it’s my opinion that religion causes a lot of harms in the world. My opinion is based on the fact that many wars, including modern day conflicts, stem from religious beliefs and that many people throughout history have used religion to marginalize women.

But I also think religious people should admit religion is really just an opinion (or belief). It’s not the known truth so stop expecting others to act as if your beliefs are somehow relevant to our lives. I really don’t care if you believe the earth was made by a giant bunny so long as I don’t have to be affected by that belief in any sort of government/public school setting.

*This* type of thing is why so many of us are frustrated with religion being shoved down our throats.

https://apnews.com/article/texas-bible-religion-schools-52b74577982b34ce2607b693bd51cae7

https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2024/07/16/critics-decry-religion-classrooms-some-fear-how-far-florida-will-go/

https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/the-demise-of-roe-v-wade-undermines-freedom-of-religion/

The fundamental problem with many religions is that a basic tenet is spreading the word and getting other people to believe. That is the part I cannot get behind. Leave people alone. Leave the schools alone. Follow your own beliefs but don’t bring them into politics.

The host of the last 100 years indicates there is just as much war and genocide caused by atheistic ideologies.

Please educate yourself-many religions are non-proselytizing.

- an atheist

But an ideology that happens to be atheist isn't equivalent to a religion. No one is hurting others in the name of atheism.

Communism enforced state atheism is very successful at killing religious people and institutions in countries that have state atheism.

It's the communism that's killing people, not the atheism. Atheists don't care what you believe, as long as you leave us alone, which religious people generally don't do in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it extremely creepy that some people posting here think they have any say into how other people raise their children.

If you think you have authority over other people’s kids, tell me how you exert or exercise that authority in real life. Also, what would you do differently if someone told you they had a say in how you raised your children?

When you think something is child abuse and brainwashing, unhealthy for both the individual and society, you don't think you have a right to express that thought?

Sorry but your bronze age bullsh*t hurts the world, and some of us are done sitting by passively while cults perpetuate pain and suffering. And no that is not hyperbole.

You are in the wrong country, if you think you or anyone else is going to classify a family being religious and practicing religious freedom as cults that perpetuate pain and suffering. America was founded on freedom, and religious freedom is among those freedoms. You have no moral or legal right to stop people from practicing their religion in the United States. You are severely flawed in your premise that “some of you” are “done sitting by” and going to take away every American’s right to practice their religion.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the freedom of religion in the United States:

Establishment Clause
Prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The Lemon test, set forth in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), governs what constitutes an establishment of religion.

Free Exercise Clause
Protects the right of citizens to practice their religion as they choose, as long as it doesn't violate public morals or a compelling government interest.

Some other examples of religious freedom in the United States include:
The right to collect unemployment benefits if you lose your job because your employer forces you to work on a religious holiday
The right to operate a church without government interference, even if only a few people share your beliefs
The right to use public property to promote your religious beliefs
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from religious discrimination in the workplace
The United States' commitment to religious freedom has been strong, as shown by the 2023 Religious Freedom Index score of 69, the highest ever.

If you don’t like religion, don’t be religious. Simple. Leave others alone. You aren’t in charge of their minds or their decisions. Focus on your own life.

DP but the first amendment you cite is also freedom from religion.

I think it’s funny you’re saying we should leave religious people alone when it’s religious people shoving their beliefs into our political system, using at a reason to ban books at schools, etc.

You.leave.us.alone. Practice your religion on your own time. Teach your kids your beliefs. But stop insisting society function in line with those beliefs.

You should read gotquestions.org to educate yourself about Christianity, you and every atheist who spouts their opinions that are incorrect about Christianity. That way you will have the basic information and understanding about the religion you don’t believe in. And the God you don’t believe in. It’s ok to not believe, but at least you will understand correctly about what you don’t believe in.

It's pretty sad to see you getting your religious information from some random website. Don't you attend church, or read the bible yourself?

Also, don't christians hate when atheists derail their threads? But here you are doing it on an atheist thread? Also likely violating TOS of the site by copy and pasting whole pages of garbage info from that website?

I think that everyone is allowed to think whatever they want, but atheists who think Christianity is crazy and harmful should not post their opinions about Christianity as fact.

I don’t represent any atheist thought as fact about atheism or how atheists think. Atheists should refrain from speaking for Christianity or Christians, especially if they don’t know the basic principles of Christianity.

Ie, “God sends Christians to heaven if they are good.” (Which is what an atheist posted in this thread.)

Christianity does not teach that. Atheists might have been taught that, or might believe that because they heard another atheist say it. But what most Christians believe about that is here:

Going to heaven—how can I guarantee my eternal destination?
https://www.gotquestions.org/going-to-heaven.html

The part that is the most important: Faith in Jesus is the one means of going to heaven. Those who have faith are guaranteed to get there.

Ok? That’s it. The link has a more detailed explanation.

Atheists: please stop misrepresenting Christianity because you don’t believe it. It’s completely fine for you to be atheist. Really. You can have an opinion about every single religion you don’t believe in. But not knowing the facts about what religions believe is the part that you should correct. That’s it.

Fine, it’s my opinion that religion causes a lot of harms in the world. My opinion is based on the fact that many wars, including modern day conflicts, stem from religious beliefs and that many people throughout history have used religion to marginalize women.

But I also think religious people should admit religion is really just an opinion (or belief). It’s not the known truth so stop expecting others to act as if your beliefs are somehow relevant to our lives. I really don’t care if you believe the earth was made by a giant bunny so long as I don’t have to be affected by that belief in any sort of government/public school setting.

*This* type of thing is why so many of us are frustrated with religion being shoved down our throats.

https://apnews.com/article/texas-bible-religion-schools-52b74577982b34ce2607b693bd51cae7

https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2024/07/16/critics-decry-religion-classrooms-some-fear-how-far-florida-will-go/

https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/the-demise-of-roe-v-wade-undermines-freedom-of-religion/

The fundamental problem with many religions is that a basic tenet is spreading the word and getting other people to believe. That is the part I cannot get behind. Leave people alone. Leave the schools alone. Follow your own beliefs but don’t bring them into politics.

The host of the last 100 years indicates there is just as much war and genocide caused by atheistic ideologies.

Please educate yourself-many religions are non-proselytizing.

- an atheist

If you are really an atheist, it's easy to find out that communism doesn't include religion and is also not an "atheistic ideology". The same goes for the US democracy, which is different from communism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it extremely creepy that some people posting here think they have any say into how other people raise their children.

If you think you have authority over other people’s kids, tell me how you exert or exercise that authority in real life. Also, what would you do differently if someone told you they had a say in how you raised your children?

When you think something is child abuse and brainwashing, unhealthy for both the individual and society, you don't think you have a right to express that thought?

Sorry but your bronze age bullsh*t hurts the world, and some of us are done sitting by passively while cults perpetuate pain and suffering. And no that is not hyperbole.

You are in the wrong country, if you think you or anyone else is going to classify a family being religious and practicing religious freedom as cults that perpetuate pain and suffering. America was founded on freedom, and religious freedom is among those freedoms. You have no moral or legal right to stop people from practicing their religion in the United States. You are severely flawed in your premise that “some of you” are “done sitting by” and going to take away every American’s right to practice their religion.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the freedom of religion in the United States:

Establishment Clause
Prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The Lemon test, set forth in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), governs what constitutes an establishment of religion.

Free Exercise Clause
Protects the right of citizens to practice their religion as they choose, as long as it doesn't violate public morals or a compelling government interest.

Some other examples of religious freedom in the United States include:
The right to collect unemployment benefits if you lose your job because your employer forces you to work on a religious holiday
The right to operate a church without government interference, even if only a few people share your beliefs
The right to use public property to promote your religious beliefs
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from religious discrimination in the workplace
The United States' commitment to religious freedom has been strong, as shown by the 2023 Religious Freedom Index score of 69, the highest ever.

If you don’t like religion, don’t be religious. Simple. Leave others alone. You aren’t in charge of their minds or their decisions. Focus on your own life.

DP but the first amendment you cite is also freedom from religion.

I think it’s funny you’re saying we should leave religious people alone when it’s religious people shoving their beliefs into our political system, using at a reason to ban books at schools, etc.

You.leave.us.alone. Practice your religion on your own time. Teach your kids your beliefs. But stop insisting society function in line with those beliefs.

You should read gotquestions.org to educate yourself about Christianity, you and every atheist who spouts their opinions that are incorrect about Christianity. That way you will have the basic information and understanding about the religion you don’t believe in. And the God you don’t believe in. It’s ok to not believe, but at least you will understand correctly about what you don’t believe in.

It's pretty sad to see you getting your religious information from some random website. Don't you attend church, or read the bible yourself?

Also, don't christians hate when atheists derail their threads? But here you are doing it on an atheist thread? Also likely violating TOS of the site by copy and pasting whole pages of garbage info from that website?

I think that everyone is allowed to think whatever they want, but atheists who think Christianity is crazy and harmful should not post their opinions about Christianity as fact.

I don’t represent any atheist thought as fact about atheism or how atheists think. Atheists should refrain from speaking for Christianity or Christians, especially if they don’t know the basic principles of Christianity.

Ie, “God sends Christians to heaven if they are good.” (Which is what an atheist posted in this thread.)

Christianity does not teach that. Atheists might have been taught that, or might believe that because they heard another atheist say it. But what most Christians believe about that is here:

Going to heaven—how can I guarantee my eternal destination?
https://www.gotquestions.org/going-to-heaven.html

The part that is the most important: Faith in Jesus is the one means of going to heaven. Those who have faith are guaranteed to get there.

Ok? That’s it. The link has a more detailed explanation.

Atheists: please stop misrepresenting Christianity because you don’t believe it. It’s completely fine for you to be atheist. Really. You can have an opinion about every single religion you don’t believe in. But not knowing the facts about what religions believe is the part that you should correct. That’s it.

Fine, it’s my opinion that religion causes a lot of harms in the world. My opinion is based on the fact that many wars, including modern day conflicts, stem from religious beliefs and that many people throughout history have used religion to marginalize women.

But I also think religious people should admit religion is really just an opinion (or belief). It’s not the known truth so stop expecting others to act as if your beliefs are somehow relevant to our lives. I really don’t care if you believe the earth was made by a giant bunny so long as I don’t have to be affected by that belief in any sort of government/public school setting.

*This* type of thing is why so many of us are frustrated with religion being shoved down our throats.

https://apnews.com/article/texas-bible-religion-schools-52b74577982b34ce2607b693bd51cae7

https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2024/07/16/critics-decry-religion-classrooms-some-fear-how-far-florida-will-go/

https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/the-demise-of-roe-v-wade-undermines-freedom-of-religion/

The fundamental problem with many religions is that a basic tenet is spreading the word and getting other people to believe. That is the part I cannot get behind. Leave people alone. Leave the schools alone. Follow your own beliefs but don’t bring them into politics.

The host of the last 100 years indicates there is just as much war and genocide caused by atheistic ideologies.

Please educate yourself-many religions are non-proselytizing.

- an atheist

But an ideology that happens to be atheist isn't equivalent to a religion. No one is hurting others in the name of atheism.

Communism enforced state atheism is very successful at killing religious people and institutions in countries that have state atheism.

It's the communism that's killing people, not the atheism. Atheists don't care what you believe, as long as you leave us alone, which religious people generally don't do in the US.

Who has ever been helped in the name of atheism?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it extremely creepy that some people posting here think they have any say into how other people raise their children.

If you think you have authority over other people’s kids, tell me how you exert or exercise that authority in real life. Also, what would you do differently if someone told you they had a say in how you raised your children?

When you think something is child abuse and brainwashing, unhealthy for both the individual and society, you don't think you have a right to express that thought?

Sorry but your bronze age bullsh*t hurts the world, and some of us are done sitting by passively while cults perpetuate pain and suffering. And no that is not hyperbole.

You are in the wrong country, if you think you or anyone else is going to classify a family being religious and practicing religious freedom as cults that perpetuate pain and suffering. America was founded on freedom, and religious freedom is among those freedoms. You have no moral or legal right to stop people from practicing their religion in the United States. You are severely flawed in your premise that “some of you” are “done sitting by” and going to take away every American’s right to practice their religion.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the freedom of religion in the United States:

Establishment Clause
Prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The Lemon test, set forth in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), governs what constitutes an establishment of religion.

Free Exercise Clause
Protects the right of citizens to practice their religion as they choose, as long as it doesn't violate public morals or a compelling government interest.

Some other examples of religious freedom in the United States include:
The right to collect unemployment benefits if you lose your job because your employer forces you to work on a religious holiday
The right to operate a church without government interference, even if only a few people share your beliefs
The right to use public property to promote your religious beliefs
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from religious discrimination in the workplace
The United States' commitment to religious freedom has been strong, as shown by the 2023 Religious Freedom Index score of 69, the highest ever.

If you don’t like religion, don’t be religious. Simple. Leave others alone. You aren’t in charge of their minds or their decisions. Focus on your own life.

DP but the first amendment you cite is also freedom from religion.

I think it’s funny you’re saying we should leave religious people alone when it’s religious people shoving their beliefs into our political system, using at a reason to ban books at schools, etc.

You.leave.us.alone. Practice your religion on your own time. Teach your kids your beliefs. But stop insisting society function in line with those beliefs.

You should read gotquestions.org to educate yourself about Christianity, you and every atheist who spouts their opinions that are incorrect about Christianity. That way you will have the basic information and understanding about the religion you don’t believe in. And the God you don’t believe in. It’s ok to not believe, but at least you will understand correctly about what you don’t believe in.

It's pretty sad to see you getting your religious information from some random website. Don't you attend church, or read the bible yourself?

Also, don't christians hate when atheists derail their threads? But here you are doing it on an atheist thread? Also likely violating TOS of the site by copy and pasting whole pages of garbage info from that website?

I think that everyone is allowed to think whatever they want, but atheists who think Christianity is crazy and harmful should not post their opinions about Christianity as fact.

I don’t represent any atheist thought as fact about atheism or how atheists think. Atheists should refrain from speaking for Christianity or Christians, especially if they don’t know the basic principles of Christianity.

Ie, “God sends Christians to heaven if they are good.” (Which is what an atheist posted in this thread.)

Christianity does not teach that. Atheists might have been taught that, or might believe that because they heard another atheist say it. But what most Christians believe about that is here:

Going to heaven—how can I guarantee my eternal destination?
https://www.gotquestions.org/going-to-heaven.html

The part that is the most important: Faith in Jesus is the one means of going to heaven. Those who have faith are guaranteed to get there.

Ok? That’s it. The link has a more detailed explanation.

Atheists: please stop misrepresenting Christianity because you don’t believe it. It’s completely fine for you to be atheist. Really. You can have an opinion about every single religion you don’t believe in. But not knowing the facts about what religions believe is the part that you should correct. That’s it.

Fine, it’s my opinion that religion causes a lot of harms in the world. My opinion is based on the fact that many wars, including modern day conflicts, stem from religious beliefs and that many people throughout history have used religion to marginalize women.

But I also think religious people should admit religion is really just an opinion (or belief). It’s not the known truth so stop expecting others to act as if your beliefs are somehow relevant to our lives. I really don’t care if you believe the earth was made by a giant bunny so long as I don’t have to be affected by that belief in any sort of government/public school setting.

*This* type of thing is why so many of us are frustrated with religion being shoved down our throats.

https://apnews.com/article/texas-bible-religion-schools-52b74577982b34ce2607b693bd51cae7

https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2024/07/16/critics-decry-religion-classrooms-some-fear-how-far-florida-will-go/

https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/the-demise-of-roe-v-wade-undermines-freedom-of-religion/

The fundamental problem with many religions is that a basic tenet is spreading the word and getting other people to believe. That is the part I cannot get behind. Leave people alone. Leave the schools alone. Follow your own beliefs but don’t bring them into politics.

The host of the last 100 years indicates there is just as much war and genocide caused by atheistic ideologies.

Please educate yourself-many religions are non-proselytizing.

- an atheist

But an ideology that happens to be atheist isn't equivalent to a religion. No one is hurting others in the name of atheism.

Communism enforced state atheism is very successful at killing religious people and institutions in countries that have state atheism.

It's the communism that's killing people, not the atheism. Atheists don't care what you believe, as long as you leave us alone, which religious people generally don't do in the US.

Who has ever been helped in the name of atheism?

More stupid. Very very stupid.

Atheism is a lack of belief in a god.

Why would a lack of something require a thing to be done in its name?

Now, secular charities and secular people help all the time. Just not in the "name" of anything except doing good for fellow man. Which is all that is and should be necessary to do good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it extremely creepy that some people posting here think they have any say into how other people raise their children.

If you think you have authority over other people’s kids, tell me how you exert or exercise that authority in real life. Also, what would you do differently if someone told you they had a say in how you raised your children?

When you think something is child abuse and brainwashing, unhealthy for both the individual and society, you don't think you have a right to express that thought?

Sorry but your bronze age bullsh*t hurts the world, and some of us are done sitting by passively while cults perpetuate pain and suffering. And no that is not hyperbole.

You are in the wrong country, if you think you or anyone else is going to classify a family being religious and practicing religious freedom as cults that perpetuate pain and suffering. America was founded on freedom, and religious freedom is among those freedoms. You have no moral or legal right to stop people from practicing their religion in the United States. You are severely flawed in your premise that “some of you” are “done sitting by” and going to take away every American’s right to practice their religion.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the freedom of religion in the United States:

Establishment Clause
Prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The Lemon test, set forth in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), governs what constitutes an establishment of religion.

Free Exercise Clause
Protects the right of citizens to practice their religion as they choose, as long as it doesn't violate public morals or a compelling government interest.

Some other examples of religious freedom in the United States include:
The right to collect unemployment benefits if you lose your job because your employer forces you to work on a religious holiday
The right to operate a church without government interference, even if only a few people share your beliefs
The right to use public property to promote your religious beliefs
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from religious discrimination in the workplace
The United States' commitment to religious freedom has been strong, as shown by the 2023 Religious Freedom Index score of 69, the highest ever.

If you don’t like religion, don’t be religious. Simple. Leave others alone. You aren’t in charge of their minds or their decisions. Focus on your own life.

DP but the first amendment you cite is also freedom from religion.

I think it’s funny you’re saying we should leave religious people alone when it’s religious people shoving their beliefs into our political system, using at a reason to ban books at schools, etc.

You.leave.us.alone. Practice your religion on your own time. Teach your kids your beliefs. But stop insisting society function in line with those beliefs.

You should read gotquestions.org to educate yourself about Christianity, you and every atheist who spouts their opinions that are incorrect about Christianity. That way you will have the basic information and understanding about the religion you don’t believe in. And the God you don’t believe in. It’s ok to not believe, but at least you will understand correctly about what you don’t believe in.

It's pretty sad to see you getting your religious information from some random website. Don't you attend church, or read the bible yourself?

Also, don't christians hate when atheists derail their threads? But here you are doing it on an atheist thread? Also likely violating TOS of the site by copy and pasting whole pages of garbage info from that website?

I think that everyone is allowed to think whatever they want, but atheists who think Christianity is crazy and harmful should not post their opinions about Christianity as fact.

I don’t represent any atheist thought as fact about atheism or how atheists think. Atheists should refrain from speaking for Christianity or Christians, especially if they don’t know the basic principles of Christianity.

Ie, “God sends Christians to heaven if they are good.” (Which is what an atheist posted in this thread.)

Christianity does not teach that. Atheists might have been taught that, or might believe that because they heard another atheist say it. But what most Christians believe about that is here:

Going to heaven—how can I guarantee my eternal destination?
https://www.gotquestions.org/going-to-heaven.html

The part that is the most important: Faith in Jesus is the one means of going to heaven. Those who have faith are guaranteed to get there.

Ok? That’s it. The link has a more detailed explanation.

Atheists: please stop misrepresenting Christianity because you don’t believe it. It’s completely fine for you to be atheist. Really. You can have an opinion about every single religion you don’t believe in. But not knowing the facts about what religions believe is the part that you should correct. That’s it.

Fine, it’s my opinion that religion causes a lot of harms in the world. My opinion is based on the fact that many wars, including modern day conflicts, stem from religious beliefs and that many people throughout history have used religion to marginalize women.

But I also think religious people should admit religion is really just an opinion (or belief). It’s not the known truth so stop expecting others to act as if your beliefs are somehow relevant to our lives. I really don’t care if you believe the earth was made by a giant bunny so long as I don’t have to be affected by that belief in any sort of government/public school setting.

*This* type of thing is why so many of us are frustrated with religion being shoved down our throats.

https://apnews.com/article/texas-bible-religion-schools-52b74577982b34ce2607b693bd51cae7

https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2024/07/16/critics-decry-religion-classrooms-some-fear-how-far-florida-will-go/

https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/the-demise-of-roe-v-wade-undermines-freedom-of-religion/

The fundamental problem with many religions is that a basic tenet is spreading the word and getting other people to believe. That is the part I cannot get behind. Leave people alone. Leave the schools alone. Follow your own beliefs but don’t bring them into politics.

The host of the last 100 years indicates there is just as much war and genocide caused by atheistic ideologies.

Please educate yourself-many religions are non-proselytizing.

- an atheist

But an ideology that happens to be atheist isn't equivalent to a religion. No one is hurting others in the name of atheism.

Communism enforced state atheism is very successful at killing religious people and institutions in countries that have state atheism.

It's the communism that's killing people, not the atheism. Atheists don't care what you believe, as long as you leave us alone, which religious people generally don't do in the US.

Who has ever been helped in the name of atheism?

More stupid. Very very stupid.

Atheism is a lack of belief in a god.

Why would a lack of something require a thing to be done in its name?

Now, secular charities and secular people help all the time. Just not in the "name" of anything except doing good for fellow man. Which is all that is and should be necessary to do good.

+1!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agnostic is the belief that something either is or could be out there but that man doesn’t know what it is. If you look at religion historically, it has always been used as a societal tool by man to acquire power and resources and control others. Religion was the first form of government and religious rules the first form of codified societal norms. It serves a purpose but religion like government unchecked is always corrupt as power inevitably corrupts.

"Agnostic" simply means you "don't know" ("Gnostic" = "knowing" or knowledge).

You can be both Atheist and Agnostic, and most atheists consider themselves both. Many Theists do as well.

There are many degrees and definitions of "not knowing" of course.

I am not agnostic. I am an atheist. I know there is nothing. If you aren’t sure, you are agnostic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it extremely creepy that some people posting here think they have any say into how other people raise their children.

If you think you have authority over other people’s kids, tell me how you exert or exercise that authority in real life. Also, what would you do differently if someone told you they had a say in how you raised your children?

When you think something is child abuse and brainwashing, unhealthy for both the individual and society, you don't think you have a right to express that thought?

Sorry but your bronze age bullsh*t hurts the world, and some of us are done sitting by passively while cults perpetuate pain and suffering. And no that is not hyperbole.

You are in the wrong country, if you think you or anyone else is going to classify a family being religious and practicing religious freedom as cults that perpetuate pain and suffering. America was founded on freedom, and religious freedom is among those freedoms. You have no moral or legal right to stop people from practicing their religion in the United States. You are severely flawed in your premise that “some of you” are “done sitting by” and going to take away every American’s right to practice their religion.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the freedom of religion in the United States:

Establishment Clause
Prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The Lemon test, set forth in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), governs what constitutes an establishment of religion.

Free Exercise Clause
Protects the right of citizens to practice their religion as they choose, as long as it doesn't violate public morals or a compelling government interest.

Some other examples of religious freedom in the United States include:
The right to collect unemployment benefits if you lose your job because your employer forces you to work on a religious holiday
The right to operate a church without government interference, even if only a few people share your beliefs
The right to use public property to promote your religious beliefs
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from religious discrimination in the workplace
The United States' commitment to religious freedom has been strong, as shown by the 2023 Religious Freedom Index score of 69, the highest ever.

If you don’t like religion, don’t be religious. Simple. Leave others alone. You aren’t in charge of their minds or their decisions. Focus on your own life.

DP but the first amendment you cite is also freedom from religion.

I think it’s funny you’re saying we should leave religious people alone when it’s religious people shoving their beliefs into our political system, using at a reason to ban books at schools, etc.

You.leave.us.alone. Practice your religion on your own time. Teach your kids your beliefs. But stop insisting society function in line with those beliefs.

You should read gotquestions.org to educate yourself about Christianity, you and every atheist who spouts their opinions that are incorrect about Christianity. That way you will have the basic information and understanding about the religion you don’t believe in. And the God you don’t believe in. It’s ok to not believe, but at least you will understand correctly about what you don’t believe in.

It's pretty sad to see you getting your religious information from some random website. Don't you attend church, or read the bible yourself?

Also, don't christians hate when atheists derail their threads? But here you are doing it on an atheist thread? Also likely violating TOS of the site by copy and pasting whole pages of garbage info from that website?

I think that everyone is allowed to think whatever they want, but atheists who think Christianity is crazy and harmful should not post their opinions about Christianity as fact.

I don’t represent any atheist thought as fact about atheism or how atheists think. Atheists should refrain from speaking for Christianity or Christians, especially if they don’t know the basic principles of Christianity.

Ie, “God sends Christians to heaven if they are good.” (Which is what an atheist posted in this thread.)

Christianity does not teach that. Atheists might have been taught that, or might believe that because they heard another atheist say it. But what most Christians believe about that is here:

Going to heaven—how can I guarantee my eternal destination?
https://www.gotquestions.org/going-to-heaven.html

The part that is the most important: Faith in Jesus is the one means of going to heaven. Those who have faith are guaranteed to get there.

Ok? That’s it. The link has a more detailed explanation.

Atheists: please stop misrepresenting Christianity because you don’t believe it. It’s completely fine for you to be atheist. Really. You can have an opinion about every single religion you don’t believe in. But not knowing the facts about what religions believe is the part that you should correct. That’s it.

Fine, it’s my opinion that religion causes a lot of harms in the world. My opinion is based on the fact that many wars, including modern day conflicts, stem from religious beliefs and that many people throughout history have used religion to marginalize women.

But I also think religious people should admit religion is really just an opinion (or belief). It’s not the known truth so stop expecting others to act as if your beliefs are somehow relevant to our lives. I really don’t care if you believe the earth was made by a giant bunny so long as I don’t have to be affected by that belief in any sort of government/public school setting.

*This* type of thing is why so many of us are frustrated with religion being shoved down our throats.

https://apnews.com/article/texas-bible-religion-schools-52b74577982b34ce2607b693bd51cae7

https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2024/07/16/critics-decry-religion-classrooms-some-fear-how-far-florida-will-go/

https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/the-demise-of-roe-v-wade-undermines-freedom-of-religion/

The fundamental problem with many religions is that a basic tenet is spreading the word and getting other people to believe. That is the part I cannot get behind. Leave people alone. Leave the schools alone. Follow your own beliefs but don’t bring them into politics.

The host of the last 100 years indicates there is just as much war and genocide caused by atheistic ideologies.

Please educate yourself-many religions are non-proselytizing.

- an atheist

But an ideology that happens to be atheist isn't equivalent to a religion. No one is hurting others in the name of atheism.

Communism enforced state atheism is very successful at killing religious people and institutions in countries that have state atheism.

That is in the name of communism.

Correct. Communism, not atheism.

Then religion never killed anyone either.

Nope. Millions have been killed in the name of religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agnostic is the belief that something either is or could be out there but that man doesn’t know what it is. If you look at religion historically, it has always been used as a societal tool by man to acquire power and resources and control others. Religion was the first form of government and religious rules the first form of codified societal norms. It serves a purpose but religion like government unchecked is always corrupt as power inevitably corrupts.

"Agnostic" simply means you "don't know" ("Gnostic" = "knowing" or knowledge).

You can be both Atheist and Agnostic, and most atheists consider themselves both. Many Theists do as well.

There are many degrees and definitions of "not knowing" of course.

I am not agnostic. I am an atheist. I know there is nothing. If you aren’t sure, you are agnostic.

And your point is....? Note the words "most" and "you can be both" in the post you are responding to.

ps you make that claim you have the same burden of proof as a theist. What is your evidence there is "nothing"? And you need to define "nothing" first as well. (I think you might mean to say there isn't anything supernatural). Not trying to be argumentative but I don't like double standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agnostic is the belief that something either is or could be out there but that man doesn’t know what it is. If you look at religion historically, it has always been used as a societal tool by man to acquire power and resources and control others. Religion was the first form of government and religious rules the first form of codified societal norms. It serves a purpose but religion like government unchecked is always corrupt as power inevitably corrupts.

"Agnostic" simply means you "don't know" ("Gnostic" = "knowing" or knowledge).

You can be both Atheist and Agnostic, and most atheists consider themselves both. Many Theists do as well.

There are many degrees and definitions of "not knowing" of course.

I am not agnostic. I am an atheist. I know there is nothing. If you aren’t sure, you are agnostic.

And your point is....? Note the words "most" and "you can be both" in the post you are responding to.

ps you make that claim you have the same burden of proof as a theist. What is your evidence there is "nothing"? And you need to define "nothing" first as well. (I think you might mean to say there isn't anything supernatural). Not trying to be argumentative but I don't like double standards.

Ditto. What I know is that humans, even those who believe in an afterlife for themselves, don't believe in an afterlife for their beloved pets, and in fact have them "put down" when they are very ill. They mourn their pets, and they also kill them, without fear of going to hell for it and without fear that their pets will wind up in hell. People accept that their pets die, but many people don't accept that they will die, but instead believe that they will live forever in heaven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it extremely creepy that some people posting here think they have any say into how other people raise their children.

If you think you have authority over other people’s kids, tell me how you exert or exercise that authority in real life. Also, what would you do differently if someone told you they had a say in how you raised your children?

When you think something is child abuse and brainwashing, unhealthy for both the individual and society, you don't think you have a right to express that thought?

Sorry but your bronze age bullsh*t hurts the world, and some of us are done sitting by passively while cults perpetuate pain and suffering. And no that is not hyperbole.

You are in the wrong country, if you think you or anyone else is going to classify a family being religious and practicing religious freedom as cults that perpetuate pain and suffering. America was founded on freedom, and religious freedom is among those freedoms. You have no moral or legal right to stop people from practicing their religion in the United States. You are severely flawed in your premise that “some of you” are “done sitting by” and going to take away every American’s right to practice their religion.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the freedom of religion in the United States:

Establishment Clause
Prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The Lemon test, set forth in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), governs what constitutes an establishment of religion.

Free Exercise Clause
Protects the right of citizens to practice their religion as they choose, as long as it doesn't violate public morals or a compelling government interest.

Some other examples of religious freedom in the United States include:
The right to collect unemployment benefits if you lose your job because your employer forces you to work on a religious holiday
The right to operate a church without government interference, even if only a few people share your beliefs
The right to use public property to promote your religious beliefs
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from religious discrimination in the workplace
The United States' commitment to religious freedom has been strong, as shown by the 2023 Religious Freedom Index score of 69, the highest ever.

If you don’t like religion, don’t be religious. Simple. Leave others alone. You aren’t in charge of their minds or their decisions. Focus on your own life.

DP but the first amendment you cite is also freedom from religion.

I think it’s funny you’re saying we should leave religious people alone when it’s religious people shoving their beliefs into our political system, using at a reason to ban books at schools, etc.

You.leave.us.alone. Practice your religion on your own time. Teach your kids your beliefs. But stop insisting society function in line with those beliefs.

You should read gotquestions.org to educate yourself about Christianity, you and every atheist who spouts their opinions that are incorrect about Christianity. That way you will have the basic information and understanding about the religion you don’t believe in. And the God you don’t believe in. It’s ok to not believe, but at least you will understand correctly about what you don’t believe in.

It's pretty sad to see you getting your religious information from some random website. Don't you attend church, or read the bible yourself?

Also, don't christians hate when atheists derail their threads? But here you are doing it on an atheist thread? Also likely violating TOS of the site by copy and pasting whole pages of garbage info from that website?

I think that everyone is allowed to think whatever they want, but atheists who think Christianity is crazy and harmful should not post their opinions about Christianity as fact.

I don’t represent any atheist thought as fact about atheism or how atheists think. Atheists should refrain from speaking for Christianity or Christians, especially if they don’t know the basic principles of Christianity.

Ie, “God sends Christians to heaven if they are good.” (Which is what an atheist posted in this thread.)

Christianity does not teach that. Atheists might have been taught that, or might believe that because they heard another atheist say it. But what most Christians believe about that is here:

Going to heaven—how can I guarantee my eternal destination?
https://www.gotquestions.org/going-to-heaven.html

The part that is the most important: Faith in Jesus is the one means of going to heaven. Those who have faith are guaranteed to get there.

Ok? That’s it. The link has a more detailed explanation.

Atheists: please stop misrepresenting Christianity because you don’t believe it. It’s completely fine for you to be atheist. Really. You can have an opinion about every single religion you don’t believe in. But not knowing the facts about what religions believe is the part that you should correct. That’s it.

Fine, it’s my opinion that religion causes a lot of harms in the world. My opinion is based on the fact that many wars, including modern day conflicts, stem from religious beliefs and that many people throughout history have used religion to marginalize women.

But I also think religious people should admit religion is really just an opinion (or belief). It’s not the known truth so stop expecting others to act as if your beliefs are somehow relevant to our lives. I really don’t care if you believe the earth was made by a giant bunny so long as I don’t have to be affected by that belief in any sort of government/public school setting.

*This* type of thing is why so many of us are frustrated with religion being shoved down our throats.

https://apnews.com/article/texas-bible-religion-schools-52b74577982b34ce2607b693bd51cae7

https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2024/07/16/critics-decry-religion-classrooms-some-fear-how-far-florida-will-go/

https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/the-demise-of-roe-v-wade-undermines-freedom-of-religion/

The fundamental problem with many religions is that a basic tenet is spreading the word and getting other people to believe. That is the part I cannot get behind. Leave people alone. Leave the schools alone. Follow your own beliefs but don’t bring them into politics.

The host of the last 100 years indicates there is just as much war and genocide caused by atheistic ideologies.

Please educate yourself-many religions are non-proselytizing.

- an atheist

But an ideology that happens to be atheist isn't equivalent to a religion. No one is hurting others in the name of atheism.

Communism enforced state atheism is very successful at killing religious people and institutions in countries that have state atheism.

That is in the name of communism.

Correct. Communism, not atheism.

Then religion never killed anyone either.

Nope. Millions have been killed in the name of religion.

No, an ideology that happens to be religious isn't equivalent to religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agnostic is the belief that something either is or could be out there but that man doesn’t know what it is. If you look at religion historically, it has always been used as a societal tool by man to acquire power and resources and control others. Religion was the first form of government and religious rules the first form of codified societal norms. It serves a purpose but religion like government unchecked is always corrupt as power inevitably corrupts.

"Agnostic" simply means you "don't know" ("Gnostic" = "knowing" or knowledge).

You can be both Atheist and Agnostic, and most atheists consider themselves both. Many Theists do as well.

There are many degrees and definitions of "not knowing" of course.

I am not agnostic. I am an atheist. I know there is nothing. If you aren’t sure, you are agnostic.

And your point is....? Note the words "most" and "you can be both" in the post you are responding to.

ps you make that claim you have the same burden of proof as a theist. What is your evidence there is "nothing"? And you need to define "nothing" first as well. (I think you might mean to say there isn't anything supernatural). Not trying to be argumentative but I don't like double standards.

Ditto. What I know is that humans, even those who believe in an afterlife for themselves, don't believe in an afterlife for their beloved pets, and in fact have them "put down" when they are very ill. They mourn their pets, and they also kill them, without fear of going to hell for it and without fear that their pets will wind up in hell. People accept that their pets die, but many people don't accept that they will die, but instead believe that they will live forever in heaven.

What is this nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agnostic is the belief that something either is or could be out there but that man doesn’t know what it is. If you look at religion historically, it has always been used as a societal tool by man to acquire power and resources and control others. Religion was the first form of government and religious rules the first form of codified societal norms. It serves a purpose but religion like government unchecked is always corrupt as power inevitably corrupts.

"Agnostic" simply means you "don't know" ("Gnostic" = "knowing" or knowledge).

You can be both Atheist and Agnostic, and most atheists consider themselves both. Many Theists do as well.

There are many degrees and definitions of "not knowing" of course.

I am not agnostic. I am an atheist. I know there is nothing. If you aren’t sure, you are agnostic.

And your point is....? Note the words "most" and "you can be both" in the post you are responding to.

ps you make that claim you have the same burden of proof as a theist. What is your evidence there is "nothing"? And you need to define "nothing" first as well. (I think you might mean to say there isn't anything supernatural). Not trying to be argumentative but I don't like double standards.

There is no burden of proof in faith. There what faith means: belief without proof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it extremely creepy that some people posting here think they have any say into how other people raise their children.

If you think you have authority over other people’s kids, tell me how you exert or exercise that authority in real life. Also, what would you do differently if someone told you they had a say in how you raised your children?

When you think something is child abuse and brainwashing, unhealthy for both the individual and society, you don't think you have a right to express that thought?

Sorry but your bronze age bullsh*t hurts the world, and some of us are done sitting by passively while cults perpetuate pain and suffering. And no that is not hyperbole.

You are in the wrong country, if you think you or anyone else is going to classify a family being religious and practicing religious freedom as cults that perpetuate pain and suffering. America was founded on freedom, and religious freedom is among those freedoms. You have no moral or legal right to stop people from practicing their religion in the United States. You are severely flawed in your premise that “some of you” are “done sitting by” and going to take away every American’s right to practice their religion.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the freedom of religion in the United States:

Establishment Clause
Prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The Lemon test, set forth in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), governs what constitutes an establishment of religion.

Free Exercise Clause
Protects the right of citizens to practice their religion as they choose, as long as it doesn't violate public morals or a compelling government interest.

Some other examples of religious freedom in the United States include:
The right to collect unemployment benefits if you lose your job because your employer forces you to work on a religious holiday
The right to operate a church without government interference, even if only a few people share your beliefs
The right to use public property to promote your religious beliefs
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from religious discrimination in the workplace
The United States' commitment to religious freedom has been strong, as shown by the 2023 Religious Freedom Index score of 69, the highest ever.

If you don’t like religion, don’t be religious. Simple. Leave others alone. You aren’t in charge of their minds or their decisions. Focus on your own life.

DP but the first amendment you cite is also freedom from religion.

I think it’s funny you’re saying we should leave religious people alone when it’s religious people shoving their beliefs into our political system, using at a reason to ban books at schools, etc.

You.leave.us.alone. Practice your religion on your own time. Teach your kids your beliefs. But stop insisting society function in line with those beliefs.

You should read gotquestions.org to educate yourself about Christianity, you and every atheist who spouts their opinions that are incorrect about Christianity. That way you will have the basic information and understanding about the religion you don’t believe in. And the God you don’t believe in. It’s ok to not believe, but at least you will understand correctly about what you don’t believe in.

It's pretty sad to see you getting your religious information from some random website. Don't you attend church, or read the bible yourself?

Also, don't christians hate when atheists derail their threads? But here you are doing it on an atheist thread? Also likely violating TOS of the site by copy and pasting whole pages of garbage info from that website?

I think that everyone is allowed to think whatever they want, but atheists who think Christianity is crazy and harmful should not post their opinions about Christianity as fact.

I don’t represent any atheist thought as fact about atheism or how atheists think. Atheists should refrain from speaking for Christianity or Christians, especially if they don’t know the basic principles of Christianity.

Ie, “God sends Christians to heaven if they are good.” (Which is what an atheist posted in this thread.)

Christianity does not teach that. Atheists might have been taught that, or might believe that because they heard another atheist say it. But what most Christians believe about that is here:

Going to heaven—how can I guarantee my eternal destination?
https://www.gotquestions.org/going-to-heaven.html

The part that is the most important: Faith in Jesus is the one means of going to heaven. Those who have faith are guaranteed to get there.

Ok? That’s it. The link has a more detailed explanation.

Atheists: please stop misrepresenting Christianity because you don’t believe it. It’s completely fine for you to be atheist. Really. You can have an opinion about every single religion you don’t believe in. But not knowing the facts about what religions believe is the part that you should correct. That’s it.

Fine, it’s my opinion that religion causes a lot of harms in the world. My opinion is based on the fact that many wars, including modern day conflicts, stem from religious beliefs and that many people throughout history have used religion to marginalize women.

But I also think religious people should admit religion is really just an opinion (or belief). It’s not the known truth so stop expecting others to act as if your beliefs are somehow relevant to our lives. I really don’t care if you believe the earth was made by a giant bunny so long as I don’t have to be affected by that belief in any sort of government/public school setting.

*This* type of thing is why so many of us are frustrated with religion being shoved down our throats.

https://apnews.com/article/texas-bible-religion-schools-52b74577982b34ce2607b693bd51cae7

https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2024/07/16/critics-decry-religion-classrooms-some-fear-how-far-florida-will-go/

https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/the-demise-of-roe-v-wade-undermines-freedom-of-religion/

The fundamental problem with many religions is that a basic tenet is spreading the word and getting other people to believe. That is the part I cannot get behind. Leave people alone. Leave the schools alone. Follow your own beliefs but don’t bring them into politics.

The host of the last 100 years indicates there is just as much war and genocide caused by atheistic ideologies.

Please educate yourself-many religions are non-proselytizing.

- an atheist

But an ideology that happens to be atheist isn't equivalent to a religion. No one is hurting others in the name of atheism.

Communism enforced state atheism is very successful at killing religious people and institutions in countries that have state atheism.

It's the communism that's killing people, not the atheism. Atheists don't care what you believe, as long as you leave us alone, which religious people generally don't do in the US.

Please please stop embarrassing yourself.

https://www.history.com/news/joseph-stalin-religion-atheism-ussr


https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/08/30/government-policy-toward-religion-in-the-peoples-republic-of-china-a-brief-history/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it extremely creepy that some people posting here think they have any say into how other people raise their children.

If you think you have authority over other people’s kids, tell me how you exert or exercise that authority in real life. Also, what would you do differently if someone told you they had a say in how you raised your children?

When you think something is child abuse and brainwashing, unhealthy for both the individual and society, you don't think you have a right to express that thought?

Sorry but your bronze age bullsh*t hurts the world, and some of us are done sitting by passively while cults perpetuate pain and suffering. And no that is not hyperbole.

You are in the wrong country, if you think you or anyone else is going to classify a family being religious and practicing religious freedom as cults that perpetuate pain and suffering. America was founded on freedom, and religious freedom is among those freedoms. You have no moral or legal right to stop people from practicing their religion in the United States. You are severely flawed in your premise that “some of you” are “done sitting by” and going to take away every American’s right to practice their religion.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the freedom of religion in the United States:

Establishment Clause
Prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The Lemon test, set forth in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), governs what constitutes an establishment of religion.

Free Exercise Clause
Protects the right of citizens to practice their religion as they choose, as long as it doesn't violate public morals or a compelling government interest.

Some other examples of religious freedom in the United States include:
The right to collect unemployment benefits if you lose your job because your employer forces you to work on a religious holiday
The right to operate a church without government interference, even if only a few people share your beliefs
The right to use public property to promote your religious beliefs
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from religious discrimination in the workplace
The United States' commitment to religious freedom has been strong, as shown by the 2023 Religious Freedom Index score of 69, the highest ever.

If you don’t like religion, don’t be religious. Simple. Leave others alone. You aren’t in charge of their minds or their decisions. Focus on your own life.

DP but the first amendment you cite is also freedom from religion.

I think it’s funny you’re saying we should leave religious people alone when it’s religious people shoving their beliefs into our political system, using at a reason to ban books at schools, etc.

You.leave.us.alone. Practice your religion on your own time. Teach your kids your beliefs. But stop insisting society function in line with those beliefs.

You should read gotquestions.org to educate yourself about Christianity, you and every atheist who spouts their opinions that are incorrect about Christianity. That way you will have the basic information and understanding about the religion you don’t believe in. And the God you don’t believe in. It’s ok to not believe, but at least you will understand correctly about what you don’t believe in.

It's pretty sad to see you getting your religious information from some random website. Don't you attend church, or read the bible yourself?

Also, don't christians hate when atheists derail their threads? But here you are doing it on an atheist thread? Also likely violating TOS of the site by copy and pasting whole pages of garbage info from that website?

I think that everyone is allowed to think whatever they want, but atheists who think Christianity is crazy and harmful should not post their opinions about Christianity as fact.

I don’t represent any atheist thought as fact about atheism or how atheists think. Atheists should refrain from speaking for Christianity or Christians, especially if they don’t know the basic principles of Christianity.

Ie, “God sends Christians to heaven if they are good.” (Which is what an atheist posted in this thread.)

Christianity does not teach that. Atheists might have been taught that, or might believe that because they heard another atheist say it. But what most Christians believe about that is here:

Going to heaven—how can I guarantee my eternal destination?
https://www.gotquestions.org/going-to-heaven.html

The part that is the most important: Faith in Jesus is the one means of going to heaven. Those who have faith are guaranteed to get there.

Ok? That’s it. The link has a more detailed explanation.

Atheists: please stop misrepresenting Christianity because you don’t believe it. It’s completely fine for you to be atheist. Really. You can have an opinion about every single religion you don’t believe in. But not knowing the facts about what religions believe is the part that you should correct. That’s it.

Fine, it’s my opinion that religion causes a lot of harms in the world. My opinion is based on the fact that many wars, including modern day conflicts, stem from religious beliefs and that many people throughout history have used religion to marginalize women.

But I also think religious people should admit religion is really just an opinion (or belief). It’s not the known truth so stop expecting others to act as if your beliefs are somehow relevant to our lives. I really don’t care if you believe the earth was made by a giant bunny so long as I don’t have to be affected by that belief in any sort of government/public school setting.

*This* type of thing is why so many of us are frustrated with religion being shoved down our throats.

https://apnews.com/article/texas-bible-religion-schools-52b74577982b34ce2607b693bd51cae7

https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2024/07/16/critics-decry-religion-classrooms-some-fear-how-far-florida-will-go/

https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/the-demise-of-roe-v-wade-undermines-freedom-of-religion/

The fundamental problem with many religions is that a basic tenet is spreading the word and getting other people to believe. That is the part I cannot get behind. Leave people alone. Leave the schools alone. Follow your own beliefs but don’t bring them into politics.

The host of the last 100 years indicates there is just as much war and genocide caused by atheistic ideologies.

Please educate yourself-many religions are non-proselytizing.

- an atheist

But an ideology that happens to be atheist isn't equivalent to a religion. No one is hurting others in the name of atheism.

Communism enforced state atheism is very successful at killing religious people and institutions in countries that have state atheism.

It's the communism that's killing people, not the atheism. Atheists don't care what you believe, as long as you leave us alone, which religious people generally don't do in the US.

Please please stop embarrassing yourself.

https://www.history.com/news/joseph-stalin-religion-atheism-ussr


https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/08/30/government-policy-toward-religion-in-the-peoples-republic-of-china-a-brief-history/

I read both articles and neither make your point. Please stop embarrassing yourself.

Also, I suggest t