Is it "insulting" to refer to god as "mythical"?

[Anonymous]

So the answer to the original question is YES, it's insulting to refer to god as myth. I think that came through loud and clear.

Now OP is saying "And I don't see how saying Jesus Is Not Lord is offensive, yet people are sure claiming to be offended by it."

First of all, has anyone said they were offended by that? I may have missed it.

Second the original question was about "god" generally, and this new on is about the nature of Jesus, an internal Christian theological debate that's gone on for millennia.

It's a different question altogether. Changing the subject in the middle of a thread isn't all that unknown around here of course.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It’s a myth and there is no evidence any of them are true.

Ok, but evidence is not usually a standard for faith. You believing religion is a myth shouldn't diminish how believers feel about it.

While I believe it's rude and insulting to walk up to a person of faith and tell them their religion is a myth, I'm not insulted, because what someone else believes about my religion doesn't affect what I believe about my religion. It's just a waste of everyone's time.

If it is a waste of time why are you here and why type a clearly thoughtful message?

Others think it IS important, even if you don’t.

Also no one here “walks up” to anyone. It’s an open forum. Participate at will, and ignore anything you choose.

DP. You enter threads about religion (recently: the "I want to return to God" thread) to tell everybody there that God is a myth.

That's virtual "walking up." There's no other way to describe it. You've been called a proselytizer by the moderator no less.

Tell us this: You don't want people proselytizing on your atheism threads. How is your behavior on religion threads (walking up + insulting) different?

You are not telling the truth- I encourage all thoughts in any thread dealing with religion in the religion forum. If you want to proselytize here, please do. I am capable of responding thoughtfully.

So, please proceed! And you have my sincere “blessings “.

We're discussing behavior. Specifically, we're discussing confronting people--in person or virtually--to tell them their belief/nonbelief is a laughable child's thinking on par with a myth. Yes, of course, most of us respect a thoughtful back-and-forth. It should be obvious that insults aren't thoughtful.

The correct analogy would be entering an atheist thread to tell atheists that they're sad people with no morals. And then dominating the thread so atheists can't get a word in edgewise, gish galloping after losing a line of argument, bumping old posts to get away from take-downs, and winding up with straight-up insults like "immoral" or "depraved." (Some have called the couple of atheists who do this trolls.)

I can't see anybody condoning that, either.

First, I don't know how there is anything such as an "atheist thread". This is an open religion forum and I think all beliefs should be welcomed and encouraged to participate.

But I go back to a question posted prior and largely ignored: why is it offensive to say "Jesus Is Not Lord" because people of faith might read it but not offensive to say "Jesus Is Lord" when people who have other beliefs might see it?

Can you answer that one for me?

DP (really). I think we've beaten this dead horse long enough. If someone says Jesus is Lord, I don't see how it's "offensive." I think they're a little deluded maybe, but it's really not offensive to atheists. Maybe to adherents of other religions thoiugh?

And I don't see how saying Jesus Is Not Lord is offensive, yet people are sure claiming to be offended by it.

Don't you think it should be one way or the other in this open forum, consistent for all positions? It is is simply a statement of belief or disbelief, and neither should be viewed offensive in an open forum.

In a church vestibule, or a public school classroom, the rules are - and should be - different. But in open forums and the public square, there should be freedom to state either without being shouted down and canceled.

I am surprised there is not more consensus on that here.

I don't think we've had that debate. The thread is about whether it's insulting to refer to god (lower case "g") is mythical. Not about whether Jesus is Lord. I haven't even seen any posts making that argument one way or the other.

So what is the difference between saying Jesus is mythical and Jesus Is Not Lord?

This I really don't understand. I honestly think the former would be less offensive to a believer.

Can you read? The thread isn't about Christian theology.

Why do you have to be so rude and use ad hominems? Do you think that reflects well on your position?

Threads follow a discussion path and are OK as long as they remain on topic. If anyone gets to say what a thread is about, it is the OP, and since that is me, I can say you are incorrect.

I'm glad you clarified that - but you are changing the subject. It was about whether it's "insulting to refer to god as mythical". And now you're asking why it isn't insulting to say Jesus is Lord to someone who doesn't believe Jesus is Lord. Surely you see the difference? That's a different topic. And no, I'm not sure that you do, even as an OP (which you didn't disclose until just now) - get to "say what a thread is about." Unless you're just confused about what you're asking.

No, I do not see the difference. And if the OP doesn't get to say what a thread was intended to be about, then random posters certainly don't get to either. But my intention was to point out what I saw as hypocrisy and demands from people of one position to control the dialog when they were not even prepared to extend the same criteria to others.

So why isn't it insulting to say "JIL" to someone who does not believe but it is offensive to say the opposite to someone who does?

DP. This is all missing the point.

If you don't want to hear that "Jesus is Lord," then don't go onto threads about Christianity. It's that simple.

Instead, you're
1. Deliberately "subjecting" yourself to "Jesus is Lord."
And then,
2. You're claiming you're insulted by reading by reading "Jesus is Lord."
Which, wait for it,
3. Is the excuse you use to insult people of faith by calling their religion a "myth."

Can you see how this strikes some of us as bad-faith rhetoric? You're stirring up trouble that didn't need to be there as an excuse to insult people of faith.

So you cannot or will not answer the question?

Perhaps my point was too subtle for you. These things are very different, as another pp was also arguing.

1. It's straight-up dishonest to enter a thread on religion voluntarily, pretend to be offended when you read "Jesus is Lord," and then use that as an excuse to insult people on that thread.

What's different:

2. People of faith in a religion thread are minding their own business and talking about what's meaningful to them. Until you barged in and insulted them.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It’s a myth and there is no evidence any of them are true.

^^^ Typical. Instead of addressing the question of whether calling God/Gods a "myth" is insulting, here's an atheist hammering on the reductive, analysis-free, childish insults.

Maybe off topic, but it’s a concise statement that isn’t childish or insulting. Nothing wrong with it.

DP.

It's like me calling you "childish." No explanation, no rationale, just random ad hominems. Even if it's true.

You don’t need extra, flowery words when stating basic facts: “there is no evidence”.

So say "there is no evidence" and people of faith will nod and say you're right, it's about faith. Calling it a "myth" is another level of rudeness.

It's the same thing. There is no evidence = it's a myth. All myths rely on "faith".

No, "myth" is insulting. It's putting peoples' faith on par with Santa Claus, as OP's gotcha in her OP clearly tried to do.

As we've all learned in the past few years, if we didn't know it before: if somebody tells you they're insulted, then it's insulting. You don't get to decide whether somebody else should be insulted by your words or deeds.

[Anonymous]

? Saying "Jesus isn't Lord" is quite a bit different than saying "god is mythical." They're not equivalent in any way. Did someone say they were insulted by the former?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It’s a myth and there is no evidence any of them are true.

Ok, but evidence is not usually a standard for faith. You believing religion is a myth shouldn't diminish how believers feel about it.

While I believe it's rude and insulting to walk up to a person of faith and tell them their religion is a myth, I'm not insulted, because what someone else believes about my religion doesn't affect what I believe about my religion. It's just a waste of everyone's time.

If it is a waste of time why are you here and why type a clearly thoughtful message?

Others think it IS important, even if you don’t.

Also no one here “walks up” to anyone. It’s an open forum. Participate at will, and ignore anything you choose.

DP. You enter threads about religion (recently: the "I want to return to God" thread) to tell everybody there that God is a myth.

That's virtual "walking up." There's no other way to describe it. You've been called a proselytizer by the moderator no less.

Tell us this: You don't want people proselytizing on your atheism threads. How is your behavior on religion threads (walking up + insulting) different?

You are not telling the truth- I encourage all thoughts in any thread dealing with religion in the religion forum. If you want to proselytize here, please do. I am capable of responding thoughtfully.

So, please proceed! And you have my sincere “blessings “.

We're discussing behavior. Specifically, we're discussing confronting people--in person or virtually--to tell them their belief/nonbelief is a laughable child's thinking on par with a myth. Yes, of course, most of us respect a thoughtful back-and-forth. It should be obvious that insults aren't thoughtful.

The correct analogy would be entering an atheist thread to tell atheists that they're sad people with no morals. And then dominating the thread so atheists can't get a word in edgewise, gish galloping after losing a line of argument, bumping old posts to get away from take-downs, and winding up with straight-up insults like "immoral" or "depraved." (Some have called the couple of atheists who do this trolls.)

I can't see anybody condoning that, either.

First, I don't know how there is anything such as an "atheist thread". This is an open religion forum and I think all beliefs should be welcomed and encouraged to participate.

But I go back to a question posted prior and largely ignored: why is it offensive to say "Jesus Is Not Lord" because people of faith might read it but not offensive to say "Jesus Is Lord" when people who have other beliefs might see it?

Can you answer that one for me?

DP (really). I think we've beaten this dead horse long enough. If someone says Jesus is Lord, I don't see how it's "offensive." I think they're a little deluded maybe, but it's really not offensive to atheists. Maybe to adherents of other religions thoiugh?

And I don't see how saying Jesus Is Not Lord is offensive, yet people are sure claiming to be offended by it.

Don't you think it should be one way or the other in this open forum, consistent for all positions? It is is simply a statement of belief or disbelief, and neither should be viewed offensive in an open forum.

In a church vestibule, or a public school classroom, the rules are - and should be - different. But in open forums and the public square, there should be freedom to state either without being shouted down and canceled.

I am surprised there is not more consensus on that here.

I don't think we've had that debate. The thread is about whether it's insulting to refer to god (lower case "g") is mythical. Not about whether Jesus is Lord. I haven't even seen any posts making that argument one way or the other.

So what is the difference between saying Jesus is mythical and Jesus Is Not Lord?

This I really don't understand. I honestly think the former would be less offensive to a believer.

Can you read? The thread isn't about Christian theology.

Why do you have to be so rude and use ad hominems? Do you think that reflects well on your position?

Threads follow a discussion path and are OK as long as they remain on topic. If anyone gets to say what a thread is about, it is the OP, and since that is me, I can say you are incorrect.

I'm glad you clarified that - but you are changing the subject. It was about whether it's "insulting to refer to god as mythical". And now you're asking why it isn't insulting to say Jesus is Lord to someone who doesn't believe Jesus is Lord. Surely you see the difference? That's a different topic. And no, I'm not sure that you do, even as an OP (which you didn't disclose until just now) - get to "say what a thread is about." Unless you're just confused about what you're asking.

No, I do not see the difference. And if the OP doesn't get to say what a thread was intended to be about, then random posters certainly don't get to either. But my intention was to point out what I saw as hypocrisy and demands from people of one position to control the dialog when they were not even prepared to extend the same criteria to others.

So why isn't it insulting to say "JIL" to someone who does not believe but it is offensive to say the opposite to someone who does?

DP. This is all missing the point.

If you don't want to hear that "Jesus is Lord," then don't go onto threads about Christianity. It's that simple.

Instead, you're
1. Deliberately "subjecting" yourself to "Jesus is Lord."
And then,
2. You're claiming you're insulted by reading by reading "Jesus is Lord."
Which, wait for it,
3. Is the excuse you use to insult people of faith by calling their religion a "myth."

Can you see how this strikes some of us as bad-faith rhetoric? You're stirring up trouble that didn't need to be there as an excuse to insult people of faith.

So you cannot or will not answer the question?

Perhaps my point was too subtle for you. These things are very different, as another pp was also arguing.

1. It's straight-up dishonest to enter a thread on religion voluntarily, pretend to be offended when you read "Jesus is Lord," and then use that as an excuse to insult people on that thread.

What's different:

2. People of faith in a religion thread are minding their own business and talking about what's meaningful to them. Until you barged in and insulted them.

I must repeat, apparently: so you can not or will not answer the question?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a myth and there is no evidence any of them are true.

Ok, but evidence is not usually a standard for faith. You believing religion is a myth shouldn't diminish how believers feel about it.

While I believe it's rude and insulting to walk up to a person of faith and tell them their religion is a myth, I'm not insulted, because what someone else believes about my religion doesn't affect what I believe about my religion. It's just a waste of everyone's time.

If it is a waste of time why are you here and why type a clearly thoughtful message?

Others think it IS important, even if you don’t.

Also no one here “walks up” to anyone. It’s an open forum. Participate at will, and ignore anything you choose.

DP. You enter threads about religion (recently: the "I want to return to God" thread) to tell everybody there that God is a myth.

That's virtual "walking up." There's no other way to describe it. You've been called a proselytizer by the moderator no less.

Tell us this: You don't want people proselytizing on your atheism threads. How is your behavior on religion threads (walking up + insulting) different?

You are not telling the truth- I encourage all thoughts in any thread dealing with religion in the religion forum. If you want to proselytize here, please do. I am capable of responding thoughtfully.

So, please proceed! And you have my sincere “blessings “.

We're discussing behavior. Specifically, we're discussing confronting people--in person or virtually--to tell them their belief/nonbelief is a laughable child's thinking on par with a myth. Yes, of course, most of us respect a thoughtful back-and-forth. It should be obvious that insults aren't thoughtful.

The correct analogy would be entering an atheist thread to tell atheists that they're sad people with no morals. And then dominating the thread so atheists can't get a word in edgewise, gish galloping after losing a line of argument, bumping old posts to get away from take-downs, and winding up with straight-up insults like "immoral" or "depraved." (Some have called the couple of atheists who do this trolls.)

I can't see anybody condoning that, either.

First, I don't know how there is anything such as an "atheist thread". This is an open religion forum and I think all beliefs should be welcomed and encouraged to participate.

But I go back to a question posted prior and largely ignored: why is it offensive to say "Jesus Is Not Lord" because people of faith might read it but not offensive to say "Jesus Is Lord" when people who have other beliefs might see it?

Can you answer that one for me?

DP (really). I think we've beaten this dead horse long enough. If someone says Jesus is Lord, I don't see how it's "offensive." I think they're a little deluded maybe, but it's really not offensive to atheists. Maybe to adherents of other religions thoiugh?

And I don't see how saying Jesus Is Not Lord is offensive, yet people are sure claiming to be offended by it.

Don't you think it should be one way or the other in this open forum, consistent for all positions? It is is simply a statement of belief or disbelief, and neither should be viewed offensive in an open forum.

In a church vestibule, or a public school classroom, the rules are - and should be - different. But in open forums and the public square, there should be freedom to state either without being shouted down and canceled.

I am surprised there is not more consensus on that here.

I don't think we've had that debate. The thread is about whether it's insulting to refer to god (lower case "g") is mythical. Not about whether Jesus is Lord. I haven't even seen any posts making that argument one way or the other.

So what is the difference between saying Jesus is mythical and Jesus Is Not Lord?

This I really don't understand. I honestly think the former would be less offensive to a believer.

Can you read? The thread isn't about Christian theology.

Why do you have to be so rude and use ad hominems? Do you think that reflects well on your position?

Threads follow a discussion path and are OK as long as they remain on topic. If anyone gets to say what a thread is about, it is the OP, and since that is me, I can say you are incorrect.

I'm glad you clarified that - but you are changing the subject. It was about whether it's "insulting to refer to god as mythical". And now you're asking why it isn't insulting to say Jesus is Lord to someone who doesn't believe Jesus is Lord. Surely you see the difference? That's a different topic. And no, I'm not sure that you do, even as an OP (which you didn't disclose until just now) - get to "say what a thread is about." Unless you're just confused about what you're asking.

No, I do not see the difference. And if the OP doesn't get to say what a thread was intended to be about, then random posters certainly don't get to either. But my intention was to point out what I saw as hypocrisy and demands from people of one position to control the dialog when they were not even prepared to extend the same criteria to others.

So why isn't it insulting to say "JIL" to someone who does not believe but it is offensive to say the opposite to someone who does?

DP. This is all missing the point.

If you don't want to hear that "Jesus is Lord," then don't go onto threads about Christianity. It's that simple.

Instead, you're
1. Deliberately "subjecting" yourself to "Jesus is Lord."
And then,
2. You're claiming you're insulted by reading by reading "Jesus is Lord."
Which, wait for it,
3. Is the excuse you use to insult people of faith by calling their religion a "myth."

Can you see how this strikes some of us as bad-faith rhetoric? You're stirring up trouble that didn't need to be there as an excuse to insult people of faith.

So you cannot or will not answer the question?

Perhaps my point was too subtle for you. These things are very different, as another pp was also arguing.

1. It's straight-up dishonest to enter a thread on religion voluntarily, pretend to be offended when you read "Jesus is Lord," and then use that as an excuse to insult people on that thread.

What's different:

2. People of faith in a religion thread are minding their own business and talking about what's meaningful to them. Until you barged in and insulted them.

I must repeat, apparently: so you can not or will not answer the question?

If you don't understand, it's either because you don't want to understand and you're playing dumb.

Let's summarize. Your position is that nobody in the Religion forum should be allowed to talk about their beliefs. Because some clueless atheist might stumble into a Religion thread and burn their eyes by reading "Jesus is Lord" or something.

Have you tried taking that up with the moderator? Bwahahaha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:? Saying "Jesus isn't Lord" is quite a bit different than saying "god is mythical." They're not equivalent in any way. Did someone say they were insulted by the former?

It was asked what is different and why. A reasonable explanation was given that "mythical" offends religious people because they consider that comparable to Santa and Bigfoot, which they do not believe in.

It has not been explained why saying "Jesus Is Not Lord" is not equally offensive, although to some it appears to be the same thing - both are not real.

No one claimed to be insulted by a religious person saying Jesus Is Lord, but neither was it explained why they should not be if the opposite is offensive.

This is provided as summary and is not a position statement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a myth and there is no evidence any of them are true.

Ok, but evidence is not usually a standard for faith. You believing religion is a myth shouldn't diminish how believers feel about it.

While I believe it's rude and insulting to walk up to a person of faith and tell them their religion is a myth, I'm not insulted, because what someone else believes about my religion doesn't affect what I believe about my religion. It's just a waste of everyone's time.

If it is a waste of time why are you here and why type a clearly thoughtful message?

Others think it IS important, even if you don’t.

Also no one here “walks up” to anyone. It’s an open forum. Participate at will, and ignore anything you choose.

DP. You enter threads about religion (recently: the "I want to return to God" thread) to tell everybody there that God is a myth.

That's virtual "walking up." There's no other way to describe it. You've been called a proselytizer by the moderator no less.

Tell us this: You don't want people proselytizing on your atheism threads. How is your behavior on religion threads (walking up + insulting) different?

You are not telling the truth- I encourage all thoughts in any thread dealing with religion in the religion forum. If you want to proselytize here, please do. I am capable of responding thoughtfully.

So, please proceed! And you have my sincere “blessings “.

We're discussing behavior. Specifically, we're discussing confronting people--in person or virtually--to tell them their belief/nonbelief is a laughable child's thinking on par with a myth. Yes, of course, most of us respect a thoughtful back-and-forth. It should be obvious that insults aren't thoughtful.

The correct analogy would be entering an atheist thread to tell atheists that they're sad people with no morals. And then dominating the thread so atheists can't get a word in edgewise, gish galloping after losing a line of argument, bumping old posts to get away from take-downs, and winding up with straight-up insults like "immoral" or "depraved." (Some have called the couple of atheists who do this trolls.)

I can't see anybody condoning that, either.

First, I don't know how there is anything such as an "atheist thread". This is an open religion forum and I think all beliefs should be welcomed and encouraged to participate.

But I go back to a question posted prior and largely ignored: why is it offensive to say "Jesus Is Not Lord" because people of faith might read it but not offensive to say "Jesus Is Lord" when people who have other beliefs might see it?

Can you answer that one for me?

DP (really). I think we've beaten this dead horse long enough. If someone says Jesus is Lord, I don't see how it's "offensive." I think they're a little deluded maybe, but it's really not offensive to atheists. Maybe to adherents of other religions thoiugh?

And I don't see how saying Jesus Is Not Lord is offensive, yet people are sure claiming to be offended by it.

Don't you think it should be one way or the other in this open forum, consistent for all positions? It is is simply a statement of belief or disbelief, and neither should be viewed offensive in an open forum.

In a church vestibule, or a public school classroom, the rules are - and should be - different. But in open forums and the public square, there should be freedom to state either without being shouted down and canceled.

I am surprised there is not more consensus on that here.

I don't think we've had that debate. The thread is about whether it's insulting to refer to god (lower case "g") is mythical. Not about whether Jesus is Lord. I haven't even seen any posts making that argument one way or the other.

So what is the difference between saying Jesus is mythical and Jesus Is Not Lord?

This I really don't understand. I honestly think the former would be less offensive to a believer.

Can you read? The thread isn't about Christian theology.

Why do you have to be so rude and use ad hominems? Do you think that reflects well on your position?

Threads follow a discussion path and are OK as long as they remain on topic. If anyone gets to say what a thread is about, it is the OP, and since that is me, I can say you are incorrect.

I'm glad you clarified that - but you are changing the subject. It was about whether it's "insulting to refer to god as mythical". And now you're asking why it isn't insulting to say Jesus is Lord to someone who doesn't believe Jesus is Lord. Surely you see the difference? That's a different topic. And no, I'm not sure that you do, even as an OP (which you didn't disclose until just now) - get to "say what a thread is about." Unless you're just confused about what you're asking.

No, I do not see the difference. And if the OP doesn't get to say what a thread was intended to be about, then random posters certainly don't get to either. But my intention was to point out what I saw as hypocrisy and demands from people of one position to control the dialog when they were not even prepared to extend the same criteria to others.

So why isn't it insulting to say "JIL" to someone who does not believe but it is offensive to say the opposite to someone who does?

DP. This is all missing the point.

If you don't want to hear that "Jesus is Lord," then don't go onto threads about Christianity. It's that simple.

Instead, you're
1. Deliberately "subjecting" yourself to "Jesus is Lord."
And then,
2. You're claiming you're insulted by reading by reading "Jesus is Lord."
Which, wait for it,
3. Is the excuse you use to insult people of faith by calling their religion a "myth."

Can you see how this strikes some of us as bad-faith rhetoric? You're stirring up trouble that didn't need to be there as an excuse to insult people of faith.

So you cannot or will not answer the question?

Perhaps my point was too subtle for you. These things are very different, as another pp was also arguing.

1. It's straight-up dishonest to enter a thread on religion voluntarily, pretend to be offended when you read "Jesus is Lord," and then use that as an excuse to insult people on that thread.

What's different:

2. People of faith in a religion thread are minding their own business and talking about what's meaningful to them. Until you barged in and insulted them.

I must repeat, apparently: so you can not or will not answer the question?

If you don't understand, it's either because you don't want to understand and you're playing dumb.

Let's summarize. Your position is that nobody in the Religion forum should be allowed to talk about their beliefs. Because some clueless atheist might stumble into a Religion thread and burn their eyes by reading "Jesus is Lord" or something.

Have you tried taking that up with the moderator? Bwahahaha.

No, I'd rather just continue to point out you can't or won't answer a simple question.

[Anonymous]

^^^^ and I won't complain to the moderator because I am a grownup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^^ and I won't complain to the moderator because I am a grownup.

^^^^ Because the moderator has recently called a few atheists here, perhaps you,
(1) boorish
(2) somebody who talks about cats in response to a question about dog
(3) as bad a proselytizer for atheism as any religious person.

And another atheist claimed that an atheist impersonated her on this thread. Were you the impersonator?

Yes, if I were you I'd stay far away from the moderator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:? Saying "Jesus isn't Lord" is quite a bit different than saying "god is mythical." They're not equivalent in any way. Did someone say they were insulted by the former?

It was asked what is different and why. A reasonable explanation was given that "mythical" offends religious people because they consider that comparable to Santa and Bigfoot, which they do not believe in.

It has not been explained why saying "Jesus Is Not Lord" is not equally offensive, although to some it appears to be the same thing - both are not real.

No one claimed to be insulted by a religious person saying Jesus Is Lord, but neither was it explained why they should not be if the opposite is offensive.

This is provided as summary and is not a position statement.

who said it was offensive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a myth and there is no evidence any of them are true.

Ok, but evidence is not usually a standard for faith. You believing religion is a myth shouldn't diminish how believers feel about it.

While I believe it's rude and insulting to walk up to a person of faith and tell them their religion is a myth, I'm not insulted, because what someone else believes about my religion doesn't affect what I believe about my religion. It's just a waste of everyone's time.

If it is a waste of time why are you here and why type a clearly thoughtful message?

Others think it IS important, even if you don’t.

Also no one here “walks up” to anyone. It’s an open forum. Participate at will, and ignore anything you choose.

PP here (the "thoughtful" one, I guess; thank you). OP asked a question and, while I could write it off as trolling or insincere (as some others have done), it's much more interesting to treat it as a thoughtful question. I used to be agnostic and my father is atheist, and I value the opportunity to think critically and thoughtfully about how my religion impacts my secular life and relationships with non-religious/other-faith people. I think the heart of OP's question is about how we treat others and about respect and that is worth a thoughtful dialogue, even if someone telling me they think my God is a myth feels like a "waste of time" for all involved.

NP. Fair enough, but I don't see what's wrong with "myth." There's a kernel of truth in all of them. They were born out of humans' desire to understand the world around them these myths eventually evolved into religion. I mean it's widely accepted that most of the stories in Genesis, for example, are mythical. I doubt any intelligent person in this day and age believes otherwise.

PP again. I think it depends how you're using "myth." In the way you described above, I wouldn't consider it offensive. In comparison to Santa, like on another thread, I would. Myths as you use it above are a way of understanding the world and I'm fully on board with stories and parables from religion being non-literal or "mythical" in that sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a myth and there is no evidence any of them are true.

^^^ Typical. Instead of addressing the question of whether calling God/Gods a "myth" is insulting, here's an atheist hammering on the reductive, analysis-free, childish insults.

Maybe off topic, but it’s a concise statement that isn’t childish or insulting. Nothing wrong with it.

DP.

It's like me calling you "childish." No explanation, no rationale, just random ad hominems. Even if it's true.

You don’t need extra, flowery words when stating basic facts: “there is no evidence”.

So say "there is no evidence" and people of faith will nod and say you're right, it's about faith. Calling it a "myth" is another level of rudeness.

It's the same thing. There is no evidence = it's a myth. All myths rely on "faith".

No, "myth" is insulting. It's putting peoples' faith on par with Santa Claus, as OP's gotcha in her OP clearly tried to do.

As we've all learned in the past few years, if we didn't know it before: if somebody tells you they're insulted, then it's insulting. You don't get to decide whether somebody else should be insulted by your words or deeds.

I think it’s more on par with Zeus, Odin, etc. Gods who people worshipped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:? Saying "Jesus isn't Lord" is quite a bit different than saying "god is mythical." They're not equivalent in any way. Did someone say they were insulted by the former?

It was asked what is different and why. A reasonable explanation was given that "mythical" offends religious people because they consider that comparable to Santa and Bigfoot, which they do not believe in.

It has not been explained why saying "Jesus Is Not Lord" is not equally offensive, although to some it appears to be the same thing - both are not real.

No one claimed to be insulted by a religious person saying Jesus Is Lord, but neither was it explained why they should not be if the opposite is offensive.

This is provided as summary and is not a position statement.

? Maybe you want to start a new thread asking "Is it offensive if a non believer says Jesus isn't Lord? Otherwise I think you're trying to debate a hypothetical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a myth and there is no evidence any of them are true.

^^^ Typical. Instead of addressing the question of whether calling God/Gods a "myth" is insulting, here's an atheist hammering on the reductive, analysis-free, childish insults.

Maybe off topic, but it’s a concise statement that isn’t childish or insulting. Nothing wrong with it.

DP.

It's like me calling you "childish." No explanation, no rationale, just random ad hominems. Even if it's true.

You don’t need extra, flowery words when stating basic facts: “there is no evidence”.

So say "there is no evidence" and people of faith will nod and say you're right, it's about faith. Calling it a "myth" is another level of rudeness.

It's the same thing. There is no evidence = it's a myth. All myths rely on "faith".

No, "myth" is insulting. It's putting peoples' faith on par with Santa Claus, as OP's gotcha in her OP clearly tried to do.

As we've all learned in the past few years, if we didn't know it before: if somebody tells you they're insulted, then it's insulting. You don't get to decide whether somebody else should be insulted by your words or deeds.

I think it’s more on par with Zeus, Odin, etc. Gods who people worshipped.

True, the Greek pantheon of gods were very real to them, and it was a religion. As was the Roman's religion which had many if the same gods by different names. True, these religions have fallen out of favor now, but the American Indians belived in the "great spirit in the sky" and the "happy hunting grounds" (heaven). These are no less respectable beliefs than the monotheistic religions that came out of the middle east.