Organized Religion seems harmful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys can gussy up organized religion in fanciful terms, obfuscate things, and try to normalize it all, but at the end of the day you believe in stories that are no more believable than Greek myths. It's 2017. We have the internet. We have observable facts. You try to bend these facts to fit around your narrative and they simply don't fit. All the animals in the world can't fit on one boat. Your parents did you a disservice by raising you on this bs and unfortunately your psyche won't let you escape for fear of some hell that doesn't exist. Let go of the fear. Grow up.

So many misconceptions wrapped in a package of immaturity and beligerance. You must be so proud of yourself.

What part was incorrect?

This poster is just phoning it in. The refusal to understand that such a thing as faith exists. The refusal to understand the distinction between bible literalism/Old Testament stories about arks vs. the deeper messages of all faiths. The refusal to accept that almost nobody is a bible literalist anymore.

You can tell her a million times, but she still always comes back with her same non-answers.

Most likely a troll. I don't think this poster is actually so dense as to be unable to understand, for example, that almost nobody is a bible literalist anymore. She's probably the Horus-Mithras poster given the reference to Greek myths. But does anybody else sometimes wonder if this poster does social media for an atheist group? The wrapper of bigotry and hate is still there. But the rest reads like somebody spewing the party line, without thinking about whether the party line makes any sense in the context of everything else she's been told and knows. Unless you're paid to do this, why spend your life hating on religion, instead of, you know, going out there and enjoying the only life you think you'll get?

Very few bible literalists? What about Ken Hamm and his quackery, and the 24% of Americans who believe, literally, the earth is less than 10,000 years old? It's these people, for whom reality must bend, you should reserve your ire. The people under the inherent tribalism of organized religion - visibile most places there are war - who judge others and hurt the unusual. Most studies now show that non-religious parents raise less judgemental children.

The point is that bible literalists are a minority, yet you continue to claim we all believe in arks and the like.

Now you've even provided your own evidence that this is a minority--24% of Americans, the majority of whom are religious. So you're even ignoring your own evidence.

Also, cited for your studies, please, or we'll assume this is another of your evidence-free claims.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys can gussy up organized religion in fanciful terms, obfuscate things, and try to normalize it all, but at the end of the day you believe in stories that are no more believable than Greek myths. It's 2017. We have the internet. We have observable facts. You try to bend these facts to fit around your narrative and they simply don't fit. All the animals in the world can't fit on one boat. Your parents did you a disservice by raising you on this bs and unfortunately your psyche won't let you escape for fear of some hell that doesn't exist. Let go of the fear. Grow up.

So many misconceptions wrapped in a package of immaturity and beligerance. You must be so proud of yourself.

What part was incorrect?

This poster is just phoning it in. The refusal to understand that such a thing as faith exists. The refusal to understand the distinction between bible literalism/Old Testament stories about arks vs. the deeper messages of all faiths. The refusal to accept that almost nobody is a bible literalist anymore.

You can tell her a million times, but she still always comes back with her same non-answers.

Most likely a troll. I don't think this poster is actually so dense as to be unable to understand, for example, that almost nobody is a bible literalist anymore. She's probably the Horus-Mithras poster given the reference to Greek myths. But does anybody else sometimes wonder if this poster does social media for an atheist group? The wrapper of bigotry and hate is still there. But the rest reads like somebody spewing the party line, without thinking about whether the party line makes any sense in the context of everything else she's been told and knows. Unless you're paid to do this, why spend your life hating on religion, instead of, you know, going out there and enjoying the only life you think you'll get?

Very few bible literalists? What about Ken Hamm and his quackery, and the 24% of Americans who believe, literally, the earth is less than 10,000 years old? It's these people, for whom reality must bend, you should reserve your ire. The people under the inherent tribalism of organized religion - visibile most places there are war - who judge others and hurt the unusual. Most studies now show that non-religious parents raise less judgemental children.

There are still biblical literalists out there and there are also many people who take only some of the bible literally. For instance, they may not believe that there were was a male/female set of every animal on Noah's ark and may not even believe that the Great flood even happened, And they may not believe ( or many not care) that Jesus turned water into wine. But they do believe that Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the dead and now sits in heaven at the right side of his father, who is god.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys can gussy up organized religion in fanciful terms, obfuscate things, and try to normalize it all, but at the end of the day you believe in stories that are no more believable than Greek myths. It's 2017. We have the internet. We have observable facts. You try to bend these facts to fit around your narrative and they simply don't fit. All the animals in the world can't fit on one boat. Your parents did you a disservice by raising you on this bs and unfortunately your psyche won't let you escape for fear of some hell that doesn't exist. Let go of the fear. Grow up.

So many misconceptions wrapped in a package of immaturity and beligerance. You must be so proud of yourself.

What part was incorrect?

This poster is just phoning it in. The refusal to understand that such a thing as faith exists. The refusal to understand the distinction between bible literalism/Old Testament stories about arks vs. the deeper messages of all faiths. The refusal to accept that almost nobody is a bible literalist anymore.

You can tell her a million times, but she still always comes back with her same non-answers.

Most likely a troll. I don't think this poster is actually so dense as to be unable to understand, for example, that almost nobody is a bible literalist anymore. She's probably the Horus-Mithras poster given the reference to Greek myths. But does anybody else sometimes wonder if this poster does social media for an atheist group? The wrapper of bigotry and hate is still there. But the rest reads like somebody spewing the party line, without thinking about whether the party line makes any sense in the context of everything else she's been told and knows. Unless you're paid to do this, why spend your life hating on religion, instead of, you know, going out there and enjoying the only life you think you'll get?

Very few bible literalists? What about Ken Hamm and his quackery, and the 24% of Americans who believe, literally, the earth is less than 10,000 years old? It's these people, for whom reality must bend, you should reserve your ire. The people under the inherent tribalism of organized religion - visibile most places there are war - who judge others and hurt the unusual. Most studies now show that non-religious parents raise less judgemental children.

There are still biblical literalists out there and there are also many people who take only some of the bible literally. For instance, they may not believe that there were was a male/female set of every animal on Noah's ark and may not even believe that the Great flood even happened, And they may not believe ( or many not care) that Jesus turned water into wine. But they do believe that Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the dead and now sits in heaven at the right side of his father, who is god.

Yep, this is why nobody can be bothered to argue with you anymore. You deliberately miss the point every single time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys can gussy up organized religion in fanciful terms, obfuscate things, and try to normalize it all, but at the end of the day you believe in stories that are no more believable than Greek myths. It's 2017. We have the internet. We have observable facts. You try to bend these facts to fit around your narrative and they simply don't fit. All the animals in the world can't fit on one boat. Your parents did you a disservice by raising you on this bs and unfortunately your psyche won't let you escape for fear of some hell that doesn't exist. Let go of the fear. Grow up.

So many misconceptions wrapped in a package of immaturity and beligerance. You must be so proud of yourself.

What part was incorrect?

This poster is just phoning it in. The refusal to understand that such a thing as faith exists. The refusal to understand the distinction between bible literalism/Old Testament stories about arks vs. the deeper messages of all faiths. The refusal to accept that almost nobody is a bible literalist anymore.

You can tell her a million times, but she still always comes back with her same non-answers.

Most likely a troll. I don't think this poster is actually so dense as to be unable to understand, for example, that almost nobody is a bible literalist anymore. She's probably the Horus-Mithras poster given the reference to Greek myths. But does anybody else sometimes wonder if this poster does social media for an atheist group? The wrapper of bigotry and hate is still there. But the rest reads like somebody spewing the party line, without thinking about whether the party line makes any sense in the context of everything else she's been told and knows. Unless you're paid to do this, why spend your life hating on religion, instead of, you know, going out there and enjoying the only life you think you'll get?

Very few bible literalists? What about Ken Hamm and his quackery, and the 24% of Americans who believe, literally, the earth is less than 10,000 years old? It's these people, for whom reality must bend, you should reserve your ire. The people under the inherent tribalism of organized religion - visibile most places there are war - who judge others and hurt the unusual. Most studies now show that non-religious parents raise less judgemental children.

There are still biblical literalists out there and there are also many people who take only some of the bible literally. For instance, they may not believe that there were was a male/female set of every animal on Noah's ark and may not even believe that the Great flood even happened, And they may not believe ( or many not care) that Jesus turned water into wine. But they do believe that Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the dead and now sits in heaven at the right side of his father, who is god.

Yep, this is why nobody can be bothered to argue with you anymore. You deliberately miss the point every single time.

Ah yes, the atheist-hating poster who speaks in absolutes and for everyone.

[Anonymous]

There are so many of us, including atheists like me, who find this angry atheist useless, even harmful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are so many of us, including atheists like me, who find this angry atheist useless, even harmful.

And then there are many of us who agree with him, even if they wouldn't word it in the same way or take the time to butt heads with the atheist haters.

[Anonymous]

OP. This thread got derailed, so I will bring it back.

Mormons put a great deal of importance on being nice and helpful in public. I can't imagine these friends giving your child any trouble. There are many things you may want to protect your child from, but Mormon elementary school kids just aren't on that list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. This thread got derailed, so I will bring it back.

Mormons put a great deal of importance on being nice and helpful in public. I can't imagine these friends giving your child any trouble. There are many things you may want to protect your child from, but Mormon elementary school kids just aren't on that list.

Did you mean to post on the "Mormons, Question" thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. This thread got derailed, so I will bring it back.

Mormons put a great deal of importance on being nice and helpful in public. I can't imagine these friends giving your child any trouble. There are many things you may want to protect your child from, but Mormon elementary school kids just aren't on that list.

Are you talking about Montessori and not Mormon? All the Mornons I have met have been lovely. However, God luck trying to actually truly pierce the veil of friendship unless you yourself are a Mormon. Also, if you leave, as ex-Mormon friends who have left tell me, you can essentially be shunned.

Anyway I don't know how Mormonism came up. The point is there is a rise of the nones, which I hope in time separates church and state as our fore fathers intended, because of things like this. http://www.newyorker.com/culture/jia-tolentino/mike-pences-marriage-and-the-beliefs-that-keep-women-from-power and the current admin is wayyyy too conservative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm having a hard time seeing the benefits of organized religion, especially fundamental sects like Evangelicalism Christianity. To believe in a book written 2000 years ago about a man who died, rose again, and burning bushes, and a big ark...doesn't it just seem a little far-fetched? Studies also shows adherents to organized religions are more close minded, than agnostics, atheists and people who are just generally spiritual. What keeps you wrapped up in it? How can you disregard the thousands of other religions around the world and say "no, this is it. This is the one. I know it. Those others are wrong and something bad will happen to them for not believing in my religion."? Is that not a divisive mindset? I also worry about children being indoctrinated so early. They have no control over their beliefs and those neural synapses that form memories are so comprised at such a young age. Okay, thanks for listening.

Humans are tool-using animals. Just like a car or money, religion is a tool. So is secularism, environmentalism, etc.

The thing with all tools is they are just tools; they all can be used for good or bad ends--and it seems like the human condition is such that we take each tool and some use it for good and some for bad ends. Great example of this is the internet. If you look at religion--I'll use one I know well--Catholicism--well, look at the priest scandal, however; also look at the creation of hospitals, which was a Catholic thing. Before hospitals, people were just outcast. And Catholic hospitals would take anyone--not just Catholics.

As for your comments on "the book," I can tell you the Catholic perspective is one can believe the stories as allegories--to teach us something. For instance, Adam and Eve is a great example about how the humans can take a great situation, not appreciate it, and mess it up--which happens all the time in real life!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And then there are many of us who agree with him, even if they wouldn't word it in the same way or take the time to butt heads with the atheist haters.

Labeling people "atheist haters" for being annoyed with this one poster's disruptive antics and trolling isn't helpful. Lots of us have no problem with atheists and many, like me, have atheist friends. It's this particular poster's gross distortions and fact-free insults that are annoying to so many of us here.

This is what I want to know: does the angry atheist work for a secular group or otherwise do atheism for a living? Unless somebody is paying him/her to troll social media, it's hard to understand why anybody would choose to spend 24/7 hating on religion on a place like DCUM. If you think you only have one life, lose the hate and get out there and see the beauty in the rest of your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And then there are many of us who agree with him, even if they wouldn't word it in the same way or take the time to butt heads with the atheist haters.

Labeling people "atheist haters" for being annoyed with this one poster's disruptive antics and trolling isn't helpful. Lots of us have no problem with atheists and many, like me, have atheist friends. It's this particular poster's gross distortions and fact-free insults that are annoying to so many of us here.

This is what I want to know: does the angry atheist work for a secular group or otherwise do atheism for a living? Unless somebody is paying him/her to troll social media, it's hard to understand why anybody would choose to spend 24/7 hating on religion on a place like DCUM. If you think you only have one life, lose the hate and get out there and see the beauty in the rest of your life.

Are you pointing this out to the atheist hater? No? Didn't think so. Feel free to shovel that condescending crap back into whatever orifice it came from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And then there are many of us who agree with him, even if they wouldn't word it in the same way or take the time to butt heads with the atheist haters.

Labeling people "atheist haters" for being annoyed with this one poster's disruptive antics and trolling isn't helpful. Lots of us have no problem with atheists and many, like me, have atheist friends. It's this particular poster's gross distortions and fact-free insults that are annoying to so many of us here.

This is what I want to know: does the angry atheist work for a secular group or otherwise do atheism for a living? Unless somebody is paying him/her to troll social media, it's hard to understand why anybody would choose to spend 24/7 hating on religion on a place like DCUM. If you think you only have one life, lose the hate and get out there and see the beauty in the rest of your life.

Are you pointing this out to the atheist hater? No? Didn't think so. Feel free to shovel that condescending crap back into whatever orifice it came from.

So the answer is yes, you're paid to be a public nuisance?

[Anonymous]

Clarification -- does "atheist hater" refer to a person who hates atheists or to an atheist who says hateful things about religion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clarification -- does "atheist hater" refer to a person who hates atheists or to an atheist who says hateful things about religion?

"Atheist hater," as described by a single atheist poster here, seems to refer to all of the numerous posters who are annoyed by the 1-2 trolling atheists. Note this doesn't exclude liking many other atheists who are thoughtful and respectful.