<p>True, I do feel righteously indignant. I do my best to respect others’ beliefs, but then I’m supposed to keep my cool while someone spouts off about how I’m insane. Jeez.</p>
<p>“I do my best to respect others’ beliefs” Is it really possible to have strong religious beliefs without affecting others? It may be possible, but the history of mankind doesn’t do much to support that view. We don’t need to consider the history of wars and major conflicts or ancient things like the Inquisition and witch hunts, we can see the effect of religious beliefs on policies regarding stem cell research, or abortion, or teaching evolution, and on and on. No religious beliefs and faith are a part of our culture and affect us all and as we have all discussed logic has no part of any issues regarding religion.</p>
<p>“No subtle hints. Very impressive and what has motivated this interest? From your comments about reason, logic, and science, I would expect that scientific topics would be of more interest.”</p>
<p>Thanks, but it’s really not that impressive, I even feel like a bum sometimes while I am at home and everyone else is at school. I am actually more of a literature and history person, but I do enjoy science. The reason I read so much concerning religion is that I want to gather a plethora of information before I decide what I believe. I won’t form the conclusion that god doesn’t exist or does exist just because that is what my gut tells-some instances faith applies to both spectrums. If there was scientific and logical proof for the existence of god than I would probably be a believer. In fact, raised in a Catholic household and a religious school in England, I did believe for a long time. When I arrived in America though, I encountered a diversity of opinions and was free to develop my own beliefs (which I am eternally grateful for). I also just enjoy studying religion through the ages; I particularly liked the Medici family (despite the reaffirmation of indulgences, etc.) and while I lived in Italy I was able to study it first hand (cupola del Brunelleschi is almost enough to convert any atheist).</p>
<p>“I want to gather a plethora of information before I decide what I believe.”</p>
<p>Seems like there has been a lot of gathering and possibly some turmoil in the process. Wouldn’t it be strange if all your belief in knowledge and logic later turned into some sort of religious fervor? Maybe you are just going through a rebellious phase.</p>
<p>“Qwilde, let me break this down for you. No matter how much science you apply, no matter what logic you spew, no matter anything that can be neatly explained in a little paragraph, you (nor any other atheist, for that matter) will sway a truly religious person in their faith. That’s why we call it faith. No proof, no cold hard facts, only belief.”</p>
<p>This is why I oppose religion. I don’t mind people having faith; I do mind people having blind faith. If you believe in god, but admit that there is a plausible chance that god might not exist: I respect that. To assert, however, that you are undoubtedly right and that science and humanity must respect religious doctrines no matter how absurd and that your belief is unquestionable (despite what evidence may arise in the future proving god doesn’t exist), thoroughly riles me though. You leave no room to be wrong. At least I admit there might be a god. Your faith translates into nonthinking. Actually, it translates into righteous arrogance.</p>
<p>“knowledge and logic later turned into some sort of religious fervor”</p>
<p>I am deeply religious. Just not in the prevalent sense.</p>
<p>Maybe your deeply religious beliefs will mutate into something prevalent.</p>
<p>
qwilde:
The fact is that you can’t prove or disprove scientifically the existence of God. Given this, why not consider yourself an Agnostic and move on? What’s the purpose in continuing to expend this amount of energy on something you’ll never be able to determine to the level of satisfaction you seem to be looking for?</p>
<p>Maybe, but I don’t think so (unless some evidence arises undeniably proving god’s existence). I am happy as I am now; feeling what I feel knowing what I know, but still open to change. I believe peace, altruism, and compassion is all we need in this mortal world. As long as I strive-- strive being the operative word-- to make this world a better place than when was I born into it and embody those aforementioned ideals, then on my deathbed it won’t really matter what religion I believed in. And if after death I am greeted by the devil, I will be more than willing to perish in hell for eternity for believing such.</p>
<p>Compassion, eh?</p>
<p>How about showing some more compassion for people’s faith?</p>
<p>“The fact is that you can’t prove or disprove scientifically the existence of God.”</p>
<p>No, at this point God cannot be scientifically disproved-may not be true in the future though. The probability, however, is not 50/50 as you would assume. That is why I am not an agnostic. I believe that a god most probably doesn’t exist- and even if it did it wouldn’t concern itself with us- but I also recognize that there is a possibility I am wrong.</p>
<p>Compassion, eh?</p>
<p>How about showing some more compassion for people’s faith?</p>
<p>I have already stated I won’t support blind faith and the religions that endorse it. I have also stated that I’m intolerant of intolerant beliefs-i.e. Christianity asserts homosexuals will persih in hell along with atheists.</p>
<p>“to make this world a better place than when was I born into…”</p>
<p>And where did this belief come from? Or are you just hedging your bets?</p>
<p>I’m also quite sure that if a benevolent god did exist; that god would want us to question its existence: not presumably accept it.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Not supporting is one thing. Getting on a soapbox and being in people’s faces is another. </p>
<p>Tact is so rarely found amongst people.</p>
<p>
qwilde:
This sounds like the same preface used by our religious friends.</p>
<p>And where did this belief come from?</p>
<p>That is more personal than I am willing to reveal. Lets just say I have been exposed to a lot.</p>
<p>“Or are you just hedging your bets?”</p>
<p>Excuse my foreign ignorance, but I had to look up this term.</p>
<p>“This sounds like the same preface used by our religious friends.”</p>
<p>No, it is a different belief. I admit I could be wrong and I base my “belief” on science and logic, not blind faith. If an atheist asserted that god could not possibly exist than that would be an identical sublime.</p>
<p>“Not supporting is one thing. Getting on a soapbox and being in people’s faces is another.”</p>
<p>This sounds rather morally superior, but “‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”.</p>
<p>UCLAri, even I would disagree with your statement. I think qwilde has been pretty well behaved while defending some unpopular views. I would suspect anyone on a forum discussing religion might expect to find others on their soapbox and in people’s faces; i.e., confronting beliefs.</p>