General Discussion

love_katz

(3,085 posts)

43. The problem is that too many followers of religion

Sun Mar 16, 2025, 09:02 PM

Mar 16

want to take away other people's rights to be diverse. They believe that their religion is the one, right, and only way, and therefore, everyone else is damned.
They have been working hard for centuries before this country even existed to pass their religious beliefs into law, so they can force them on the lives and bodies of everyone else, irregardless of whether or not we agree.
Believe and belief has the word LIE right in the middle of it. Those words bypass the need to think and conceal a refusal to simply say, " I don't know".
I personally reject the dominator father god religions. They are based on a punishment model of the universe, the idea that we are bad for getting here at all. That kind of concept doesn't work for me, and I don't think you have to belong to any religion to be moral, do the right thing, or live a kind and constructive life.
If religion works for you and helps you be a better person, great. You are more than welcome to it, as long as you don't try to force me or anyone else to conform to your beliefs.
I would also point out that there have been other civilizations that have had good laws, and none of the father dominator god religions were involved. Women of the Celtic tribes had more rights than Roman women, who were essentially, property.
Neither laws nor religion can guarantee good treatment of others. Humans create laws to give society some recourse in instances where one person harms another. Honoring those laws is a choice. We're seeing what happens when those laws are ignored or unfairly enforced.
I could also go on about how the father dominator god religions are used to justify the destruction of our planet's life support systems and the refusal to see the other beings as worthy of life or having any rights, but I know my post is getting long.
What I object to, and I think that many other people on this board would agree on, is that I object to any religion being forced on others and being used to crush diversity and enforce conformity. That's not freedom or democracy and I don't want my tax dollars paying for it. If you want your kids taught your religion, then either pay for it yourself or take them to regular attendance to your preferred place of worship.

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Abolishinist raging moderate Butterflylady Tracyjo

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You first need to explain why it doesn't work in churches. [View all] Sector 001 Mar 16 OP

Spot On..!!! Grey5 Mar 16 #1

Religious addiction is killing us all and the planet. lindysalsagal Mar 16 #2

This is an outright divide and conquer right wing lie. ancianita Mar 16 #8

"53% of Democrats are Christian." ShazzieB Mar 16 #24

Not to mention... ancianita Mar 16 #27

Well stated! ShazzieB Mar 16 #36

Atheist here. BidenRocks Mar 16 #39

Former here. ancianita Mar 16 #41

Wow...that is horrible 😢 Moostache Mar 17 #49

Your interpretation is what's horrible. ancianita Mar 17 #50

5 million children die every year before they reach the age of five. Abolishinist Mar 17 #55

Ah, the good ol' Sam Harris argument. You're even quoting him. Yeah, I used to be a Four Horsemen atheist. ancianita Mar 17 #57

This message was self-deleted by its author Wifes husband Mar 18 #62

Not at all. ancianita Mar 19 #65

This message was self-deleted by its author Wifes husband Mar 19 #66

That's ridiculous. ancianita Mar 19 #67

This message was self-deleted by its author Wifes husband Mar 19 #68

This message was self-deleted by its author Wifes husband Mar 19 #69

As you are familiar with the "Four Horsemen," Abolishinist Mar 24 #73

Do you have Josh McDowell on speed dial? Hang out at the Discovery Institute lately? LOL.... Moostache Mar 17 #56

Though I wasn't posting to you, Moos, your thought process is brilliant, and I read you loud and clear. ancianita Mar 17 #59

Hell is other people. JPS. JanMichael Mar 17 #61

Your point is well taken Wifes husband Mar 19 #70

Imagine a world with no politics as well. Torchlight Mar 17 #53

If you are insulted because WE, THE MAJORITY OF THE WORLD Conjuay Mar 17 #60

Study Art & Music History: all the church music, architecture, art of the Western Renaissance began the culture of the W Conjuay Mar 17 #58

Well, religion is the ruin of everything when it's shoved down someone's throat. mucholderthandirt Mar 20 #71

Jesus was the first to say all the things you say about religion, and not just his "Render unto Ceasar ancianita Mar 21 #72

It'd be a wonderful world if religious people would practice what their religion teaches. patphil Mar 16 #3

I think a lot of religions teach things like "An eye for an eye". erronis Mar 16 #6

Not so. Christianity's New Covenant teaches love your neighbor. You don't have to like them, but honor their humanity. ancianita Mar 16 #11

And many, many religions have some version of the "Golden Rule." ShazzieB Mar 16 #20

First they have to agree on what their religion teaches. Mariana Mar 17 #54

Brilliant. Actually, it doesn't work at all. Christians in prison in larger proportions than general population. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Mar 16 #4

Yep, churches and church schools have the Ten Commandments posted all over the place. tanyev Mar 16 #5

Probably at a greater rate than in the non-religious population. erronis Mar 16 #7

Great 100th post! 😁 Hope22 Mar 16 #9

This is one reason why the separation of church and state is so important! ShazzieB Mar 16 #32

Separation of church and state Wifes husband Mar 18 #63

Sector 001 CentralBlueTexan Mar 16 #10

Their ignorance is on them. They are called to study the Word, and have hundreds of chances every ancianita Mar 16 #12

Funny thing is, they think the same about you. paleotn Mar 16 #16

Don't be fooled. No they don't. Not the Jesus Christians. They understand that every faith path is different, ancianita Mar 16 #21

If I will be forgiven for my sins... WestMichRad Mar 16 #13

Only if you share. rubbersole Mar 16 #14

LOL!! WestMichRad Mar 16 #15

The Protestant, "Get out of jail free" card. Catholics don't get that. paleotn Mar 16 #18

'Bout the only thing they don't get... rubbersole Mar 16 #26

The Catholic Church was the original christian church. ancianita Mar 16 #38

Nope. Repenting is an ongoing process in life, not a one-and-done thing. Jesus said that 19 times. ancianita Mar 16 #22

Isn't Rebl2 Mar 16 #17

Pretty much all Dr. T Mar 16 #19

Because human understanding is not enough. ancianita Mar 16 #23

God's word, Dr. T Mar 16 #25

When I was an atheist, I said the very things you say. That's your need-to-be-right human understanding. ancianita Mar 16 #28

All these intelligent theologians Dr. T Mar 16 #30

So you believe. I've read many theologians, male and female. But hey, you do you. ancianita Mar 16 #31

There is one god, and only one. Abolishinist Mar 16 #37

A priest once told me that no one should BlueKota Mar 16 #33

My mother (a real fundie) often told me that the Bible was inerrant.... lastlib Mar 16 #42

It's good she stopped trying to get you to accept her version. BlueKota Mar 16 #44

Actually, she nver stopped trying..... lastlib Mar 16 #46

why can't people just do the right thing without expecting some kind of reward in the end? Skittles Mar 17 #48

I don't think you need a promised reward BlueKota Mar 17 #51

Yeah if Catholic School is supposed to instill morality BlueKota Mar 16 #29

It does. Doesn't mean it always "takes," does it. That it doesn't in one example is no fair indictment. ancianita Mar 16 #34

Maybe because your classmate was an ass? 😉 ShazzieB Mar 16 #35

The problem is that too many followers of religion love_katz Mar 16 #43

If religion and faith works for you, that's great. Morbius Mar 16 #40

I like your rules. BlueKota Mar 16 #45

Religion is a two edged sword. Aussie105 Mar 17 #47

religion simply is not required to be a good person Skittles Mar 18 #64

Maybe it's not a matter of morality but a matter of control using morality as a useful tool. Norrrm Mar 17 #52