Lolz, I toyed with belief for about 6 months when I was 8 or 9. I do feel I am compassionate toward others, including (these days) Christians. Saddens me this didn't come across the way I'd intended, but such is life, I will try to do better.

So. Much. This.

when the religious evangelical crowd denies evolution be taught in schools, deny bathroom rights, deny homosexuals basic human rights and so on down the list, it is enough to get my dander up

You pretty much summarized most of the sources of anger for many.

@aenith each sentence starts with "people", the subject of your rebuttal. The books I recommend address more the verbs, objects, and other parts of those sentences, and allow one to gain an understanding of WHY and HOW those "Who"s are the way they are. It will make you look inward at the "why's" and "how's" of YOUR OWN reactions, and that in turn will develop your outward look about them, perhaps in a more productive way. Thank you for your comment; as always, YMMV.

Thank you for saving me the trouble of replying. You expressed my thoughts better than I could have done.

@ravnostic Having read A history of God and much more like it I can honestly say no it won't, at least not for me and likely not for most here. Unlike most here I have actually waded through the history and origins of all major religions both in the historical and factual text, as well as philosophical. I have also spent years in places like Isreal, Vatican City, Japan, Korea, India and most recently Iraq, Afghan, and Saudi Arabia. What I posted is exactly what 20+ years of exposure to the history of the religions of the world, as well as the people of the world, have taught me. It is a knowledge books cannot give you, and it is an experience that truly wil give you a deeper understanding of why people act the way they do. These experiences also force a person to reflect inwardly far more effectively than a book ever can. I did not reply out of reflex, I posted out of knowledge and experience, and I stand by both of my replies to your post.

If a religion influenced a person to act a specific and obvious way then 90% or more members of that religion would be exactly that way. This is not the case, in any religion, in any part of history. This means that a person is the one responsible for their actions, not a religion or it's leaders. In another reply, you use technology as an example of spreading corruption, and while yes you are correct, there were still people that stood up and said: "no, this is wrong". I don't go so far as to lump the people that have a broken moral compass as sheep, because frankly, they aren't. They have made a conscious decision to be that way, as made obvious by those that haven't, and that is what I despise.

@aenith thank you for that response, it's well expressed an well stated. I would be interested in more of what you may have to say.

My thoughts and views are, of course, limited to my own experiences, (hence the YMMV, "your milage may vary", people will get more or less milage out of my thoughts based upon their own experiences), but I am always interested in the views and thoughts of others that provide a glimpse beyond my own, because maybe I get eek a few more inches or miles out of my failing legs with a little insight from outside my own boxes.

@ravnostic *eke
(I loathe autocorrect)

While it is true they all start with the person, the person is as oft the victim AND victimizer in these scenarios. They have been raised in these mindsets, cultivated to think and behave in these ways by the religious culture they are mired in, by that particular micro cul;ture of religion.

These micro cultures can be quite small and have a huge impact. Westboro Baptist is little more than a single family, the total church is only 70 members give or take at its heyday, but for people inside them, they are the wole world and they live inside that bubble.

If someone is raised in a tribe which teaches them horrible ideas, are they at fault themselves or the orverarching culture, in this case a religion?
If someone is convinced of the tale by emotinal appeal, convinced they must believe to save themselves, convinced their eternal soul, or their childrens at risk because of things they have been led to believe, are they at fault ALONE, or are those teaching them this also at fault.

Whom would you say bears the lions share of responsibility?
I do not deny the individuals personal responsibility, but neither do I deny their humanity, and with it the human frailties it carries with it, like the ability to be convinced of a thing on poor evidence, or swayed by charisma or emotional appeal. this is doubly true for faiths which target those at most risk, those in grief, those suffering loss of job, home, illness and so forth.

@Davesnothere A child molester oft starts out the victim as well but receives no reprieve in sentencing.

A person knows what is right and what is wrong, as has been proven by the ones that go against what they are taught. So I feel no remorse for those that do not, and are as dispicable as those that taught them to be that way.

If these "sheep" (because that is exactly what you are calling them) do not know what they do is wrong then why do they run like roaches when it is time for them to be arrested for it? Why do their peers lie to protect them? Why do they do everything possible to shift blame?

Because they know, and do not care.

@Aenith The ones who go against what they are taught have already breached that indoctrination, the ones who have not breached it actually think they are doing good, which is a huge part of the problem.

Religion has the capability of convincing good people to do horriffic things thinking and believing they are actually doing good, and that is fucking dangerous. When you look at something like the Inquisition, it is easy for us to think 'these people were crazy, or evil", but the reality is far more insidious and worse, in that you have people utterly convinced that IFthey do not torture you in a horriffic fashion to get you to confess, so they can burn you alive for your "sin"
THEN your soul will burn for an eternity
So, in thier OWN MIND, they are doing not only Good, but the highest Good, saving your soul.

It is not because they "know" and do not care, but because they are in a state of Cognitive Denial. The religion teaches them to BELIEVE and Not think too much. It is those who do think that break free, those who remain in faith do not think outside the paradigm, and so think they are doing good when they are being bigoted.

It is not that the individual does not bear any responsibility, it is that their worldview actuall prevents them from seeing the harm, because they either see it as a good or as a neccessary evil, like pulling a rotten tooth, and the religious systems have a great many rationalizations, ready made, worked out by Theologians over two thousand years, to simply hand the believer to shore up their belief and allow them not to think about it too deeply.

This is the mechanism which allows Catholics to remain faithful to the Church despite all the evidence of the Churches history, itt is an elaborate rationalization, which to those outsidethat bubble is as trasparant as cellophane, but to the believer feels as solid as concrete.

@Aenith "Reason is the Enemy of Faith"--Martin Luther

@Davesnothere Ignorance is not the same as innocence. Those same arguments could be used for figureheads like Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, and many others. The action itself makes you "evil" just as wholly as the intention does.

You hit someone with your car because you were on your cell phone. You certainly didn't mean to, and most likely feel horrible about it. Truly not intentional, you're still going to jail for manslaughter. No difference here.

"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who do nothing"
This includes calling it out for what it is without allowing for why it is that way. To truly stop something on a grand scale the reason why is irrelevant. Once something gets so large you can not fix the why, the idea must be wiped out completely or dealt with. We have and are dealing with it mostly because such things were overlooked in the past. This is not the case anymore, the law does not care that they were taught it is ok to do the things I listed above. The law does not discriminate, and neither do I.

@Aenith That is a poor correlation.
IF you are raised in a tribe which teaches you that only your tribe has value and all other tribes are evil in your worldview, and it is not the childs fault they have it. They were raised in it by no choice of their own.

The Child grows into an adult and MIGHT grow out of those ideas, but it is unlikely, it takes a skeptical mind to break free.

The Law certainly DOES discriminate, by circumstance, by level of involvement, by action and deed. Murder is not murder in every circumstance even though the person is always equally murdered. The Law might decide it was 1st degree, 2nd degree, Manslughter, or Negligent and so forth.

You seem to have lost all sense of Nuance on this and want to lump all believers into some boat with Nazis.

@Davesnothere Hardly lost anything. My original reply and all subsequent replies have been in the context of people, not religion. I could care less what group who is in, but I do care when they abuse it to continue immoral acts, this could include groups such as politicians as well as "believers". And no, layers of prosecution do not equate to discrimination. You are still prosecuted. Society cares nothing about your heritage when you are committing acts of aggression or terrorism. I can assure you, from both personal experience and command positioning, that when an Islamic tribe opens fire on allied forces we return fire with as much zeal as we would Christian tribes who do the same. Political zealots receive the exact same treatment as religious fighters. Personal experience counts for nothing once that person chooses to harm another. That is how it should be, and for once court systems around the country have started to show the same opinion in the last 15-20 years. Though there is still a long way to go.

It would seem more likely that the parallels here hit a little close to home for you, or one you love. For that I am sorry.

@Aenith Layers of "prosecution"?
And yes they do matter. If your convicted of murder 1 you get life without parole or death, if it is negligent homicide, you get 5 years.
That is a hell of a diference, both for "taking a life", because we consider scircumstances. To not consider circumstances is to PREJUDGE based on your own ideology.

How is this now Terrorism? That is extremism,, not just religious belief. extremism is both religious and political ideology combined. It is also not at all what I am talking about.

In your first response you said you are angry, and it shows. Angry at people who
do things based on thier religious ideology. You are angry at their actions, which are associated with or based upon their religious ideology. They are not seperate things, that you can then blame the person and leave the religious ideology out of the picture entirely.
They COULD NOT have developed those ideologies without the religion, the ideas, and the acts whioch spring from them are dependent upon the religion.

"Personal experience counts for nothing once that person chooses to harm another."-- the fact that you see this as some simple choice, like picking a flavor of ice cream, tells me you do not understand the central issues.

IF a person becomes convinced of an ideology, then they adopt it, and its tennets. That is why ideologies are dangerous. This enable GOOD people to do horrid things, all the while thinking and believing they are doing Good things against an EVIL society.

@Aenith Too many people are sheep. You are giving humanity way to much credit for the ability to think and reason. There is nothing in human hstory to support that.

@Sticks48 Possibly. But even in the worst of conditions, I have seen reasoning break through. Some of the fiercest fighting you can see and a Muslim will risk their lives for their enemy just because enough of it has sunk in.

That is probably not the greatest of examples, but the idea is that all it takes is one experience to change the way a person thinks permanently. They just have to be open to it. It doesn't mean they abandon what they believe, just that they see the need for change. I have personally seen the most conditioned individuals go through this change. If they can, anyone can.

I just read the latest National Geographic about "The Science of Good and Evil". Empathy or lack of it are brain functions and are present at birth. It says even infants as young as 6 months display empathy or even a lack of it.

Indeed, I totally agree. Just like everyone else, I'm expressing my views on the subject. I'm not afraid if this makes people hostile towards me nor fans of what I may have to offer or suggest. Either way, it should be a safe zone where we ALL can express ourselves. This post is just one of my said expressions.

@JackPedigo and likely trained away by the separatist thinking of religions? I read a study showing that compassion and empathy were highest among kids with no religion in their lives.

@ravnostic I think this post is aces. You see how many members are on your thread?? Keep posting

@Ad4hubby According to the article the inborn feelings can be shaped by the environment. The biggest shaper is how the child is treated by it's caregivers. I am a prime example in that I was raised Catholic but had caring parents. Religion was a part but not pushed. It took me years to see the bad side and leave. My parents or upbringing had nothing to do with my exodus.

@JackPedigo we're all very different creatures

@ad4hubby I am quite pleased that I stimulated discussion, that was (and is often) my intent. I'm not in the least bit disappointed at the responses, either. I have no problem with dissenting viewpoints.

@Ad4hubby I like to say people are all the same yet we (as individuals are all different). However, we do all have the same brains and DNA.

@JackPedigo I prefer it as I stated it but thank you

@JackPedigo I'm curious if the article got into differences in oxytocin between people's inherent genetic DNA? Actually it is oxytocin which dictates empathy, and there are average levels common to races. . .so no, we aren't all predisposed to the same behavior. Testosterone levels, responsible for aggression have racial averages as well. . .

@Queenlyhippy I doon't recall it did. It mainly used brain scans to see which part of the brain were active during various experiments.See for yourself.
[nationalgeographic.com]

@ravnostic Also please remember online, we have a communication problem already....we can't see faces, hear voices, read emotions. So, the art of conversation will always be limited....what you percieve as anger, could be frustration. Or sarcasm/ poorly written attempt at humor.

@twill excellent point.

Oh, no, not at all! But I doubt your theology courses focused on the historical data in a way that explained the extremist views we have today and how society and technologies shaped them. If you were to read these books you'd be starting with far more information than I, and would probably grasp the points better than I did. I had to do all my theology training concurrently with books taught in theology classes. Rereading them after, I grasped many finer points I had missed the first time around. As an example, what do you know of the Latter Rain Movement? What do you know about the earliest preachers of that movement who began using radio, and then television, to spread their message intentionally to the undereducated in a way that shaped the worst of Christianity that we have today, and how they weaseled their way into politics, which has exasserbated things even further? I just sent out an invitation to a party, no one, of course, least of all me, is going to force you to attend.

Good for you Duke ! that's it in a nutshell !!

I give a shit. I'm 50, and this is the first time in my life that I've been in a place (even if it's just online) where I can really be myself and exchange my views with like minded people. Others, who perhaps live in more diverse communities or have in-real-life friends who are also nonbelievers, are probably fine without this forum. Please don't be mad because I enjoy using this site as an outlet.

@carlyhorton I'll never be upset at anyone for using this forum as an outlet. I'm sorry that I gave that impression!

@Tecolote HAAAAAHAHAHA!!! WTF moments will continue for the rest of the day I'm sure. Happy Monday. LOL

@Tecolote Fortunately for me, I have the day off.

Okay and that's fine so exactly why are you here?

@tecolote "stupid" is not the same as "angry" nor "fearful". I do, however, see a lot of "undereducated" and a lot (many--not all) of posts that reflect attitudes that demonstrate a lack of understanding of some points that would be helpful in discussions of religion in a productive way that may better affect change in a positive direction.

I totally understand if the interest in what I suggest isn't there, however. Everyone everywhere is free to pursue their own paths. Just understand that that remains true of the "faithfuls" paths also, and there are a lot more of them (sadly) than us, so having a better armor against their arguments may be useful. YMMV.

@VictoriaNotes LOL! Not really. Just noting the main feed on my home page. About 90% of what comes up on my main page is anti-religion. Although, I could have expressed this in a nicer way.

@Kojaksmom I'm here to escape religion. It's just a bit surprising that the majority of the discussions here tend to be about religion when most of us don't subscribe to any.

@VictoriaNotes AH! Thanks for the reminder! I had forgotten about that. D'OH!

@Duke OK No harm done.

@carlyhorton I usually try to use a little more tact. Sometimes though, I let things fly without proofreading it first. I'm gonna blame Jesus.

Sounds like you have evolved to an Apathest

I am inundated with religion daily. I am expected to be a Christian and put up with their mythology whenever I leave my home. It is important to have a place for people to express their frustration and vocalize why religion is bunk.

I try to look all directions, just also trying to put a flashlight into some dark nooks and crannies.

@ravnostic, i do appreciate the "ratting out" of the dark. personally i don't have the time &/or energy (any more) to focus on anything religious, past or present; thus i don't usually vent anger against the church anywhere. but i do hate 'em, man, i do!

@walklightly it's good to know what battles you care to right. Can't fault you there, nosiree

Direct and to the point.

Thank you!!! My sentiments exactly.

Silencing voices of dissent is exactly what the religious right advocates. Thank you for demonstrating such tactics can be advocated for on both sides of the argument.

@ravnostic I think you're a secret religiot. You're showing all the signs.

Fair enough. But bear in mind, religion isn't going away, and trying to suppress it in society without addressing it's roots is how terrorists are made. What has happened in the Middle east with Islam came about because of the secularization of their societies that ignored the faithful. It hasn't gone well, and it's being repeated here. Those not familiar with their pasts are doomed to repeat them and all of that. YMMV.

@ravnostic
Trying to suppress it? Are you serious? Christians are a huge majority in this country, and they’ve been walking over every minority for at least as far back as I can remember. I’m all for religious freedom, and most of my family are religious. I stand quietly at all the holiday meals while they pray, but I won’t stand still while the government uses my tax money to endorse religion, or tries to tell people they can’t date who they want, because their “god” says it isn’t right.

@eazyduzzit Totally serious. If you hadn't noticed, the religious right in America feels marginalized, and it goes back over 100 years. An in depth look into that argument is beyond the purview of both this post and the comment section within it, but you are welcome to either read or ignore future posts I make on the subject.

@ravnostic
Answer me this, how can any group who owns almost every elected public office in the country feel marginalized.
I know it’s their favorite hobby to whine about being persecuted. That’s been every religion’s favorite thing when they talk amongst themselves “poor us, we’re so mistreated”.

As I said it would take far to long to put my thoughts on the subject here in this post. Tell you what, though, I will address the issue in a new post, tonight if I have time, say 6, 7 hours from now? Keep an eye out for it if you are interested. I will probably piss off a whole new set of people lolz.

@ravnostic TV - the reason you're pissing everyone off here is because you're preaching to the wrong people. Go explain your ideas to the religious extremists & see if they give a flying fart.

"Atheists and Agnostics can be just as immoral as any other person". I would also add as ignorant. Religion is a complex issue and too many of us try to simplify it so that it is more palatable.

Thank you for expressing that. But people of "good faith" (for lack of a better term) exist in any camp, and understanding is NOT the same as condoling or advocating. No one's freedom of expression should be silenced, but it's also true you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

@ravnostic - so you can't find a better word than "faith"? Sounds a bit uneducated.

Well, I don't think ALL atheists are angry, just as I don't think ALL Christians are hateful either. And it's true about squeeky wheels, for sure. I guess you could say I'm advocating for a little routine maintenance on the tires and axles so we don't fall into the same state of disrepair.

@ravnostic That sounds reasonable

They have inserted themselves. I advocate we get a spot at the table, and to be effective, we better "know they enemy" at least as well as we know ourselves (I'd argue also that some of us may not to either). YMMV

Well put, thanks.

i love your sentiment.
if we, as individual human beings - & i want to emphasize "individual" here, because i can not befriend a potentially manipulative institution - do not realise our ability to acknowledge the non-harming otherness in each other, in order to connect in a kind & emphatic way, we will be doomed as a species ... & no harm done (to the planet, i mean). just my thoughts ...

@walklightly whew! im overwhelmed.....time for a rip off the old bong!!!

nah, @mangro, ta anywho ... don't smoke it no more.

Let your vision be world embracing

Please forgive the spelling errors and such, auto correct is not my friend.

I belong to a school of thought that says a broad education isn't a bad thing. Thank you for taking the time to comment, and to question.

?SJW

@btroje Social Justice Warrior. Basically someone who overreacts to anything that another person says if it goes against their beliefs. They are pretty much children who believe they must correct everyone to believe what they believe.

Also @Orange_girl I am responsible for what I say but I am not responsible for how someone else feels. I have no control over their emotions or reactions. I am a logical person with full control over my emotions, this is an evolutionary benefit of the way I was raised. I don't take offense to racism or personal attacks against me because that would be a waste of time, energy and efficiency.

If what I say offends someone then that is their choice to be offended, it would be much easier to just ignore my comments. That's what I do.

@btroje Social Justice Warrior - yup had to look it up.

@RavenCT thanks

@orange_girl I don't quite see a problem. Because if I did change and consider how I might offend or trigger everyone in the world. I might as well sew my mouth shut forever.

Human beings need to be able to express themselves verbally however they choose. I've had racists screaming abuse at me and also had bullies try to beat me up. But I never chose to become a victim about it. I just took their words as worthless wastes of oxygen.

The moment we allow others feelings to dictate our speech. We lose the freedom of speech all together

@orange_girl

1. I've never met a respectful considerate feminist in my life. I usually hold the door open for everyone and one day a feminist said to me "Don't you think that I could do that myself?" When I was just trying to do a nice thing for a stranger. Also there's no real need for feminism anymore. Women are now the majority of university students, they do better than boys in school, they get preferentially selected for jobs over men with the same qualifications.

Women are freer now than ever before. So we no longer need feminism.

Also
2) all I'm saying is that it's not possible to not offend anyone. I'm sure you realise that just by existing, people hurt others. That's a fact of life. I accept responsibility for my actions. I also accept responsibility for my words. But I don't accept responsibility for another persons feelings and emotions.

All I'm saying is, people need to be responsible for themselves sometimes. They're not kids anymore, they are adults. Which is why I treat them as such.

@orange_girl
With regards to the "Me too" thing. I was under the impression that women said they were strong, equal to men and were empowered. Was this false?
With regards to sexual harassment and rape. It happens to men too. Women need to do what men have been doing for years, they need to become stronger. If they are afraid of rape then learn self defense, it's called fighting back. The world is a cruel and dangerous place for men and women. No police or government legislation can prevent that.

Also men do take the same wage for the same work. This idea of the wage gap existing where women are paid less for doing the same job is preposterous. The reason for the wage gap is lifestyle choices. Women choose to study art, nursing, education. Very few choose engineering, maths or physics. But that is changing. Because more women don't want to have to rely on men and they also want a higher quality of life. Which means they need more money. Hence the smart ones are moving to the higher paying career paths.

Also the holding the door example was just that, an example. A basic courteous gesture that the feminist had to attack me for. It was nothing, but she made it into something.

My mother is an upstanding engineer, she was smart. She is currently working to promote women in engineering fields with over 100 companies supporting her movement. She recently took a young female graduate under her wing at work and was showing her around the facility when the girl said "I have to stop, my leg is hurting". After a short conversation it turned out that the girl, like many other girls and women, had at the young age of 24 been told she will never be able to walk normally again and she will need several surgeries. The cause was netball. A female dominated sport that many doctors say is the largest cause of long term leg, knee and ankle injuries out of all other sports. My sister played netball but after the first time she had to go to the hospital, my father and I realized how bad it was. On average there were over 100 girls just in our local hospitals waiting room with netball related injuries. Rugby (my sort) had about 20 on average.

So if women really cared about the girls, they should start looking at things like netball. Not this wage gap caused by patriarchy myth.

Also just as a quick thing. Women's rugby finally started up in my city and more people watch the womens matches than the men. So that's an accomplishment.

Because instead of sitting down and complaining. These women got out there and actually did something fun and enjoyable. Rugby is a great stress releasing sport and I'd recommend it to all women.

@orange_girl methinks I smell a troll angry at the loss of his "natural privilege".

No bitterness at all? O|o

Are we on the same website?

It is true that how I hear something that I've read in my inner ear will make a difference for how the words come across to me, so you may have a point there. Very perceptive.

Please DO show some emotion from time to time. Perfectly valid to do so.

I think so, as well. And I think it's important also that we are free to express that anger, or any anger for that matter. But I also think it's important to express other ways to address the things that bring about our angers. Thanks for commenting.

Fair enough, thanks for taking the time to comment.

Agreed.

I haven't read that one, I will make a note of it, thanks.