Some of the replies to my posts have led me to ask this question. Is this a religious hate group? It seems to me that there are many in this group who have an attitude of superiority about the fact that they have eschewed religion. It's an attitude sort of like patriotism, my group (country) is better than yours and I am better than you just because I believe such and such or live where I do. If you believe that your views are worthy of respect, why would you not believe that the honestly held views of another are also worthy of respect?
6
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11 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.It's difficult not to feel in any sense superior to those who have taken leave of rationality, if only in so far as that it seems obvious to recommend reason over unreason. Is that actually what you are complaining about, RMNODDING? Because that still remains a far cry from damning unbelievers to Hell!
AaronAgassi
Level 4
Oct 28, 2019
1
There are literally hundreds of social networks for people who want their "belief" to be endorsed and reinforced. This social network is for us.
Theists have the whole rest of the world. Please leave us alone.
BitFlipper
Level 8
Oct 24, 2019
0
I am an agnostic and a freethinker.
This group is for Agnostics and Atheists. Many have been burned by religion. I run Jewish by Culture for those born Jewish who identify culturally and do not believe in organized religion. Why did you join Agnostic.com? What did you expect to find here?
sassygirl3869
Level 9
Oct 24, 2019
1
Why did I join? Because I am an agnostic and freethinker. What was I hoping to find? I was hoping to find some open-minded people.
Unfortunately, people are people and it's easier to fight fire with fire than to practice critical thinking and looking at our own flaws. Besides, it too often feels good to vent.
JackPedigo
Level 9
Oct 24, 2019
2
More than a few people on this site are aggressive anti-theists. Others of us are long past religion and simply see it as irrelevant. We typically do not think about religion until someone or some groups attempts to impose religious beliefs on us. Then we get angry.
wordywalt
Level 9
Oct 24, 2019
4
Only a few are like that. Don’t let them bother you.
WilliamFleming
Level 8
Oct 24, 2019
2
I actually don't discuss religion very much in this community .. I tend to participate in topical groups not associated with religion.. the public forums are where most religious discussions occur ... Some here are hard core anti religion and that's ok.
Honestly held views? I take it you refer to theists here . I don't think they are honest at all in their views... They follow blindly... Without thought or consideration of other's...
Cutiebeauty
Level 9
Oct 24, 2019
1
Any group is bound to spend some effort on self definition, and since this is a group for the none religious it is natural that its definition should refer to religion, and no one would join any group if they did not think it a better place to be. Yet self definition is mainly for those finding their feet on the front page, if you get out into the groups, you will find a lot of life that has nothing to do with religion.
Fernapple
Level 9
Oct 24, 2019
2
Many, but not all. A lot of folks come here from pretty brutal abuse at the hands of religious fanatics, and just need a place to vent and commiserate. I can’t blame people for hating religion when that was their experience of it, even though it was not my experience.
There are also a few here who would just like to not have to talk about religion at all, but are pretty frustrated that so many of these non-religious people still want to talk about religion, even if in the negative sense.
Then there are about three of us who are open to the idea of religion having positive potential, while still soundly rejecting all supernatural ideas (or maybe about one of us 
).
The rest are actual agnostics.
There is at least the ability to choose who you interact with and just ignore what doesn’t interest you. Welcome to the site.
skado
Level 9
Oct 24, 2019
5
@OwlInASack
Good to hear! It’s sometimes hard to tell because of the general negativity. But yes, an intentional exaggeration to highlight how it feels. But I’m probably not exaggerating at all when I say I may be the only one on the site who fully embraces the idea of maintaining a devout religious practice, as opposed to just grudgingly admitting that some good things have come from religion in spite of its otherwise uselessness if not actual destructiveness.
@OwlInASack
In what way was it a lie?
@OwlInASack
Myths are not lies. They’re symbolic stories.
@OwlInASack
Whether a lie or an honest error, I suspect that claim is not only not true, but not the most authentically Christian. At any rate, it’s not the only, or the most sophisticated interpretation. Literalists don’t own Christianity. Everyone is free to interpret as they please.
@OwlInASack
People believe all kinds of things. I can’t control what others think or do. But I do get to choose my own view of it all. That’s all I can do. The science-friendly view makes more sense to me.
@OwlInASack
Why is the science-friendly view a side step but the supernatural view a, what, direct view? Seems the reverse to me.
@OwlInASack
What leverage do they have to put that requirement on you if you don't voluntarily accept it?
Which of the abrahamic religions (and perhaps many others) does not think "my group is better than yours" (and better than the other religious groups) ??
FearlessFly
Level 9
Oct 24, 2019
1
Which of any group of any description? Humans are tribal.
I am agnostic because I cannot believe in God, not because I think it makes me a better person or because it is a better thing to be. As Martin Luther said "Here I stand, I can do no other". I do like to think that man might eventually evolve beyond the need for religion and tribalism. I joined this group hoping to meet those with similar ideas, but I don't like to see blatant disrespect for the honestly held beliefs of others. That's where things like racism and prejudice start.
@OwlInASack I think some of the comments come from members who think they have got the definitive answer and feel they are better persons because of that, not that they originally became atheists/agnostics to become better persons. What I object to is the complete lack of respect for another's opinion. Because as far as I can determine any beliefs about the existence or non-existence of God are really just that, opinions. Some opinions may have more facts to back them up, some less, but in the end it's something like choosing a political party, it really doesn't depend entirely on the facts. At least that is how I experienced it, meaning to say that I first found that I could not believe in God and afterwards I examined the facts for and against this position. I also delved into what other religions (I was raised Baptist) had to say on the subject, in case I had missed something.
@RMNODDING Are there ANY ideas that you might consider "not worthy" of your notion of respect ? In particular, have you considered the 6 I listed below ? ? ?
@OwlInASack Yeah, you're right. Upon examination it's disrespect for persons because of their beliefs that really bothers me. I have two daughters who are devout Baptists, whom I respect very much, and I would never show disrespect for their religious beliefs. Now let me be clear, they are not of the anti-immigration, anti-abortion, homophobic, gun-toting class of Baptist. They try in small ways to make the world a better place for all. And of the religious people that I am personally acquainted with, many are like my daughters. Some do have views that I think are prejudiced and that I do not agree with, but so do many of my agnostic friends. I have a passing acquaintance with the Bible and I think if you left out the God parts of the New Testament, Christ's teachings would make a pretty good handbook for living. That so many use the Bible to support their hate and prejudice is not so much the fault of the book itself as it is the fault of those who use it (by cherry picking) to support things like white supremacy and homophobia. And furthermore it ticks me off a little when people (not you) assume that because I am open-minded about religion that I am religious myself. It seems that a lot of people here believe that religion in and of itself is the greatest evil in the world. I disagree. I think patriotism and it's attendant tribalism is first and capitalism a close second. Once we have put those put to rest, religion will follow.
IMO, there are several interpretaions of 'respect'.
Leaving that aside, here are some ideas I would consider not worthy (in no particular order)
- the penalty for apostacy is death
- flat earth
- young earth creationism
- geocentrism
- trees have souls
- intelligent design
I imagine others here could easily add to that list.
FearlessFly
Level 9
Oct 24, 2019
2
Rapist priests are forgiven GENOCIDE in bibles is forgiven VIOLENT UNSAFE ABORTIONS are forgiven and ordered by the alleged gawds of the bibles UNWORTHY of any respect....Quakers for peace are worthy of respect because of their ACTIONs not bibles
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