|
tazzygirl -> RE: Why do people think it's ok to strawman an atheist? (6/24/2010 11:34:53 AM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Plasticine
Christians most certainly are not oppressed, they are dominant.
I am expected to keep my opinions of disbelief to myself while those around me make any statements of belief that they like. That is oppression.
I expect all my friends, believers and non-believers, to keep their religious beliefs to themselves. If a friend who is a believer is in a time of stress and asks me to pray for them, sure, i will. If it gives them comfort, its no skin off my nose. My parents are very catholic. My mom is almost daily at the church, praying, volunteering, ect. When i visit, they tell me about the church, they talk about it, what they are doing, how they are filling their time. When they get up on sunday morning, there is no expectation for me to join them. And i dont. No pressure, no demands. These are the people i prefer in my circles.
quote:
Every job I've had... people have religious symbols and phrases in their workspaces... and it is part of commonly acceptable office speech to make references to god and faith.
I worked with a woman who kept leaving the little pamplets around... the ones annoucing the way to salvation and how someone will go to hell without it. Many workers were offended, but no one said anything. I finally did, telling her it was against the law for her to leave that laying around, that no one liked it, no one appreciated it, and if i found anymore laying about, i would be the one throwing them away. She screamed at me that i was an atheist... lol, that makes me laugh now.
Another job i had was very religious oriented, including the word God in their mission statement. But this was not a company that imposed the mission statement upon the employees. They also appreciated, as stated in their mission statement, a diverse cultural and religious background among their employees and that no discrimination against any religion, or lack thereof, would be tolerated. Truly a company i adored working for.
quote:
I didn't need to ask whether or not I could have a sign that said "God is highly improbable"... I have been expected to attend religiously themed parties and participate in events... I have had sales partners who would insist on driving and not listen to anything other than christian music on the way to calls, knowing full well I disagreed. The whole fucking month of December is like living in North Korea for me.
I hate that christmas music and decorations start around holloween, sometimes sooner. Its become a stressful time for all. Wishing someone a "Merry Christmas" may get you fired according to some reports. Not having Christmas in their banners have resulted in stores like Target becoming he target of religious boycotts. Other stores like Lowes have had boycotts threatened because they had a "Holiday Tree" banner up.
My personal opinion... which others what means most to you. If someone wishes me a happy kwanzaa, they are wishing me what means most to them. I view that as a good thing and will turn around and wish them a Merry Christmas. Since i do not follow the Kwanzaa belief, it would be hypocritical for me to wish them that in return.
quote:
People don't mistrust you if you say your agnostic... but an atheist, oh boy do people hate an atheist. We have to listen to all that condescending crap about how maybe we've never had faith and our lives must be empty and meaningless, and how you all feel sorry for us. Its bullshit plain and simple.
I dont believe an atheists life is any less full or any more full than my own. Its simply lead differently in some areas. As would a jewish person's, muslim's, ect.
quote:
Atheism is not treated with the same respect or gravity that is given to any religious faith. That is a fact.
No, its not. On that i agree. Publically its not treated the same as any other religious faith, because its not a religous faith. Now you are comparing apples to oranges.
As with any other movment, it takes time to change things. I have pointed out before that those who hold the money in this country, therefore the power, are a religious group on a whole. I havent found a source, but if you break down religious affiliations based upon age, im sure the older the person, the more religious. The younger, the less. Its also true that the younger, the less politically active.
Someone mentioned Prop 8. I personally dont care who gets married. But when it hits the voters, you get what you get. The voters of California passed the measure. The SC there turned it down. So they made an amendment to the California Constitution, if i remember correctly. Im not so sure it was all religious people who came out to vote.
Here is a graph of the states broken down by religion.
My question is this... if you go into a fight at a severe disadvantage and lose, why do people wonder why you lost? The ERA didnt pass. But out of that movement came many wonderful laws. The Civil Rights movement passed... and helped many more groups than just blacks.
The atheist movement is another such movement, and im hoping for many good things to come out at the other end of this.
But, plasticine, you should also keep in mind that not everyone believes as you believe they do. Not all people with a belief in a higher power believe you are wrong to have your beliefs as well. In that you are ascribing to religious people the same thing you are doing yourself... intolerance and a refusal to understand.
|
|
|
|
