I'm a recovering Catholic, and they have one thing right, it's an etch-a -sketch for sinners...............confess on Friday, eat the waffer on Sunday and you're good to go for the next week.

God is an inside job, but if you can;t share that faith verbally than religion leads to Persecution/Holocaust or my Dog's... bigger than yours .

Can't believe in a faith that will accept me but not my Dog! If a fly ahs no more value than you, than what worth is your soul?

I'm new here, so I've been reading around. This is the first reply I've made this morning. First thing: Wiederk.. you have the coolest avatar on DS! I'm just coming off a manic and feeling normal again. You guys have intellegence and humor and great combination. I haven't seen that on other boards. Really am getting to the point of this thread. I don't believe in God. I have a certain amount of just below the surface rage at religious people who are sure they know more than me because they "know" God. So I appreciate mutual sympathies (without too much panty wadding). I also love deeply a few people who believe in God. Life goes on. This looks like a good place to be. Peace.

im not anti-religion. and i whole heartedly agree with you, whatever size,shape, colour, race, religion, sexuality, age, gender or WHATEVER.
we're all equal . :)

Are there any anti-atheist people out there?
How about anti-agnostic?

That was sarcastic. Please keep a support site for that only, support.

I will not valid this topic by replying further.

If you wish to know, I am a "militant atheist", but this is not the time nor place.

Can I just say....something?

I've had a lot of difficulties with religion...but God has saved my life. I believe in Jesus and His resurrection. And now I have joy and peace and I am no longer afraid of death.

Church has done so much for me. The people there help me and pray for me and I learn so much from the sermons. I don't want to shove anything down anyone's throat, but is it so wrong to want to share what I have found with others?

Just sayin'

Gotta love the smell of hate early in the morning.

I am saying a prayer right now for all you haters and lovers alike. (Even you #11)

God Bless you all and keep you safe on this beautiful Saturday morning.

Im feeling the love.. and that's nice... I am a Christian and love Christ and God... at the same time I believe that what is important is to be a good person whether it's Jewish.. Muslim.. Hindu.. Atheist or Agnostic... be good in what and who you are...
Imagine how this world could be if we embraced one another's differences and chose to respect the rights of one and all

OK. As a historian and a pagan I feel the need to at least say something on this topic.

I have no issues with organized religion itself. It is actually people that are the problem. Yes I have issues with certain belief systems, but that is different than religion.

There have been some posts about the the conflict after the rise of Christianity in Rome. However, much of this existed while Rome was still pagan. Here are just a few example of pagan Rome.

1. The Roman elite sought to systematically kill the Druids when they conquered Britain because their religion was seen as dangerous superstition.

2. many of the temples destroyed by the Christian Romans were already being destroyed by the Pagan Romans. The cults of Isis and Ishtar where two examples of ones that were never accepted, and seen as a affront to Roman morality.

3. What happened after Christianity became the official religion of Rome was the point that Christianity became "Romanized" and a more militaristic religious movement. The issues that followed were not about Christianity, but about Roman and European imperialism.

I am a Christian--I do go to church--all religion means is holding to a belief in God...but I am not ANTI anything, except for anti-hate and anti-violence.

Having a belief in Christ does not equal hate or mean that we want to start a war or disrespect others. God is love.

and the OP--"seeing others as human beings"---that is what it is all about.

Here is a favorite song---that sums up much of what I hope for in this world, Imagine, by John Lennon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b7qaSxuZUg

enjoy!

i believe in john lennon. :P

I am glad to say most people believe in peanuts . Some say they dont exist and are mythical like ambrosia but they are not. They are real and they are here right on all sides of us . All you have to do is let yourself believe and be prepared to shell if necessary :-)

Every time a beeper gets serious a fairy dies you know..................

I have a huge problem or issue with most organized religions because they expect you to agree with and are strict about it, or have beliefs I do not believe with such as expecting you to be conservative (to the point of straight out convincing you to vote republican or conservative) not allowing same sex marriages.

It's difficult. Some religions command that attempting to get others to 'see the light' is the only way to adhere to that religion. What else can the poor members DO when they trying to be what they believe their God(s) want them to be!!!!?

And it's so well-meaning!!! They believe that they are doing the best thing in the world for you by trying to get you to see things their way!!!! It's like giving you the greatest gift in the world!!!!

But I still reserve the right to hide behind my door when I see them working the neighborhood!!!!!

I don't even like being alive in THIS life!!!! The thought of an 'Everlasting Life' sounds like particularly cruel and inhuman punishment, to me!!!!

I don't really give a monkey's tbh.

I'm not anti-religion, because I have a "whatever flicks your switch" attitude.

I also don't get why people get all stirred up anyway...it's just a topic piece? People have as much right to be anti-religion as they do to support it or follow it or whatever.

The world would be a dull place if we all agreed with each other.

And I personally think there are issues of greater importance that must be discussed! The debate continues; pepsi or coca cola?

I'll take Faygo!!!!!!

(I belong to one of the fringe groups!!! I'm a Juggalo!!!! Or a Juggalette, if you want to get picky about it!)