Scare the crap outta me!!!!!!! Really?! If one as an individual has a relationship with god....I don't think anyone else has the right to judge another person! Which is why I don't like to discuss religion or politics. Everyone has a different opinion on these subjects. I respect any and all beliefs. Shouldn't it be that way in turn for the other person as well?!

If it were only that simple. I agree with you 100%.

Fanaticism is the scourge of all things good, "studied for the sake of "good".

Plus...be wary of the righteousness of the reformed


....and people that quote and pontificate in public forums

Thanx. I felt totally alienated :( Literally telling me I'm a bad person and this person didn't even know me. They just assumed. Next thing you know....they're going to call me a murderer because I catch fish >_<

Mods...I REALLY hope this stays in General Discussion...it's worthy.

I concur!

It is that simple when dealing with mature people.

I met a guy a few years ago, got to know him and finally invited him over for a home cooked meal. The nutter proceeded to try to convert me for two hours in round about way at first then straight forward.

It was everything I could do to keep my temper in check. I finally told him "Listen, if it wasn't for my faith I would truly be a many of horrible and immoral things, starting with murderer."

I think he got my point and left about 5 minutes later to my great relief.

Sometimes I have to wonder what kind of mind locks onto said beliefs and then gets so into it that they become obsessed. What kills me is I have found the obsessed ones don't have the first freaking clue about the religion they are trying to practice. They take a tiny piece of it and run.

It should be that simple. However, most try and make it much more complicated.

I don't care what religion someone is or what they want to believe. That is their personal choice. Just as it's my choice not to be religious. So, I don't enjoy it when someone feels the need to preach to me. Many try, though and it makes me lose respect for them for pushing their beliefs on me.

Open "discussion" of a subject is a fantastic thing. People need to remember it is EVERYONE'S RIGHT to disagree & RESPECT that.
It is one of the RIGHTS this country is built on.

I have been accosted by the God Squad so many times. I've been sitting on a corner, playing guitar for tips and they insist on using me mic! They try to tell me the "good news." I understand they are taught that all one needs to do is speak the words and people will convert. Well, I'm almost 48 and I've heard the good news many times. It's not for me.

I try to have respect for other views on faith, but it seems these people have no respect for mine. I agree they have as much right to speak their ideas as I do. But, they don't need my mic to do it.

i guess i'm on the opposite side of the subject.i grew up as a Baptist and still have my beliefs (although i no longer go to church).i've had athiests tell me (or at least TRY TO)why my beliefs are wrong and why God doesn't exist (i'm baptist so i just tell'em to p1ss off).

i also hear alot of athiests on here gripe about religious nuts preaching to them and then they run to the religious threads and start crap.all i can do is just shake my head when i see it because they're just being hipocrits.


remember,if you don't want someone doing something to you,don't turn around and do it to them because you're being no different from them

I also dont think anyone has the right to judge another person. I do think discussion (about anything) amongst mature and respectful individuals is a good thing. I respect all people(although people sometimes do and say things that cause a loss of respect) but I dont necessarily agree with all opinions, actions, or beliefs. I see a pointed difference though, between disagreement and disrespect.


Nice post.

It's one thing to discuss different views and I have no problem with that at all. But, the issue I have is when anyone tells someone else their personal beliefs are wrong. Disagreeing is one thing, but telling them they're wrong just because you don't feel the same is preaching and that's not needed. So you're right, if someone doesn't want to be preached to, they shouldn't do the same.

I would advise worshiping the sun and making it easy on yourself. Every popular religion is based off sun-worship anyway, so you may as well have some fun in the sun.

The difference is that atheists don't go out in large groups and confront in the streets.

the anti christians are just as bad

either way it's someone telling someone else how to live

At one of my old apartments, I was regularly cornered by Mormons when I went to get my mail. I guess they thought that was a good place to stop and chat, because I couldn't really run off easily. They were always polite, but very, very persistent even after I'd tell them I was not interested in hearing what they had to say.

So very true I have seen it both ways one always thinks there way is the way. To each their own I'm going to believe what I want to and I feel others should as well.

But I assure you that both are just as bad as far as shoving it down each others throats. To say one does it any less all I can say is take off the blinders.

Myself I could care less what ones Religion is I'm not going to debate anyone over what I believe. For what I believe is my privilege and not up for debate. It does not mean I'm any less of a person nor a better person then the next I just believe different then some do.

So what you're saying is you don't like to judge people or don't like when they judge you? Judging by your post, looks like you just judged the people you accuse of judging you. I know it's a bitter cycle when pointing fingers and it comes back full circle.

I used to be a religious fanatic. I survived Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple, and after that I bounced around from group to group for a number of years. Most cases of religious fanaticism last about 5 years, during which time the individual identity could potentially suffer so much damage that the person is irrevocably altered and the person will not have all of the tools that he was born with; for example the ability to question leadership. When I come across fanatics sometimes I feel empathy for them, many of them are trapped in a belief system that has turned them into merchandise. I still believe but I do not attend church or watch religious programing, also I do not feel that everyone has to agree with me.