"if being a member of the KKK gives someone joy and happiness and fufillment, who is anyone to judge them for that?"
"if being a nazi gives someone joy and happiness and fufillment, who is anyone to judge them for that?"
"if being a suicide bomber gives someone joy and happiness and fufillment, who is anyone to judge them for that?""
You've got to be kidding me... Surely you don't actually believe being a Christian is as harmful as being a member of the KKK, a nazi, or a suicide bomber?
I believe that a person could have those thoughts and beliefs, as long as they do not act upon them and try to inflict their view or behavors upon other people, that is crossing a line.
Surely you don't actually believe being a Christian is as harmful as being a member of the KKK, a nazi, or a suicide bomber?
SOME christians, yes. Some Muslims, some blah blah pick a belief system, even SOME atheists. Any belief taken to extreme and then acted upon, especially to the harm of others is just wrong. I also think that people with extremeist views may be borderline mentally ill.
Yes, SOME christians and religious groups mix their beliefs with politics, as do other religious groups.
For athiests who just want to be left alone, being bothered and harassed by Religious nuts can be taxing, but they need to realize, that is not all of that group, just the active and crazies. just as I'm sure not all athiests want to kill all religious people, but I'd be willing to bet money that SOME do, and have in the past.
Somebody brought up in another thread the culture as its written in the Star Trek universe. What does that universe have that we don't? Tolerance, maturity, an attitude of not interfering with the individual's way of being; as long as that individual reciprocates the same...I didn't say that the best way. The Wiccan rede could apply here, "An it harm none (including yourself), do what you will." There's more, but that's what I remember, well there's also "Be light of eye and soft of touch. Speak ye little and listen much." Which is similar to the golden rule of treating others how you want to be treated.
I wish that we all could just wake up and treat one another like mature adults, with respect, kindness, tolerance. But I ani't holding my breath.
I am not a christian or monotheist or blah. As far as the Bible god is concerned, I am an athiest; but also regarding Aztec gods, tribal gods, Roman gods, ect. But as far as strict athiests are concerned, i am not one of them either. My beliefs regarding my experiences and interpretations of reality are mine, not for sale, open for discusion but not by people who have locked in their own belief (or "negative" beliefs) and are seeking forced consensus.