I am a free thinker, and I see all my friends arguing that their religion is better, and would engage in a fight... The do not live up to their name as a follower of that particular religion... I believe all the Gods of that particular religion will sigh in heaven too if there is...
120173
Anybody who argues over religion obviously has no concept of the word "faith".  Faith isn't about arguing about anything.  It's about being positive and doing good and helping others to see the goodness in themselves.\n\nReligions, for the most part, are man-made rules and regulations based on THEIR OWN interpretation of the Bible and it's guidelines for living.  \n\nReligions don't set themselves above anyone else.  People do.
627317
Yeah I agree with this totally,\n\nI think this whole nonsense about conform to my religious believes or you go to hell is utter nonsense.\n\nGod is real, lets suppose,  he makes his prescense known to everyone and everyone has a different interpretation, even within Judism Christianity and Islam.\n\nWhat if Judism Christianity and Islam are just many facets of the same God.\n\nWe can't ask God for anything more then help in growing us in our faith, but in order for that to happen we must first have that faith.
10934
By the time I read all of the answers I realized that my thoughts had pretty much been covered. So kudos to all above me!\n\nBut I do want to emphasize what Snehal has proposed. One world........no religions. I agree with the answer that said that religions have basic similarities but that man has chosen to use their religion inappropriately. Wars have been fought merely over "interpretations." People have died for believing differently. Lives have been controlled because of those reading religion as a misinterpreted call for power. People are told what to think and what not to think and are condemned for differing opinions. \n\nI'm sure right now someone reading this is shaking their head thinking, "She has no clue what she is talking about." If it would stop with that, all would be fine. We are all entitled to have our own opinions. It is when someone will write me slamming me for my beliefs and finding  a way to avenge my thoughts by blasting me somewhere that we realize this is symbolic of our world's problems. It's not just because of religion of course. Religion is the scapegoat. Man can blame his judgements of others on the fact that they belong to "the wrong" religion. If we didn't have religions..........we would all have to face what we really are without the use of the scapegoat. \n\nGod? Well I believe we have a higher order. Does he want religions killing and disagreeing? *cough* Think about what He would write if he answered this question. :)
17245
I think the key word in your question is respect.  It is entirely possible to disagree with someone and still respect them.  The other thing that we need to remember when dealing with people from other religions, is that we are representing our own faith to them.  As a Christian, my faith teaches me to love my neighbors, and it even teaches me to love my enemies.  So, I am certainly called to love people of other faiths.
352565
Don't give up, I have found that your questions are very good and not one-sided. They make us think. I am a Christian and you give me things to think about. It actually helps me to be more open minded which I sometimes struggle with because I do see so much hate on here. I don't think it is the religion on its own. What society sees is only the bad side of religion and harps on that constantly. It doesn't show the good side at all.
509555
Dude, yes I agree with you on this one, but not all of them are like that. Some of my good OL friends are non believers, I respect them and they respect me. I just usually ignore questions on here that are rude and such.
208361
First, tabbymomma is not making a statement or asking a question about whether or not god exists, or the veracity of atheism versus agnosticism versus Christianity.  What she is asking, is why do people call other people idiots when they are trying to convince them that their view is right?\n\nI agree with her.\n\nIt seems the "debate" in here consists of believers and non-believers calling each other idiots.  This is not a debate.  Neither is telling a non-believer he/she is going to hell, or telling a believer they are in the thrall of ignorant superstition.  Debate involves respecting your opponent, and his or her ideas, while you are pointing out what you believe are the fallacies.  In the very least, it involves a little civility.\n\n___________________________________________________________\n\nOh, and an agnostic is not a "pansy" atheist.  Agnostics hold that, ultimately, the existence or non-existence of divinity can not be proven one way or the other (and, the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence), so this is a question which is ultimately unanswerable and unknowable.  This is different from atheists, who believe there is no god at all.
607593
I think it's wrong to generalize about an entire group.  However, I hear where you are coming from with people being too pushy when it comes to their religion, politics, whatever it may be.  Like any other religious group there are going to be fanatics and those individuals that try to push their views on you.  It's unfortunate that some people make others want to stay away.  I thought like you a while back, but then I came to realize that it's not Christians as a group, it is people that use religious texts to fit what they believe.  People that use their own interpretations and then attempt to preach them to everyone.  Again though, it's unfair to generalize.
656672
i'm not one of those people you described but i'm wondering why do you go to this site and ask people their opinion if you are not willing to listen to what they want to say? stay away or be respectful of the beliefs of others. go figure! peace, love & unity. cheers!
323563
OK. Good to know. Wasn't trying to in the first place, though. Seems you are now doing the same, so I guess I could ask you the same question. \n\nI'm OK if you don't believe in a deity. Please be OK that I do.\n\nWhy so angry, though? *hugs* :)
257080
You know, I don't even really mind that some religions think others are wrong.  That's to be expected.  What bugs me is that most religions feel the need to convert people who don't wish to be converted.  By their very nature, a person's religious beliefs exclude all OTHER religious beliefs.\n\nThe REAL issue at stake, I think, is how we deal with that.  You and I don't have the same beliefs.  I think yours are wrong (not morally wrong, merely incorrect), and you think mine are wrong.\n\nSo what?  So we don't agree.  Big deal.  Doesn't bother me a bit.  I am perfectly okay knowing that there are other systems of belief out there that do not match my own.\n\nBut there are FAR TOO MANY people in the world that simply cannot abide that someone else out there would DARE believe something different.  And even more frightening is the number of people who would take some kind of action against "the faithless" or "the infidels" or "the unbelievers," or whatever they are calling us this week.
211752
Nope, it's not just you.\n\nFrom what I've seen, the ppl replying that way are the ones who are "holier than thou" and like to quote scriptures as a way to back up their self-righteous behavior.\n\nOpinions are great, until someone tries to trample all over someone else's!\n\nI imagine I'm like many, in that if someone tries to shove their opinion down my throat it usually makes me stand that much more firm in my own belief.  My opinion is my truth and not that of anyone else's.
326851
You are right about this being an open forum to discuss all topics without judgement, and you are right to have your own religious beliefs. The only thing I can see is wrong is when there are a few people in general (not directed towards anybody on here) who impose their beliefs on someone else, trying to make them believe in something they don't want to believe in. Unfortunately, that happens a lot. It's one thing to listen and have an open mind, but if someone tries to change me in a way I don't feel comfortable with, then it's crossing the line. But that may be the reason why. I don't agree with bashing of any sort, though. Just be yourself and don't let the bashing bother you. It's your beliefs and if someone doesn't agree with them, it's not your problem or your fault.
367573
That's quite a generalization. I have friends of many different faiths, including plenty of non-Christians. Lots of atheists, too. I don't win friends by behaving like a condescending jerk. I don't force my Catholic faith on anyone. If they choose to believe, that's great; if they don't, that's their business. At any rate, I'm not quite sure how that warrants a charge of being condescending. And people from many different groups can be condescending. It's not confined to Christians alone.
424086
Omg baby, this is way too funny. But in my opinion, I think the religious fanatic would be entirely more dangerous. Why? Because atheist dont press what they believe on you and they dont have big "bibles" to throw at you when you have sinned, and i know that when they get together in mass congregations they tend to jump around, fling their hands everywhere, reach for the sky and start screaming in tongue. And they can be so hyporitical, atheists just keep to themselves most the time. Others just run around and will not shut up.
448864
Well, arguing gives you something to do...you know...pass the time.  I would think believing in religion would be quite boring, unless you're a bible thumping Christian conservative who goes door to door passing out church flyers.  It's close...really close.
153240
I think each religion is a way for people to make sense out of their lives. It's a way to find purpose or meaning for the things they do each day. I don't believe there is any one correct religion. And I doubt that God (howeer God is defined) looks upon earth and decides that he likes some of us better than others simply because of the way he is worshipped. (I'm using "he" only as a convenient word.) In fact, I believe that God does not particularly appreciate it when people use hatred against each other simply because of a difference in religious practice. As Buddha said, "There are many paths to the top of the mountain."