How do you disempower religious fundamentalists?
964817
Educate their children.  \n\nWe're doing that now, and it's only a matter of time.  I quite honestly see the end of religion within the next 100 years.\n\nRichard Dawkins was saying something similar just the other day.  I think it was in the Washington Post.  He is of the opinion that the majority of educated people in the US, even those that attend church, are really atheist/agnostic.  They just don't put much thought into it, and/or don't want to admit it, due to the social stigma surrounding it.\n\nI think that's entirely plausible.  But regardless, as our children recieve better education, and the generations continue to grow intellectually, eventually, people will simply be too embarrassed to continue to believe in a god.
2314
Push the religious "right" out of power and influence.  Those who cry the loudest about moral values or family values seem to be the least moral of all.\n\nThose who seek to push their beliefs on others are neither moral or right (i.e. conservative).  \n\nWe improve the true moral character of our leaders our image will follow.
1094602
if it got them to leave, and made them shut up, hell yeah!\n\ni might try that the next time some "convert to our religion" ppl come to my door. they all say they can teach me to be "happier". i never thought of telling them i dont want to be happier. i'll bet they dont have any response planned for that answer. lol. GGOD WORK!
315969
First, you tell them about the history/principles of Islam; then you give them answers about any misperceptions of Islam that they have (e.g. terrorism; slavery; intolerance of other religions; suicide); third, you give them a comparison between Islam and other religions (e.g. why does it make more sense that God has no son, instead of claiming that God is three in one and one in three - Father, son, holy spirit)...\nBut of course, that person has to be willing to read, listen with open ears and heart. And you have to ask God to guide them, for He is the only one that can, not you: people are only guided if God so wishes. I have written a book, maybe this could help you out.
521801
Not all religion. I would have to say though that FUNDAMENTALIST religion IS INDEED a tool of mind control that allows a small group of people to wield enormous influence over the masses, and I think that's wrong.
859401
Limit immigration from Arabic countries. Refuse to listen to religious propaganda. Outlaw all religious propaganda in prisons.
803743
There are some Fundamentalists around here who hold up big signs on weekend nights in one of the bar districts, informing everybody that they're going to hell for sucking down a margarita. They've been doing it for years. Most people think they're serious nutjobs. I'm a Catholic, and I prefer my religion to be a bit more sutble than that. Let God sort out the sinners; it's not in my job description.
888103
According to the book of Mathew you are to lock yourself in a closet and pray to god in private.\n\nDo all of us a favor and actually follow the teachings of the bible instead of trying to get governmental enforcement of your religious beliefs.
1156467
Convert them all to paganism!\n\nMissionaries are perfect nuisances and leave every place worse than they found it." -  Charles Dickens (1812-1870). \n\n" A creed religion like Christianity... is constantly competing against all other religions — and, what is more, doing so on their own home grounds. Its success is measured in terms of the number of converts it makes."  \n\n                                          ~  Michael Arnheim author of Is Christianity True (Skeptic's Bookshelf Series).\n\n\nIndrani Rampersad, a woman activist in Trinidad writes:  \n\n“Christians see it as their duty to save the soul of the non-believer, who is seen as inferior. Such religions are inherently predatory and destructive of the cultural systems that they encounter in their role as the aggressor.”\n\n"unless you attend my church, accept my God and study my sacred text you cannot be a moral person."\n\n"What could be more bigoted than to claim that you have a monopoly on God?"\n\n(source: Jewish Leader blasts Evangelical "zealots" - yahoonews.com).  \n\n"The illogical idea of one single religion for all mankind, one set of dogmas, one cult, one system of ceremonies which all individuals must accept on pain of persecution by the people and punishment by God, is the product of unreason and intolerance. A religion represents the soul of the people, its peculiar spirit, thought, and temperament. It is not a mere theory of the supernatural which we can put on or off as we please. It is an expression of the spiritual experience of the race, a record of its social evolution, an integral element of the society in which it is found [Radhakrishnan 1969:81-82]."
845440
Don't tell them. We don't like it when you tell us that we are wrong and you are right. No one does. \n\nAsk them instead. Say, "May I talk to you about my religion (or about Jesus, or Christianity or whatever you want to say here)?"\n\nIf they say no, go away and leave them alone. If they say yes, by all means, proceed.
316750
I don't know that you can do that. People are going to believe what they believe, no matter what  you DO about it. The only way to truly affect change is to BE what it is you profess. If you condemn them, that gives them the right to condemn you and that only leads to conflict which will worsen matters.
221599
Yup all you have to do is read the Quran.  Here are some examples.\n\nKill disbelievers wherever you find them. If they attack you, then kill them. Such is the reward of disbelievers. \n\nWar is ordained by Allah. \n\nWe shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Their habitation is the Fire \n\nFor the disbelievers, We have prepared a painful doom.\n\nAllah will bestow a vast reward on those who fight in religious wars\n\nHave no unbelieving friends. Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them.\n\nIf the unbelievers do not surrender, kill them wherever you find them. Against such you are given clear warrant.\n\nThose who make war with Allah and his messenger will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. That is how they will be treated in this world, and in the next they will have an awful doom.\n\nChristians will be burned in the Fire.\n\nChristians are wrong about the Trinity. For that they will have a painful doom.\n\nThose who disbelieve will be forced to drink boiling water, and will face a painful doom.\n\nHow many a township have We destroyed! As a raid by night, or while they slept at noon, Our terror came unto them.\n\nWhen you fight with disbelievers, do not retreat. Those who do will go to hell\n\nSlay the idolaters wherever you find them\n\nIf you refuse to fight, Allah will afflict you with a painful doom\n\nFight the disbelievers and hypocrites. Be harsh with them. They are all going to hell anyway\n\nFight disbelievers who are near you, and let them see the harshness in you\n\nThose who oppose Islam and disbelieve in the Hereafter are guilty of the greatest wrong\n\nWhoever thinks that Allah will not give Muhammad victory should go hang himself\n\nAllah will taunt Christians on the day of their doom, saying: Where are My partners whom ye imagined?\n\nAllah will tear Christians apart for ascribing partners to him\n\nAllah will taunt the Christians in hell, saying: Where are all my partners that you used to believe in?\n\nBut if you're willing to fight for Allah, he will provide you with lots of booty.\n\nDon't make friends with Allah's enemies\n\nDon't be friends with disbelievers. They are your (and Allah's) enemy
309612
Invite them in . Offer them a cup of tea and some scones and then try and convert them away from their evil cult.
777219
At this very moment....\n\nI would make the religious fanatics...of all religions....just back off and cut it out.  Stop trying to force your beliefs and politics on the rest of us.  Atheists too.  We all can believe what we want, why all the radicalism...here and abroad?
570063
When you meet the unbelievers, strike off their heads; then when you have made wide slaughter among them, carefully tie up the remaining captives.\n-- Holy Qu'ran, Sura xlvii.4\n\nI would call for perhaps the elimination of those who wish to embody the call for Jihad.
39631
Ask them where in the Bible it says, "God helps those who help themselves." Just remember that people want to argue and think that they can "bull" their way through sounding like an intellectual. It won't work with God, so they should just be honest with themselves.
478140
The pastor you describe is an example of an extreme fundamentalist.  It is important to understand that every Baptist is not this way.  When he told you that you were living a life of sin, you should have told him that he was as well.  We need to remember that the Bible says that we have ALL sinned.\n\n30 years ago, fundamentalists led a takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention and those who disagreed with them were either forced out or chose to leave.  The result was the formation of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.  Look at the website I am putting below.  If there is a CBF church in your area, you will probably feel for comfortable there.  Your pastor may or may not be Southern Baptist, but I have known at least one pastor who had beliefs EXACTLY like those you described.  Feel free to send me a message if you have some other questions.