Why must everyone either be religiously zealous and fundamentalist or fiercely atheistic and hostile towards any form of spirituality? Is there no happy medium? Is there nobody who is at least mildly tolerant of others' beliefs without being self-righteous and intrusive?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thought I'd ask.

I wonder the exact same thing. My guess is poeple just want to make other people look stupid. Nothing else to it.

is there something wrong with a little deep conversation? I much prefere talking to "religiously zealous and fundamentalist or fiercely atheistic and hostile towards any form of spirituality" people.

heh, funny, i percieve most people on these forums as middle ground/agnostic, albeit there are quite a few atheists here that do fight against anything spiritual

I am agnostic and can tolerate anyone's beliefs. I don't mind a deep conversation about relgion once in a while, but try to have them too often and I'll fall back into my old ways of trying to prove my beliefs are right.. Which is why I try to stay away from most religion topics.. :-#

I'm tolerant of both. I believe in God, but I study science as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And sometimes, I do think people post just for the sake of an argument. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

*Is agnostic and tries his best to avoid religious topics.*

People on the extremes tend to argue more vehmentantly. So it appears that everyone is extreme, because you mostly only hear from the extremes.

I like to think I'm indifferent when it comes to relgion but that doesn't mean I don't want to hear about it. Nothing is worse than being ignorant about something you don't agree with.

Im kind of what you describe. I dont argue against peoples beliefs (I have to tolerate it, I go to a Catholic school and I am not catholic) and I dont mind others questioning mine. :D

I dont care what people choose to believe.

 

 

 

-As long as they dont try to preach to my why their beliefs are "true"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personally I dont really believe in religion and all that, but I believe in some of the values/morals they preach. I also disagree with some values/morals they preach, but if someone does agree with it they can without me caring at all...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thats their choice and I respect it... like I said, as long as they dont get in my face and try to impose their religion onto me.

Why must everyone either be religiously zealous and fundamentalist or fiercely atheistic and hostile towards any form of spirituality? Is there no happy medium? Is there nobody who is at least mildly tolerant of others' beliefs without being self-righteous and intrusive?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thought I'd ask.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agnostics.

 

 

 

but there are athesists and relgious that are tolerant.

I don't usually proactively argue, I defensively argue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meaning I won't say anything until someone says something I perceive as extremely illogical (and sometimes insulting).

There will never be a happy medium when religions people genuinly belive that their friends may go to hell in eternal suffering if they do not follow the church and atheists know that the whole things is bogus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then religon is practiced in the comfort of peoples own homes privately I have no problem with that, but when people are always on TV banging on about it, I get bugged on the streets, people even knock on MY door to MY house trying to shove it down my neck, thats when I start getting mad. When high profile religious leaders, televangelists, muslim clerics etc openly come out with such trash it sickens me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There will never be a happy medium unless either the whole world is one faith or none at all.

The problem is that the thread turns into a bunch of people saying "yeah, anything's fine...w/e".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And that hardly leads to discussion...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tbh I usually end up refuting extremist statements the whole time. It's rare that I put forth a new point.

Why must everyone either be religiously zealous and fundamentalist or fiercely atheistic and hostile towards any form of spirituality? Is there no happy medium? Is there nobody who is at least mildly tolerant of others' beliefs without being self-righteous and intrusive?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thought I'd ask.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, they do exist... but how would ever know about them? After all, if they have no opinion either way.... then why would they post here on a topic like this in the first place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look at the number of people who have viewed this thread and then look at the number of people who have actually posted... it's likely that the majority of people who didn't post are that large group who are "on the fence" so to speak :)

If somebody is attacking your point of view, you will want to defend it. Being defensive pushes you farther from the middle.

Because I believe religion to be a currupt invention by society that's gotten way out of hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's usually no gray area when it comes to religion, except for possibly agnostics.

Religion and other beliefs for that matter are things that people feel very strongly about. Because they feel strongly about such things, they can often act zealous about their beliefs, whether it be expressing them, or debating them with another person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are a few things that I feel strongly about, and know that I can be overzealous to the point of disrespect. It's just a human mistake, and it's hard to realize that you're doing it.

I'm not a fundamentalist at all and I object to you saying everyone has to be. I'm actually a fairly liberal Christian. You don't pay attention enough if you believe that insane, Astra, and myself are fundamentalists.

That's why I'm agnostic, it's not a choice, it's the most rational stance. Nobody in the world has enough proof to prove one way or another; A God simply exists or he doesn't. I'll try to explain why I think so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arguing about anything else is just a matter of personal beliefs that should not be confused with a logical argument. Thus I'll respect anybody's beliefs, because it is just as possible that a hindu is "right", or a muslim/christian/taoist/whatever is "right" in his beliefs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currently, we can't disprove God's existence. Neither can we prove he exists. Thus atheism would sound the most logical solution, but it's not, because there is always the chance of God existing. Agnosticism is thus not a belief or religion, it's a neutral observation. Everybody's religious beliefs are equally valid until proven otherwise.

Exhibit A: Moi.

 

 

 

I don't care what religion anyone is (mainly because I could care about religion period), everyone is a person, so thats all I care about. Same goes for race.

That's why I'm agnostic, it's not a choice, it's the most rational stance. Nobody in the world has enough proof to prove one way or another; A God simply exists or he doesn't. I'll try to explain why I think so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arguing about anything else is just a matter of personal beliefs that should not be confused with a logical argument. Thus I'll respect anybody's beliefs, because it is just as possible that a hindu is "right", or a muslim/christian/taoist/whatever is "right" in his beliefs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currently, we can't disprove God's existence. Neither can we prove he exists. Thus atheism would sound the most logical solution, but it's not, because there is always the chance of God existing. Agnosticism is thus not a belief or religion, it's a neutral observation. Everybody's religious beliefs are equally valid until proven otherwise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd rather believe in some higher being. It gives me hope. Sometimes when I'm stressed out I pray and remind myself that life goes on even after I die. It's mainly for hope.

 

That's why I'm agnostic, it's not a choice, it's the most rational stance. Nobody in the world has enough proof to prove one way or another; A God simply exists or he doesn't. I'll try to explain why I think so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arguing about anything else is just a matter of personal beliefs that should not be confused with a logical argument. Thus I'll respect anybody's beliefs, because it is just as possible that a hindu is "right", or a muslim/christian/taoist/whatever is "right" in his beliefs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currently, we can't disprove God's existence. Neither can we prove he exists. Thus atheism would sound the most logical solution, but it's not, because there is always the chance of God existing. Agnosticism is thus not a belief or religion, it's a neutral observation. Everybody's religious beliefs are equally valid until proven otherwise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd rather believe in some higher being. It gives me hope. Sometimes when I'm stressed out I pray and remind myself that life goes on even after I die. It's mainly for hope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't get hope from religion, it just depresses me. I have to be told the truth, no matter how harsh it is.

 

 

That's why I'm agnostic, it's not a choice, it's the most rational stance. Nobody in the world has enough proof to prove one way or another; A God simply exists or he doesn't. I'll try to explain why I think so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arguing about anything else is just a matter of personal beliefs that should not be confused with a logical argument. Thus I'll respect anybody's beliefs, because it is just as possible that a hindu is "right", or a muslim/christian/taoist/whatever is "right" in his beliefs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currently, we can't disprove God's existence. Neither can we prove he exists. Thus atheism would sound the most logical solution, but it's not, because there is always the chance of God existing. Agnosticism is thus not a belief or religion, it's a neutral observation. Everybody's religious beliefs are equally valid until proven otherwise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd rather believe in some higher being. It gives me hope. Sometimes when I'm stressed out I pray and remind myself that life goes on even after I die. It's mainly for hope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

can't get hope from religion, it just depresses me. I have to be told te truth, no matter how harsh it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How does it depress you to know that there is life after death, and you will be in heaven where everything is near perfect. Something like that. I just think there's something better than there is now in heaven.