Why can we just not tolerate each other??
Criticism of Religion
Criticism of Atheism
Now I am most decidedly a Christian and proud of it, and I am not here to defend my beliefs, I do not need to. I am secure enough in my faith that I can listen to extremist points of views from both angles and not be swayed in my beliefs.
I am just not into fundamentalism and intolerance whether it be religious or atheist
I give you two quotes of extreme points of view:
Still, even the most admirable of atheists is nothing more than a moral parasite, living his life based on borrowed ethics. This is why, when pressed, the atheist will often attempt to hide his lack of conviction in his own beliefs behind some poorly formulated utilitarianism, or argue that he acts out of altruistic self-interest. But this is only post-facto rationalization, not reason or rational behavior. -Vox Day
Religion has caused more misery to all of mankind in every stage of human history than any other single idea.
If I am so secure in my beliefs, then why am I even presenting this as a point of interest? It is through a very human emotion ... that of anger. Two people with whom I am in contact with through Facebook are not just atheists, but are avowed critics and haters of religion. It is something that seems to consume them. And quite frankly, it is sort of beginning to offend me. Do I continue to sit quietly by or do I get up onto my high horse, which is probably what they want?
Now the one chap who is more of an acquaintance than a friend is far more tolerant. He and I have both agreed to disagree and see it as a sign of maturity that we can have other common interests but differ on this one point of view.
The other person affects me more personally. he is my ex fiancee. Now he has always been of a new age / philosophical point of view. He come from a family that is Christian by tradition but has never practised. He has experimented over the years with Christian Fundamentalism, Wicca, etc.
The fact is that he is someone who is searching and is not finding. He feels he has finally found his place in the atheist movement and calls himself a philosopher.
Whilst we were together he always openly stated that he found no reason to believe and always quoted that the fundamentalists in the Church he had joined had poisoned him against religion. But he never tried to deter me from going to Church or mingling with my Christian friends. In fact he always encouraged me!
In our last conversation he had wanted to go to a show that was quite expensive. He was unemployed and had been supported by his parents and me. I took a stand and said that I could not pay for this show. He then said that he would ask his mother for the money. My response was that I could not in all good moral conscience allow her or anyone else to pay for this show when we had so many other debts and things that needed to be paid for.
Now please note I said in all good "moral" conscience. not in all good "Christian" conscience, because I know the difference, that not all Christians are as moral as they should be and that Christians are not the only people who have morals.
Well this just opened a floodgate of hatred towards me and bitter condemnation of mine and other religions. It is since this and our break up that he has become fanatical and full of hatred for Christians, Muslims, Jews etc.
A common theme throughout his ranting seems to be this thing of "morals" so I can only believe that my use of this word in denying him what he wanted tipped him over the edge.
I have no problem with him or anyone else thinking or believing differently to me, but with fanaticism of any kind there is no debate , no rationale, just an enforcing of your point of view on other people.
The very people who use the excuse of religious proselytizing as the reason for their anger, are themselves becoming intolerant proselytizers of the first water!
Why? Is it simplistic of me to think that these fanatical atheists / critics of religion must have some core part of them that has either not been answered by religion or has been hurt by religion. Why are they so angry.
Are people who are atheists through a sheer process of growing and learning more calm about their beliefs and are they more tolerant?
I don't know, and I don't want to be angry ( I almost entered a "like them" here - how human of me)
I am just puzzled as to why it has to be an argument and not a debate?
WHY CAN WE NOT ALL BE MORE TOLERANT? WHAT A WONDERFUL WORld THIS WOULD BE THEN HHHHHMMMMM?
I would like to end with an old poem that my grandmother used to quote which I think says it all...
If all good people were clever
And all clever people were good,
The world would be better than ever
We thought that it possible could.
But somehow it's seldom or never
The two get along as they should.
The good are so harsh to the clever,
The clever so rude to the good.
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