# Atheists: What Is You Attitude Toward Religion **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 10, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251 "2010-09-10T01:32:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FuzzyOgre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@FuzzyOgre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuzzyOgre)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/21 "2010-09-10T06:51:59Z")
I poke fun at religion, and not uncommonly, its not pleasant fun. ---
**Author:** ![Kilmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@Kilmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilmore)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/22 "2010-09-10T07:10:35Z")
The universe is a bitch of a place to try to understand. Religion offers an all-encompassing solution and I understand why people would want to pick up on it. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/23 "2010-09-10T07:37:31Z")
Other: I think that it’s creepy to indoctrinate kids before they can think for themselves. I will actively encourage people to not try and convert anyone until they’re 18. But once you’re actually religious, either by indoctrination or self-choice, so far as I’m concerned, I don’t care one jot what you believe for yourself. On the other hand, if you try to convert me, try to debate that religion has a basis in reality, or try to get law passed based on anything other than statistics and logic, I’m going to slap you down. But that’s because you went out and confronted me publicly and are, essentially, forcing me to fight you. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/24 "2010-09-10T13:25:13Z")
Still on your journey to being an atheist, eh? There are a lot more than 3 types, generally or otherwise. Not a good idea to try and pigeon hole the world. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/25 "2010-09-10T13:35:36Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > That’s a rather narrow scope of choices. I think this would have been better as an open ended question. > > As an atheist, it’s very important to me that we should have freedom of, and from, religion. I think this pretty much sums it up for me. Everything is fine in moderation. Some things find “moderation” in smaller or larger quantities, though. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/26 "2010-09-10T13:42:11Z")
I’d encapsulate my attitude as such: I respect the convictions of theists, and feel that their dignity should be respected. I would like them to feel the same about me. When I am disrespected by theists, I get angry. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/27 "2010-09-10T14:03:44Z")
Religion and churches don’t bother me as long as they always keep in mind that what they are doing is based on beliefs. Personal beliefs. Emphasis on personal. As long as they realize that since it is a belief it really only applies to themselves and others who believe the same thing. It serves them as a moral compass and lets them sleep at night. What I do have a problem with is when they forget these thing are beliefs and start seeing them as truths. Universal truth that apply to everyone. This is where they completely go off the rails for me. “I believe that if I don’t go to church every Sunday I will burn in eternal hellfire.” Well, good for you. I respect your right to believe what you want and wish you success in dealing with it. “I know that if everyone doesn’t go to church every Sunday they will burn in eternal hellfire.” Well now you’ve just crossed the line into deluded moron. You’ve taken your personal belief and suddenly turned it into some universal truth how exactly? Just because you really really believe it? Get out of my face now. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/28 "2010-09-10T14:06:20Z")
I am an atheist. I have no problems with religion as long as it obeys the law. “You go to your church and I won’t go to mine” is my belief. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/29 "2010-09-10T14:11:29Z")
I’m a 2, but I occasionally have bursts of 3. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/30 "2010-09-10T14:26:24Z")
I voted for 3 only because I didn’t want to write a long explanation of what I actually do believe, but it’s close. It’s pretty obvious this poll was written by a theist. Still I’m encouraged, Curtis… This is a step in the right direction for you. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/31 "2010-09-10T14:34:06Z")
I went for 4. I wish religion would just _go away_, why religious leaders are looked to for moral guidance is completely beyond me. I regard them as not just delusional wackos, they’re _career_ delusional wackos. I’ve typed and erased a whole bunch of stuff but this is nearly relevant and about something that I hear nearly every day (if I don’t get to the off button). There’s a 07:45 spot every morning on Radio 4 (Though for the Day) where some religious type\* shares some of their wisdom. Occasionally (very occasionally) they’ll say something thought provoking, and then ruin it by crediting all human good to this guy who got nailed to a tree two thousand years ago for saying people should be nice to each other for a change. Just for once give the credit/blame to the FSM, and the teachings of Sheldon Cooper or - I dunno - Lemmy? - They actually had Richard Dawkins\*\* on, once, in 2002, for three minutes. \*\* No, really they did. ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/32 "2010-09-10T14:44:54Z")
I voted three, but find the wording a bit too strong for my liking. I personally belief all religion is nonsense, but don’t really care what other people choose to think…as long as they leave me or anyone else out of it. I can get very irritated by people ‘spreading the word’ on the streets or - even worse - by making house calls. Usually I can’t help myself and say something insulting baout not believing in fairytales or how I believe religion to be the source of most of the world evil\*. I really don’t care how liberal or not these people are, I just don’t want to be confronted with it. So the part where your categorization dismisses liberals doesn’t really resonate with me, allthough I might agree they are less dangerous then fundamentalists, just as desillusional though. \*which isn’t completely true, not completely ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/33 "2010-09-10T14:59:16Z")
I’m not “against” religion in any meaningful sense. My wife is Catholic, my kids are baptized and go to a Catholic school, I do volunteer stuff for their church and for the Salvation Army. I do think all supernatural beliefs are ridiculous and I’m constantly kind of amazed that any ever truly buys into it. I think religion in general, and Christianity in particular get treated with ludicrous deference in the media. I get bugged by quasi-documentary pieces on historical claims in the Bible which never have the guts to come right out and call a myth a myth. Even the news media never has the guts to call bullshit on obvious bullshit. Just for the sake of fighting ignorance, I wish the media, educational systems and politicians would be more willing to focus more on teaching, encouraging and practicing critical thinking skills and less on pandering to woo, but people are people. Religion is a symptom, not a cause. Trying to get rid of it only pours fuel on it anyway. I think it’s better to just let people grow out of it slowly and generationally, like what’s already happening in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/34 "2010-09-10T15:01:31Z")
> [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](#): > > I voted three, but find the wording a bit too strong for my liking. I personally belief all religion is nonsense, but don’t really care what other people choose to think…as long as they leave me or anyone else out of it. I can get very irritated by people ‘spreading the word’ on the streets or - even worse - by making house calls. Usually I can’t help myself and say something insulting baout not believing in fairytales or how I believe religion to be the source of most of the world evil\*. > > I really don’t care how liberal or not these people are, I just don’t want to be confronted with it. So the part where your categorization dismisses liberals doesn’t really resonate with me, allthough I might agree they are less dangerous then fundamentalists, just as desillusional though. This works for me as well. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/35 "2010-09-10T15:11:03Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > Just for once give the credit/blame to the FSM, and the teachings of Sheldon Cooper or - I dunno - Lemmy? I think it pretty much goes without saying that all human achievement can be credited to Lemmy. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/36 "2010-09-10T15:15:29Z")
Live and Let Live ™. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/37 "2010-09-10T15:48:35Z")
I have a problem with the “against” wording. I don’t give a damn what other people believe, as long as they leave me alone about it. In fact, if it brings you happiness or comfort in whatever way, then I think it’s great and I’m genuinely glad it’s working out for you. But no, I don’t want any, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/38 "2010-09-10T15:53:41Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > I have a problem with the “against” wording. I don’t give a damn what other people believe, as long as they leave me alone about it. In fact, if it brings you happiness or comfort in whatever way, then I think it’s great and I’m genuinely glad it’s working out for you. But no, I don’t want any, thanks. seconded - oh and please lets keep religion out of politics. Otherwise, its not really leaving me alone now is it? ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/39 "2010-09-10T15:56:30Z")
I wish I was more ‘live and let live’ on this issue, but I believe the Christian religion is bad for poor and undereducated black people, especially poor and undereducated black children. So, I am a bit too millitantly anti-religious. Also, Dawkins has brought me into a crises where I can’t decide whether or not I want to keep my policy of trying hard no to offend believers by continuing to grant them some kind of sacred space when it comes to discussing religion, or do I start to just be open and honest in discussions, knowing that it will offend them. I can’t figure out the best way to go. I don’t want to offend folks for no reason, but I also don’t want to pretend that I don’t think Christians are delusional. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/40 "2010-09-10T17:28:47Z")
> [@ramel](#): > > So, sorry for going on a bit. But I just can’t help the feeling that if people who call themselves religious truly believed, they would behave like they believed. I was thinking about this in relation to the Koran-burning pastor. He’s been stirring up shit for a long while, proclaiming that Islam is of the Devil. However, now he’s willing to behave, provided they move the mosque further from Ground Zero. Um, isn’t that mosque still “of the devil”? Are you striking a deal with Satan here? > [@Nzinga](#): > > _snip_ keep my policy of trying hard no to offend believers by continuing to grant them some kind of sacred space when it comes to discussing religion, or do I start to just be open and honest in discussions, knowing that it will offend them. I can’t figure out the best way to go. I’ve given this some thought too, living in the Bible Belt. I’ve decided to never initiate the topic, but if it comes up, just calmly identify myself as an atheist and go on treating people with respect, in hopes that they’ll see I don’t need to believe in God to be a decent person. Inwardly, I am still rather bitter and frustrated about the religious, but it’s not constructive to express it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251.md?page=3)