# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/61 "2010-09-11T18:11:13Z")
I have to say my attitude toward religion is particularly low today after waking up to an anti-Muslim, anti-atheist rant from one of my fundamentalist Facebook “friends”. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/62 "2010-09-11T18:23:02Z")
Religious people have their lives dominated by the church. They can not imagine that many people spend no time at all thinking about religion. If it weren’t for all the threads about it, I would rarely think about it at all. Of course now we have religious people threatening to burn the Koran, and every station carries it. Then in the name of god we have to stop a Mosque being built in the neighborhood of the towers. Religious militancy seems so atavistic. They all claim to be peaceful, yet so much violence is done in the name of the church. What is there to like? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/63 "2010-09-11T18:29:31Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > > [@Lobohan](#): > > > > I think we should have the right to be religious. Although in my perfect world almost no one would be. > > Interesting that you qualify that. In your perfect world, would you keep a few religious folk around? If so, why? In my perfect world people would be educated enough that only a tiny minority would surrender reason for comfort. I want the option there, but I think it causes problems in excess. I guess like everything else. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/64 "2010-09-11T19:26:44Z")
This “Religion” LARP has gotten way out of hand. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/65 "2010-09-12T02:54:51Z")
> [@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. \*\*We should have freedom of, and from, religion. \*\* They can believe what you want to…just don’t spew your garbage in my face as if your better than me. \>: ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/66 "2010-09-13T14:07:29Z")
After all the responses, I wonder if **Curtis** will let us all know why he started this poll, and am hopeful that he’s actually listened to the general (I don’t want to put words in anyone’s mouth) consensus that atheists don’t really care what the religious believe as long as it doesn’t affect us, and that we don’t base our decision on, or even think about, a Christian’s adherence to their religion’s scripture. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/67 "2010-09-14T03:58:26Z")
Atheist as far as I can remember considering such things, but I actually like Christianity in particular and most religious people I come across. Maybe I’m easily amused. I picked up Greek pretty much to read two things: Homer and the New Testament. I’m not great at Latin, but I go back to Spinoza and some of the scholastic and medieval texts (and the Vulgate) pretty often as well. Fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/68 "2010-09-14T20:54:23Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > 1. These atheists are against all religion. They strongly agree that going by religious Scripture that the fundamentalists/Evangelicals are right (ie if we take the Bible literally we should stone adulterers) and that liberals are not much better and just cynical panderers who have modified their positions to appeal to their public. They think all religious belief are dangerous and delusional. This is the closest to my position, but this part **does not apply** : > [@](#): > > They strongly agree that going by religious Scripture that the fundamentalists/Evangelicals are right (ie if we take the Bible literally we should stone adulterers) and that liberals are not much better and just cynical panderers who have modified their positions to appeal to their public. I think all people are equally wrong in their religions. I have no specific problem with people who have modified their beliefs to be more in line with modern culture. I do especially despise those who pick and choose among the teachings of their religion, though–e.g., “Christian” convervatives. Gee, who was it who exhorted people not to judge anyone else and advocated extreme socialism… Oh, right, Jesus, at least as reported in the Bible. I think that Marx had it right when he called religion the “opiate of the masses”–not in the sense that most people think of it (it’s a dangerous drug like heroin), but in the sense that he intended: it’s a _painkiller_, like morphine. And how is morphine dangerous? If you’re injecting yourself with it and hobbling around on a broken leg, the break is never going to heal. So until we remove the “morphine” of religion from our societies, we’re never going to be able to truly progress and fix all of the thousands of problems that religion helps us ignore. I think that it is impossible for anyone to be truly logical and analytical and still be religious. This makes it very hard to have a serious discussion with religious people about their beliefs, in the same way it’s hard to have a serious discussion about what happens under their pillow with someone who truly believes that the Tooth Fairy exists. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/69 "2010-09-15T06:50:35Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > **Curtis** , what’s with all the religious threads lately? Seriously, do you have some kind of witnessing quota at your church or something? I actually assume that he’s where I was at 14–exploring what I actually believe, instead of just going on what my parents tell me. I don’t think he’s necessarily interested in not being a Christian, just being curious about other viewpoints. This messageboard is probably close to his only access to atheists. Curtis, am I close? ---
**Author:** ![Gustav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Gustav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gustav)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/70 "2010-09-15T08:10:24Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > After all the responses, I wonder if **Curtis** will let us all know why he started this poll, and am hopeful that he’s actually listened to the general (I don’t want to put words in anyone’s mouth) consensus that atheists don’t really care what the religious believe as long as it doesn’t affect us, and that we don’t base our decision on, or even think about, a Christian’s adherence to their religion’s scripture. Preliminary poll results: 27% of atheists secretly envy religious people 16% think fundamentalists are right, but oppose them anyway 57% hate all religious people Oh, and a few guys voted “other” just to see the results. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/71 "2010-09-15T10:07:08Z")
The poll is too ignorant for me to vote on. Hint: religion isn’t just Christianity. Hint 2: it’s possible not to believe in something, yet not be opposed to it per se. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/72 "2010-09-15T14:39:41Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > The poll is too ignorant for me to vote on. > > Hint: religion isn’t just Christianity. > Hint 2: it’s possible not to believe in something, yet not be opposed to it per se Yeah, what the hell is with the assumption of opposition? I get three choices in which I’m “against” religion? Ridiculous! You might as well say I’m against tampons because I’m a dude and they aren’t relevant to me. Down with tampons! ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/73 "2010-09-15T15:52:53Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > Down with tampons! But be careful of \*what \*you put them down, because apparently some people will think you’re Hitler if you dare to flush them. ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/74 "2010-09-15T18:36:44Z")
None of these fit me. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/75 "2010-09-15T18:42:04Z")
The three choices present such a jumble of concepts and statements that it is impossible to select any one of them. I think religious belief is largely delusional. However, while I regard its influence as generally negative I don’t have anything “against” it as long as it isn’t used as a justification to place restrictions on the behavior of non-believers. Unfortunately, that is all too often the case. The Bible is a collection of myths and moral parables. As such, it can’t really be regarded as being objectively “right” or “wrong.” Some parts of it promote what I would regard as positive behavior. Some parts of it have been used by believers to justify horrific acts. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/76 "2010-09-15T18:56:24Z")
I picked ‘other’. I’m somewhere between 2 and 3. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/77 "2010-09-15T19:02:02Z")
I think religion is a pretty cool guy, eh fights teh devil and doesn’t afraid of anything. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/78 "2010-09-15T19:09:57Z")
> [@kimera](#): > > None of these fit me. Of course not. They were constructed by a conservative Christian tween who knows few, if any, atheists in his personal life. > [@Ludovic](#): > > I think religion is a pretty cool guy, eh fights teh devil and doesn’t afraid of anything. What is that I don’t even. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/79 "2010-09-15T19:34:51Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The three choices present such a jumble of concepts and statements that it is impossible to select any one of them. > > I think religious belief is largely delusional. However, while I regard its influence as generally negative I don’t have anything “against” it as long as it isn’t used as a justification to place restrictions on the behavior of non-believers. Unfortunately, that is all too often the case. > > The Bible is a collection of myths and moral parables. As such, it can’t really be regarded as being objectively “right” or “wrong.” Some parts of it promote what I would regard as positive behavior. Some parts of it have been used by believers to justify horrific acts. I agree and didn’t vote on this silly poll. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251/80 "2010-09-15T19:43:51Z")
I wonder if \*\*Curtis \*\*is ever coming back to this thread, or if he’s abandoned it like so many other threads of his that haven’t gone as planned. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-what-is-you-attitude-toward-religion/553251.md?page=5)