Quote:
Originally Posted by s_k
I pointed out some pages ago that my experience (right here, in the netherlands, just my experience, please don't start a discussion whether it is true or not) is that people who strongly believe in some superior power. Catholics, protestants, doesn't matter, tend to hide behind their religion. The ones I know often aren't honest, aren't even nice or friendly. I, in general, don't like people who are thorougly into 'the Lord'.
I know at least one exception, so I'd like to add that it's my experience 'most of the time'.
Again, it's based on what I see, right here. I can't deny it in any way. I'm not saying everyone who is religious lives like that.
My view by the way: I'm not saying there isn't more than we can see. I'm sure there is. But most of the time I don't like the way people handle religion.
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I have a couple of christian friends who I studied biology with who are really nice people and able to believe in God and study a science at the same time. I also have friends who are members of Jehova's wittnesses. If you didn't know and just met them, you probably wouldn't be able to tell. I feel I've learned that someone's faith is not always a good indicator of what they're like and I try not to be judgmental. Even though I may not agree with what people believe in, unless it's something I strongly disagree with from a moral point of view, I try to respect their faith.
Also, just like I don't like missioning, I don't like forcing atheism on people. If you meet a 30 year old devoted christian and you argue that what he believes in is wrong, is that likely to make the world a better place for any of you? I don't generally think so, I think people have to question themselves and what they believe in and that's something they do, not something you are supposed to do for them. The important battle for the minds and hearts of people mostly takes place at an earlier age. Teach kids and young people how to think and teach them what we know about the world and they'll be mentally equipped to question and figure it out on their own without someone trying to force their beliefs.
edit :
As an atheist, I still think it's sad sometimes how it's often hard to discuss religion because it so often degenerates into aggression, finger pointing or, even worse, insults. In this thread, writing that you get the impression religious people are more often ****s, does that really promote any kind of respectful, intelligent discussion on the subject? I think not. Too often, people treat such discussions merely as competitions they want to win, sometimes by any means necessary.