Atheists & Agnostics

redqueen

(115,103 posts) Sun Mar 3, 2024, 10:29 AM Mar 3

I'm so tired of religion being treated like a special set of beliefs [View all]

like a category of ideas that are given protected status, this giving its adherents an expectation that the ideas should be respected and not criticized too forcefully.

Religion may not be the only example of this but it's the biggest I think.

More and more studies show an inverse relationship between religion and intelligence. Throughout history we have seen leaders use religion to manipulate the masses for no other reason their own gains again and again and again - yet still so many cling to these ideas.

It's encouraging that the number of nonreligious people is increasing, I just wish it would happen faster.

61 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I'm so tired of religion being treated like a special set of beliefs [View all] redqueen Mar 3 OP

I'm with you HAB911 Mar 3 #1

I keep saying it should be taught in school redqueen Mar 3 #4

Religion *is* taught in schools Roy Rolling Mar 3 #21

Studies also show that among "fools like them" are the 48% of scientists who claim a religion. ancianita Mar 3 #28

What are government -run religions? redqueen Mar 3 #47

Not enough time. LiberalFighter Mar 3 #39

We bend over backwards for religions. jimfields33 Mar 3 #7

The very thought HAB911 Mar 3 #8

True! jimfields33 Mar 3 #10

It pisses me off, too. All religions are the tops in being criticized & rational believers shouldn't be pissed off ancianita Mar 3 #32

I agree. Croney Mar 3 #2

It's fucking exhausting arguing this idiocy. Voltaire2 Mar 3 #3

I saw you apologizing for educating someone about the fact redqueen Mar 3 #5

I try to not be obviously rude. Voltaire2 Mar 3 #6

MANY special sets of beliefs. And many are the only true set of beliefs. keithbvadu2 Mar 3 #9

Exactly. Of all world views, why is religion exempt from rational discussion? paleotn Mar 3 #11

It shouldn't be exempt. The history of many standing religions shows that they have not been exempt. ancianita Mar 3 #37

Religion-- helping stupid people feel important since the dawn of time. OMGWTF Mar 3 #12

"Religion is the opiate of the masses." Karl Marx rubbersole Mar 3 #33

It's more like meth mixed with random shit. Voltaire2 Mar 3 #52

Marx didn't mean that as a bad thing DBoon Mar 5 #57

Religion enigmania Mar 3 #13

If I wanted to be ruled by Opus Dei intolerance I would join Opus Dei. They can keep their mystical cloud daddy. Comfortably_Numb Mar 3 #14

Hi redqueen, thank you for starting this discussion. Pendrench Mar 3 #15

"The Founding Myth" by Andrew L. Seidel RSherman Mar 3 #16

Not surprising at all redqueen Mar 3 #48

We have a family member who made us to all join hands while he said grace, a very long grace with lots of Jesus. CrispyQ Mar 3 #17

I grew up Catholic. redqueen Mar 3 #49

I have a few friends who are very religious mountain grammy Mar 3 #18

Let me rec this post 50 times. Orrex Mar 3 #19

It is quite clear to me that the establishment clause of the First Amendment edhopper Mar 3 #20

I think it was meant to work both ways. bluescribbler Mar 5 #58

I think it's both bluescribbler Mar 7 #59

Moi aussi. malthaussen Mar 3 #22

"religion should be strictly prohibited from being mentioned in political campaigning at all" redqueen Mar 3 #50

Sure, but candidates bragging about their religion should be unacceptable. malthaussen Mar 3 #55

Agree so very, very strongly. redqueen Mar 4 #56

We should be embracing critical thinking skills Flatrat Mar 3 #23

"Theology is the effort to explain the unknowable in terms of the not worth knowing." - H. L. Mencken sop Mar 3 #24

Are there any proveable facts in the bible? Science relies on years of research and peer reviews to establish...... usaf-vet Mar 3 #25

None that I know of. Lunabell Mar 3 #29

There were two of them anyway. Voltaire2 Mar 3 #43

The 'old testament' has some more or less accurate history. Voltaire2 Mar 3 #42

And there's no evidence at all for Jewish enslavement in Egypt. Lunabell Mar 3 #44

Yeah that one is ludicrous Voltaire2 Mar 3 #45

For me, religion is a waste PJMcK Mar 3 #26

Agree. Too many Elmer Gantry types selling quackery. kairos12 Mar 3 #27

There are a lot of lies a Society promotes Farmer-Rick Mar 3 #30

Ali G gets them. LOL! kairos12 Mar 3 #31

Overwhelmingly, religion is the public sphere supports far right wing policies .. DBoon Mar 3 #34

It annoys me that on crime programs, or newspapers aka-chmeee Mar 3 #35

Thank you for this. CTriverYankee Mar 3 #36

Napolean said it best notKeith Mar 3 #38

A bit of wisdom once taught to me -- byronius Mar 3 #40

I've long described religion as... GiqueCee Mar 3 #41

Religion should be treated... Shermanator Mar 3 #46

Christianity is just a big death cult. Sky Jewels Mar 11 #61

Nuns...tv shows always had characters apologize if cursibg around a nun..as if she was more delicate Demovictory9 Mar 3 #51

Some of the most vicious, vituperative people I have ever met were nuns. Act_of_Reparation Mar 7 #60

Thanks for posting this. Think. Again. Mar 3 #53

gottta have that fear of hell to make people turn over their power and cash nt msongs Mar 3 #54