I am very vocal on facebook about my opinions on current events and religious idocity. I commonly post videos and links about science or atheism. Harkening back to my days as a homeschooled, brainwashed catholic, I have a good handful of “carry-over” facebook friends that undoubtedly shuffle through my outspoken linkage on the FB. As a result, i get a lot of personal messages (as well as public ones) from people defending their religion or challenging my atheism. I love this sort of dialogue, however there have been a few nasty ones that resulted in me being taken off a friend list (yes, like in gradeschool). Here is one of the best (name has been changed to protect identity).
Ann:
You’re entitled to think what you want about God, but to make gross generalizations about religion promoting ignorance or a lack of understanding really is just that, ignorant, and it’s also malicious. I follow God because he’s the reason the universe exists in the complexity of the organization that it does. There has to be a reason all this matter is here in such minute organization and with so many defined laws of nature. What I’ve learned clicks with the teachings of Christ. I study theology, science and the Bible to understand my faith and search for the truth more than I study material for my career or anything else I read for fun. So before you make generalizations knocking everyone else’s faith just because you had a bad experience with yours, please keep in mind that everyone has reasons for their faith, some better than others. Not everyone understands their own faith, and that’s tragic. I know you know what God’s teachings are, and you know those aren’t the problem in this world. Religion has done vastly more good than evil. People are the problem, godless ones just as much as people of faith. The act of following God, when it’s done the way God wants us to, is not the problem. I sincerely hope you find your way back to God, but until you do, please refrain from insulting everyone else’s faith.
Chrystine:
Thanks for opening up discussion.
You speak of knowing that a god is the starter of the universe. How do you know this? I am a reasonable, rational being and when presented with evidence or proof, I accept the claim provided the evidence is provable and repeatable.
You say you have faith, but what is that? Faith is believing in something that has no evidence or proof. I do not see that behavior as commendable. Here we are back to my status message. Religion makes a virtue out of not knowing something, assuming an answer devoid of evidence and calling it the truth. On top of this, religions start wars, control others who disagree promoting hatred, cover up child rape, deal in hoards of money through mega churches, and even discourage science at every crossroad; ALL in the name of a god.
Until the claim for a god can be proven, I will remove myself from superstitious groups and challenge those who blindly follow groups that promote ignorance and human suffering on so many different levels.
George W Bush once said that God told him to start the war in the middle East. In normal society, people who hear voices in their head telling them to harm others are committed to a mental institution for treatment. Somehow if the voice hearer claim a sky god was the voice, then we let them obey those “voices in their head” and even defend them.
Ann:
I wasn’t trying to open up discussion about this. I have reasons for following God and you have reasons for being an atheist. Like I said, you’re entitled to think whatever you want. But you can think it without hurling insults at religion and making gross generalizations about Christians. I try to follow Jesus’ teachings and he never promoted hatred, covered up child rape or dealt with hoards of money or started wars. I took you off my friends list because I was just sick of seeing it. It’s bigotry and you’re using some nasty stereotypes. I’m tired of seeing it so I took you off my friends list so I won’t have to. I was just hoping you would realize what you’re doing.
Chrystine:
that’s fine. I understand that u can’t defend what u think and it is easier to make me go away than argue your side.
Ann:
This isn’t about defending what I think, it’s about you being nasty and offensive. I’m not going to waste my time arguing with you because it would be like what they say about wrestling with a pig. You only get dirty and the pig likes it.
Chrystine:
I have a hard time understanding what is offensive about logic and reason. If you find it in you to insult me by comparing me to a pig that is your prerogative.
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And here is where I was removed from her “friend list” and conveniently ignored without reply.
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