Should atheists/ non-believers of God stay out of religion?
By Sheepie
@Sheepie (3112)
United States
November 18, 2008 4:39pm CST
I often hear that people who are not religious should simply stay out of the Religion interest. I completely disagree, as someone who is not religious. How unfair would that be if I wasn't allowed in? How unjust! How discriminating!
I don't have kids, but I sometimes post in the interests like Kids and Parenting to talk about child care and how to get a kid to obey, because I think I have useful knowledge with that. Plus, I was a little kid not so long ago, so I could explain things from a small child's point of view really easily.
I don't have a relationship, but I post in the Relationships interest to talk about what people want in relationships.
I enjoy talking about religion AND my lack there of. What's wrong with that? I've NEVER told anyone that their opinion was just wrong, at all! I've never tried to offend anyone, I've tried to express my opinion without stomping on anyone's beliefs, and compared to many others here, I think I have done a great job of that!
What do you say? Should atheists be allowed in here?
If the religions topic was just full of people who believed in god, wouldn't it just be a bunch of people constantly agreeing with each other? That probably would not really help anyone learn much. You certainly don't have to debate, but what is wrong with talking about it?
5 people like this
27 responses
@soooobored (1184)
• United States
19 Nov 08
I saw one discussion where the person was asking a nuts and bolts question about the Qu'ran, phrased peacefully. The responses were all from atheists, all telling him that it didn't matter, the Qu'ran is a storybook and only fools devote their lives to a fairytale. That's incredibly inappropriate. Had the poster asked "Do you believe in the Qu'ran", that's a different story.
Some atheists are bullies and jerks, and the way they approach people who believe in God is totally inappropriate. THEY should refrain from posting, because they have nothing of value to contribute. But you can't generalize that ALL atheists should stay out of all religious posts, because that's absurd. Atheism is pretty much a religion anyway.
1 person likes this
@Sheepie (3112)
• United States
19 Nov 08
Well, to straight out tell someone that they're wrong is just rude and conceited to say. I mean, if one atheist had read the Qu'ran and could tell the person what the passage meant or whatever, fine. The most important thing is to respect and try to look at it from the other side.
It's not as though telling someone whether it matters or not is even answering the question. Atheists pretty much, as a rule, want to stick to discussions based around, "What do you believe in" or "What is your opinion on" because if we're asked, we're going to answer!
So basically, in any interest, anyone who harasses or is rude has to be reported anyway, it is against the guidelines.
1 person likes this
@soooobored (1184)
• United States
19 Nov 08
Absolutely! EG, I don't believe in Creationism, but I'm very curious about it and respectful of it. I would never hop into a Creationist discussion to tell someone that its a fable and this is what really happened....
So yeah, my complaint is for jerks in general, not really any specific group of jerks!
@Khayam (346)
• Romania
19 Nov 08
If you do a bit of research you might find that for instance there are alot of freemasons (P2 Lodge) among the Vatican cardinals, archbishops, secretaries of state, etc. A similar situation is to be encountered in the case of various rabbies, imams, hindu spiritual leaders.
Freemasonry is not necesarily a form of atheism, but its conceptualization of the world (cosmogony, afterlife, etc) have no spiritual nuances.
@Khayam (346)
• Romania
19 Nov 08
I've made the comment, mainly due to your mention of God. According to freemasonry system of values, there is a supreme being that goes under the name "The Great Architect of the Universe". However, many Christian Churches (Orthodox, Copt, etc) consider Freemasonry as a sect promoting the cult of Devil.
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
19 Nov 08
I think that the ppl who have that bs attitude should get over themselves and get a grip..Religion IS NOT just about Christianity or any mainstream path for that matter, there are numerous religions out there AND more importantly, this being a forum, ANYONE who has an opinion on any given religious topic has ever bloody right to post and join in any conversation...
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
22 Nov 08
How boring it would be if Only the ones who see everything the way you see it respond to posts? We need, dare I say it,a Devil's Advocate. I am religious but I am not Christian. I love religious posts where we get to see it from All sides and the nonreligious side Has to be included or there will be something missing.It would be stupid and less profitable to deem a post off limits to certain people.
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
18 Nov 08
H Sheepie,
I agree with you, why can't people who are atheists join in with the debate, otherwise it would be too boring, those religious peo0ple can't have their own way, I' m Pagan and proud of it.
Tamara
1 person likes this
@dragonflyfli (5528)
• United States
19 Nov 08
I think most religious people are looking for either an argument from an opposing "team" or an alliance from someone on the same "team"... And when someone comes in and stands on neither side they want nothing to do with you because you dont offer either to them.
does that make sense?
@minerc (1373)
• United States
19 Nov 08
I dont see a problem with it, I think that we learn from different people everyday, I am a christian and read my bible but I will not ever claim to know everything and my mind is always open to learn more or even confirm or disconfirm things I think I already know. We all must open ourselves to others and let use teach one another whether we share the same believes or not.
@ShellyB (5241)
• United States
20 Nov 08
I agree with you.
Right now I feel spiritual, and do not believe in organiced religion but also for whatever reasons I do not feel like talking about religion, people seem to take any opinions as personal attacks.
I think you are right, people who do not believe in God should go to religion, they show a point of view that religious persons might have not thought about.
And vice versa, thinking and saying that they do not belong on religion just shows that well people who believe in God are insecure.
@6precious102 (4043)
• United States
19 Nov 08
I have absolutely no objective to anyone whether or not religious joining in religious discussions. As a matter of fact, I enjoy reading the different points of view. I also enjoy a good debate. The thing that irritates me about some, not all, nonreligious people is that they act as though anyone who believes in God is an idiot.
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
19 Nov 08
Who told you to stay out? If you want to come in come in. Who knows, maybe someday someone will say something that will change you mind about God or at least get you to thinking there's more to consider. We Christians are suppose to try to bring people to God not drive them away.
@Crocket (315)
• Canada
19 Nov 08
No, I believe that atheists and non-believers should be allowed to read and learn about God as even the devil knows every word of the Bible or how could he fight the war against religion?I also believe that people that do not know anything about what they are talking about should first spend some time on the topic to have some sort of intelligent means of communicating with these people.
When someone speaks up against something they should know at least what they are talking about and whether or not what they are saying is the truth.
Crocket.
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
19 Nov 08
Sounds like Sheepie must of got told off. 
If only religious persons were allowed to comment on religious topics there would be lots of disagreement as most sects consider themselves as the only true path to heaven and the rest will go to hell.
I think atheists should be allowed if their view is relevant to the discussion, just as any other view that is relevant to the discussion, and not just being a negative troll.
If only religious persons were allowed to comment on religious topics there would be lots of disagreement as most sects consider themselves as the only true path to heaven and the rest will go to hell.
I think atheists should be allowed if their view is relevant to the discussion, just as any other view that is relevant to the discussion, and not just being a negative troll. 
@remrick (202)
• Philippines
20 Nov 08
We can't really help it if atheists choose to go to discussions concerning religion... it's their choice, they have the freedom and every right to do so..
however, i just wish that people would be more tolerant and respectful of each other's opinions... this applies to both believers and non-believers... :)
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
19 Nov 08
People have the right to express their views wherever they wish to. You do not have to have a religion to comment on religious ideas or relevance in the modern day. I comment all over the place and I sometimes get slapped across the wrist by people who think I have no right to an opinion on the topic but I do not care.
I believe that I have the right to voice my opinion wherever I wish as long as I am polite about it.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
19 Nov 08
I don't think people should be barred from a subject they don't believe in. Otherwise, how would anyone learn? Sometimes the questions of an unbeliever reinforces our own faith. I think the problem is that questions make people examine their faith and that's uncomfortable for them--they're not interested in learning, they just want to be sheep in a pasture, blindly following the shepherd! That's not what God wants, as far as I'm concerned.
Anyway, just because you don't subscribe to a subject doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to discuss it.
@Anne18 (11029)
•
19 Nov 08
I am an atheist but do find religion very intersting to learn about, espically about the different ways people worship God etc.
I haven't always been an atheist but a very strong bleiever in the past.
Everyone is intitled to have a say and we should all be able to talk about it together
@SeishiroX (1093)
• Philippines
19 Nov 08
I disagree. The only atheists that should be banned from entering this interest are those that do nothing but flame religions and force others to their non-belief. You don't do that, so you should be welcomed here.
Personally, I would love to talk religion with an atheist. It gives me an opportunity to look at religion from another perspective. I am able to understand how an atheist views religion without the doctrinal bias that most religious people have. As both a baptized Christian and a practicing free-thinker, it gives me a chance to learn something new even if it may come from an atheist.
@brenbelmonte (113)
• Philippines
19 Nov 08
No. As religion is for the people who don't know God, as a dentist is for those who don't have a good set of teeth or are suffering from a dental disorder or disease.
@cherryliu (2)
• China
19 Nov 08
Not everybody in this world are religious,and those who are bellive in god do not want others to judge them,so why just keep to yourself,and u know that if others were judging u,u will not be happy,right?It is not a matter of interest.i think
