I fully support the right of atheists to believe as they so choose. Why then can they not extend to me the same courtesy?
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CaptainHarley adores his life penguin
ANSWERS: 39
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In my opinion it is because they don't know how to respect other peoples rights or religious freedom and they enjoy trying to bring us down to their level.
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Because of questions like these that make ignorant generalizations over an entire group of people.
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because you touch yourself at night.
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because no matter how much they deny it, atheism is an organized and ridged religion. and when ever a ridged organized religion forms, it developers an overwhelming sense that they are right and everyone else is wrong. so the wrong thinkers have to be forced to conform and think the way they do. anything else is a threat to their way/world view.
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All you referring to ALL atheists or just AB atheists?
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They think they've been "liberated" from the tyranny of religion which is a form of control, blah blah blah, and they have to "help" you. Also because idiots like Richard Dawkins sets a really poor, angry example for them to follow.
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You can. The problems arise when some people try to force religious beliefs like creationism into school classrooms, or try to enact laws to impose religious beliefs like "no same-sex marriage" on the whole population.
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I would say that's an argument both sides could point a finger with. Regardless of beliefs, someone somewhere will eventually try to impose theirs upon you.
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must have been satan clouding their minds about the coolness of a really awesome god, or
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I do fully support your right to believe as you choose. Those of us: atheists, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Jeans, Hindus, Wiccans etc who support each other are what we pin our hopes on for a balanced future.
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Who exactly attempted to deprive you of your right to believe as you choose? How would someone even attempt that?
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I do fully support your right to believe as you choose. I support the rights of EVERYONE to believe as they choose, providing they don't push unsubstantiated claims as facts, and try to teach them to kids.
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That depends. If your idea of others 'supporting' your right to believe as you choose means said others acquiesce to your beliefs being the basis of government and public policy, then I hope they DENY you that courtesy. Otherwise, you have my permission and indifference to believe whatever you want. . . .
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lack of respect but i have seen it on both sides, some people will never mature and understand what real respect means. +5
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You can believe what ever myth you would like. In the meantime keep your mitts off my body, my family, our library, my doctors office, the country and the world. Quit trying to legislate morality, shut your mouth and provide a model based on example of right instead of showing your true colors again and again as hypocritical asses. You want courtesy? Try walking the talk.
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Where do you get the idea that atheists (blanket statement) oppose your right to believe? I certainaly don't, and I rather resent your implication that I do! . As an atheist, I certainaly support your right to beleive and I think the absolue majority of other atheists would do as well. Similarly, I think the absolute majority of Christians also support our right NOT to believe, though I must admit that sometimes feel that some of them do not respect this right. . I can't help wondering if it isn't just a question of perception based on the tone in which some on both sides presenttheir arguments. . Some on both sides present their personal beliefs as absolute inarguable fact, by extension denying or denegrating out of hand the others arguments. . Offensive and unproductive to be sure, but I suspect that this is just a matter of poor manners, rather than a denial of the others rights.
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I think you can find open minded people of any faith (or lack thereof) if you talk to enough people. They are peaceful and go relatively unnoticed. The attentions of those that choose NOT to extend respect as a mutual courtesy are just more apparent to you because of their blatant show of disrespect. If it's any consolation, provided you practice your faith with kindness and respect, you have little to lose but Sunday afternoons.
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Are you being attacked by a sea of atheists Captain? I am surprised because they usually are the attackees and I feel sorry for them.
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It would be wonderful if everyone could respect each other's beliefs and their right to have them. We could all learn something from each other and maybe find a mid-point where we could agree. Sadly, that's probably never going to happen.
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They can, and they do.
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It's undeniable, from where I sit, that many ( if not most ) atheists wish that Christians would disappear from the face of the earth. I asked a simple question: "Why cannot atheists extend to me the same courtesy I extend to them of allowing them to believe as they wish." Should be easy to answer ... if you're honest.
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Not all atheists are like that. I know some that do accept people's choice in religion.
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Most religious people seem to be the ones who say non-believers are going to hell and are fair game for abuse.
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Its not that we atheist will not allow people to believe in the invisible man. The thing is christians always ask us stupid nonsense questions and ask if we realize we are gonna go to hell and stupid shit like that, And thats when we blast em with facts
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My dad is a christian, I'm an athiest and i fully support him in his christianity, I even bought him a bible just recently. So not all atheist are bad people, in fact very few are but for those few that are there are as many if not more bad theist
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You can believe whatever you believe, I won't stop you. That doesn't mean I won't have a discussion if it comes up or that I won't call a spade a spade should that situation arise.
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Im an Atheist. Believe what you want. i dont care. its your Right!
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I can speak only for myself, but I do support your right to believe as you wish. I don't however, support anyone's right to try and dilute science with their beliefs or pass legislation for all based on them. I also don't support the "right" of religious institutions to be tax subsidized, as is the case in churches not having to pay property (and sometimes alcohol) taxes. They should be treated as any other non-profit (so long as they really are one) or a business (when they actually pull in millions and give the pastors lush lifestyles). For instance, any time I hear about a school board caving into Christian Fundies and either removing evolution or forcing the inclusion of ID - I have the right to fight them tooth and nail. Or when the religious right heavily funds campaigns against gay marriage, I the right to do everything I can to prevent them. Especially when it's religious people in Utah funding laws in California. So, where it's a question of belief - I support anyone's right to believe in gods or fairies or anal probing little green men. 100%. +5
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I only argue when a Christian (or whatever religion) inposes their beliefs on me, which isn't really respecting one's belief. They always say "with all due respect" though, and it is such a pain because it really isn't.
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'Cause they're immature, and can't face people's personal decisions.
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I fully support your right to believe whatever you want to believe - so long as you don't try to force me to think the same way. People on here react to those questions (mainly posted by an individual user) questioning whether atheists can love, how we can show compassion etc....that is neither respectful nor supportive. The questions are asked as a generalisation and people respond in the same way. On an individual level I have never seen you attack anyones' beliefs and would find it insulting if an atheist attacked yours on behalf of all of us! There will always be people who seek to rattle cages and start an argument - they are not worth the time of day.
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I have no problems with you or anyone else if they choose to believe in Myths and Fairy tales, so long as you or anyone else who does so does not try to force others to do the same or look down on others who do not or brow beat them because they do not believe and tell them they will go to hell etc.My problem is with Organised Religions and the brainwashing and Hypocritical teachings they sprout while professing to love thy fellow men/women they will kill them in the next breath in their Gods name. I also find it strange these Religious people and organizations try and do influence laws that govern EVERYONE because they think its the way things should be .. so please if you and others of the religious faith want courtesy then its about time its shown to others who do not believe
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Why, because they HATE YOU for your belief. And because they have no GOD ... it's NOT a sin to hate you, to ridicule you, to attack your intellect and to write off BILLIONS of believers as idiots and fools. Atheists and secular humanists believe we - 'Man' - is capable of making up our own code of conduct .... to make their own rules. They don't want a GOD, or you, to get in their way ... in ANYTHING they want to do. If the way they have treated you and other believers is an example of their 'code of conduct' ... GOD HELP THEM.
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Golly, I guess I'm just a big jerk, aren't I? What with all the times I've personally attacked you impeded your worship. (That's sarcasm, for the record.) Look, I'm frequently snarky on this site, I'll be the first to admit, but don't say I don't support your right to believe. Of anyone I should think atheists can appreciate the right to believe what you will. You might think I'm taking your question too personally, but you, like so many others, are generalizing about a group and, in disguising it as self-righteous whistle-blowing, are really only betraying your own anti-atheist beliefs. And I am, in case you missed the point, atheist, which means when I hear a negative remark about all atheists I have to take it personally, because it is.
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There are two types of atheists: those honest folk who do not accept any form of reality beyond material things, and those who have a real problem with people who do so believe and like to tell them they are all idiots and suffering from a mental virus called a "meme". With the former it is possible to have a sensible discussions, with the latter you are usually dealing with fools and have to suffer them gladly. It is to the New Atheist fundamentalists you need to address your question.
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Honestly, I have no problem with anyone wishing to believe in a deity or in a particular faith, and I hope that I have worded this in a manner that will offend no one's sensibilities. I must, however, take exception when religious organizations promote legislation which would force all who believe differently to abide by that religion's own specific political views or set of moral values.
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You can believe what you want, just don't impose those beliefs on me. Also, don't ask me to subsidize your churches by claiming tax exemptions. I really resent that your buildings tie up valuable land while not paying for the support services provided by the city.
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It's because your beliefs are not harmless. You are supporting a system that wants to deny other people their civil rights (I'm making the assumption that you are Christian). You are free to believe whatever you want, until you use it to hurt others. That's why in a nutshell
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Because as a minority group they have been bossed around by religious fanatics for too long. Groups of atheists dont go to other countries to make them become atheists. They dont own drug stores and refuse to sell birth control to people who are not athiests. Atheists dont go to your house and try to get you to become a nonbeliever. Atheists respect a believers right to believe as long as their beliefs are not shoved in tbeir faces. Unfortunately that respect is not returned and never has been. There are many more distespevtors than there are accepters.
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