The atheist
community is always busy fighting against the inequalities of religion across the world and I believe sometimes we need to step back and take a look
at the whole picture. One of the readers of this blog suggested I write about tolerance
within the atheist community for religion and this is my response.
Whilst there
are of course horrifically disturbing religious discriminations happening right
now, what about the ‘normal’ and peaceful religion that is being practised? As
atheists how should we react to them? I enjoy a good old heated debate, but
arguing at every moment possible is not the right thing to do. Sometimes leaving
a religious person with their faith is fine, if they start preaching about
their beliefs to you then please feel free to intervene and talk about your
well backed up beliefs. After all, well backed up ideas are always better than
preaching. Debating will probably not get you anywhere, as the religious person
already has beliefs that are based on faith. And evidence only destroys faith. As long as the debaters respect each
other’s views no harm can be done, debating correctly allows respect and critique of views.
I don’t
claim myself to be completely tolerant of religion in our society, but I do try
to have a degree of tolerance to it. I do not hold prejudice against religious
people because of their faith, or in any way persecute them.
There is a wise quote
from John F. Kennedy:
"World peace, like community peace, does not require that each man love his neighbo(u)r- it requires only that they live together with mutual tolerance, submitting their disputes to a just and peaceful settlement."
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