Are you too angry about religion?

[beige]

I go with the keeping my mouth shut option.

I probably shouldn't, but I've found it's not even worth bothering to bang my head against a brick wall. It's worrying how even the most simple things to me can be insanely complicated to someone else. Maybe my view of "simple" is just too subjective

[FBM]

Ever since I got my chakras aligned and mastered the kundalini energy, I've found the solution to obnoxious people like evangelicals, telemarketers, etc: I drink soju and fart around on the Interweebs.

[Twiglet]

I don't have much contact with religion in my life, so I seldom have cause to get myself angry about confronting it. So my answer is no. I'm anti-theistic, but I don't go looking for an argument or advertising my atheism to friends and family. I like to avoid confrontation, though I'll happily debate my stance until the cows come home if I'm asked about it. On Facebook, I almost never mention anything about religion (my information page says "Freethinking" for religious views, and that's it). I just don't want to bother.

Most of my family doesn't discuss religion either, with the exception of my aunt Judi in Long Island. In the last ten years or so decades she's become absolutely brainwashed, and posts a scripture passage as her Facebook status every day. I ignore it; to be honest, she's not the brightest person and doesn't have the most ideal life, so if it's a crutch for her then I say so be it. She's never tried to point out the evil of my ways, although as per the first paragraph she may not be fully aware of my views on the subject. But she'll be visiting here for a day in July... I'll let you know if any fireworks happen.

I think you raise an excellent point here. Peoples beliefs may be irrational and unreasonable, but they can also be quite integral to somebodys identity, and serve valuable social purposes as well as a sense of belonging and support in many communities.

We shouldn't have to compromise our ideas or beliefs, or even self censor - but I think it helps a lot, before reacting in anger, to ask what the ideal outcome of such a confrontation is, and whether going through the exercise is likely to help achieve it. Atheists may take a certain delight in tearing down religious unreason, but winning people over requires more than just the ability to rationally destroy their arguments, which is why so many degenerate into the religious person taking shelter in the unreason of faith, and refusing to abandon it.

I imagine I'd have a hard time keeping my cool if I felt my child, or a close friend was being indoctrinated, but thankfully that has never happened to me. I get mad in a very generalised way when I see politicians and priests whipping up religious frenzy to justify atrocities and enrage populations. Stare too long into the abyss though, and the abyss in turn will stare into you.

[hackenslash]

No, I'm not angry about religion. I get peeved at the way it's been used, and I certainly get exasperated at some of the fuckwittery currently inflicted upon us by the terminally stupid, but I don't really do anger, contrary to the impression that some may get from my posting style when dealing with the aforementioned ranks of the irremediable credulous. For the most part, when people around me waffle on about their whacky beliefs, I am amused, though often a little saddened. Most of the people who know me just keep schtum, because they are fully aware that I'm an incurable gobshite, and fully averse to not telling them precisely what I think.

[Rum]

There's a difference of course between feeling anger and expressing it. Given that a large number of religious people seem to take the view that any faith is better than non at all, which requires, doublethink though it is, tolerance of other faiths, we would be breaking that mild taboo if we expressed intolerance. It is also true that if you protest too loudly people go on the defensive and protect their faith even more irrationally in 'defence mode'.

So - yes - I feel a great deal of anger at the effects of religion on humanity, from the sacrifices of the Aztecs to the child abuse of catholic priests, to Bishops sitting in the House of Lords. But do I express it openly? Not often unless it is here or I have to deal with a particularly in your face issue caused by irrational belief.

[maiforpeace]

I never volunteer discussions about religion in the company of people who are religious, but, if they initiate a discussion I will certainly speak up if they start up with something I disagree with.

But, like FBM, I find these kinds of discussions totally pointless. Because I value many of my relationships more than I value being right about religion or lack of it, I do my best to deflect the conversation if it starts getting confrontational or heated. I have found that looking for the things I have in common with religious people rather than focus on our differences (we all want a better world for our children, we believe in justice etc etc) has worked for me.

I have been accused of being a militant, intense atheist, but never an angry one. Rather than get upset about the accusation, I embrace it and often will exxagerate it in joking, self-deprecating way which serves to soften their view of me and, similar to Jim's experience, I become the "token" likeable atheist.

[cowiz]

My hatred of religion could be described as religious. I detest the willful ignorance, blind hatred, bigotry, anti-intellect, reliance on fucking faith, and intolerance towards women, homosexuals and others. Every sinew in my being is fueled with rage at the activities of these fucktards.

[Tigger]

My hatred of religion could be described as religious. I detest the willful ignorance, blind hatred, bigotry, anti-intellect, reliance on fucking faith, and intolerance towards women, homosexuals and others. Every sinew in my being is fueled with rage at the activities of these fucktards.

This ^

[Elessarina]

About some aspects of it yes - like genital multilation. But generally it doesn't make me angry it just makes people go down greatly in my estimation if they are religious. I find myself naturally drawn to atheists I can't help that it's something I find very attractive in someone

[Tigger]

About some aspects of it yes - like genital multilation. But generally it doesn't make me angry it just makes people go down greatly in my estimation if they are religious. I find myself naturally drawn to atheists I can't help that it's something I find very attractive in someone

You'd fucking love me, then.

[Trolldor]

2 things infuriate me unqeustionably - Islam and Scientology. The Catholic Church can be thrown as well, I suppose. Most other religions I just don't know much about, or there are too many sects and subects and sub sub sects to figure out which is the 'problem' and which is the 'mainstream'.

[Bella Fortuna]

<snip>

Do the rest of you have this problem?

To an extent. If I voice my increasingly vehement opposition to religion, I'll be looked on as a whining, strident atheist. The thing is, though, the longer I live the more intolerant of religion I am becoming. I'm not obnoxious about it, but I think it is an enormous bane and an unmatched negative influence on mankind - and how can you not sound strident when you express that?

Even my equally (and lifelong) atheist ex-husband thought I was overboard with my opinions, but then, he's an accomodationist and a twat.

[Coito ergo sum]

I'm not angry about religion. I'm fascinated by it. Kinda like the way you can't look away from a train wreck, or a two-headed snake. It is frightening and repulsive, but somehow, I just can't look away....

I don't think I'm angry enough about religion.

I will say that every time I see a priest I think "fucking pedophile." I don't trust priests. I can deal with a minister or rabbi, but priests bother me. I would never trust a child with a priest, or one of those "brothers" from Christian Brothers thingamabob. No ski trips or camping excursions with the good "father" or "brother" permitted....no way.

And, every time I see a priest giving advice, my first reaction is - "dude, how the fuck do you know? What sort of credence should we give your 'theology' credentials here? How about 'zero?'" They just don't know what they're talking about, and all you're getting is some regurgitated priest-babble.

I am really bothered when they insist on talking about "god's purpose for your life" and that nonsense. All their advice starts from the premise that we all "need" to "believe" that there is some "purpose" that god has for our lives, as if we'll just lose it if we don't think that the friggin' universe revolves around us.

Damn, I hate those anointed pederasts.

[floppit]

I've got that 'came too late to the thread' feeling!

Personally I just find it more productive to be clear about the acts I don't like than direct the same feelings to religion, as I believe the latter is man made it seems something of an unneeded detour to the same destination. It also gets under the radar of believers and I think it does make them think about the acts of their fellow believers (although few and far between people full stop ever think about their own, rather than other's acts!).

I can rant freely about denying kids a GOOD education and slowly add in what that would mean with full agreement from almost anyone, before they know it they think they think it would be good to teach critical thinking in schools. 'Course that never lasts some other militant goes an blows the gaff!

[mightymouse]

Not too angry, no. A bit annoyed. If I was too angry I would be needing to do something about it.

Having at one time been a believer and then and agnostic I've come to realise that the human mind is a bit wierd and easily manipulated. It's how people get sold something without really thinking about it.