Re: God

Religion makes me angry. I was browsing some random groups on facebook and ended up somehow on a load of religion-themed ones, and they're mostly just a place for people to argue, bitch, piss and moan, swear, abuse and generally fling insults at each other because they have different beliefs. Muslims attacking atheists, christians attacking muslims, jews attacking christians... no wait, just everybody attacking everybody else!
Personally I'm an atheist and very firm in my belief, or lack thereof. I'm a science geek thoroughly convinced by evidence for evolution etc, and to me, believing in a god is no different to believing in fairies or witches or monsters or santa. Most of the western scientific community would probably agree, because as scientists we are trained to think critically and question what we are told. Much, if not all, religion relies on blind obedience and the unquestioning nature of people raised into a certain culture from birth.
If religion must exist, it should be a personal thing. The individual should consider all points of view before making a personal decision about what to believe and how to live their life. And keep it that way, as opposed to standing in the highstreet with a megaphone spouting bullcrap at the top of their voices to the dismay of the surrounding general public. I don't have a problem with religion at all as long as it's not been forced on other people, as long as it doesn't cause abuse, violence and hatred. As long as it's presented as opinion not fact, and isn't taught as fact in schools. As long as politics and law aren't based on it. The only religion I can think of that hasn't repeatedly through history caused pain and suffering and brainwashed billions of individuals is buddhism. Maybe I'm just unaware of problems caused by buddhism, but from what little knowledge I DO have, it's a peaceful religion that focuses more on self-enlightenment than destroying opposing belief systems. Why can't they all be like that?
Religion costs lives and starts wars. It teaches disrespect towards not only non-believers, but also what you might call "alternate" ways of life eg homosexuality. Some still promote sexist views and refuse simple freedoms to women. As a female, bisexual atheist, I wouldn't stand a chance at living the life I want to in, say, a predominantly muslim country.

In Britain, there's now a massive hoo-har over political correctness, blatantly a synonym for "ridiculously inappropriate tiptoe-ing around ethnic minorities". It actually has got to the point where the majority cultures are starting to be squashed in case they offend Asian and Middle Eastern religions. For example, there was talk recently about reducing christmas holidays in schools or something similar (I'm not sure of the details because I don't remember, but it was along those lines) so that non-christians wouldn't be offended. I'm not chrisitan, and I'm not offended. I don't get offended when people in this country celebrate Eid or Hannukah either. Why should anyone care? Tolerance is important.
Ironically, this post probably comes across as a massively intolerant rant. Not true. I resepct other people's beliefs even if I don't agree with them, as long as they are just that: private beliefs, as previously discussed. But I refuse to respect any views that promote discrimination on the basis of belief, colour, gender, sexuality etc. That really is intolerable and so it should be.

Hmm, so I'm hoping this hasn't come across as intolerant but it definately gets labelled as a rant. This is a topic I feel very strongly about so there'll probably be a fair bit more ranting to come at some point. For now I think I'm done so... I'm out.