Sick of religious bigotry

[Chocoholic]

I know White Daisy just started a topic on racism, so I thought I'd start one on religious bigotry (or whatever the correct term is). It really bothers me when people make fun of, or even criticize, other people just because they have a different belief system. Just like with different ethnic groups and sexual preferences, people with different religious backgrounds (or lack thereof) are entitled to respect. I'm sick and tired of being made fun of and being criticized just because I happen to be a Christian and I believe that Jesus is my Lord and Savoir. I don't believe in reincarnation and multiple gods and things like that, but you don't see ME making fun of people who believe in that stuff.

[AKA]

My entire immediate family is comprised of my parents and two brothers, all four of them became "born-again Christians" at different times in the last seven years or so. On top of that, I have many aunts, uncles, and cousins who also share their beliefs.

I'm agnostic, so you can imagine how much fun they have with me at family gatherings. It's almost torture. They might as well chant "ONE OF US! ONE OF US!" and point their fingers at me.

[Brian Damage]

As a Christian, I know Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I don't believe in any other religious beliefs, but I won't make fun of people who do.

[Mossopp]

Urgh! Don't get me started on this!!!
Fu]k!ng bastards telling me I'm going to hell just cos I'm not straight! What right do these people have to tell me how to live?? I don't believe in God and Heaven and all that stuff as portrayed in the Bible. If believing in God helps these people to sleep at night then fair enough but I don't want them forcing their beliefs on me!
Religion is just a front for people who hate. They sit there and say that homosexuality is wrong because "it says so in the Bible". Stop hiding behind your religion!!!! If you think that gay people are sinners then you're a hater - pure and simple.
There's a Christian TV channel on satalite in the UK called 'Wonderful' (you may know it - I think it's broadcast from the States) and it regularly shows a programme called 'Set Free' which is specifically about how homosexuality is morally wrong and perverse. A gay friend of mine told me about the show so I tuned in out of curiosity and it made me so angry! It also made me feel ill at the same time - the thought that there are people out there perpetrating such hate and discrimination in the name of religion makes me so sad and frustrated. I am appalled that such discriminatory material is allowed to be broadcast on television. If there were a channel exclusively showing racist programming it would be shut down immediately so how can a channel expressing blatant homophobia be allowed to broadcast unchecked??? I felt physically ill when that so-called religious 'expert' came on and warned us about the "plague of homsexuality" that was "poisoning" our lives!
Fu]K!ing ba$tard$!!!!!!!!!!!

[Georgia's on my Mind]

I am a Catholic and beleive all the teaching the Catholic Church teaches...Alot of people usually have problems with them, but I know what I beleive and that's perfect for me.

[pandora_spocks]

I agree. It shouldn't matter what religion you are or what race or sexual preference you prefer. We are all people and we'll all die at one time in our lives. It would be nice if the world was just open minded about everyone's differences. We all think differently, but should appreciate others opinions and beliefs as well. Oh well, just my two cents.

[White_Daisy]

I believe in reincarnation and anytime I bring it up, people usually think I'm making a joke, so they laugh. I don't really think that's religious bigotry. They didn't know better, and reincarnation and such things are usually used in a joking manner. So they laugh until they realize I'm not laughing so they stop. It's just when people ask, "Why in the hell would you believe in that?" that I start getting offended. Usually people are interested. They want to know how I think reincarnation is possible.

The thing is that my family is half-Muslim. My grandma still believes that she can convert the latest generation so she's held me to a promise. I have to fast for Ramadan every year. I've been doing it since I was a kid. It's sort of like a mixed-religion for me. After 9/11, when people knew I was fasting, they'd sneer or make some snide comment. I think Islam is a beautiful religion and people like bin Laden are not true Muslims. People think that as racist as my grandmother is (she's very anti-America), she'd be pro-bin Laden, but she's not. She wants bin Laden dead, she thinks he's ruining the religion and killing so many innocent Muslims. However, I think that if bin Laden was not responsible for the death of Muslims, and only killed Americans, she wouldn't be so anti-terrorism.

[*Melissa*]

I too am fed up with the way some people try to push their religious beliefs on others. I feel that you are allowed to believe in and follow whatever religion that feels right to you. You shouldn't have to be told that "you're going to hell" because your beliefs are different from the majority. I thought that what made everyone special was their individuality? How could we be individuals if we all believed the same thing? Look at a lot of the world's problems right now. Many of them are a result of religious bigotry that has gotten out of hand. I was wondering today if the world would have so many problems if there wasn't any religion. There wouldn't be religious fundamentalists that attack individuals because their beliefs are different. But then I concluded that this world would still have the problems it has because it seems to be human nature to fight.

Bigotry causes too many problems...

[Chocoholic]

Mossopp, people like that drive me crazy too. Not all Christians feel that way. I could care less about what a person's sexual preference is. I don't think that homosexuality is wrong or evil and I would never tell a gay person that they are going to Hell because it iis not up to me to decide who gets into Heaven or Hell. I think you are an awesome person

I've gotten some crap from other Christians because I refuse to see homosexuality as wrong, I don't mind seeing a little sex and violence in TV and movies, I don't agree with the Parent's TV Council (www.parentsTV.org), I can't stand Touched by an Angel, I listen to a lot of secular music, and some other stuff. I just ignore them though.

[Tuesday Weld]

I wish everyone could accept everyone else just the way they are

[Chad22]

I Dont believe In Religion, I Believe In God. But whatever religion people are, It doesent bother me. Although i must admit im not very fond of Satan Worshippers. Not Atheists, My best friend is an Atheist actually, But i mean people that actually worship Satan. I Think Thats Wrong.

[Kay Scarpetta]

I was born and raised a Catholic. My family is also Catholic. My mother and father are hardly Catholics. My mother goes to Church every Sunday only because my grandmother would jump down her throat if she didn't. My father is currently 'mad' at God (I don't know- don't ask), so he does not go to Church anymore. When I actually believed in God, Catholicism scared the hell out of me, as did any organized religion. My Church was full of fakes and phonies. Anyway, I have since forth changed my belief, and I'm now an Athiest. I can't tell my family, because my mother and father will kick me out of the house (Why? They aren't even religious people) so I have to go to Church, go to Sunday School and sit there, grin and bare it, and pretend I believe in God. Isn't that sad? I have to pretend I believe in God because of the prejudiced people around me. Now in school, if someone asks "Do you believe in God?" I'll tell them a straightforward "no, I don't" and they will look at me with a look of total disgust on their face. Why can't people just accept other people's beliefs and we'll all be peachy keen? I'm sick of people jumping down my throat because I don't believe in God. Well, sor-ry! Maybe in a few years my beliefs will change, we'll see. As for now, you respect my beliefs and I'll respect yours.

[Jimbo]

These days, it seems the only group in this country that it's permissible to discriminate against (and sometimes it's even encouraged!) are people of faith.

One of the distubing patterns I've noticed within the current anti-war movement is an growing undercurrent of anti semitism. People are certainly entitled to express their opinions opposing military action against Iraq, but there seems to be a faction which is using the anti-war movement as a cover to advance their anti-Jewish and anti-Israel agenda. I'm not saying everyone opposed to the war is guilty of this - but if you look closely, and look objectively, you'll see that anti semitic undercurrent.

[Max Whittaker]

Religion is resposible for more wars than land!

I'll take this time to state to the world that I have no religion! I believe in God, I believe Jesus died to save us. However, I believe in letting people live by there own belief system and subjecting ourselves to religious boarders only creates tention and bigotry. And I know a ton of people who just love to bash people and there religion to make themselves feel better. What's really sad about it is, these people actually believe they are going to heaven. Somehow, I doubt God will add points for bashing...
I feel sorry for those people.



To all you who except people for who and what they are, thank you. You are what it means to be human, and I believe you will be the first to see those Pearly Gates.

Religion is evil!
I have no religion!

[Chad22]

Originally posted by Max Whittaker
Religion is resposible for more wars than land!

I'll take this time to state to the world that I have no religion! I believe in God, I believe Jesus died to save us. However, I believe in letting people live by there own belief system and subjecting ourselves to religious boarders only creates tention and bigotry. And I know a ton of people who just love to bash people and there religion to make themselves feel better. What's really sad about it is, these people actually believe they are going to heaven. Somehow, I doubt God will add points for bashing...
I feel sorry for those people.



To all you who except people for who and what they are, thank you. You are what it means to be human, and I believe you will be the first to see those Pearly Gates.

Religion is evil!
I have no religion!

I Agree with you 100%, That is also my way of Life. I Believe In God, I Pray, I Believe Jesus Died for us, and i believe in the Bible (Although i admit i have never really read much of it) But i do not believe in Religion. I Feel By picking a religion you are just picking sides. I Dont think Religion is evil, But its not something that i go by anymore.