Do You Even Care What Religion Other People Are?

[leftyladyfrommo]

I don't. And I can't imagine trying to prove that another person is stupid because of their belief. What kind of a cheap thrill is that?

I'm a mystic - all my life. And I have spent years reading documents from first century BC thru 3rd and 4th Century CE. Honestly, you could argue absolutely anything from the material from that period of time. There were so many ideas out there and the whole situation was so fluid. Must have been a pretty exciting time for philosophical thinkers.

But even with all of that I am still a believer. I still sit everyday.

I don't care if someone is an atheist or an agnostic. Absolutely doesn't matter to me.

So I don't understand why other people find it necessary to be so rude.

[LWolf]

1. I don't care, as long as they don't use it to browbeat me. n/t

[leftyladyfrommo]

2. Have you had that happen?

I ask that because I just refuse to engage. It is pointless.

I lived for 7 years in Salt Lake City. And now I live in the Bible Belt. I had to learn to deflect religious discussions.

Which is kind of sad in a way because it would be fun to have people I could actually have discussions with. But it isn't possible most of the time.

[LWolf]

3. It doesn't happen often.

If you don't count the people who want to "visit" you to "chat," that wander the neighborhood knocking on doors, lol.

The browbeating I've experienced generally comes from one of two sources: somebody with a bible that wants to make sure I know I'm going to hell if I don't let them convert me, because theirs is the only god, the only path; or some skeptic who wants to ridicule me for believing in anything that the scientific method hasn't verified to his/her satisfaction.

[skater314159]

4. Yeh...

... but that was because I was in a small (by my standards) town in Texas... I was stuck there after my dad was killed because I had to quit college and take care of the family business. It was awful.

The Jewish community of the county had to meet in secret because of all the prosyletizers, so I couldn't join up with them. The Catholic community was pretty insular, because as "brown people" (i.e. Hispanics) they were persecuted. I was accepted and supported by them (I'm a half-Socialist Catholic/half-Jew) and they didn't really care where I was from or what ethnicity I was. They were kind, loving people who would give you the shirt off their backs. It was sad because a lot of them were really poor, but they supported each other because social services and governmental support in the community were nil. (Getting on food stamps or social aid would get a family persected)

Most of the whites in the community were hatefilled, rude, bitter people who would stalk me in the Wal-Mart (yes, the *only* store in the county to buy food and stuff at besides Dollar General ~sigh~) parking lot to accost me with Chick Pamphlets and to tell me that my dad was in Hell. They also would come by my house to bother me there. The worst was one day when the *KKK* came by to give me pamphlets. I didn't know they like, really existed... I know that's ignorant of me - being in college and all - but still, you don't ever expect a member of the KKK to knock on your door! I found out from the family across the street that the last cross burning happened when the first blacks moved into town - in 1980. That really *freaked* me out. I loved when the Mormons would come by, cause at least they didn't tell me I was going to hell and we could have a bitch session about being "pounded by xian fundies" - which tells you something.

Luckily, I got a job and got the hell outta there. Getting back to nature for a bit helped me to re-ground myself, get in touch with God/ess and my ancestors, and heal. And just so you don't think this like happened in the 1950's or something - my dad died late 2004. I remember it was right before the election, because he was killed, and they came by the house to tell me that anti-war signs and John Kerry signs meant he was in hell and I was going there too. It was awful.

I shared this because if it hadn't happened to me, I wouldn't have believed hateful people like that are in America - but then my dad raised me to be a Socialist Cathli-Jew Bleeding-Heart Hippie. And as to the original thread question - I don't care - as long as you're cool with my beliefs I'll be cool with yours. If you're not cool, I'll just avoid you in the future.

[leftyladyfrommo]

6. How Interesting.

When I lived in Salt Lake City there was plenty of religious clique kind of stuff. And people would try to convert the unGodly - but once they realized you weren't interested they would simply back off and just sort of shun you. (Not all Mormons are like that, either. Many, many Mormons didn't care what your religion was).

The difference was that Salt Lake City is a big city and there are plenty of people there who are not Mormon so non Mormons hang out with non Mormons and Mormons tend to hang with Mormons.

It is a very strange place to live.

[Maat]

12. We honor all paths ... we are one.

My heart goes out to you for having gone through that experience. Your post was profound and moving.

I'm cool with you beliefs, and thank you for being cool with mine.

I lost my dad last year; so, I know how hard that is.

Blessings (or positive energy) to you and yours!


:hi:

[southerncrone]

14. Sorry you had to endure that type of crap! The South can be very cruel,

if you don't fit in their mold.....especially super small towns. Everybody is under a microscope.
I bet these people had WWJD stickers on their cars while they persecuted you. Crazy loons.

What sick town was this? I want to make sure I stay away! LOL
:hug:

[Sanity Claws]

5. Sometimes

Because I want to relate to them, not browbeat them or proselytize. If I know someone is a certain religion, I think they may understand a certain analogy or other reference I'm using.

[supernova]

7. Somewhat

I don't care in the sense that it's not the first thing I look for if I'm looking for reasons not to like someone.

But I do care... if it's an important part of their life. If they derive pleasure and meaning from it. (I like to see people who enjoy their life) If they are into something I might be curious about and want to learn about. Perhaps we could share and swap stories.

[NMMNG]

8. No

As long as they aren't using it to harm anybody else or restrict the rights of anybody else I don't care one iota.

[OnionPatch]

9. It's part of the whole package.

I certainly don't discriminate against those whose beliefs I consider "out there" but I may not want to be their best friend, either. A person's religious beliefs tell a whole lot about them.

There is one quality (if you can call it that) that I have absolutely zero tolerance for and that's the insistence that one is right and everyone else is wrong. Anyone who says they KNOW what is out there beyond our existence or life, or says they know for a fact, the true nature of God, is full of it. I don't know and you don't either. Sorry. That goes for atheists and believers. (Atheists can't prove there is nothing any more than believers can prove there is something.)

[NMMNG]

10. I agree with you there

There is one quality (if you can call it that) that I have absolutely zero tolerance for and that's the insistence that one is right and everyone else is wrong. Anyone who says they KNOW what is out there beyond our existence or life, or says they know for a fact, the true nature of God, is full of it. I don't know and you don't either. Sorry. That goes for atheists and believers. (Atheists can't prove there is nothing any more than believers can prove there is something.)


Absolutists are so frustrating. :banghead:

[zingaro]

16. Yes. I have a hard time with exclusionists and those

who feel that their beliefs are the ONLY ones as well.

[Jamastiene]

11. No

As long as they do not force it on me or preach at me, I'm fine with whatever someone else wants to believe. I have my own beliefs and do not feel the need to push them onto anyone else. Live and let live is my philosophy.

[southerncrone]

13. Only if I think they will try to convert me to their religion.

Typical only of fundie Christians usually.

Live in a small town & "certain churches" rule the rest of us.

[Oak2004]

15. I have a strategy when dealing with religious people

In all my reading I've yet to find a religion with any track record (i.e., other than freshly invented for purposes other than religion) which doesn't have at its core a set of common truths. This isn't surprising I suppose: if your goal is to arrive at truth, and you persist, you'll unsurprisingly arrive at truth, which unsurprisingly remains true regardless of the observer.

So I talk to people in their own language, within their own theological culture. No conflict, no issue.

And yes, I'm as concerned about other people's religion as I am concerned about the precise route chosen by those who come to visit me. What does it matter? *shrug*

[Fire Walk With Me]

17. Yes, because I'm interested in learning about religion.

[MedleyMisty]

18. Yes, because religion can be dangerous

Read some history and see if you can come up with a body count for religion - it'd be enormous.

So I care about what other people believe when their beliefs lead them to hate, discriminate against, torture, and kill others.