Non-Believers: What stance should we take towards religion? (beliefs, atheist)

[kai]

i put something other because i don't know what stance i have on it, i find it totally bewildering , some of the religious beliefs of highly intelligent people are truly stupefying me, i have been here for a while and sometimes i think its a kind of mental illness and other times i just don't know what to make of it.

[Panda]

Truly I feel organised religion is an evil thing that breeds nothing but hate and discrimination. That is not to say people who follow these religions are evil but the entity as a whole is.

[Halcyon]

Take all three, put them in a blender and you'd have the approach I think best. We need the ability to take a different stance dependant on the nature of the religion in question and the specific situation being discussed.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Fluffy

Dennett refers to himself as an agnostic on this issue and appears to be in favour of reforming religion in order to get rid of the aspects which are considered bad and also that religion can be the cause of great beauty. He seems to be especially in favour of non-literal religion such as is advocated by the Sea of Faith movement. He also feels that mutual respect is a key aspect of achieving any progress towards this end.

The UU approach is largely unconditional support of and communion with religion as it exists today. Troubles in the world are caused by extremism and not religion and so it is better to form a united front with theists to confront extremism rather than trying to get rid of or reform religion. Mutual respect is a natural state that should be encouraged and whose only goal is greater understanding, tolerance and unity.

Um... what do you mean by unconditional support of and communion with religion? First of all, no UU would suggest that everyone commune with religion. If it's not your bag, then it's not your bag. All I've been arguing for is that non-religionists forego the knee-jerk hostility towards it.

Second, don't you think that UUs also recognize that there are elements that are bad? We spend a great deal of our time working to oppose the theology of fear that drives things like "defending traditional marriage" and being in favor of the immoral war. I think we recognize that there are elements of some people's faiths that we would prefer were different. But if there is going to be reform, it's not reforming "religion" in general. It's reforming those specific elements. And that has to done internally. It can't be imposed from the outside. That's what reformation is.

Most UUs (if not all) also favour a non-literal approach to religion. We just don't try to force that preference on others. I don't remember the specifics of Dennett's arguments now. I know there were some things with which I disagreed but in general, I do not see him as drastically opposed to the "UU" approach. Not like Dawkins and Hitchens.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Fluffy

There appears to be three main stances that non-believers take towards religion:
1) The Richard Dawkins approach
2) The Daniel Dennett approach
3) The UU approach

You forgot 4) The Patty approach. That's the one that doesn't know or care what Dawkins or Dennett believe, and isn't well informed on UU, but has an opinion nontheless.

[Mestemia]

Originally Posted by whereismynotecard

Not to be mean, but I think the world would be better off without religion. It is just another thing that separates everyone into groups, some of which being discriminated against by others. Of course I know that there are alots of religious people, and non-religious people who respect everyone reguardless of relgion, but I've seen a lot of people, and encountered a lot of people who judge people based on religion. I've had teachers not like me as much when they found out that I don't believe in god. I could tell that they didn't like me as much after I mentioned that. Because of this, I sometimes do not mention my beliefs, just because I know that my grades might suffer for it.

So I think it would be better if there was no religion.

The thing is, as you have already stated, religion is "just another thing that separates everyone into groups". It matters not if religion is done away with, the concentration would merely move to another clic set.

[emiliano]

What is this topic doing in a same faith debate?
Religion beliefs and worship: people’s beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of God, a god, or gods, and divine involvement in the universe and human life.
Non-Believers: What stance should we take towards religion? (beliefs, atheist)
How can these peoples have an opinion on what does not exist?
Is Atheisms a faith/religion?

[Mestemia]

Got me.
I just try to remember to check and make sure a thread I wish to post in is not in one of the sanctuaries.