I don't trust religious people anymore

[tempter]

Hello Everybody

Just to get a few things out of the way, Yes i am new here and yes i am an athiest. I started this thread not to cause a riot or anything like that but to simply discuss the topic. Lately as i have grown older i have come to realize that i no longer trust religious people.

I realize that many people i deal with on a day to day basis are religious in some form or another and of varying degrees and for the most part it is never brought up in a topic of conversation. Their beliefs are their own and as long as they don't push them on me i never know the difference..generally these are good people and i have no issues with them at all, nor they me.

The problem comes when i find out that they are religious, i instantly lose respect for them on an intellectual level and i no longer trust them to make sound decisions. The reason for this is the cognitive dissadence they show in their religious views and their ability to ignore what in my opinion is the obvious fact that there is no god, never was and that religion itself is just a tool used to control the masses.

I find myself looking at the country as a whole and realize that the same people who believe there is an invisable, all powerful , omnipotent being in the sky that created everything, controls everything and can see or do everything with no proof of that person get a vote in how this country is ran and that vote counts just as much as mine does.

Basing their choices on how we should run our country on a figment of their imagination and the will of the church is downright dangerous in my opinion.

Anyway , if anybody finds this way of thinking worth a conversation then have at it.

There's no legitimate reason to trust a person simply because they're religious. Or because they aren't religious. You should trust a person simply because you know them and know you can trust them. I am about as far from christianity as you can get without being an atheist, and I only trust christians that I know. I don't trust (or dis-trust) anyone simply due to their religious affiliation.
Don't automatically trust anyone for everything. You have to get to know the people first.

 

[Falvlun]

Belief in a religion itself isn't a good enough reason for mistrusting a person's intellectual abilities, imo. A lot of religion is about emotional connectivity, not really an intellectual pursuit at all. Non-overlapping magisteria and all that jazz.

However, when the religious person goes on to tell me that s/he is a YEC (or some similar belief that has been destroyed by science), then I can't help but lowering my intellectual expectations for them. Yes, still probably not completely fair: Afterall, they may be just fine in math, just not have a good grasp of biology, or what have you, but still, it's a hard pill to swallow with equanimity.

 

[ChristineES]

I don't trust liars anymore. I think the whole government is corrupt (although not ALL politicians are untrustworthy). I don't trust people who don't trust me when I have never done anything (good or bad) to them.

 

[SgtOfHeart]

Dear VegasRich,
I LOVE honesty in thinking, feeling, & conversation. That's always a key starting point for me with anybody. I think 'intelligence' is relative and don't appreciate 'judgement' in general. Am I guilty?...hell yes!! As a 20 yr retired/disabled combat vet, my entire world which really had to do with my perceptions, beliefs, & purpose have been literally 'blown to pieces' after Iraq (also served Panama conflict, first Gulf War, nasty DEA missions, & volunteered for many humanitarian missions. Before I continue, may I ask what your belief is of me? Do you think I'm religious? Any 'bias' about what I've said or presented?

I'll explain once I get your answer. No, I won't nip-pick your spelling or beliefs

 

[oldbadger]

Hi! I'm new here..... l can spell (a bit), and can buy something off ebay (yep!), so, armed with these super abilities I thought I would try to join in. I don't trust religious people very much either, but I trust all of 'em more than our little dog, which I would not leave anywhere near a plate of ham, or a sausage. But 'Smew' is predictable, and so are most other animals....... predictably ruthless in their determined need to survice (ooooh! a typo-thingy!) and reproduce. But the funny thing is this...... I don't think any creature, from a virus to a tiger, is capable of any evil whatsoever; they just do what they do. Very young humans, and simple humans cannot be evil, they also just do what they do........ it's the intelligent humans alone that are capable of evil, so I don't think that religious people are worse than others. What saddens me is that intelligent people can believe that the creators of our tiny universe are specially looking out for humans..... just on Earth in the solar system. How STUPID!! Which means that even these 'intelligent' ones are too thick to be evil as well (?).
I don't think religion has anything to do with our Gods and the truth. Religion is mostly rubbish, whilst Gods' prophets and messengers (like Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, et al) are so wonderful. I think I'm going to duck down now!!! All the best, old badger

 

[jasonwill2]

Hi! I'm new here..... l can spell (a bit), and can buy something off ebay (yep!), so, armed with these super abilities I thought I would try to join in. I don't trust religious people very much either, but I trust all of 'em more than our little dog, which I would not leave anywhere near a plate of ham, or a sausage. But 'Smew' is predictable, and so are most other animals....... predictably ruthless in their determined need to survice (ooooh! a typo-thingy!) and reproduce. But the funny thing is this...... I don't think any creature, from a virus to a tiger, is capable of any evil whatsoever; they just do what they do. Very young humans, and simple humans cannot be evil, they also just do what they do........ it's the intelligent humans alone that are capable of evil, so I don't think that religious people are worse than others. What saddens me is that intelligent people can believe that the creators of our tiny universe are specially looking out for humans..... just on Earth in the solar system. How STUPID!! Which means that even these 'intelligent' ones are too thick to be evil as well (?).
I don't think religion has anything to do with our Gods and the truth. Religion is mostly rubbish, whilst Gods' prophets and messengers (like Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, et al) are so wonderful. I think I'm going to duck down now!!! All the best, old badger

Hey everyone! Look! More generalizations! Just what we needed! [sarcasm]

Religion is, to me, more about HOW I live my life than it is what I believe about God.

 

[ChristineES]

It's nice to know that people believe me to believe in stupid things, think I'm not trustworthy, think my faith is rubbish, etc. without ever meeting me or speaking to me, just because of my faith.

Honestly, take the "religious people" out and put in another word-- like atheist, black person, etc.- I wonder what people would think? We all need to think about what we say.

 

[jasonwill2]

It's nice to know that people believe me to believe in stupid things, think I'm not trustworthy, think my faith is rubbish, etc. without ever meeting me or speaking to me, just because of my faith.

Honestly, take the "religious people" out and put in another word-- like atheist, black person, etc.- I wonder what people would think? We all need to think about what we say.

Exactly! It is bigotry.

 

[Alceste]

Hello Everybody

Just to get a few things out of the way, Yes i am new here and yes i am an athiest. I started this thread not to cause a riot or anything like that but to simply discuss the topic. Lately as i have grown older i have come to realize that i no longer trust religious people.

I realize that many people i deal with on a day to day basis are religious in some form or another and of varying degrees and for the most part it is never brought up in a topic of conversation. Their beliefs are their own and as long as they don't push them on me i never know the difference..generally these are good people and i have no issues with them at all, nor they me.

The problem comes when i find out that they are religious, i instantly lose respect for them on an intellectual level and i no longer trust them to make sound decisions. The reason for this is the cognitive dissadence they show in their religious views and their ability to ignore what in my opinion is the obvious fact that there is no god, never was and that religion itself is just a tool used to control the masses.

I find myself looking at the country as a whole and realize that the same people who believe there is an invisable, all powerful , omnipotent being in the sky that created everything, controls everything and can see or do everything with no proof of that person get a vote in how this country is ran and that vote counts just as much as mine does.

Basing their choices on how we should run our country on a figment of their imagination and the will of the church is downright dangerous in my opinion.

Anyway , if anybody finds this way of thinking worth a conversation then have at it.

So you are noticing human beings are not very well equipped to accurately assess the truth value of factual claims. Good for you! That's step one. Step two is to notice that YOU are not very well equipped to accurately assess the truth value of factual claims, because you are also a human being (I hope). This includes the factual claim that there's something defective in religious believers minds that is not equally defective in your own mind.

Step three: ?
Step four: profit!

 

[Quagmire]

I don't trust people who don't trust religious people anymore

 

[jasonwill2]

I don't trust people who don't trust religious people anymore

That's probably for the best, if they don't trust you why should you trust them?

 

[Quagmire]

That's probably for the best, if they don't trust you why should you trust them?

When did I become a religious person.

Man, I have to start paying more attention.

 

[4consideration]

When did I become a religious person.

Man, I have to start paying more attention.

I think it was when you decided not to not trust them. That probably shows a lack of...you know.

 

[Quagmire]

I think it was when you decided not to not trust them. That probably shows a lack of...you know.

I'll have you know I have just as much you know as the next guy.

And I should know, ya know?

 

[Shermana]

I don't think religion has anything to do with our Gods and the truth. Religion is mostly rubbish, whilst Gods' prophets and messengers (like Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, et al) are so wonderful. I think I'm going to duck down now!!! All the best, old badger

This here is a great point. What religions say and what the texts say was said are two different things. I deeply distrust most Christians because of the sheer dishonesty they employ when addressing their scriptures, but does that mean what Jesus said was wrong?

 

[Draka]

You know who I don't trust? Myself. You know why? Because I can't be trusted. I mean just look. I keep coming here don't I? I can't trust myself not to come here when I obviously have other things I could be doing. Should be doing. Why, right now I should be making dinner. But noooo, here I am typing this post. See? Can't be trusted. And I'm religious. Well, damn. I guess I just prove that religious people can't be trusted. Damn damn damn.

 

[crackedcup]

I know exactly how you feel and I couldn't agree with you more. I see a therapist for post traumatic stress disorder due to a career ending accident. I was making headway until my therapist got a better position up state and my insurance sent me to someone else. Well, two weeks in this person made a bad mistake when offering me feedback. She said and I quote, "the lord as my witness". At first I was very uncomfortable by that remark but I let it slide. However, 2 weeks later, she started to quote me a Bible passage from the Book of Paul. Rudely I interrupted her and told her that I was more of an Atheist that she was a Christian and I left... I felt violated because I lost instant respect for her and categorized her as ill minded. Worse, I felt betrayed that someone let her slip through the cracks during the interview process.
I guess my fear of religious people runs deeper.

Hello Everybody

Just to get a few things out of the way, Yes i am new here and yes i am an athiest. I started this thread not to cause a riot or anything like that but to simply discuss the topic. Lately as i have grown older i have come to realize that i no longer trust religious people.

I realize that many people i deal with on a day to day basis are religious in some form or another and of varying degrees and for the most part it is never brought up in a topic of conversation. Their beliefs are their own and as long as they don't push them on me i never know the difference..generally these are good people and i have no issues with them at all, nor they me.

The problem comes when i find out that they are religious, i instantly lose respect for them on an intellectual level and i no longer trust them to make sound decisions. The reason for this is the cognitive dissadence they show in their religious views and their ability to ignore what in my opinion is the obvious fact that there is no god, never was and that religion itself is just a tool used to control the masses.

I find myself looking at the country as a whole and realize that the same people who believe there is an invisable, all powerful , omnipotent being in the sky that created everything, controls everything and can see or do everything with no proof of that person get a vote in how this country is ran and that vote counts just as much as mine does.

Basing their choices on how we should run our country on a figment of their imagination and the will of the church is downright dangerous in my opinion.

Anyway , if anybody finds this way of thinking worth a conversation then have at it.

 

[Alceste]

When i say i lose respect it does not mean i now have zero respect for somebody with religious views. All it means is that my opinion of them changes. I no longer trust them as much as i used to because i feel at some point their religious views will interfere with their ability to use reason and logic.

I have stated multiple times that in general i like religious people, i get along with them, work with them..hang out with them..i just don't want them deciding how i live my life based on their religious beliefs.

It happens all the time in our society..our country has become so polarized and while religion isnt the sole deciding factor it is more certainly a factor for some people and how they make their decisions. They adhere strictly to the bible, the BOM, Islam..name it and do their best to vote their beliefs into law.

Take for example the push to add creationist views into the public school system. People fought long and hard to force schools to teach faith in the school system even though it is not based on science. I am not positive but i believe in most cases it was kept out of the school system. To me that type of thing is extremely dangerous and the type of thinking that holds this country back.

Anyway, time for bed..thanks for the discussion today.

Can you explain why you feel "reason and logic" to be the only acceptable occupation for a human mind?

What's your take on narrative, creative imagination, metaphor, dreaming, meditation, analogy, free association, poetry, art, entertainment and so forth? Do you automatically distrust people who play a lot of video games, for example, because they aren't strictly using reason and logic to do so?

Also, can you explain why you believe growth is good?

 

[Debater Slayer]

You know who I don't trust? Myself. You know why? Because I can't be trusted. I mean just look. I keep coming here don't I? I can't trust myself not to come here when I obviously have other things I could be doing. Should be doing. Why, right now I should be making dinner. But noooo, here I am typing this post. See? Can't be trusted. And I'm religious. Well, damn. I guess I just prove that religious people can't be trusted. Damn damn damn.

That made me laugh out loud.

I miss Draka.

 

[Alceste]

Oh wow, just realized this is a big old zombie thread. Lol. Yeah, I miss Draka too.