When you meet new people in your life.

[loverofhumanity]

They are entitled to believe whatever they, want it can often be interesting. However once they begin to dis atheiem or any other personal belief they are fair game.

Atheist is just a term. Every human being is precious and has good in them. You are human first and that’s all that should really matter. I’m no better than you or anyone because I believe in something. You have your life experiences which I can learn from. It’s just so easy for religionists to fall into the ego trap of thinking they are superior because they have a belief. That’s where you guys come in to remind us we are all equal.

 

[ChristineM]

Atheist is just a term. Every human being is precious and has good in them. You are human first and that’s all that should really matter. I’m no better than you or anyone because I believe in something. You have your life experiences which I can learn from. It’s just so easy for religionists to fall into the ego trap of thinking they are superior because they have a belief. That’s where you guys come in to remind us we are all equal.

Yes, that's all that should matter, unfortunately many religious people don't think like you (though many do).

 

[Fool]

Especially if it is within a religious setting.

Do you find it normal to try to debunk their faith?
Do you find it normal to convince them, they must be wrong due to your own faith/non faith in religion?

Or do you see it as a chance to listen and learn about other peoples faith and belief, because you are genuin interested in them as fellow human beings?

I enjoying discussing ideas, beliefs, and mental = spiritual states. Don't care so much for gossiping about us vs them.

 

[RabbiO]

@Seeker of White Light -

Could define what you mean by a religious setting?

 

[Spirit of Light]

@Seeker of White Light -

Could define what you mean by a religious setting?

Religious meetings
Religious gatherings
Sermons and so on.

 

[LuisDantas]

Especially if it is within a religious setting.

Do you find it normal to try to debunk their faith?

Normal? No. Desirable? Quite possibly.

It depends mostly on how deep a connection I hope to establish to those new people and, most of all, on what and how central that faith happens to be.

If it is only very superficial then there is no need for gauging the beliefs and their reasons for being.

But people that I consider for closer ties will indeed be evaluated for their beliefs and their justifications. I need to know how much I can trust people, and in which fields and roles.

Do you find it normal to convince them, they must be wrong due to your own faith/non faith in religion?

That depends on how much visible and expected harm those specific beliefs bring.

Roughly speaking, beliefs that make much of a deal of being "right" are the most dangerous.

Or do you see it as a chance to listen and learn about other peoples faith and belief, because you are genuinely interested in them as fellow human beings?

Frankly, that is just another wording for the same thing, with another emphasis.

I have learned to be careful about the beliefs of my fellow human beings.

 

[Vinayaka]

Especially if it is within a religious setting.

Do you find it normal to try to debunk their faith?
Do you find it normal to convince them, they must be wrong due to your own faith/non faith in religion?

Or do you see it as a chance to listen and learn about other peoples faith and belief, because you are genuin interested in them as fellow human beings?

I can't recall ever bringing up religion with a new acquaintance. There is just so much more to life.

 

[Nakosis]

Especially if it is within a religious setting.

Do you find it normal to try to debunk their faith?
Do you find it normal to convince them, they must be wrong due to your own faith/non faith in religion?

Or do you see it as a chance to listen and learn about other peoples faith and belief, because you are genuin interested in them as fellow human beings?

When I meet new people, their religion is the least thing I care about.
My interest is in their unique perspective in life. That might include religion but it's not a necessity.

 

[sun rise]

Especially if it is within a religious setting.

Do you find it normal to try to debunk their faith?
Do you find it normal to convince them, they must be wrong due to your own faith/non faith in religion?

Or do you see it as a chance to listen and learn about other peoples faith and belief, because you are genuin interested in them as fellow human beings?

When I meet new people, my interest runs in a very mundane channel: interests, work relationships etc. I might ask something like "how did you get here" if it's in a religious setting out of curiousity.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Especially if it is within a religious setting.

Do you find it normal to try to debunk their faith?
Do you find it normal to convince them, they must be wrong due to your own faith/non faith in religion?

Or do you see it as a chance to listen and learn about other peoples faith and belief, because you are genuin interested in them as fellow human beings?

I never think to ask anyone I meet about their religious beliefs, nor do I share mine -- unless I am explicitly asked.

That's why I need RF. People come here who want to talk about such things. I assume the people I meet would rather not.

 

[ppp]

Especially if it is within a religious setting.

I don't generally do religious settings anymore.

Do you find it normal to try to debunk their faith?
Do you find it normal to convince them, they must be wrong due to your own faith/non faith in religion?

Or do you see it as a chance to listen and learn about other peoples faith and belief, because you are genuin interested in them as fellow human beings?

It could be either. Depending on their approach, the setting, and my mood. Or it could be neither. I could simply not be interested in the discussion.

 

[PureX]

Especially if it is within a religious setting.

Do you find it normal to try to debunk their faith?
Do you find it normal to convince them, they must be wrong due to your own faith/non faith in religion?

Or do you see it as a chance to listen and learn about other peoples faith and belief, because you are genuine interested in them as fellow human beings?

No to all of the above. Those are personal issues that I would limit to close friends only. And not for the purpose of debating them.

It's why I come here to converse and even debate with strangers that presumably WANT to discuss and debate such ideals.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

Especially if it is within a religious setting.

Do you find it normal to try to debunk their faith?
Do you find it normal to convince them, they must be wrong due to your own faith/non faith in religion?

Or do you see it as a chance to listen and learn about other peoples faith and belief, because you are genuin interested in them as fellow human beings?

If it is a religious setting, some people expect it to be a debate as well, or ar least to challenge each others beliefs.
It depends what kind of religious gathering it is though and why they gathered together.

 

[Spirit of Light]

If it is a religious setting, some people expect it to be a debate as well, or ar least to challenge each others beliefs.
It depends what kind of religious gathering it is though and why they gathered together.

Would it not be better to enjoy each others wisdom and knowledge?

 

[Truth in love]

Especially if it is within a religious setting.

Do you find it normal to try to debunk their faith?
Do you find it normal to convince them, they must be wrong due to your own faith/non faith in religion?

Or do you see it as a chance to listen and learn about other peoples faith and belief, because you are genuin interested in them as fellow human beings?

I find understanding helps. I like to know where someone is coming from.

If I see a contradiction that makes no sense for example if a person claims to believe the Bible and that they know the day Christ will return. and the Bible says "36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matt 24). Or I see something that looks dangerous (Lets bring back Slavery) I tend to call it out.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

Would it not be better to enjoy each others wisdom and knowledge?

Offcourse!

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Especially if it is within a religious setting.

Do you find it normal to try to debunk their faith?
Do you find it normal to convince them, they must be wrong due to your own faith/non faith in religion?

Or do you see it as a chance to listen and learn about other peoples faith and belief, because you are genuin interested in them as fellow human beings?

In real life?

I generally set aside our differences to focus on whatever brings us together - work, volunteering, etc. - so I generally don't engage with their religious beliefs at all.

If the other person makes it known that they're very religious, this will generally create a mental distance between us. I'll still try to be pleasant, but I won't try to make them my friend.

If they go a step further and express religious beliefs that I consider immoral - opposing same-sex marriage or abortion, for instance, or racism - I'll generally just avoid them.

And if someone in a social setting is using their religion as a crutch, I'm not going to try to kick that crutch out from under them. For instance, if a widow I know socially keeps going on about how she's sure her late husband is in Heaven and she'll see him again someday, I'm not going to try to correct her by telling her that Heaven is made up and her husband is gone for good.

Now... I do think Heaven is made up and her husband is gone, but it would be pretty tactless to bring it up uninvited in an everyday conversation.

Basically, in real life, I will generally think that religious people are wrong, but I don't make it my mission to correct all the wrong people I meet.

 

[Spirit of Light]

In real life?

I generally set aside our differences to focus on whatever brings us together - work, volunteering, etc. - so I generally don't engage with their religious beliefs at all.

If the other person makes it known that they're very religious, this will generally create a mental distance between us. I'll still try to be pleasant, but I won't try to make them my friend.

If they go a step further and express religious beliefs that I consider immoral - opposing same-sex marriage or abortion, for instance, or racism - I'll generally just avoid them.

And if someone in a social setting is using their religion as a crutch, I'm not going to try to kick that crutch out from under them. For instance, if a widow I know socially keeps going on about how she's sure her late husband is in Heaven and she'll see him again someday, I'm not going to try to correct her by telling her that Heaven is made up and her husband is gone for good.

Now... I do think Heaven is made up and her husband is gone, but it would be pretty tactless to bring it up uninvited in an everyday conversation.

Basically, in real life, I will generally think that religious people are wrong, but I don't make it my mission to correct all the wrong people I meet.

May i ask why religious people are in general wrong?
I don't try to debate you or argue against you, but how would you prove religious people are wrong ? Isn't it just you personal view they are wrong?

 

[stvdv]

They are entitled to believe whatever they, want it can often be interesting. However once they begin to dis atheiem or any other personal belief they are fair game.

True

Why fair game?

Just common sense, IMO, and quite obvious/logical to me

Seeing dissing other's (lack of) belief as "wrong" means that you need to correct that Adharmic behavior if to follow Dharma is your goal

Also

IF you see Adharma (injustice) and do nothing, you are as guilty in keeping injustice going on (I like this saying, as it's practicle and sensible).

Furthermore, especially for Spiritual people (but, IMO, this applies usually to everyone), it's paramount to not be hypocritical.

Hence, if you see dissing as wrong then your words and actions should be conform your thoughts, else you speak and/or act hypocritical; which is not a healthy thing for your mental body

That's how I see this

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

May i ask why religious people are in general wrong?
I don't try to debate you or argue against you, but how would you prove religious people are wrong ? Isn't it just you personal view they are wrong?

No, it's not just my personal view.

We're talking about empirical knowledge of the world around us, so "proof" is the wrong standard. Inductive reasoning - the same thing we use to tell us that dinosaurs are extinct, for instance - can yield a very high degree of certainty, but not perfect certainty.

... and I would say that based on the evidence available, inductive reasoning allows us to say with a high degree of certainty that no gods exist. I would argue that the conclusion that gods do not exist is supported to a higher degree than the conclusion that dinosaurs are extinct... or many other conclusions that we all take as unquestionably true for all practical purposes.

... but even if we say that the jury's still out and we don't know either way whether some god exists; religion would still be completely irrational: anyone who can't conclusively say that God definitely exists is in no position to say that God sent some message/prophet/messiah/miracle/whatnot to humanity, or that God wants everyone to go to church (and tithe) once a week, or that a particular person speaks for God, or that Heaven/afterlife/reincarnation/whatever is real, etc.