[Lord Haseo] said: (post/id/960187)
Some of us don’t hate you (as in Christians) just the Religion itself so that is in no way bigotry.
[Darth Lucas] said: (post/id/960228)
Hell I’ll say it. I hate Islam. I hate Christianity. I hate Judaism. I hate religion.
That being said, some of my best friends are Muslim, Christian, and Jewish. I do not judge a person based on their religion, rather on their actions, but especially where those actions are (good or bad) fueled by religion.
[yhwx] said: (post/id/960229)
I guess hating religion in general is OK. I may be under that category.
[Jeebus] said: (post/id/963229)
The difference is that “Love the sinner, hate the sin” is usually referring to homosexuality. In that case, the ‘sin’ is a part of who they are, and something they can’t change. Religion is a belief, that can indeed be changed.
How many of the tolerant, anti-bigotry atheists/agnostics rushed to the defense of religion when these statements were made? How many found them offensive?
I waited a few days for the conversation to die down (besides, I haven’t had time to post anything anyway). I chose a thread that I knew was frequented by many of the same posters as in my Religion thread. I deliberately chose the word “hate” as opposed to “dislike,” “am disappointed,” etc. I broad brushed all of black culture at a sensitive time, in spite of my admiration of many aspects of black culture. I deliberately chose aspects of black culture that do tend to be disappointing, but certainly are not universal. And I deliberately made the distinction between black culture (which can be changed, is instilled since childhood, and ultimately is a choice to remain with or abandon) and black people. I made a perfect analogy among friends who should know me well enough to know that I did not mean what I said. And I gave you all enough to get up in arms over it. To what end?
I simply illustrated that it is still bigotry to generalize the way some have towards religion, that genetic inheritance and identity through culture and religion (which in and of itself is a culture) are not so different that bigotry is not an inappropriate label for those who discriminate and hate.
My friends on this board, I wish I could share in great detail the peace that I was able to give a patient this very day due to our shared religion. You may hate all you like, may justify your reasoning all you like, and condemn that which you will never make any legitimate effort to understand. But at the end of the day, anyone who called me racist for my insincere but illustrative comments earlier indeed have demonstrated that there is an acceptable bigotry among many atheists. It is unfortunate, as I respect many good atheists.
Most of you will never see the good that religion offers, just like so many true racists never see the good in black people or black culture. Just like they are blinded by the facts, exaggerations, and anecdotal evidence I shared earlier, you are blinded by certain aspects of religion. But just as I enjoy listening to jazz, you will never enjoy the beauty of God bringing peace to one’s heart, as a female patient and I shared together.
Darth_ender is not a bigot. But there are bigots in this very forum, and many of them are likely convinced that they are in fact the least of the bigots. Sorry to disappoint you.