Daisy said:
See, the thing is... I believe in those same things, but I believe in a god. I don't think it has to be worshiped, but I think it's a nice thing to recognize that which endowed us all that we have.
My problem is exactly what Lackey made reference to. Atheists who think themselves superior in intelligence... well, actually pretty much all things... because they've "abandoned the need to believe in a 'fairy tale'" or something like that. Who assert that people who believe are naive or stupid... and liken believing in a deity to beliving in say... "the giant spaghetti monster in the sky".
I don't have a problem if people say their prayers to jehovah, allah, jesus, satan, ganesh, kali, the greek gods and/or goddesses, the egyptian gods/and or goddesses, the celtic gods and/or goddesses, cthulhu, j.r. "bob" dobbs, the four winds, your ancestors, a rock in the african plains, etc. etc. etc.
However, when some (this doesn't include anyone in this thread) say "you must believe in (insert deity of user here) or else..." or try to get others to believe through guilt trips, coercion, peer pressure, or whatever shady methodology used that's when I have a problem.
The best example I saw of how I feel was on an episode of a sci-fi series, Babylon 5. If you haven't tuned out, please let me explain. In this particular episode, EarthGov decided to have a week where the dominant belief system of each alien race was presented, in a way to build an understanding between each race to further the art of diplomacy.
At the end of the episode, the commander of Babylon 5 was in charge of showing the dominant belief system of Earth.
"Exactly what sort of demonstration does he have planned" asked one diplomat.
"Unknown. He wouldn't even tell us. He just said it would showcase Earth's dominant belief system" replied the second in command.
"I don't hear any drums" interjected another diplomat.
"Or bells" said another.
"Or chants. Are you sure we come to the right place?" said yet another.
"That's it. I'm leaving" said the last diplomat.
"This is where he said to wait, and this is where we'll wait" said the security chief.
Finally, the commander arrived and led the delegation around the corner and into the central corridor.
"This is Mr. Harris. He's an atheist."
"Father Cresanti, a Roman Catholic"
"Mr. Hayakawa, a Zen Buddhist"
"Mr. Rashid, a Muslim"
"Mr. Rosenthal, an Orthodox Jew"
"Running Elk, of the Oglala Sioux faith"
"Father Papapoulous, a Greek Orthodox"
"Ogigi-ko, of the Ebo tribe"
"Machukiak, a Yupik Eskimo"
"Sawa, of the Jivaro tribe"
"Isnakuma, a Bantu"
"Ms. Chang, a Taoist"
"Mr. Blacksmith, an aborigine"
"Ms. Yamamoto, a Shinto"
"Ms. Naijo, a Maori"
"Mr. Gold, a Hindu"
The camera then pans down the corridor showing a never-ending line of people from Earth, waiting to be introduced to the ambassadors, until the screen fades to black, showing the closing credits.
