Question for atheists: What is the most effective way of fighting against religions?

March 11th, 2010 Posted in portal.juzhang.com | edit

I think that religion is the most disgusting and harmful thing that humanity has ever invented. Most suffering in the world is caused by religions and most immorality comes from religions. What are the best ways of fighting against this evil?

The first step is to realize you're as bad as the fundamentalists you complain about.

Secondly, you need to realize that problems are caused by people, not religions (even if religions are used as an excuse)

I never fight a losing battle. What for? Religious people can be good or bad. Stats apparently show we atheists are more moral because only a tiny fraction of us wind up in prison. But religion is a freedom as long as you don't perform an "inquisition" on me. Why do you perform an inquisition on them?
Some religious arguments are worth fighting over. Religion itself is not.

Largely indifference. Dignifying the zealots with any kind of response is only going to fuel their hatred and hegemonic fervour. Don't marginalise them, don't goad them, don't lock horns with them, don't engage in any kind of discourse at all. They feed on argument and controversy so the most effective method is to utterly disregard them.

It's a skill one learns in parenthood when dealing with an enraged, hysterical infant. The child has to learn that they cannot have what they want by behaving in such a manner. The parent distances him/herself and waits for the child to calm itself down and thus learns a salutary lesson. This is not to say that the child should not be nurtured, or humoured, or accommodated in certain circumstances but there are situations where the parent cannot respond to the child for fear of rewarding bad behaviour with affection and attention.

Apply this, admittedly facile analogy, to religion and await the sociological penny to drop.
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I understand where you are coming from. However, I believe that you mean to attack certain religious institutions. Many harm in the world has come from religious institutions. The members of these institutions follow beliefs that they claim to be part of their religion, but in reality the things that they base their harm upon have nothing to do with the true meaning of their religion whatsoever. Religion is one's interpretation of life and spirituality. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. all are based upon certain people's spiritual outlooks on life, and the doctrines of each religion are created by followers of the original people. Over time, the doctrines become interpreted many different ways. I truly respect your beliefs, but I ask that you do not try to attack those who follow religion in the best way possible. Many many good things have come from religion, and many good acts have been made by people who have committed to their acts because of religion. Your goal of "attacking" people is exactly what goal harsh religious people have had down through history. You are doing the same thing: you are attacking those who do not share the same opinions as you. I have full respect for atheism. However, not believing in god does not exclude believing in compassion and respect.

I don't think viewing religion as "the most disgusting and harmful thing" is very skillful. Ignorance is not removed through hostility or setting yourself up as superior to believers. An atheist should be humble before truth and strive to help others realize it. And ad hominem is always a bad way to make an argument.

I'm pretty much an agnostic but religion is not as harmful to humanity as it is helpful. just my opinion, not trying to argue.

Let them defeat themselves, we have grown beyond such primitive delusions.

Read the Golden Compass Trilogy by Phil Pullman.

God is killed after billions were killed in his name.

Thousands and thousands are killed, women and innocent children, in the name of Allah.

Where is goodness and mercy to be found?

Why can't we all love one another and enjoy life?

Religion poisons everything.

Dear one,
Sorry I couldn't help myself for answering as someone who believes in a one true source of all. That being said , one shouldn't fight against what one doesn't believe in. You simply make your way as you see fit and damn the opinions of anyone else. I don't believe though that most suffering is caused by religions. I can accept that much suffering is caused by those who pervert religion to their own ends. Immorality? Not really an issue as the question posits as immorality, in my humble opinion, is a personal and individual choice. Fight against? Don't bother - you're wasting your energy. Try instead to promote what you believe.

I guess you mean religions in general. I'm also guessing you want a world voiced by John Lennon in his song, Imagine.

You miss one point on religion. Religion is the political structure of a faith, it is harmful and produces suffering. Faith or the theology within religion does not affect society incorrectly. I guess you can't be immoral unless you have a moral standard.

The best way to fight evil, imperfection, is VERY CAREFULLY. Evil will come back to bite you! Perfection will not.

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Question for atheists: What is the most effective way of fighting against religions?

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