re: #8 windsagio

I’m a little vague sometimes, so its not surprising :p

I’m saying that people like to think of themselves as persecuted, but atheists (as a group) need to take a look at the truly persecuted religious minorities in this country, the truly hated people. Unless you’re just a douche about it, its easier to atheist than it is to be Muslim, Scientologist, or Jehovah’s Witness/Adventist (yeah they’re not the same, but they tend to get treated the same). It’s disrespectful to others’ problems.

The “truly” hated people? Do you go by the number of haters or the number of hated? I think it only takes one to hate and one to be hated for the harm to be equal to all the others.

However, you do raise a point that is relevant. I don’t worry much about being atheist, although there are some people I like but don’t tell, because I suspect then they may not want to be my friend. I admire them for matters other than their religion.

But, I don’t debate religion in polite company (except here) so nobody knows (maybe suspects) what I believe, but most of those truly persecuted ones you refer to would be exactly like me (never mind skin color, that is not as important today) if they didn’t wear their religion on their sleeve, or the uniform.

I can respect religion as a philosophy, but when it has to show in the most everyday settings that it is different from you, me and anyone else, then my respect level drops.