How should Atheists and Religous people treat each other?

[Skybird]

Peoples religious beliefs are mocked all the time, even in this forum.

Yes indeed, and right so: when they go peddling with it, and claim respect and a special status for it without it deserving that, and want beliefs and personal fantasies being seen as equal to reason, empiry, and scientific theory.

You forget to mention that in your country, not this forum only, atheists in return in some states get actively discriminated, socially mobbed, and excluded by states's constitutions from public offices although federal constitution forbids this.

How dare they defending themselves against this, and give themselves a voice! How intolerant and religion-hostile of them! Do these god-less haters know nothing than provocation and offence?



It's easy to get along peacefully with people like me. Push me, and I push back. Push me more, and I push back more. Smile at my direction, and I smile back. But religious people sometimes expect people like me to just fall back when being pushed, and to allow having our freedom and space reduced for the benefit of religion's freedom. That'S when people like me start to grind the war-axe and let the steel swing freely.

Because freedom is more valuable and precious, than religion's claims for things and status it does not deserve and has never earned nor justified by test and verification. Better then to keep your religion where it belongs: inside your heart, inside your mind, and in the realm of your home. Do no harm against others, help the weak, practice a little love in your life while leaving others their freedom and dignity - that is religion practiced best. Needs no ceremony, no temple, and no scripture, you can have it with you where ever you are, even when you are skin naked . And best of it: it turns yourself into a better being.

Where religious doctrine goes public, it is no longer "spiritual", but political. Where it claims special respect, it sows its own intolerance. Where it missionises its "truths" , it wants control and dominance.