My 4 biggest problems with religion—and how I solved them

[jonno99]

I thought this was well written.

http://forher.aleteia.org/articles/what-are-the-benefits-of-religion-versus-spirituality/

[trotsky]

1. Well written if you ignore the bigotry against non-believers, I suppose.

Looking back at those times I have rejected religion, I was always trying to do life my own way. It was always the easy way. I don’t want the easy way anymore. I want God’s way.

[rug]

2. You have a peculiar view of "bigotry against non-believers".

[jonno99]

4. That is a curious take-away.

He refers to himself 5 times in your excerpt - and you see that as actual bigotry?

Try reading the article again - but this time leave your prejudices at the door.

[trotsky]

9. Yes, clearly I'm just wrong, and prejudiced to boot.

Thanks for Christian-splaining it for me. That's awesome. I can definitely feel the love of your wonderful religion.

[jonno99]

10. Being corrected when you're clearly wrong IS a loving act. Unless,

you only allow other atheists to correct you?

Btw - are you declaring that you have no prejudices - no biases? If true, I applaud you.

[trotsky]

11. From your position of religious privilege, I understand why you think I'm wrong.

The rest of your post is just getting nastier and more personal and does not deserve a response.

[jonno99]

13. If I thought you were truly offended I would appologize.

Privilege? You leave a comment that is in it's essence a steaming pile (calling someone a bigot), and then spend the next half-dozen threads or so declaring how offended you are when someone points out your mess.

If you make a mess, just clean it up - don't try to tell me it doesn't stink.

Privilege indeed...

[trotsky]

14. If a gay person told you they felt something was homophobic but you didn't see how,

how would you react?

A) Viciously lash out against them, accuse them of being prejudiced, put words in their mouth, and tell them they made a stinky mess and they need to clean it up.

or

B) Ask them why they think it's homophobic so you can perhaps understand their opinion and point of view?

Which of those do you think is the "Christian" thing for you to do?

[jonno99]

15. Fair question. If you saw my post #4 as "lashing out", then I clearly failed to communicate as

I intended.

I apologize.

[rug]

3. There is a lot to be said for engaging in communal experiences.

[edhopper]

5. marriage analogy?

you're married to a real person, not an imaginary one.

[jonno99]

6. Sure. But the analogy is used because we're talking about a "relationship". Isn't

that the purpose of an analogy - to help explain the unfamiliar by using the familiar?

[edhopper]

8. whose the relationship with

the Church or God?

Either one the author sounds like they have grounds for divorce.

[jonno99]

12. If one were to carry the analogy to it's limit, sure. But then, the point of most analogies

is to draw out similarities, likenesses - not to declare equality in every facet.

[edhopper]

16. But it all seems to be

sacrifice for the relationship, one they don't like or enjoy and no longer get much benefit from.

They are the ones comparing it to marriage and in a very general, nonspecific way

They sound like they should divorce religion.

[jonno99]

17. From what I can see this author feels that his religion is of great benefit to him personally. In

3 of his 4 "objections", he lays out specific benefits.

[rug]

7. I agree. Marriage analogies rarely work well.

The Church as the bride of Christ and so on.