The problem isn't religion, per se...

[MineralMan]

The problem is that many who have strong religious beliefs feel privileged by those beliefs to attempt to impose them on others. What anyone other than myself believes or holds to be the truth is never my concern. Only when someone's beliefs impinge on others do I become annoyed and want to stop them from doing that.

When I am the person imposed upon, I react strongly against such attempts. When it is others who are imposed upon by religious believers, I react less strongly, but still react against that.

The fundamental ethical principle I follow is: "I am not the most important person on the planet." That prevents me from any attempt to force others to think or act as I do. If asked, I am happy to try to explain what I think and the reasons for that thinking. In a public forum, I may present my viewpoint, unbidden, from time to time. What I do not do is insist that others think as I do. What others think, individually, is none of my concern.

It is when thinking becomes action and affects others that I become concerned. Then, there is a problem. So, by all means, think whatever you wish and believe whatever you can, but please do not be so arrogant as to insist that others follow your path. If you do, you may well hear from me in opposition to that arrogance.

[keithbvadu2]

1. Religious freedom? ...

Religious freedom? ...

Cool: I must / cannot do it because of my religious beliefs.
..... I decide for myself.

Cool?: You must / cannot do it because of my religious beliefs.
..... I decide for you.

Uncool?: I must / cannot do it because of your religious beliefs.
..... You decide for me?

[Voltaire2]

2. But religion does appear to be a problem in fact.

You really can’t separate the belief system from its believers. They are an integrated whole.

Try this: Marxist Leninist political theory isn’t a problem per se.....

Yeah it is, as evidenced by the horrible results of its implementation.

Religion arguably served a vital role in the evolution of human civilization from hunter gatherer tribal units to metropolitan civilizations. But that role is no longer vital, we’ve developed better replacements. Yet we are stuck with this obsolete cultural appendage, and its institutions keep screwing with society in acts intended to keep those institutions going.

[MineralMan]

3. Yes, but precisely because of the attempts to impose it.

If that did not occur, the problem would go away. Hence, my post. I do not suggest that such a problem is prevalent. I offer a way for religion not to be the problem. It needn't be, as long as religionists are satisfied with their individual beliefs. In reality, they are quite obviously not satisfied.

We are not saying different things. We are simply saying them in different ways.