We are different, reposted.

Published on September 15, 2005 By dharmagrl In Religion

Forever serenity wrote an article earlier today asking why athiests do the things they do Link . I wrote this article a while back and thought that this was a decent answer to her question.

I'm different.

I'm not like you. I don't share your faith, your beliefs, your religion.

And I am perfectly okay with that.

I'm not against your praying for me. I'm not against your quoting the bible to me. I'm not even against your talking to me about your faith. I'm happy for you that you have something that you wholeheartedly believe in, that gives you comfort, that makes you happy. I experience the same feelings when I practice my life philosophy. I'll even go to your houses of worship with you, because I respect your right to practice your faith.

What I am against is your relentless pushing and shoving and insisting that I conform to your rules and to your standards. I am tolerant of your beliefs, and I ask that you be tolerant of mine. I don't put rules and conditions before you. You do it to me, though. I don't tell you that you cannot do this or cannot do that because it offends me. Again, you do it to me. Your intolerance towards me makes me, the person who is usually tolerant, want to dig my heels in. It makes me want to insist that you respect me and my beliefs, it makes me want to force you to accept me. I don't like intolerance, in any form, but your relentlessness makes me become that which I dislike.

It makes me want to scream.

I'm different, and I'm okay with that. You, apparently, are not.

Comments (Page 2)

foreverserenity

on Sep 26, 2005

I'm glad you reposted this Dharma. A great article with some very good points! We can't all be alike in this world. If we were what a boring place this would be!

I'm different, you're different and i'm ok with that! As for those who are not ok with it, off with their heads!

Ok maybe not, I'm a pacivist until I'm pushed so we'll just tell them to sod off!

EmperorofIceCream

on Sep 30, 2005

What pisses me off about atheists is not their atheism - atheism is no more or less tenable an act of faith than any other - but their insistence that they should be left alone because they are willing to leave others alone.

Christianity, Islam, to some extent Judaism, are all proselytizing religions. It's fundamental to their nature as religions that they seek to make converts - and the very fact that you deny the existence of god makes you a natural target of their attention. Bitching about christians trying to make converts is like complaining that water is wet.

sunwukong

on Sep 30, 2005

Bitching about christians trying to make converts is like complaining that water is wet.

Amen!

You wouldn't believe the looks and static I get when I'm sacrificing people's pets or seducing their daughters to serve Our Lord Satan.

Not to mention the used car loans at 10 points above prime.

Tova7

on Sep 30, 2005

Here is a different perspective a friend and I talked about once.

Imagine you saw a woman standing on the edge of a cliff. She is carrying each of her children in her arms but it is foggy up there and she can't always see where she is going.

You see her move straight for the edge. What would you do? Would you call out? Would you run up to her and physically grab her and say, "hey, you're in danger!"..What would you do?

If you are like most people, you would do just about whatever it took to help her from destroying herself and her kids, right? Would you keep her from jumping if she said, "Hey, leave me alone. I know what I am doing. I have every right to do this!" I'm thinking you probably would at least struggle with her enough to save the children.

That is how some Christians feel about non-believers. That they are in danger, that they are taking their kids with them.....and they will do whatever they can to try and keep it from happening, even if it means pissing you off.

Whether this is right or wrong, well can be argued, and has for centuries. But I do believe it is important to understand the passion behind the prodding, witnessing, whatever. Wouldn't you think much less of them if they proclaimed their faith but didn't think you were good enough for it? OR didn't think enough of it themselves to share it with you?

Just something to chew on.

sunwukong

on Sep 30, 2005

That is how some Christians feel about non-believers. That they are in danger, that they are taking their kids with them.....and they will do whatever they can to try and keep it from happening, even if it means pissing you off.

Except from the other perspective its more like a fortune teller following you around saying, "Don't do that -- you'll fall off a cliff!" and, "Don't let your kids do that, they'll jump off a cliff!" Though the person is sincere (after all, the fortune telling is free), it's pretty darn annoying (not to mention rude) that someone whose claims you neither believe nor can verify is constantly critiquing your choices.

Wouldn't you think much less of them if they proclaimed their faith but didn't think you were good enough for it? OR didn't think enough of it themselves to share it with you?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the basic tenent of this family of faiths is free will, i.e., you must willingly, with open heart and full sincerity, adhere to its practices and beliefs. Being railroaded, goaded, shanghaied, nagged or even tricked/coerced into the religion has no positive bearing on your spiritual future.

If the proselytizing is causing a negative reaction to the teachings, why continue? i.e., if running and screaming towards people on the cliff is causing jumpers, shouldn't you change tactics?

Tova7

on Sep 30, 2005

If the proselytizing is causing a negative reaction to the teachings, why continue? i.e., if running and screaming towards people on the cliff is causing jumpers, shouldn't you change tactics?

Don't. Yes.

I am not saying its rational, I am just offering a diff perspective.

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