Why are so many people biased against religion?

[Welsh Guy]

Please read the posts in this thread about Richard Dawkins backing plans for a Bible in every school from this page onwards (there are quite a few pages just to warn you)
http://www.facepunch.com/showthread....1186709&page=3

People in that forum just seem to be so blindly biased against the Bible, even as a literary work
Personally I just don't get it... what do you TWCers think of this?

[Col. Tartleton]

He's said multiple times that he felt that knowing the Bible was fundamental to understanding literature and western culture.

He obviously wants people to read it, understand it, see how it might have appealed to others, especially in the past, but not to them.

[Magicman2051]

Counter, why are so many people convinced that persecution and bias is rife?

[Hakkapeliitta]

It's not that people are so biased against religion, it's more that some religious are used to getting their way in everything and expect undue respect and immunity from criticism for their beliefs. When that doesn't happen, they yell "persecution!" Dawkins for example is very polite, but since he dares to publically criticise religion and doesn't hold religion on a pedestal he's an "" and an "egotistical maniac".

[IrishHitman]

It's not that people are so biased against religion, it's more that some religious are used to getting their way in everything and expect undue respect and immunity from criticism for their beliefs. When that doesn't happen, they yell "persecution!" Dawkins for example is very polite, but since he dares to publically criticise religion and doesn't hold religion on a pedestal he's an "" and an "egotistical maniac".

This is pretty much the problem.

[Himster]

The bible is a pretty important part of literature, anthropology, history, culture, art, language and philosophy, everyone should read it regardless of thei understandabler distaste for religion.

[Primo]

Counter, why are so many people convinced that persecution and bias is rife?

Then they should be biased against atheism, too. And democracy. Actually, any form of goverment. Or, to be more accurat: Everyone should be biased against everyone/thing ...

[Himster]

Then they should be biased against atheism, too. And democracy. Actually, any form of goverment. Or, to be more accurat: Everyone should be biased against everyone/thing ...

Everyone is biased against something to varying degrees.

[Primo]

Including atheism and democracy, which was my point all along.

[Himster]

Including atheism and democracy, which was my point all along.

Of course, I was simply correcting your claim that everyone should be biased against everyone.

[ErmanesTheSecond]

Its interesting to question something everybody loves(like Total War Games)
Its interesting to question a religions someones a part of.
Its interesting to question why some people don't have religion.

All of these questions are virtually parallel.
People seem to be blindly biased against the bible in TWC? Starting a debate topic with that assumption/attack against everyone in the community is pretty bad mind you.
Hmm, bias and persecution is rife, just with today's society people seem to gloss over it or not talk about it.
Anybody wanna wonder why it was an Asian man locked away and left to rot in a holding cell in San Diego for 5 days? Do you think that would have happened to a white man?
Thats one example of where people refuse to talk about persecution and bias, particularly racism, when that story aired on CNN, not one person mentioned race as a factor. Thats an example of people who in a position to talk about persecution and bias, refused to talk about it. Personally having a bible in schools is fine(heck private schools teach it) having it as a literary reference is fine too, just teaching it as a subject/everyday or regularly in a public school and having students pray every day in a public school(and thats for any religion not just bible related) is wrong. Violates the Constitution but also it interferes with the diverse religious beliefs people have and kind of forces something they may not be totally agreeable with on them. Now in a private Bible school (we have a number here in SF) where seemingly to attend you give up that right of religious freedom, and as a student you agree to attend and follow that condition, thats understandable in my view.

[Welsh Guy]

People seem to be blindly biased against the bible in TWC? Starting a debate topic with that assumption/attack against everyone in the community is pretty bad mind you..

I was referring to the forum I linked to, I don't have a problem with TWC... but then again I hardly ever come here

[Hakkapeliitta]

I was referring to the forum I linked to, I don't have a problem with TWC... but then again I hardly ever come here

Well, I'd say it's somewhat of a bad basis for a topic to discuss what some people on yet another forum are talking about

[Primo]

Oh, sorry, I misunderstood your post. I kinda read "anything" instead of "something".

You are wrong, then - because everyone is biased against anything, to varying degrees. This could possible include 0 bias - though this would be utopian, way too fantasy to be reality.

[Lazarus]

It's not really bias. It's just people don't take religious claims at face value anymore. It's very important to question religion...

Look at what religion is. Religions all build themselves on claims of having moral authority and being the only ones who can tell you how you have to live your life and what your place is in society. That is extremely important, and it would be irresponsible NOT to question it. People are so vehemently opposed to having religious text in their schools because forcing that kind of exposure could be seen as an attempt to convert people in to the belief before they've fully developed the critical thinking necessary to actually make such a decision. Also you have to think that in the modern "WHY ISN'T SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN YET!?!" Child worship society, I'm not sure people would be fond of little Tyrone or baby Leon reading say... Ezekiel. Or Deuteronomy. (No, I don't buy in to that "you're supposed to ignore it!" argument, because if you're cherry picking books, then I say we're supposed to ignore all of it and figure it out ourselves)

Me, I think you should leave the study of religious texts until university. I read through a couple during high school and my life was certainly no better for it, I'll tell you that...

[Primo]

What you are describing is exactly how I live my religion, and exactly what several priests and a deacon adviced me to do.

Children should only read in the bible if they are mature enough. This can be the school, if children are mature enough to play ego-shooters or watch action movies with thousands of deaths, they are mature enough to read the bible (i.e. 5th grade upwards).

If there is no interest, no teacher in school can "attempt to convert" them anyway, they are already mature enough to set their interests quite firmly. Whether they do the right decision depends on your point of view, though - which is biased (this isn't reffering to a specific member, and includes me).

[Lazarus]

What you are describing is exactly how I live my religion, and exactly what several priests and a deacon adviced me to do.

Children should only read in the bible if they are mature enough. This can be the school, if children are mature enough to play ego-shooters or watch action movies with thousands of deaths, they are mature enough to read the bible (i.e. 5th grade upwards).

If there is no interest, no teacher in school can "attempt to convert" them anyway, they are already mature enough to set their interests quite firmly. Whether they do the right decision depends on your point of view, though - which is biased (this isn't reffering to a specific member, and includes me).

Children aren't mature enough to play ego-shooters or watch action movies without expressed parental consent or supervision (hence why they ID check you at some movies unless accompanied by an adult), and of course most parents will let their children play/watch those things after having explained the concepts that occur in them at least once.

Also, whether they're mature or not is entirely something else that I don't particularly care about. Children are still extremely stupid and suggestible creatures and to deny that would just be silly. People with almost any kind of authority will influence how most children they interact with will develop (provided they interact for a long period, say, a year?)

[hellheaven1987]

Be honest I question the legacy of Bible and the existence of Church more than actually care about the existence of God.

[basics]

" People in that forum just seem to be so blindly biased against the Bible, even as a literary work Personally I just don't get it... what do you TWCers think of this? "

Welsh Guy,

The most likely answer is that the Bible's contents have never done anything for them in the personal manner it claims. This claim that it is the power of God unto salvation and they have never felt this proves to them at least that there cannot be a God. The religious on the other hand believe there is a God yet unfortunately don't give much respect to Him in being obedient to His word or believing all that He says. All these things are contained in the word, the Bible, so really there isn't any excuse that man can find to ignore it.

[Simon Cashmere]

I'm an atheist and I agree there is a lot of wisdom in the Bible. If you put to one side that there is no great sky god that cares where your put your weiner and other trivialities, there is a lot of wisdom in the stories there that can help you in life. It just so happens that none of the stuff about God and the Devil, etc is true.

Also, if you wanted people to believe any religion, Christianity is one of the better ones if its principles are adhered to, re turn the other cheek, love thy neighbour, do unto others....Trying to speak rationally to christians about religion is a fools errand though, it is a 'punish' to have to be berated about god throwing you into lakes of fire and all the rest.

In any other context, the beliefs of religion would be considered 'delusional'. It's just widely practised delusion, which gives it street credibility. Most people are simple creatures, to have all the answers handed to them on a platter is comforting for them, even though its all lies. People get scared like children of dying, so religion comes along and says 'No don't worry! You will go to Magical Jesusland and Grandma will be there! And Grandpa! And Jesus! And God....you just have to do everything we tell you to do until you die first!' Of course it is all nonsense of the highest order, but, it removes self-doubt and gives people meaning to (wrongly) imagine that there is some great plan, instead of us just being apes that have advanced through evolution to wear clothes and drive cars.

I had a christian friend tell me I was going to hell the other day. I hope I am because there will be far less christians there.