9th August 2010
“Religious bigotry has fuelled the fragmentation of societies, the increase in prejudice and reactionary thinking.”
Bishop Jonathan Blake
“Religious bigotry has fuelled the fragmentation of societies, the increase in prejudice and reactionary thinking.”
Bishop Jonathan Blake
August 9th, 2010 at 4:51
Care should be exercised in dealing with such quotes so as not to accidently/purposely inject wrong perception on religion.
August 9th, 2010 at 5:55
I like this definition from Wikipedia: “A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices. The correct use of the term requires the elements of intolerance, irrationality, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs.”
One cannot say enough in agreement with the quotation – or, in a more limited yet positive way, speak in support of Bishop Jonathan Blake..
In past discussions, we have acknowledged that “teachings” from “holy books” are viewed through the lens of the reader who extract meaning in a subjective way. This seems to mean that the bigot begets the bigoted religion…?
The quote does seem to imply that some type of religious person may not be bigoted – potentially a tall order. Religious nonbigotry, when found, would require fairness, sensibility, and good will towards others outside of one’s relgion. Perhaps it is possible in some limited sort of way, for some. I do not know many religious people like that so not many come to mind – perhaps someon like Bishop Blake could be a candidate.
YSG
August 9th, 2010 at 5:59
A spade is a spade. What would the World be like without the dictates of religion? Let’s try that for a refreshing change; as it is most apparent that all religions never work. I double dog dare you…
August 9th, 2010 at 8:57
Religion nurtures bigots like garbage nurtures rats. It is nonetheless true that all religions have their ecumenical side and if these flourished I wouldn’t have half the problem with religion that I do (although it would still be garbage)
August 9th, 2010 at 11:29
Let the religious demonstrate this quote is true by their own words. Here is a scary quote directly lifted from a Christian discussion thread.
“Seriously, does anybody ever cry at an Atheist’s funeral?
I mean, since Atheists have no value whatsoever as human
beings (they’re not even human, but only inhuman animals),
since Atheists are nothing but miserable Liars, Cowards
and Murderers, after all, why would anybody in their
right mind weep over the dead rotting corpse, or bone
chips and ashes (that get mixed together with those of
others from the crematory) of a worthless dead Atheist?
And what epitaph do you engrave on an Atheist’s grave
marker? “Here lies the only good Atheist, which is a
dead Atheist”. What else is there say? Nothing at all.
No last words, no last rites, no flowers, no anything.
Every time an Atheist dies, the world is better off as
a result of that dead Atheist being dead, & its damned
God-forsaken soul burning in the fiery pits of Hades. 🙂
Which begs another related question, do Atheists cry at
funerals? If so, why? Since Atheists hate God, and they
hate Family, and they hate Country, who are they crying
for? It is true: The only good Atheist is a dead Atheist.”
August 9th, 2010 at 12:07
Thats not scary, it’s hilarious. “Every time an Atheist dies, the world is better off as a result of that dead Atheist being dead”. 🙂
That is exactly the sort of person god wants in heaven isn’t it?
August 9th, 2010 at 12:16
Margaret – what an indictment of religious ‘thinking’ the quote you reprint provides! It’s so full of false assumptions and dogmatic assertions that it’s hard to believe the writer had more than two brain cells to rub together.
On the other hand, I’d love to ask the writer why religious folk cry at funerals: if their loved ones are going to their promised eternal reward, what is there to be sad about?
August 9th, 2010 at 12:23
Well it’s kind of scary, sad and hilarious all at once. It is a small step from “the only good atheist is a dead atheist” to actually going out and increasing the tally. A religious nut is the most dangerous kind of nut, because they think they have a god on their side.
But it is classic bigoty and a good example. There is nothing remotely true about this person’s view of what atheists believe, think or feel. The inevitable de-humanising and fear of the “other” is the same they apply to competing religions, races and the differently gendered.
Note too how s/he conflates god/family/country as though rejection of one automatically means rejection of the others.
August 9th, 2010 at 13:24
I was in a hurry to get to work. I failed to cite my source of the quote for you. Sorry. If you want to see for yourself, I copied it from
http://stupac2.blogspot.com/2008/01/funnyscary-religion-quotes.html
August 9th, 2010 at 14:23
Margaret, that quote is horribly telling. And you wonder why more athiests don’t come out and be vocal on their disbeliefs? Now I can’t imagine that all theists agree with those remark, but even if it’s 5% (and I assume that is vastly underestimated) that is a really scary amount of people who don’t think that an athiest’s life has any value. And they call us evil?!!!
August 9th, 2010 at 14:46
The Atheists are worst than evil, or maybe they did’nt even know what they are. They confused themselves. That’s how the condemned lots live their lives.
August 9th, 2010 at 15:34
sol is solid proof !!!!!! ignorance is limitless !!!!!
August 9th, 2010 at 16:13
The Atheists
First they hate wise men (religious)
Then they hate God
Finally they hate themselves
August 9th, 2010 at 17:19
Interesting proof of the quote Sol. But I think we all counted on your bigotry.
Wasting my time I know but for the record.
atheists don’t hate your “wise”men, we just disagree with them.
atheists don’t hate your god or any other, we just see know evidence for thir existence
atheists don’t hate themselves anymore than anyone else. But, generally they are on the healthier end of the psychological spectrum.
atheists do hate religious bigotry and the misery it engenders.
August 9th, 2010 at 17:21
or even “no” evidence for “their” existence…
August 9th, 2010 at 19:01
I think this quote should be addressing the “We verses Them” mentality. This is more of a human characteristic then a religious issue. We use this same mentality in many aspects of life; governments, sports, wars, religions, etc. Humans prefer familiarity. When an outside force brings the opposite into the picture, people typically react in a negative way. The sooner we stop doing so irrationally, the better off everyone will be. When such events occur, we need to think it through and come to a logical, evidence and fact-based answer ..hence the obvious flaw with religions.
August 9th, 2010 at 19:19
Another flaw with religions is they want to claim they are ALL GOOD, and anything that disagrees with them is ALL BAD, no room for peaceful coexistence whatsoever, at least not with the most virulent forms of mind viruses. The religious spray flowery, pretty sentimentality onto their ideology the same way a pretty woman uses perfume. Today’s quotes, and our resident trolls reaction to them, lifts the disguise off of religion’s supposed beauty. No matter how much perfume one sprays onto a turd, it is still a turd.
August 9th, 2010 at 23:07
“The Atheists
First they hate wise men (religious)
Then they hate God
Finally they hate themselves”
But they love Solomon!!!!!!!
August 10th, 2010 at 0:20
errr…’Thank you’ ernie.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:52
‘Scuse me ernie but although we may despise the messges and BS that religious con men (that’s all of them btw) may spread which does indeed create and fuel societal schisms we don’t hate god because we don’t believe that there is one and tell me how you come up with the conclusion that we hate ourselves?
solomon; how you have the nerve to speak on this or any forum is beyond me when the disgraceful followers of the ‘peaceful’ religion that you constantly defend continue to murder innocent people most recently the medical volunteers in Afghanistan simply because they aren’t muslims defies belief. You and all your kind are an affront to the civilised world and you disgust me.
August 10th, 2010 at 6:32
Aplogies ernie, I attributed to quote to you but, surprise surprise, it comes from the Trollpidgeon
August 10th, 2010 at 7:34
Godkilla,
Those killers are not our kind.
Islam=peacefull religion.
August 10th, 2010 at 7:40
The !!!SATAN!!! tells none but only lies to the Atheists
The Atheists convey none but only lies to the viewers
August 11th, 2010 at 0:00
Really? Then if those are not your kind will you, right now, condemn their actions as completely unacceptable under any circumstances?
August 11th, 2010 at 3:37
Godkilla,
Any actions out of Gods will are influence by satan & should be condemn.