Rave this question if you ACTUALLY support FREEDOM OF RELIGION!

But isn't being harassed/harassing others part of religious freedom?

I don't see where harassement is part of religious freedom. That would fall under forcing ones religion on others. I have never met anyone that tries to force anyone to their religion. I know Johovah Witnesses visit homes, but all one has to do is tell them you are not interested and do not want them to return. That's really not harassment unless they fail to respect your request. I never had one return after requesting that they don't.

I respect freedom of religion. I do not though respect religion any religion. i do though respect religious people and their right to believe what they want as long as that belief does not deny other people who do not share those beliefs their rights.

Thank you.

It's better to be able to believe in what ever you please :)

Thank you.

I said yes in the fact that I think people should believe in what ever suits their fancy, what I have a problem with is people who kill others just because one does not want to believe in what the other is trying to shove down ones throat. I was shopping at the local grocery store and waiting for a cab when this group of girls came to me with a bunch of pamphlets about how thier religion is the truth, I politely said no and one of the girls actually got mad at me for not accepting her handouts, I hate when people do that. They are not doing any one any favours and its no wonder so many people in the world depise religion so much.

Thank you.

Totally as long as ur religion does not mandate I join it or it's tenants condone
Violence or death to nonbelievers.

Are you saying NO to islam? You INFIDEL. DEATH! DEATH to you infidel.

It's not just Islam.

Most religions, however, actually in some way mandate all those things.

If people cannot make jokes, pathetic and insulting movies, or just in bad taste comments with out inciting a riot every time then, wg=hat the hell? What if for every antireligious comment there was a riot, then we'd have a catholic riot, a buddhist, riot a hindu riot, a mormon riot. and damn.

I don't think Buddhist or Hindu believers have ever attacked another religion, that seems to be a tactic used only by the Bible based religions and it seems to be common to all of them.

Try Japan - 1941?

In Japan, the Emperor was seen as a God, which is why we left him in place after the surrender.

That was Shinto.

During World War II, the government forced every subject to practice State Shinto and admit that the Emperor was divine. Those who opposed the Imperial cult, including Oomoto and Soka Gakkai, were persecuted. When the United States occupied Japan in 1945, the shrines were taken out of government control, and State Shinto was abolished. Shrine, Folk, and Imperial Shinto again became separate, and Sect Shinto further distanced itself from mainstream Shinto.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Hindu believers: yes. Buddhist: you may be right.

I think you're confusing religion with certain developing world political/religious issues.

In India, for instance, there actually is a good amount of Hindu religious violence. And in the U.S., there is very little Muslim violence (compared with violence associated with other, more prevalent religions).

Which is why I wonder why I (an atheist) could not buy a bottle of rum (from my Muslim store owner) or his (agnostic) store manger yesterday (Sunday)

You are trading at the wrong store. Try American.

The point is for no reason than a religion that is not mine or the owners he is legally not allowed to open

Sounds like the store was in America. So...that is American.

I am surprised to hear of any Muslim that would sell alcohol. Muslim taxie drivers have refused to allow people carrying alcohol in their taxis. It is against their religion, just as some store clerks refuse to ring up any pork products for customers.

There is a sect that much like Mormon casino owners believe that it is ok to provide sin just not to partake. I respect (both) these ideals since they are based on god allows free choice something many religious people would deny

I wasn't aware of that.

Everyone can be free to practice their religious beliefs. If you use those beliefs to rationalize harming others you will be brought to whatever god you see fit. As far as religion in society goes I will stick to my old adage "FAIR TREATMENT TO ALL SPECIAL TREATMENT TO NONE!!!"

Exactly what do your mean by "special treatment to none"?

I take it to mean "Shara Law"?

At the present time, christians have special treatment under the law.

No.

What is "Shara Law" [sic] anyway?

I mean no exceptions. No one has the right to tell anyone else what to believe. That is a personal choice that, just like any other choice, can be discarded, maintained, or changed. It's peoples actions that really form the world, not beliefs and although it can be reasonably stated that actions are formed by beliefs, using violence against those who don't pray like you or live like you doesn't make you a martyr it just makes you a tool.

That would be Utopia, but it certainly has not happened and the fight in America lives on. I simply do not understand why each religious groups insists on forcing their will onto others, particularly though legislation.

Just had a converstantion and one women told me that if same sex marriage is ever past, she would lead a revolt against the government to have the judges removed fromthe bench and have the law repealed. If that is not religious domination in America nothing is.

Thank you.

The most important thing we can do is to maintain the most basic idea of America, that we are masters of our destiny, that we will not be products of our environment but that our environments will be a product of us, and above all else that we will be responsible for our own actions good, bad or neutral.

Yep....

Thank you.

Your welcome

The Atheist wants us to stop being religious. Don't mention God in public. Don't celebrate religious holidays in public. Don't do anything our God expects from us in public. They want God off our money and out of our courts along with our government.
Soon they will win their goal and the country will pass away. They want the Constitution ruined because it was crafted in the promise of God.

The atheists I know (including me) do not want others to stop being religious. We just don't want government-sponsored religion, which is what you seem to appreciate. Please note that the Constitution does NOT mention God at all. If it was crafted with some deity-promise, this is not mentioned either. We do not wish the Constitution ruined but rather we wish it to be upheld, strongly and impartially.

We want the country to be run by moral, decent people who use ethics and reason to create fair and just laws. It is almost certain that the laws we wish overlap to a very great extent with the laws your religion believes a country should have.

I think you listen to too many activists and have a skewed view of atheists. Most atheists are scared of the current trend amongst Christian activists to try and modify the Constitution to reflect Christian Religious Law... we fear those who would change the law of the land to favor their own religion. If you acknowledge the rabid nature of your activists, I will acknowledge that atheist activists are equally as frenzied and unreasonable.

I know no atheists who try to get private citizens to stop celebrating religious holidays in public. I do know some who object when the government sponsors such events -- because it shouldn't. There can be a Christmas parade, because Christmas is a Federal Holiday... but no government-sponsored Easter parade.