Another little feud

This was said on a discussion about why atheists are not always to happy when theists say they will pray for us.

This was the very end of that discussion and a deist jumped in to say a few things and I responded to her.

"So many posts here and the only thing I got from all of it is how completely inane it is to debate religion/belief/atheism. No one is going to convince the other to their "side" and it appears that people are using this avenue for their own gain.

For the record, I'm a deist...and a Unitarian. However, that does NOT give me the right to tell the deeply religious they are right/wrong...and it doesn't give me the right to tell the atheists they're right/wrong. As a human being who's been around people from various sides of the "debate", I do feel I can say the following:

Let's agree to disagree and just go your separate ways! All sides in this need to stop "preaching" or "pushing" their agendas and just let people be."

This was my response:

"However, that does NOT give me the right to tell the deeply religious they are right/wrong...and it doesn't give me the right to tell the atheists they're right/wrong"

I couldnt disagree with you more. I do not know where you live but in most democratic nations I have lived and visited the right to free speech is something that is valued, treasured and when properly enforced, the most valuable freedom any country could possibly have.

I have the right to say whatever I desire about ANY subject. That is a freedom that is GUARANTEED by pretty much every country, the few that do not have that right for the most part have a state religion and forbid the defamation of that religion. Censorship and faith usually go hand in hand, with no reason.

I have the right to say whatever I want about religion and guess what, there is NO LAW out there defending the "feelings" of the faithful. The first amendment says never said "you can say whatever you want so long it doesnt offend others".

"Let's agree to disagree and just go your separate ways! All sides in this need to stop "preaching" or "pushing" their agendas and just let people be"

I couldnt agree more with you here. This is certainly the best approach there is. I would love to see theists live up to it though.

The second theists tell me they will pray for me, the second they start legislating their beliefs, the second they tell me I deserve to go to hell, the second they start taking freedoms away from people THE WALL IS DOWN. I will respect your beliefs the second you learn that that they are YOUR beliefs and not mine, I dont care if you believe in god or magical pixies or whatever... just keep your faith to yourself and I will keep my criticism to myself as well.

I would give my right arm to see a world where people get along and where they "agree to disagree" but that will not happen until theists learn to stop proselytizing and lobbying to make sure OTHERS behave and believe in the ways THEY think are ok.

Until that happens, if you tell me you will pray for me I will reply by saying I will think for you. It is only FAIR.

If you think that ONLY YOU have the right to say things to me and only you have the right to NOT be offended then you have a very backwards view on how reciprocity works and what peace means.

Keep your faith to yourself, and I will keep my criticism to myself"

Please tell me what you think.

Learn to agree to disagree. Practice what you claim you preach.