Poll of the Day > Is religion a "taboo" subject for you?

(+) Yeah! (+)

It is not a taboo topic for me, but I don't talk it about often anyway (except right now of course.) I actually don't mind talking about religious beliefs whenever it comes up but I do not have strong opinions about them.

No. Religion has absolutely no bearing on my life and it shouldn't have any bearing on your life either.

Judgmenl posted...

No. Religion has absolutely no bearing on my life and it shouldn't have any bearing on your life either.

It's good that you are more firm in your beliefs.

It's generally only a taboo subject for people who have a "belief" that they aren't comfortable defending (i.e. they would have trouble continuing to believe it if they were forced to think about it...and they know it) and/or those uncomfortable with conversations that might get emotional.

Not a taboo subject for me Its just another topic to talk about if you want Some people are religious, some arent. And for people who are religious, there are many different religions for them to be a part of Im not super religious like my family, but its fine it they are. Its important for some people

Religion is a non-existent bridge people can use to walk over the great yawning void of nihilism (like Wile E Coyote before he looks down). It might not be real, but it provides some meaning and value to individuals (and, yes, society...despite its faults) nonetheless.

wpot posted...

Religion is a non-existent bridge people can use to walk over the great yawning void of nihilism (like Wile E Coyote before he looks down). It might not be real, but it provides some meaning and value to individuals (and, yes, society...despite its faults) nonetheless.

True that. I've always appreciated religion in the sense it keeps some people decent.

It has several 'indecent' results as well, of course, but there is true value having a system for shared values...up to a point. A society without values leads to things like the Cultural Revolution in China.

I'm uncomfortable talking about it here because I live in the deep South and everyone assumes you're a diehard Christian

better to usually not kick that hornet's nest

No, it is not taboo for me. I am very critical of it.

More or less.
I'm not uncomfortable at all with my beliefs, but other people are way too happy to jump down peoples throats about their opinion, so I'd just rather... not deal with it. Or even if it's not reasonable to call it an opinion.

I don't really care if people want to mention some aspect of their religious beliefs (or lack thereof), especially if it makes sense in the context of the current discussion.

But if you're proselytizing - either pro OR anti - I mostly just wish you'd shut the fuck up. I don't really want other people preaching at me to try and badger me into believing what they believe... which also includes people who think it's stupid to believe in things (I find the average vocal Internet Atheist to be just as fucking annoying as any Bible-thumping holy roller I've ever met, and usually even more lacking in introspection).

That's true of almost any subject, though. The reason why it becomes more obvious with things like religion or politics is because those are the topics where people simply cannot shut the fuck up about their own personal ideology, while being constantly smugly superior to people "on the other side". So almost any attempt to have a discussion (especially on the Internet) eventually devolves into the metaphorical equivalent of a bunch of concussed kindergartners screaming incoherently and flinging shit at each other.

I'm religious, so no. It's just a little difficult to find people to discuss my particular religion with. As my family is some form of Christian or another. Roughly half are catholic. There's a few I won't discuss it with, because they're becoming pissy little fanatics. Many of them are chill.

ParanoidObsessive posted...

I don't really care if people want to mention some aspect of their religious beliefs (or lack thereof), especially if it makes sense in the context of the current discussion.

But if you're proselytizing - either pro OR anti - I mostly just wish you'd shut the fuck up. I don't really want other people preaching at me to try and badger me into believing what they believe... which also includes people who think it's stupid to believe in things (I find the average vocal Internet Atheist to be just as fucking annoying as any Bible-thumping holy roller I've ever met, and usually even more lacking in introspection).

That's true of almost any subject, though. The reason why it becomes more obvious with things like religion or politics is because those are the topics where people simply cannot shut the fuck up about their own personal ideology, while being constantly smugly superior to people "on the other side". So almost any attempt to have a discussion (especially on the Internet) eventually devolves into the metaphorical equivalent of a bunch of concussed kindergartners screaming incoherently and flinging shit at each other.

Yeah proselytizers suck. And they're too stupid and up their own ass to realize what the word no means. I've chewed out a few of them for harassing and following me.

Nah, I'm what you might call a ragin' atheist

Religion... lol. To consider one of the biggest reasons for people's minds slowly rotting away as "taboo" is fundamentally flawed. It's like saying that talking about and criticizing fascism is taboo because some people are fascists and it'll hurt their feelings.

taboo in this sense is just slang for "sorry i'm too cowardly to put aside my biases and participate in an honest adult conversation"

No, but honestly while I used to be into talking about it a lot in my teens, I don't see the point anymore. There's no evidence supporting ANY faith that stands up to scrutiny, and conversely there's a plethora of evidence that debunks vast swathes of most (if not all) of them. For me that's the beginning and end of the discussion. Come back with actual evidence and then we can talk. *shrug*

What PO said. Course the internet is more inhabited by outspoken atheists than theists, who are just as broadly judgmental on the latter as they make the former out to be.

Nade_Duck posted...

taboo in this sense is just slang for "sorry i'm too cowardly to put aside my biases and participate in an honest adult conversation"

Or they live in a place where discrimination is allowed and it would be dangerous for them to talk about it.

Nade_Duck posted...

taboo in this sense is just slang for "sorry i'm too cowardly to put aside my biases and participate in an honest adult conversation"

It could also be "I don't feel like dealing with other people who can't put aside their biases and participate in an honest adult conversation".

I love a good debate (duh?), but even I don't really enjoy arguing with assholes who just constantly rant emotionally and throw parroted talking points at you. If the other person won't engage intellectually, there's no real reason for me to bother doing so either.

It's similar to how I've pointed out one of the huge flaws of modern Internet discourse - you're never going to convince anyone to agree with you if all you do is constantly mock or shout abuse at anyone you perceive as "THE ENEMY". When you present your points as a personal attack, the other person will immediately dismiss anything you say and assume you're an asshole.

This is why Twitter has never accomplished anything of actual value and likely never will.



keyblader1985 posted...

What PO said. Course the internet is more inhabited by outspoken atheists than theists, who are just as broadly judgmental on the latter as they make the former out to be.

True. Which is why I've generally pointed out when people here on PotD complain about being surrounded by judgmental religious types, that they should probably consider moving the hell out of the Bible Belt (which is where most of the people complaining about it are from). Where you spend most of your time is going to play a very large role in which group of judgmental assholes you're interacting with (and again, this is why I avoid Twitter like the plague).

I'll also point out that there are both awesome religious people and awesome atheists, both ones who talk about their beliefs politely and rationally as well as those who avoid talking about them at all because they don't want to inflict their views on everyone around them. But we'll always remember the worst examples of any given group more than we do the best examples, because being a shitty human being is always more memorable than being a good person (sadly).

But the main takeaway is that people are just as likely to be assholes regardless of what they believe. It's not what they believe (or refuse to believe) that makes them an asshole, it's how they choose to express those views. And assholes exist across every spectrum of human experience.

It's why my general answer to almost any negative situation or scenario is "Humans suck". Because that's usually at the root of every problem. We're the ones who ruin everything.

ParanoidObsessive posted...

Which is why I've generally pointed out when people here on PotD complain about being surrounded by judgmental religious types, that they should probably consider moving the hell out of the Bible Belt (which is where most of the people complaining about it are from).

wish it was a viable financial option to just uproot every connection I have and go live somewhere else. hooray capitalism!

a kid literally got sent to jail and then to a funny farm for "hurting the feelings of X religions" in my country. (then he got asylum in USA, and then got banned from all social media for arguing in support of pedophilia, but whatever...)
in a neigbouring islamic state, a ex-PM once threatened to jail all free-thinkers in the name of "free religion", because he thinks "freedom of religion" means you're NOT allowed to have NO religion.

so yes, i would think it's extremely "taboo" here.

tonicpalin posted...

a kid literally got sent to jail and then to a funny farm for "hurting the feelings of X religions" in my country. (then he got asylum in USA, and then got banned from all social media for arguing in support of pedophilia, but whatever...)

lulz, that would be Amos Yee

It really depends if they try and shove it down your throat or not, generally no because I like learning about other religions but some people just can't accept a difference of opinion

I'll stick to worshiping Eru and hope the ending of the world happens soon so we can get to the 2nd song of the Ainur

I don't have a religion, but I don't mind discussing religion.

Not taboo, but I avoid the conversation amongst newer people as it can be very divisive.

No. Fuck religion. My dad made my childhood a living hell in the name of religion. It is nothing more than a tool used to control ignorant and insecure people.