-- ItalianoThere is something completely wrong not only - of course - in Jennifer Hudson's and other Americans' expression of their religious beliefs, but even in the way some of us are discussing it on this board.
There's something wrong with how American's express their religious beliefs? What might that be?
It occurs to me that you do not like Americans very much, but there is little logic to this statement. In some countries you can't even discuss religion in any capacity other than how the government wants you to, so I think that our ability to express how we feel about religion is much healthier than you make it out to be. In America you are allowed to to express your feelings through such discussions, regardless of what religion you practice. That doesn't prevent us from having heated debates and legal arguments about equal treatment and so forth, but it does prevent a totalitarian mindset where you aren't allowed to thank God in an awards speech if you choose to do so.
--okriFor me it stems from religion's often unhealthy intolerance of those who don't agree with them. I'm intolerant of religion (and I often am) because I don't see why I should tolerate those who think I'm going to suffer eternal pain because I don't believe in (a) God
This is one of the silliest things I've ever heard. You don't agree with something so you decide not to even acknowledge it? This is completely not healthy. It is less healthy to not discuss issues than to confront what you perceive to be an injustice or a falsehood. Personally religion is not to blame for the unhealthy intolerance, but certain people's perception of their religious duties. No religion that I know of preaches intolerance or hatred, but some fanatics do believe that they must exclude those who disagree with their faith rather than embracing people with their values. People don't change their hearts and minds through the demand of ignorant people telling them they are inferior. They only change through compassion and self-discovery.
Believing in God is the result of faith and faith is something that comes from personal experiences and a discovery of what is in one's heart. I don't believe in shoving one's beliefs down other people's throats, but also do not believe that someone should remain silent about their beliefs if they are real and if they do not aim to harm. Generally speaking, those who have faith are peaceful people. Like everything else, though, there are some people whose interpretation is more fanatical than the norm.
