Religious Nature Of Business

I am a 66 year old atheist, who is very annoyed that the Christian Chapels around the country don't include any other faiths. I am quite sure that drivers who are Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and atheist must feel pretty left out. However, when it comes to atheism the way people react to me makes me feel almost like a traitor to the country. I served in the Air Force for 8 years, and when I told people that I am an atheist, and have been one since I was 15 years old, they act like I was the one who planned the attack on Pearl Harbor. Some of these people actually believe that I worship the devil. When only people who believe in God believe in the devil. I have always wanted to believe that discrimination was not being taught in society today, but ministers still teach believers that if a person does not believe in God, then that person is evil. My wife has loved me for all of our 37 years of marriage. Why can't people just let others be themselves without insulting them.

Placing those chapels is not meant to insult others. They are placed mainly in truck stops for those of a Christian persuasion to practice their faith. Christianity (in many forms) is the main religion in the United States, whose Constitution forbids the government from favoring one religion over another. Private parties and people are able to follow their own beliefs, and don't really have to "allow for" or even acknowledge the beliefs of others. {This is a forum for trucking, please do not get into discussing doctrine of any sort here.}

If a Jewish, Islamic or Buddhist group found it appropriate, they could probably get a place at truck stops, too. Atheists could always have a "religion free zone" set up, depending on the permission of the land owner/truck stop operator. Don't take the mere presence of a Christian Chapel to be an affront to your convictions, please have some tolerance for beliefs other than your own.

It is a misconception of many to think that atheists worship the devil. I know "a-theism" means "no-god", and you feel no need to worship or follow any supernatural entity. Maybe you could spend time with these "Pearl Harbor" people and explain the difference.

I am a 66 year old atheist, who is very annoyed that the Christian Chapels around the country don't include any other faiths. I am quite sure that drivers who are Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and atheist must feel pretty left out. However, when it comes to atheism the way people react to me makes me feel almost like a traitor to the country. I served in the Air Force for 8 years, and when I told people that I am an atheist, and have been one since I was 15 years old, they act like I was the one who planned the attack on Pearl Harbor. Some of these people actually believe that I worship the devil. When only people who believe in God believe in the devil. I have always wanted to believe that discrimination was not being taught in society today, but ministers still teach believers that if a person does not believe in God, then that person is evil. My wife has loved me for all of our 37 years of marriage. Why can't people just let others be themselves without insulting them.

Just ignore them, thats what i do. Only time i will say anything is when one of them trying to force their material on me.

Now HERE'S a topic you don't see here often (or EVER really).

I'm a jewish/agnostic - meaning, I was born jewish - don't practice my faith. But I believe there is something bigger than me - just don't really know what it is, and don't really care to practice any of the "faiths" in order to connect. I call that power GOD - because that's what everyone else calls it - makes it easier for me. And being a longtime, card carrying member of AA - I do use prayer on a regular basis, and I've found it works for me (however delusional that sounds to an atheist).

There's a saying in AA: Religion is for people that don't want to go to HELL - Spirituality is for those that have ALREADY BEEN THERE.

Agnostic comes from the greek: Ag - without, + nostic - knowledge.

But honestly - I practice "live and let live".

I don't get "annoyed" at houses of worship, that don't include other faiths. I don't feel "left out". I believe that everyone has a right to believe and practice as they choose to - as long as those beliefs don't interfere with the rights of others to believe (or not believe), or try and force feed their beliefs to me.

I even say "The Lords Prayer" at the end of meetings, and I'm not necessarily "moved" by the inferences to the "kingdom of heaven", or GOD or Jesus or anything like that. What I am "moved by", is a room full of people holding hands together

I don't believe you are the "devil" or caused Pearl Harbor. I have found however, in my experience - that atheists have a tendency to be as vocal and militant in THEIR BELIEFS as any fundamentalist/orthodox religion.

And I've attended services of many faiths - from a "snake handling" pentecostal church (the band and choir ROCKED IT - I expected James Brown to come out doing cartwheels, like in the Blues Brothers movie), to solemn RC Catholic services done in latin. I have found them to be anywhere from "spiritually moving" to incredibly amusing.

I was getting a haircut in a barber shop in Winston-Salem, back in '93 - the barber was talking with one of the "hangarounds" there about church - asked me what church I attended. Told him I was Jewish - he felt around my head and said; "JEWISH - WHERE'S YOUR HORNS AT?"

REALLY? I mean - REALLY. Whatever - I laughed at him.

I SUBSCRIBE TO NONE OF IT. But respect the rights of those who do. I don't argue with them, or try to prove them wrong. It's not my PROBLEM.

I PRACTICE TOLERANCE. And those who attempt to ridicule or castigate me for not believing as they do, I IGNORE. Not worth a moment of my precious time.

From one fellow "devil worshiper" to another - I suggest you do the same. PRACTICE TOLERANCE - and IGNORE THAT which has no meaning for you.

And if INTOLERANCE TOWARDS ME - rises to the point where my physical welfare is threatened, my "warning shot" will be a HEAD SHOT.

Rick

Patrick, I'm confounded by how incredibly intolerant and overly sensitive you come across as you are berating the supposed intolerance of those who offend you just by their very presence. I don't know how you could feel "left out" when I have never in all my days seen an atheist chapel anywhere, and if I ever do see one I certainly would not be offended because they didn't include something for my particular beliefs.

Some people go through their whole lives just looking for a way to be offended. It is a sad waste of energy in my opinion, and they would be much better off if they quit finding someone else to blame for their own sense of not fitting in with any particular group. If you don't fit in, then settle it in your own heart and embrace it, but don't blame those whom you consider to be exclusionary, when it is you yourself who set yourself apart.

I wish there was a "like" button for the responses. Especially Rick's and OS's. Agree 100 percent.

Being annoyed that a Christian meeting doesn't teach the beliefs of other faiths is like being annoyed that you have to dribble the ball in basketball instead of just running with it like a football. Basketball is not football like Christianity is not atheism, or Buddhism, or Islam etc... The very nature of Christianity is exclusive - meaning that its Scriptures teach that there is only one way to God. It is the opposite of pluralistic. Any 'form' of Christianity that accepts another faith or tries to blend it with Christianity, is not Christianity.

Christianity, like Judaism and Islam, is a 'religion' of the Book. What the Scriptures teach is what would make up the Christian faith. Other faiths are not taught in a Christian gathering because these faiths are not Christian. It's not a matter of being discriminated against or Christians being 'politically incorrect.'

Now, if you were at a Unitarian meeting, or any gathering that is pluralistic in nature, and that particular meeting would exclude you because you are atheist, well, then you'd have something to complain about.

First off , I don't care that you, or anybody else for that matter, is an athiest. As far as I'm concerned, that's between you and God. My only concern is that 1. You don't try to stop me from practicing my religion. 2. You don't try to kill me for practicing my religion.

My gut retaction to your post is, fix it yourself. If you don't see enough Jewish, buddist Islam, Shinto, or whatever places of worship on the road, then by all means, front the money and have one built. Don't come crying to every one else saying it's not fair, no one is stopping you from building places of worship. My real question is, if your an athiest, why does this matter?

Please forgive me, but this is the dumbest post I've ever seen. I'm not going to say anything else because it'll just get me in trouble.

Not sure what I'm reading or why I'm reading it

This really doesn't seem to be a trucking related question or comment at all.