It is possible to not believe in God and treat religious people with more respect...
Mark Corrigan's muse Alain De Botton on religion:
"So you don't agree with the "tough-minded critics" who characterise religious people as simpletons and maniacs?
No, not at all. I think that's very much the Dawkins view that essentially religion is a species of stupidity, and this seems to be very narrow-minded."
Quote: Oldrocker @ October 16 2012, 12:47 AM BSTSo why does anyone need religon?
And why do some people feel so strongly about it ?
I really don't understand.
You should watch 'Sex, Death and the Meaning of Life'. The first part of this three part series was on More4 last night.
Synopsis:
If there is no God watching us, why be good?
Richard Dawkins examines sin. He asks whether the old religious rules about what is right and wrong are helpful and explores what science can tell us about how to be good.
Dawkins journeys from riot-torn inner city London to America's Bible Belt, building a powerful argument that religion's absolutist moral codes fuel lies and guilt.
He finds the most extreme example in a Paris plastic surgery clinic that specialises in making Muslim brides appear to be virgins once again.
But what can science and reason tell us about morality? Through encounters with lemurs, tango dancers, the gay rights campaigner Matthew Parris and the scientist Steven Pinker, Dawkins investigates the deeper roots of moral behaviour in our evolutionary past.
He explores the rituals that surround mating and the science of disgust and taboo. Drawing on crime data and insights from neuroscience, he argues that our evolved senses of reason and empathy appear to be making us more and more moral, even as religious observance declines.
- It was very interesting.
Also worth watching is Andrew Maxwells' (yes the Irish comedian!) series 'Conspiracy Road Trip'. It covers different Conspiracies in each episode. So far it has covered 9/11, 7/7 Bombings, Creationism and UFOs. It has been entertaining and (I think) it gives a huge insight into why people are capable of believing anything.
Quote: Mr Carnegie @ October 16 2012, 1:36 PM BSTIt is possible to not believe in God and treat religious people with more respect...
Who is not showing respect?
Quote: David Bussell @ October 16 2012, 1:33 PM BSTIsn't that like saying that to be able to say there's no such thing as Superman I need to be able to prove it? Surely the onus isn't on me to disprove something someone wrote down in a book as being a reality?
Not really considering the man who made up superman has been documented as, well, making up superman? And saying, "look, I've made up this character called superman?"
Also, most Christians don't challenge people to prove them wrong, they just want to get on with their lives, worshiping their god.
Quote: Lee @ October 16 2012, 1:39 PM BSTWho is not showing respect?
I will refer you to the words of Mr De Botton...
I know a few Christians who get the piss taken out of them all the time at work, and did at school. I see that as on a par to taking the piss out of someone for being gay. They should be able to believe what they want. And campaigning atheists, in my mind, are as petty and intrusive as the nutter Christians.
Quote: Mr Carnegie @ October 16 2012, 1:40 PM BSTAlso, most Christians don't challenge people to prove them wrong, they just want to get on with their lives, worshiping their god.
I'm sure there is an equal amount of atheists wanting to do the same thing. I'm sure you can easily find the religious equivalent of Gervais on Twitter who tries to stir up as much controversy with the opposing opinion.
Atheism is used in jest to mock the religious. Religion is used maliciously to segregate the people with opposing views.
Quote: Lee @ October 16 2012, 1:33 PM BSTI've never heard ANY scientist claim 'there is no God' but scientists can pick apart all the evidence that is provided to them via sources such as the bible.
Some Christians do. Doesn't the Archbishop and The Pope recognize evolution as scientific fact?
I think they do, yeah.
Exactly, because scientists generally see it as either
1. not worth bothering with as it doesn't impact or restrict their life
2. relise to state ANYTHING as fact, you need to back it up. Including the dis-proving of a deity.
I don't believe in God, I don't really care to be honest. I think there is a lot wrong with religion. I think people can mis-construe doctrine and get fired up. I blame them, not a belief system.
I just think these militant atheists have ended up becoming what they dislike so much...
Quote: Mr Carnegie @ October 16 2012, 1:43 PM BSTAnd campaigning atheists
Who?
Quote: Mr Carnegie @ October 16 2012, 1:47 PM BSTI 2. relise to state ANYTHING as fact, you need to back it up. Including the dis-proving of a deity.
It would certainly be pretty tricky to have solid proof of the non-existence of the imaginary. 
Quote: Lee @ October 16 2012, 1:44 PM BSTI'm sure there is an equal amount of atheists wanting to do the same thing. I'm sure you can easily find the religious equivalent of Gervais on Twitter who tries to stir up as much controversy with the opposing opinion.
Atheism is used in jest to mock the religious. Religion is used maliciously to segregate the people with opposing views.
Yeah I have no gripe with those ones, and I do have a gripe with the nutter Christians who make up bullshit and force it on others, definitely.
My point in all of this is that a lot of athesists (the Gervais's and the Dawkins's) are just as bad as those 'nutters' they set out to ridicule.
Nothing wrong with poking fun and satirising religion in the slightest, but what I see goes beyond that sometimes.
Seems a bit childish to me, on both sides, but I guess because the atheists always proclaim to be so level headed, logical and intelligent, I think they should know better!
Quote: Mr Carnegie @ October 16 2012, 1:43 PM BSTNot really considering the man who made up superman has been documented as, well, making up superman? And saying, "look, I've made up this character called superman?"
Also, most Christians don't challenge people to prove them wrong, they just want to get on with their lives, worshiping their god.
So you're saying that if the author of Superman remained anonymous then it would be the job of science to disprove his real life existence?
And I agree with you that most Christians probably want to be left to their beliefs, but then I'm only addressing you and your post, not the religious in general.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ October 16 2012, 1:50 PM BSTIt would certainly be pretty tricky to have solid proof of the non-existence of the imaginary.
I agree, but you can't have that caveat if you really want to go by the scientific book. If that were true no one would have tried to find dark matter. Cause technically it should be there!!
I believe it's wrong to assume that these outspoken atheists are attacking the average religious person. Specifically Gervais is just responding to attacks upon himself, he obviously finds it interesting and enjoys the debate. The difference is, I can easily unfollow him on Twitter, it's much harder to remove any references to religion in schools, government or the community if I don't wish to be a part of it.
Quote: Mr Carnegie @ October 16 2012, 1:52 PM BSTI agree, but you can't have that caveat if you really want to go by the scientific book. If that were true no one would have tried to find dark matter. Cause technically it should be there!!
"So you're saying that if the author of Superman remained anonymous then it would be the job of science to disprove his real life existence?"
No, I'm saying your choice of example was floored! 
But, just because you say something doesn't exist, doesn't mean it DEFINITELY doesn't (if that makes sense)
I mean if you told someone about dark matter and alternate universes about 100 years ago they would have thought you were mental, and might as well have been talking about father Christmas.
Until you die and find out what happens, you don;t know. None of us do.
Quote: David Bussell @ October 16 2012, 1:52 PM BSTSo you're saying that if the author of Superman remained anonymous then it would be the job of science to disprove his real life existence?
That would make an amazing story, novel, film, sketch!
Quote: Mr Carnegie @ October 16 2012, 1:56 PM BSTUntil you die and find out what happens, you don;t know. None of us do.
You rot in the ground, follow me and bring a shovel and I'll prove it.
Quote: Lee @ October 16 2012, 1:53 PM BSTI believe it's wrong to assume that these outspoken atheists are attacking the average religious person. Specifically Gervais is just responding to attacks upon himself, he obviously finds it interesting and enjoys the debate. The difference is, I can easily unfollow him on Twitter, it's much harder to remove any references to religion in schools, government or the community if I don't wish to be a part of it.
Yeah I sort of get what you mean. I just get tired of him going on about it ALL THE TIME. I just think people are so quick to dismiss religion as something stupid (which he does do) when it's not quite as simple as they make out. And I think that doesn't really show much respect. No one likes being told repeatedly what they believe is bullshit when there is no proof either way.
As Stewart Lee says, I'm more for 'institutional politeness'.
It's fine to satire and poke fun, but there is a point where one becomes a little weary of it all...
PS I agree it should be taken out of schools, government etc. I believe it nearly is now statistically isn;t it?
And anyway, if you don;t believe in God, what do you care you have to swear on a bible in court, or mention his name in a marriage ceremony?
Anyway...