P1495: A recent survey revealed that many Australians harbour incredibly negative attitudes towards all religion.

A negative attitude doesn't mean they abuse Religionists. It just means they don't believe in Religion or Gods. If Religionists interpret that as abusive (negative) then, the Log in is their eye.

If a Religionist engages an Atheist in a debate & that Atheist is not persuaded by the Religionist, then most Religionist tend to get somewhat Ikey. They then perceive the Atheist to be Negative & abusive when, in fact, it's mostly the other way around. Ay.

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Strange, I find most Atheist to know more about Religion than Religionists. That's why they're Atheists".

Very strange indeed, even if you know "most atheists", which I doubt. As an agnostic, I find atheists no different from believers: both are making assumptions they can't prove or disprove. I have more respect for the believers, who at least have faith. Atheists have nothing, and nothing to say worth hearing.

Paul wrote: "Not everything is on the 'Internet' old chum. "

Not quite true. http://www.warcry.org.au/single-post/2019/11/16/Whats-the-problem-with-religion

Still, that doesn't help. My experience is that when you can't trace the provenance of a claimed survey, there are usually good (or nefarious) reasons for that. Survey results are easily manipulated as Sir Humphrey showed all those years ago... http://youtu.be/oLhFXkvugLM?t=58

Currently there are polls in the USshowing that 70% of people want Trump impeached and that 30% want Trump impeached. Iffy polls get the answer they want.

So I don't believe the numbers since they don't gel with other reputable numbers around. Still, it seems we'll never know.

As to religion being divisive, its my experience, when someone claims these people or this insitution or whatever are divisive, what they really mean is that they won't agree with them.

If only everyone agreed with me, society wouldn't be divided. That's the level of thinking. Religion of itself isn't divisive. When the majority of people are religious, religion by definition is unifying.

Religion is only seen to be divisive because it refuses or cannot concede its principles to the current fads. But the fadists demand that it does concede, that it ignore its teachings and follow their held-for-the-present dictates. And since religion demurs, they declare it divisive which is one of the biggest pejoratives available to a leftist.

Religion and the religious aren't stopping the same-sex community from living their lives as they want. They just refuse to lie by saying that such lifestyles are acceptable in their or their deity's eyes.

"Religion is only seen to be divisive because it refuses or cannot concede its principles to the current fads".

Spot on, mhaze, if you are talking about the Catholics. Many, if not most, non-conformist preachers, however, go out of their way to be trendy by introducing 'fads' into their sermons and ramblings in an effort to gain the approval of Leftist ratbags and Christianity haters.

Move over scientology my new God is ready to get the tax free run all have
You must be born again, in to the race/religion you harmed in this life
Did not do that? move up a step,all races are Gods children all colors all faiths, harm not one of them
Bring your money with you to Church we will truly honestly share every cent with the poor

Jayb.

You've really never seen it? I find that hard to believe. I've seen it when I first came to OLO. I've also seen Christian divisiveness towards nonbelievers, as well as towards other Christians. I make a note to pay attention to this because of issues as a kid, and not wanting to see the same thing happen again. The only reason to not see divisiveness among atheists is if you're not being observant. My question still stands if you have any explainations as an atheist, for atheist divisiveness.

To Belly. The same question still is open to you as well.