Well at least I am not being burned at the stake!

@whywiki (6066)
Canada
June 25, 2008 2:09pm CST
I was just thinking that had I been born in a different time period I would be hunted down and burned at the stake. Just for being an atheist. I am certainly glad that the world has become more tolerant of different beliefs. Then I wonder if maybe the world has become too tolerant, letting religions do things that in the normal world wouldn't be allowed. Before anyone jumps down my throat what I mean is, men marrying girls that are teens and they are in there 50's or 60's. Men marrying more than one woman/child all in the name of religion. Then there is the old fashioned Jewish faith where the mohel removes the foreskin during a circumcision by sucking it off and spitting it out. I know this custom is very rarely done that way anymore but it should never be done that way. Any other man did this he would be arrested but as long as it is done in the name of religion it is okay? So all I can say is at least I am not being burned at the stake...
6 people like this
10 responses
25 Jun 08
ah hun how the world moves on eh. yep i do sometimes wonder myself if the world has become too lenient, you cant help but compare life from the 'good old days' to now and boy has it changed i do think everybody is entitled to their own beliefs but i hate it when people try and push their views and beliefs onto me.
3 people like this
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
25 Jun 08
the world does move on in so many ways yet seems to stand still in so many other ways...
2 people like this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
25 Jun 08
Hi whywiki, I agree the world has become tolerant, but remember it was religion that caused most of the intolerance in the first place. It was because of religion that you would have been burnt at the stake. Progress is slow but it is coming, sometimes in spite of religion. Blessings.
2 people like this
@olivemai (4738)
• United States
25 Jun 08
it was also the religions that "taught" people how to be safe and healthy! A lot of the early religious "laws" were concerning health and made a lot of sense for the times! People did not know about germs until the last hundred years or so!
2 people like this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
25 Jun 08
Hi Olivemae, Sorry, You are right. Point taken. Blessings.
1 person likes this
@nancyrowina (3850)
25 Jun 08
I'm a pagan and lots of us have been burned at the stake over the years as well as catholics so I'm glad to live in this age where we have basic rights to practice or not practice the religion of our choice too. It is amazing to think that not so long ago really things like this happened and are still happening in some parts of the world, we certainly are lucky.
2 people like this
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
26 Jun 08
It is great that we are allowed to practice what we please in this part of the world. It makes me so sad to see people suffer in other parts of the world. They are still pretty barbaric in some countries.
1 person likes this
@olivemai (4738)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Religion also put restrictions on those types of behavior! Would we even have circumcision if not for religion? The tradition was to marry young, there were no "old" men! LOL More than one wife? It was the tradition in many countries, nothing to do with religion in the old days! Christians also took their turn being burned at the stake! We must continue to try to bring the whole world into the twenty-first century!
1 person likes this
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
26 Jun 08
That is the key I think, if we could just educate the masses in the poor and distant worlds.
2 people like this
@olivemai (4738)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Yes, that is the key indeed! The only problem is doing it in a way that is not condescending, or insulting to the people who practice those beliefs! I find it can be taken the wrong way, as I have witnessed on myLot! We have to be careful how we word our responses, especially with people who do not speak English as their first language!
1 person likes this
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
26 Jun 08
That is so true and it is hard trying to explain things to someone where english isn't the first language spoken. I would have a hard time understanding someone talking to me is Swahili!
2 people like this
@bieke81 (1067)
• Belgium
25 Jun 08
Well, let me shake your hand, 'cause I would be burned too. Not for being an atheist, but for being a witch. Yeah, ok, we all have our mistakes ;-) I think that some things that are tolerated because they are done out of religion, don't give any problems. I mean, if you want to marry 5 wives, be my guest, don't come complaining when they're nagging to much LOL Other things like that circumcision-thing are against the law, so it shouldn't be tolerated even for the sake of religion. We need to draw the line somewhere.
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
26 Jun 08
I personally don't see how any sane man could put up with 5 wives but I agree if they are of legal marrying age and not your daughter or niece then by all means marry but...a line must be drawn I agree.
1 person likes this
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
25 Jun 08
We're all glad about the removal of the burning stakes but look at what has replaced this kind of thing. Every age has its horrors and we now have more than our share. Removing parts of your skin is wrong, by the way, that either happens naturally or not at all. Ancient people had pretty alternative views on their bodies. Although look at what people do with tattoos these days. I might say myself - at least I'm not tattooed. Or ringed, or shaven, or God knows what. I'm glad about the stakes too.
2 people like this
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
26 Jun 08
When people talk about tattoos it is Mike Tyson that comes to mind and those face tattoos, what was he thinking?
2 people like this
• United States
26 Jun 08
LMAOP well i guess yes that is a good thing. you not being burned at the stake.lol And even back then doesnt it depend on what kind of athiest you are? like most athiest dont beleive in god, but dont beleive in the devil either. now some atheist dont beleive in god but do worship the devil.. so in the old days i could see if u worshiped the devil but even u you didnt beleive in the devil they would still "burn you at the stake?". i dont know to much about all that. i accept that alot of people are diffrent religions. i dont knock anyone for there's or their beliefs. as far as the jewish and foreskin go. thats disgusting, How can you get skin off just by sucking??. I dont even wanna know nevermind. i never herd of this. and i probally would have done better to never hear it LMAO... thats just crazyness.
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
26 Jun 08
True Atheists don't believe in god or the devil. To me the idea of a devil in hell is just as funny as some guy sitting in the clouds judging people all day. I don't judge people on their beliefs to each there own but there comes a time when people shouldn't be able to commit crimes and hide behind their religion. Like those people in Texas recently.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8688)
• United States
26 Jun 08
I'm old enough to remember the stink during the time Madalyn Murry O'Hair was petitioning to have prayer taken out of schools. Older now, I believe it probably was a good thing although my mother didn't think so at the time. Because, frankly, if you have to pray out loud in a group to believe in God it kind of defeats the purpose. I can honestly say none of the people I'd like to burn at the stake are atheists.
1 person likes this
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
26 Jun 08
I remember prayer in school and thought it was wrong. I may have been young but I was old enough to know it was wrong to make us do it every day! I think that without freethinkers like madalyn we would still be in the dark ages.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8688)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Well I can't say that Madalyn was the best spokesperson for the atheists, but she did set things into motion. What happened to her in the end was tragic.
1 person likes this
@zhuuraan (961)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Yeah, I am agnostic and I have a strong christian friend but he doesn't judge me or try to force his beliefs on me. He even has another friend that is atheist. He doesn't let it bother him and he doesn't judge. He doesn't see it as his place to and that is exactly how it should be. Rofl when I think about how many myLotters would've been tarred and feathered had this been the time of Salem, or drowned just to prove they're not a witch I actually have to laugh because I find that the discussions started by the pagan/wicca group around here seems to be some of the most entertaining ones. That is not to say there are not other good ones, because there are lots, but many of the pagan/wicca myLotters I have seen on here always have interesting things to say and their discussions are always a good read. Glad none of them will be tarred and feathered now!
1 person likes this
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
26 Jun 08
I'm beginning to think most mylotters should be tarred and feathered! Maybe it could be a new fashion craze...
1 person likes this
@GavinKaos (272)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Hell I know about intolerance, I'm wiccan.
1 person likes this
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
26 Jun 08
Burn the witch! It is so hard to believe that people were so narrow minded in the day that they thought witches were all bad. They obviously hadn't seen the wizard of oz!
1 person likes this