Why do people believe in astrology?

[StL FinFan]

I don't try to pawn off my religion on others.  If you say you don't  believe there is a God, I will not try to change your mind.  At the same time respect my beliefs as I respect yours and don't try to convince me there is no God.

[Dave Gray]

I don't try to pawn off my religion on others.  If you say you don't  believe there is a God, I will not try to change your mind.  At the same time respect my beliefs as I respect yours and don't try to convince me there is no God.

I hear this a lot, but I don't adhere to it.  I think that a lot of bad things is done in the name of God (from many religions).  If we all have a live and let live attitude towards it, I feel complacent in that wrongdoing.

[StL FinFan]

^ Yes, a lot of people use religion to fuel their hate crimes, but there is also a lot of good done in the name of God.  There are two sides to every coin.  If I am not one of those hiding behind religion to spew my hate, I shouldn't be lumped in with those that are.

[badger6]

I don't try to pawn off my religion on others.  If you say you don't  believe there is a God, I will not try to change your mind.  At the same time respect my beliefs as I respect yours and don't try to convince me there is no God.

I agree with you 100%. I try my best to respect everyone and their beliefs. I think there is a big difference between a religious discussion and just plain recruiting for the church. I may debate the facts as I see them regarding to the lack of god, but I am not trying to convert you. I can't say for sure that atheists don't try to convert people, but I've never seen or met one. In atheism there is nothing to convert to anyhow, so it's a moot point. For the most part the majority of people you see trying to convert and recruit is the Christians in this country. Would you agree with that or not ?

[BigDaddyFin]

I gotta say this if it wasn't for astrology, I'd have next to nothing to laugh at.

[StL FinFan]

I agree with you 100%. I try my best to respect everyone and their beliefs. I think there is a big difference between a religious discussion and just plain recruiting for the church. I may debate the facts as I see them regarding to the lack of god, but I am not trying to convert you. I can't say for sure that atheists don't try to convert people, but I've never seen or met one. In atheism there is nothing to convert to anyhow, so it's a moot point. For the most part the majority of people you see trying to convert and recruit is the Christians in this country. Would you agree with that or not ?

I agree to a point.  Some people are very obviously trying to recruit.  Those people annoy me also.  If I just met you, I don't want to discuss whether I have a personal relationship with Jesus.  Other people are just being polite when you sneeze and they say "Bless you".

[badger6]

I agree to a point.  Some people are very obviously trying to recruit.  Those people annoy me also.  If I just met you, I don't want to discuss whether I have a personal relationship with Jesus.  Other people are just being polite when you sneeze and they say "Bless you".

Well to expand on your point a bit. Sometimes when someone tries to draft me into the "God Army". I ask them, why are Christians always trying to convert people to Christianity. The overwhelming answers that I have received are. That it is their job as a christian to save the nonbelievers or that the bible tells them to. I don't recall if the bible says anything either way since it's been so long since I've really paid any attention to the bible. So what does the bible actually say about that ?

[StL FinFan]

I don't know every passage of the Bible, so I don't know, either.  I know that some branches of Christianity require their members to go out and "save" non-believers.  I happen to not agree with that.  Live how you want.  I will treat people like they treat me, and I don't care what they believe or don't believe.

[badger6]

I don't know every passage of the Bible, so I don't know, either.  I know that some branches of Christianity require their members to go out and "save" non-believers.  I happen to not agree with that.  Live how you want.  I will treat people like they treat me, and I don't care what they believe or don't believe.

Well if the world had the same attitude as you. An atheist and a christian could get married and not let the difference affect the relationship. But most people cannot or will not tolerate anything different than what they perceive as "Right or Wrong".

[StL FinFan]

All I ask is that you judge me as the individual I am, and not on labels.

[badger6]

All I ask is that you judge me as the individual I am, and not on labels.

I wasn't talking about you StL. I was talking about religion as a whole. Don't take anything I say as personal, it's not anything like that.

[StL FinFan]

No personal offense taken.

[JVides]

I hear this a lot, but I don't adhere to it.  I think that a lot of bad things is done in the name of God (from many religions).  If we all have a live and let live attitude towards it, I feel complacent in that wrongdoing.

I've said it before, will say it again:  Do not underestimate the effect that organized religion has had in civilizing our world.  Most of our basic laws can be traced back to a religious base, be it the ten commandments or rabbinical law.  Religion has helped bring order from chaos.  You shouldn't fell complicit in any wrongdoing unless you are to also feel complicit in all the good that has been done as well.

[fyo]

Most of our basic laws can be traced back to a religious base, be it the ten commandments or rabbinical law.

You could equally well say that most of our basic laws stem from pure common sense; the need to coexist. That people with power introduced commandments, laws, codices or similar to encourage this behavior is not a surprise and would not seem to require the existence of religion.

[Dave Gray]

I've said it before, will say it again:  Do not underestimate the effect that organized religion has had in civilizing our world.  Most of our basic laws can be traced back to a religious base, be it the ten commandments or rabbinical law.

There is some truth to this.  Organized religion definitely has its place, in terms of keeping people on the straight and narrow over the centuries.  However, I think that the 10 commandments come from man's inherent desire to be good, not the other way around.

Religion has helped bring order from chaos.  You shouldn't fell complicit in any wrongdoing unless you are to also feel complicit in all the good that has been done as well.

I think that religion has outlived its usefulness in that respect and now does more harm to the world, than good.  There are many, many, many people who do good deeds in the name of God.  I think that these people would still do good things without God, however.  And there are people who do evil in the name of God, as well.  They would likely continue on this path, using other justifications.  But, as a society, it would be easier to spot and condemn these acts, because they wouldn't be hiding behind the veil of religion.