[quote=Magic Magnum]
No problem. I get how being annoyed and disliking religion can anger or confuse a lot of people, even those not religious themselves.That's just not healthy though, for the only thing you have is blind faith in something the world has created at least tens of thousands of versions of it, all of which claims to be the one and only true God or religion.Oh I get it, I was Christian for most of my life.It's having grown up Christian that helps fuel my reasons for disliking Religion.To honestly consider one self part of a Religion, you should be reading and obeying the Bible of said Religion.To not do so... Well then you're ignoring the entire religion and honestly shouldn't call yourself a member of that Religion in the first place.So with that leaving those who actually do follow the Bible, most religions tell their followers that they're God's word is law. That God is all knowing and infinite.I makes sense for the rules man put down to change over time, we're only men. We learn, we adapt, we change. But for what God says to change? If he does change his mind later one he is either sadistic, or he isn't all knowing cause he had to change his word in the first place.Also even Religion's like Christianity aren't fully clear as to if the Old Testament is to be disregarded or not.That's just one possible interpretation of what Jesus said, and it's the interpretation most religious people choose to take cause it let's them dodge what would otherwise be a very inconvenient bullet.Even then though, the New Testament has more than enough to tear apart with including women not being allowed to speak outside of their home.You want to look at a Religion and go "This scripture's are too old, we should ignore them and do something else" be my guest. But stop calling yourself a member of that religion, cause you're outright disobeying it at that point.This is true. But let's put this in another perspective.Let's say a School put a rule in saying "You are allowed to pick on, bully, harass and abuse Girls, Gays, Blacks, Jews, Asians etc.". Would you stand for it and say "Well Assholes will be assholes may this rule be in or not?". Any half-moral person wouldn't allow a rule that outright promotes the harm and bullying of others, even if humanity has some asshole's that would act that way even if they weren't allowed to.Not liking Religion is not the same as shunning anyone who is Religious.As far as Religion vs Non-Religious even goes, it's normally the Religious people shunning the non-religious (or religious people of another religion) for not believing in their God.Non-Religious normally just show a disliking to Religion, disagree with it and tell them to stop trying to force their religion on others.Sometimes creating atheist groups and such as a place of acceptance cause so many religious people won't accept them.I'd rather avoid flame war's too honestly is possible.But I'm not going to let the fear of a flame war prevent me from being open and honest about my opinion if people ask about it.
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Being religious myself, I can say that there's a LOT of people who give Christians a bad name. The bible says just the OPPOSITE of what you claim your problems with religion are, Magic Magnum. Jesus teaches us to love one another. The people he helped and spent his time with were murderers, thieves, prostitutes...because they needed direction and guidance the most. Jesus didn't shun the non-religious or look down upon them. I think the biggest problem with Christianity today are the people who sit there, with their noses in the air, acting like anyone non-religious is a piece of crap--OR come up with the stupidest shit, like "if you smoke you'll go to hell" (baptists and Catholics are big on this one, among other things). 

But not EVERY person who loves and believes in God is like that. MANY of us respect people's right to live any way they choose, and follow our own faith without trying to shove it down everyone's throats. It's just that those who do, they are louder and get more media attention. 

As for most non-religious people often not shunning people who ARE religious...to put it bluntly, that's bs. I can name a BUNCH of examples where this is simply not true--from taking "under god" out of the US pledge of allegiance, to telling people they aren't allowed to pray quietly in public--which to me, violates not only freedom of religion but freedom of speech. It seems to me, there is this HUUUGE anti-religion movement happening in the United States, where our rights to religious freedom are slowly being chipped away at. And a lot of atheists are incredibly rude and demeaning to those who are religious. I can speak from personal experience here. 

I seldom even get involved in these kinds of discussions because often, the second I mention that I believe in God, it's like I open the floodgates to total flamage. But I can't be silent on this post, because as much as I've come to like you Magic Magnum, I have to disagree with you on this one. I may not be the perfect Christian, I may have ideas that would have me labeled a heretic in the Renaissance days , but in the end I believe in everyone's right to follow whatever God they choose and not be lashed out and bullied because of it. Likewise, I believe that no religion should bully non-believers either. I think there's room for improvement on both sides, but don't deny the fact that a LOT of non-religious people are quite cruel/judgmental/hateful to anyone who says "I believe in God."