get used to it, OP. most times the loudest people are just the folks who need to be listening. Because sensationalism sells, you're really only going to hear the most vocal and controversial things being said. When it comes to matters of faith, of course it's going to get heated, and the back and forth is definitely going to get emotional. and the dumbest is going to shout the loudest. Pick your fights, and always James 1:19

When your country accepts everyone of all classes, races, types, and intelligence, this is what happens.

I'm proud, however, to know that I live my life the way I choose and those around me can live theirs within education or ignorance if that is their choosing. It angers me from time to time when the general populace proves it's stereotype, but than how would I know if I was smarter than the average bear?

@l4wd0g said:

Only 10 percent of American teenagers can name all five major world religions and 15 percent cannot name any.

I honestly view this as a good thing, but that's beside the point really.

I don't care that the majority of the country is ignorant. I just don't anymore. I know that I myself am not ignorant to the world religions, so if someone's gonna lump me in with the rest of my country and assume I'm a dumb twat (not saying that was your intention OP) then let them. Because that's ignorant too. Not only that, but I'd have a hard time believing the US is the only country with similar statistics.

@DriveupLife said:

How do other people's beliefs affect you? Just write them off, choose your own crowd and don't try to figure out why it is the way it is. If they're in your face, walk around them and don't bother giving them attention. Problem solved.

That's not an appropriate response when 'Teach the Controversy' and anti gay marriage laws are a reality.

While I kind of agree with what the OP is getting at here, I'd just like to say that I have never been polled for any of the shit that I see statistics on regarding any subject. I don't trust stats unless I get sample sizes, region specifics, and other important details.

@CaLe said:

Ignorance breeds ignorance. Teaching a developing mind to 'believe' or 'have faith' in any form of religion should be illegal. I'm sure a lot of the people who believe in any form of religion today simply didn't have any choice in the matter. Their developing mind was corrupted by their ignorant parents.

As much as I hate trashing peoples' beliefs and how they got to them, this is very true for a lot of them. I have two friends that, while I love them to death, are so ingrained in their parents' teachings that I have to choose my words carefully. I've literally dropped entire conversations as soon as they walk into a room. And they both have a strict religious upbringing in common. It's disappointing, to say the least.

@l4wd0g: Atheists use the bible to push their agenda?

lolwut?

@l4wd0g: That's the best part about religious debates.

Nine times out of ten the guy arguing for religion can't even answer the most basic of religious trivia, and the guy arguing for science couldn't pass a seventh grade science quiz.

...and then they just sit there calling each other ignorant :P

There was a Pew Research study recently which found that Atheists / Agnostics were the most knowledgeable about religious topics. People of the Jewish and Mormon faiths also did pretty well, and most protestant denominations scored much lower, with Catholics in the middle; these findings even stayed true after correcting for educational backgrounds.

@ProfessorEss said:

@l4wd0g: That's the best part about religious debates.

Nine times out of ten the guy arguing for religion can't even answer the most basic of religious trivia, and the guy arguing for science couldn't pass a seventh grade science quiz.

...and then they just sit there calling each other ignorant :P

Woah.. you just fucked this thread over sideways.

Reading is for nerds.