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Debate Info

60
59
Yes No
Debate Score:119
Arguments:111
Total Votes:145
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Argument Ratio

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 Yes (44)
 
 No (41)

Debate Creator

Srom(12206) pic



Should religion be a private matter?

Yes

Side Score: 60
VS.

No

Side Score: 59
4 points

Yes, it should be a private matter that does not influence government. The religious should keep their noses out of other peoples business and the irreligious should keep their noses out of other peoples business as well.

Side: Yes
4 points

I interpret the word private to imply personally held and observed outside of the public and political spheres. Obviously, every person should have freedom of speech but in terms of observance that choice should absolutely be left to the private sphere and not imposed upon others against their will.

Side: Yes

Believe what you want, but please don't come preaching to me.

Side: Yes
2 points

Fuck that side. -----> .

Side: Yes
1 point

It really should be. It's perfectly okay to meet up with people who believe in the same thing, but going out and pretty much forcing it on others is not okay. Religion should stay out of government like it's supposed to but that obviously isn't happening. If someone doesn't believe in a certain religion then they shouldn't be forced to obey rules set by that religion. They shouldn't have to be forced to listen to its sermons.

Side: Yes
1 point

I enjoy debating religion because it is a subject that has always interested me but I choose to keep my beliefs private as I think my beliefs are exactly that and if I was a follower of certain religions some Atheists would just dismiss my arguments as the ramblings of a "follower of bronze age myths" and vice versa if I was an Atheist some religous folk would discount my arguments because I would be an unbeliever, I have been told a couple of times on here that I shouldn't debate Christianity because those people assumed I was not Christian, this from Christians who are happy to spout about the evils of other religions. So much for not judging and loving your fellow man.

Side: Yes

Rules or not, I think it should be a private matter that people take upon themselves not to bring up.

People often get offended when their religion is trampled on, yet other people, mainly atheists, feel a desire to correct people with a way of thinking not based in logic and science, they do so. So it comes to head butting over who's more right, and no one can prove either side wrong, so everyone leaves angry.

I'm not saying there should be a rule on it, but I think people should make an effort on their own to not be in people's face about their religions.

Side: Yes
1 point

I really want to fight both sides for this but... I have to pick one... shame. Religion should be private in the sense that you can't condemn someone else for not being in a Religion but Religion should never be something you should just throw away and keep it in the corner of life. People in Religions believe it or not still is over powering the amount of people that are not so logically we have no right to tell the greater priority what they can do and what they can't but morally no one can tell anyone what to do.

Keeping religion a private matter would be best because it would stop a lot of stupid fighting. Well i say that but peoples sexuality are a private matter but will still cause fighting.

Making it a private matter would not solve anything all it would do is cause more problems because it will be telling the best part of the human race to keep something that they them selves have been able to express freely for over 300 years. but being able to tell someone that is dragging on about there religion to shut up would be amazing and especially if that's how it should be in the first place.

Side: Yes
Jace(5222) Disputed
1 point

I agree that no one should be able to impose their views on the lives of others. Unfortunately, I do not think that it would tamp down on fighting as much as you think it would. Just because religion becomes less overt does not mean it is informing peoples' actions any less. I am for keeping religion out of the public system of governance but not for silence, because expression at least keeps the dialogue open and allows those beliefs to be challenged.

As far as "telling the best part of the human race to keep something[silent] that that they themselves have been able to express freely for only 300 years" - quite frankly, I find that offensive. You have very explicitly taken the stance here that the religious are superior to the non-religious which is highly prejudicial and a total fallacy. If anything, making religious people have to shut up and hide their beliefs might give them a taste of what it is like to be an atheist in a predominantly religious species that actively hates and silences non-theists.

Side: No

People can find a spirituality for themselves, they don't need other people attempting to guide them.

Side: Yes

It is wise for someone to keep his/her Faith a private matter.

Side: Yes

I think one is wise to keep his Religion to himself, especially a politician.

Side: Yes
3 points

The 1st. Amendment secures our right to religion, to speak, to vote, to assemble and to lobby the government for a redress of our grievences.

That right is secured for the most atheist and agnostic citizens as much as it is for the most zealous and religious citizens in our country.

There is no way to exercise your 1st Amentment rights and keep it 'private' at the same time.

Side: No
Jace(5222) Clarified
3 points

I disagree rather vehemently that the freedom of belief and speech is equally protected for atheists and agnostics. As an openly avowed atheist I have consistently been silenced. There is no protection for atheists or agnostics from discrimination, even though prejudice against atheists makes such discrimination a consistent reality. I am also regularly subjected to laws in my personal life which are motivated by religious belief and that stand in direct contradiction to my personal beliefs.

To me, the issue at hand with this question is where the private becomes public. I think that expression actually does fall within private insofar as it is not forced upon anyone; no one has to agree because it is not invading the political and legal public systems of governance. It becomes non-private when that line is crossed and religion becomes law enforced upon other people who do not share in the same beliefs.

Side: Yes
2 points

Agreed. I support freedom of belief over freedom of religion, because freedom of belief extends rights to non religious persons. The First Amendment should be changed to reflect this.

Side: No

I feel that religion is a belief system, and interaction of belief systems can create a higher or better one. That's just what I think though :/

Side: No
2 points

I don't think it should be a private matter. I do think that people should have a choice weather they want to believe something that may or may not be true. I feel sorry for them who THINK they HAVE to believe lest they suffer "eternal death."

Side: No
1 point

People should be open in their beliefs and be able to express themselves outside of a confined enviroment. That's my opinion. Yes it can bother and offend you, but you have your own beliefs, you don't need to change theirs, nor do you need to express your hatred on to others.

Side: No
1 point

The way this is phrased it could infringe upon certain religious beliefs.

So I must disagree at this point in time.

Side: No
0 points

I don't think my belief should be kept private because its actually a good thing to spread because when the person accepts Christ into their life, they are brought with hope and peace to know what their God has done for them because no other God did what Jesus did.

Side: No
3 points

I agree. If you have discovered something great; a belief that has shaped your life for the better, then why keep it to yourself?

Also, I don't think that anyone should feel the need to keep their religion private. Especially if it's just because they are afraid of what others will think of them. Your religion is a large part of your culture and identity, so you shouldn't need to hide it.

Side: No
Jace(5222) Disputed
1 point

I think that religion is a private matter insofar as it does not have a place in public governance. There are many things which are private to me - my beliefs, my orientation, my food preferences, etc. - and these remain private insofar as I am not forcing them upon others. Expression is not an imposition, it does not make the personal into a public edict that controls other people.

Also, while I agree that the religious should not have to hide their beliefs I think that if they had to they might finally appreciate a bit of what it is like to be an atheist in such a theologically driven society.

Side: Yes
Banana_Slug(845) Disputed
2 points

Last time your religion ruled ... I think that it was called dark age, wasn't it?

Side: Yes
Cartman(18192) Disputed
2 points

I was under the impression that your religion doesn't accept everybody as they are. But, it is fine to have meeting places open to the public to meet.

Side: Yes
Jungelson(3959) Disputed
2 points

I didn't realise Jesus was a God in the first place... Oh well :) Well religious people always complain about atheists parading their beliefs too much, but hypocrites like you think you rule the world and dictate to others what to believe. Have your damned beliefs, they don't bother me. What bothers me is you trying to shove them down my throat.

Side: Yes
Cartman(18192) Clarified
0 points

From what I have gathered, Jesus is not just the son of God, but the human form of God. So, they can be basically be interchanged.

Side: Yes
Srom(12206) Disputed
0 points

I am not trying to shove them down anyone throat. Its anybody's choice if they want to believe. If someone doesn't want to talk about it in the real world I don't talk to them about it. If someone does want to talk about it then I will talk about it. Its up to the person who wants to talk about it or not.

And I don't think we rule the world. Right now as I see it, its mostly non-believers that ruling the world right now because of what is happening in the music industry, media, and etc.

Side: No
AREKKUSU(275) Disputed
1 point

One thing you need to realize is, even if you see him, god, as your 'savior', your belief. Don't you think it's offencive to look down on other beliefs? Wouldn't you feel offended if someone told you that you're 'stupid' for beleiving in god, and that something else is the right way to go? I'm not saying your belief is wrong, and I'm not saying that you should change your belief, but you shouldn't assume that others are better off the way you are.

Side: Yes
Srom(12206) Disputed
2 points

No I wouldn't feel offended when people insult my belief for believing in God because my belief tells me that many people will make fun of you for believing in Him. So when people make fun of me I am suppose to rejoice and bless God because that's what it says in His Word.

Side: No
Sitara(11080) Disputed
1 point

He has the right to freedom of belief and freedom of speech as long as he is not hurting anyone.

Side: No
1 point

I support and up vote your statement. .

Side: No
0 points

People have the right to freedom of belief and freedom of speech as long as they are not hurting anyone.

Side: No
lupusFati(790) Disputed
0 points

I just love how deliciously ironic this statement here is. Well done.

Side: No
Sitara(11080) Disputed
1 point

You wrong and ignorant if you dispute the FACT that people have the right to freedom of belief.

Side: Yes