It OFFENDS me that...

You want to talk to me about being offensive? Fine. Here's my top ten reasons to find religion offensive in no particular order.

It OFFENDS me that…

1. Children are brought up to share the same (religious) beliefs as their parents and not given the chance or choice to think for themselves on matters concerning human existence and the natural world that we all share.

2. The idea that faith is used (and arguably quite rightly according to scripture) as a means against scientific, rational, and logical thinking.

3. Millions upon millions of women in Islamic countries are still forced by their husbands and families to disguise themselves in public.

4. As research polls show, Atheists and non-believers are still regarded as the least-trusted (and sometimes ‘evil’ and ‘amoral’) group in society.

5. Gay marriage and other civil liberties have to be ‘voted on’ because of other peoples' sincerely held religious beliefs.

6. Faith schools receive endorsements and financial support from the government, straight out of the taxpayer’s pocket, also meaning that non-believer parents are forced to send their children to such schools because they’re financially and hence resourcefully better. Where are THEIR rights to bring up their children how they want to?

7. The Theory of Evolution is still regarded as a legitimate topic for debate when it has been demonstrated, observed, predictions been made, tested through countless papers of peer reviewed journals and studies BECAUSE the majority of religious people cannot square it with their religious convictions. (However, I believe that they’re right to do this, based on what scripture tells them.)

8. The Bible and other religious scripture is regarded as a legitimate moral instruction manual and framework to base one’s life upon, when the ‘message’ and 'God's Word' is ambiguous at its best.

9. Religion still hasn’t (and probably will never) pluck out the courage to be criticised, often citing such acts as ‘offensive’ because it has nowhere else to run and hide.

10. People in a free democratic society leap to defend ideologies that were used for totalitarian theocracies, and often accuse me and people like me, as being the monster.