bats

I seriously wonder about the brains of people who believe this stuff but generally think that if it does me no harm then who cares that they are delusional.

But, supposing you discovered that people who are supposed to have a brain, an analytical one at that, believed in real life arks and Adam's rib etc would it affect your friendship/professional dealings? Would you look for a new lawyer, doctor, accountant, gas fitter?

At what level does it start to affect you?

Souvy

Doctor or gas fitter, quite possibly.

bats

It's the science bit and leaving stuff to God isn't it

JonboyE

Professionally not a problem. I have clients that believe all sorts of weird s**t. At a personal level I would struggle with anyone who believed that religious texts are literally true. Just as I would struggle with anyone who believed there was no truth in them.

bats

It worries me in a job that requires analysis, a knowledge of scientific principles and especially medicine. How can anyone that works in medicine not think that evolution is real? I can understand looking at human biology and being amazed by it and believing in a superior being having formed it, that the world created in a week as an allegory for a few million years. But seriously, a week?
Duh. The person who made me think of all this is also on a paleo diet. The quicker form presumably

Former Lancastrian

If they kept banging on about it every time I met them for hours at a time then it would affect me. This scenario happened to a lot of Liverpool supporters last season. Thought they were going to win the league from August to May

BristolUK

It affects me nearly every day of the week when I look at the letters page in the paper and see about a third of them are religious

My doctor displays "certain signs" of his beliefs in his rooms or on his tie. The odd leaflet here and there. Including one on unplanned pregnancy that says absolutely zero about abortion.

But there's no indication of it affecting the way he treats patients.

He is a pastor of a church of some sort.

bc_guy

Well, creationists just don't know very much about science, so I can condone their beliefs. There are some good Christians, many of whom are most likely only religious because they're uninformed about science and philosophy in general. However, my limit is reached whenever I encounter people who believe that they're inherently better than me by default simply because their god likes them better. I cannot tolerate nor can I respect that kind of religion-induced belief system.

Believe me, I live in an area that's still in the Dark Ages regarding religion. Many hardcore Christians here are actually very contemptible and willfully ignorant people, so I don't really bother discussing religion with people at all (even if they're rational people). There are just so many religious whack-jobs in my area that you can't be too careful.

Shard

Professionally, no. Friendships, quite tricky. I find it hard to take seriously those who hold such nonsensical views. It's especially difficult when a friend moves from being passively religious (which I turn a blind eye to) to actively religious (becoming heavily involved in the church as an "educator). In the friendship I am thinking of (where a friend has gone "active") we both tacitly avoid the topic as we know if we engage, the friendship will be undone.

mikelincs

My only problem would be if that person was, in any way, involved in Teaching, or the welfare of people, both children and adults.

Zoe Bell

I get into many arguments at work with people who hold scientifically indefensible arguments.
There are people who I will actively walk out on if they come into the lunch room. They are usually the people on "juice cleanses" or other such crap.

We are a school, these people are meant to be teaching thinking skills to the next generation, there is no excuse for the crap that comes out of their mouths at times.

I've lost my cool with people spouting ill informed about vaccines, GM crops, the latest diet myths and other varied topics.

it makes me very angry.

We have one such muppet ( who is about to retire , thank god) who insists on telling everyone who uses the microwave how they are ruining the nutrients in the food and are going to get cancer from the container while happily sneaking off for a cigarette

Alan2005

I offended my neigbhours by telling them that chiropractors are quacks. Apparently lots of people think they are the real deal.

As for the topic, I think most religious people just pretend to believe in this shit. A sort of go-along to get-along thing. If they ever really thought about it properly, they'd realize how stupid it is.

Oink

You can sort of forgive them but those who trade in hocus pocus and exploit people's fears for their own gain are despicable.

MillieF

Yes, it would influence the way I felt about someone, I wouldn't want to offend them, but at the same time I don't wish to have to hide my own feelings.

I wouldn't give a stuff about the plumber or gas fitter, I have builders at the house right now who listen to some sort of Christian radio, with chat shows about Christ at the present....whilst it gives me the pip, they are quite good workmen. If I'm getting work that I've paid for, I don't care if the workers believe in fairies at the bottom of the garden.

I want friends to have the same sort of general attitudes that I hold in a broad sort of fashion.

Londonuck

Not nice way to talk about Mary.