Kind of funny... I am not a pity kind of guy.

They definitely pity you being atheist, so you're even.

I feel pity for the faithful until their faith starts f$%king up our world.

I often pity them too. Especially those who cannot think past their dogma and the lies their clergy tell them

Some of my Christian friends don't understand how I can want to spend three hours every Sunday morning watching professional football. They pity that I'm "wasting" my morning, although I think it's a very entertaining pastime.

I pity that they're stuck in church wearing uncomfortable clothing and sitting on an uncomfortable pew listening to a boring pastor give a boring sermon while I'm kickin' it with a beer in an oversized jersey, with my atheist butt comfortably nestled in my own comfortable couch.

Neither of us have particularly deep levels of pity for one another about this.

I feel sorry for my old self. I gave up everything for Jesus. I went to church twice on Sundays, Wednesday and Friday night bible study and Saturday morning outreach and concert that evening. I was celibate for almost 12 years, and no boyfriend. I didn't own a tv until this year actually. I bought it for my 38 birthday. I left mainstream Christianity at 33. I was always waiting for jesus to return. I had a low paying job but tithed faithfully while needing family to buy me groceries. The funny thing was that I felt sorry for non-believers lol.

It saddens me to see how religious people place themselves into these rigid boxes, which are uncomfortable to live in, and think they are happier than they would be if they just set themselves free from religion.

No

It’s not bad. I just really don’t care what everybody else thinks. If they choose to be self-deluded, then ok. Go ahead and believe in elves, trolls and forest sprites, just don’t give me a hard time when I choose to think about things rationally. That’s where the real problem lies.

yes

I think that you need to get a new hobby, pity, saddens, false, sad. Go pick some flowers

You know Emerald, I got a brother in law that was gay but gone celebrate when he found this christian church he attends. He gives more than his 10% and by doing that ---- he has a junk car that doesn't work. No money. He's content. He walks. Takes a train to our house. He's happy. I feel for him... he's in la la land but he doesn't care.

I do not think pity is the emotion. You are not going to change the thought manipulation someone had decided to accept as their point of view. Nor are they going to change yours. A health debate with the opposers can only improve your understanding of what got them to decide on the principles that they have chosen.

I don’t Pity, I make my peace politely, if they don’t understand, I let them be. Pity becomes a trap for emotions, and the religious feed on emotions to falsely convince them selves of what they believe.

I feel the same way.

I don't think it's bad to feel bad for people you care about. You can't fix them. Only they can do that. Besides, they probably don't know they're pitiable.

Not bad.

There actually are a few people who live their faith. Very few. Do you feel sorry for Jimmy Carter? Even Bill Maher respects him and once said that if you have to be a Christian, Carter's the real thing? (I'm paraphrasing).

Why would you pity the religious? Actually, on occasion, I am jealous of them because they truly believe they will live an eternal life. I'm terrified of dying (as most people are - that is one reason we have religion). They are usually pretty happy, too. I'm not. [I think the only truly happy people are born-agains and the mentally ill. And there's a very fine line there.] I think "content" is the highest that atheists and intellectuals can achieve.

I think you and others (and me, too), when we think of believers (certainly in the US), assume fundamentalism. You have to be aware that there are many decent, brilliant people who are theists. And I'm pretty sure they wouldn't presume to pity you and your beliefs.

What have you accomplished that makes you superior to theists? Because simply BEING an atheist isn't enough.

Unfortunately, I think we are all duped by something at some time. Many of us once were duped into religious beliefs. Do we pity our former selves? I see myself during that time as simply, un-evolved. As I age and grow and am active (like in groups as this) I become more evolved.

My daughter is religious but I don't pity her. She has learned to chill about religion when with me but I see a lot of her church activities on her facebook. Most of the time the thing to do is simply agree to disagree. If there is no strong arm coercion involved we can do little. To me a lot of what these people say they believe is actually what they "want" to believe. I think especially during times as these we all want to believe something that will give us a sense of security, stability and peace.

It’s likely human nature to pity the less fortunate. To find that ‘they pity us’ is sad and bazar. “I’ll pray for you” … right.. Those deluding themselves with religion are not quite right. They’re hiding from reality, or worse, attempting to reset its boundaries.

I’ve a little saying … ‘Show me someone a little bit religious, and I’ll show you someone a little bit messed up’ -- ‘Show me someone who’s very religious - and I’ll show you someone who’s very messed up!’ Seems to play out, and if I detect a goodness within them, I feel sorry for the fact all humanity is losing out on their potential ...trapped within its religious confines...

It is sad, these death worshipers that don't even know that they worship death... It's like watching children playing some make-believe game, but, they're adults. This is part of what some people mean when they say "we" are asleep. I say we, because, I had thought that I woke up, till I woke up, then, Wow! I woke up some more... on and on it goes by degrees...

Depends which ones...

Is your call and yours alone.