What do you want the world to be like when your kids grow up?

[JustMyron]

Simple question. If you don't have kids, picture the world you would want for kids if you did have some, or maybe some of your younger cousins.

I think, religious or not, we all basically want the same sort of things in life. Let's see if I'm right.

For me, I want a world where people understand each other better. And not only understand each other, but understand themselves, too. I'd like to see a society that was less individualistic and more caring towards others. I'd like it recognized that giving to others is a way to promote your own happiness, so that more and more people set being a giving and caring person as a life goal, rather than aiming their lives at making money or buying stuff for themselves or out-status-symboling their peers. The economics of it still work, because if you're motivated to give to others, the harder you work and the more productive you are, the more you can give. So I want the world of the future to be a place where choosing to give stuff away is something that is seen as legitimate and normal, rather than the current situation where if you're generous people wonder why and are suspicious of your motives, because selfishness is seen as the normal way of doing things, to the point where people sometimes find it hard to wrap their head around the idea that there even is another way.

How 'bout you?

[ReasonIsOutToLunch]

I want to see a world where people who hate other people based on: gender, race, sexuality, ethnic group, or lack of belief, are marginalized. I want to see a world where a non-believer can run for office and possibly win. I want to see a world where laws aren't proposed because someone thinks a sky daddy would be happy with that law. I want to see less pollution. I would like to see solar power as a norm rather than an exception. And everything you said too.

[Shawna]

I would like to see a world where the national holidays in honor of gardeners and dancers outnumber the national holidays in honor of soldiers.

[Shawna]

I want to see a world where people who hate other people based on: gender, race, sexuality, ethnic group, or lack of belief, are marginalized.

Would it be ok for people to hate other people based on their faith in god or their religion?

[ReasonIsOutToLunch]

I want to see a world where people who hate other people based on: gender, race, sexuality, ethnic group, or lack of belief, are marginalized.

Would it be ok for people to hate other people based on their faith in god or their religion?

I don't see why not. If some religion still promoted human sacrifice... oh wait their is one, they call themselves Jihad. Anyway, plenty of people seem to hate the suicide bombing crew and I am ok with that.

[JustMyron]

^ You're OKing hate towards people who take certain actions (suicide bombing, etc.) Those people can be believers in God, or not. A lot of the roots of so-called "terrorist" activities are economic. If the pay is better for mortaring bases than for farming, poor people will fire mortars. If the benefits to one's family of giving up your life in a suicide attack are sufficient, poor people will do that too.

If only the suicide attackers had more to lose...

If all you know about someone is that they are religious (their approach towards others of different religions or no religion is unknown to you) is that by itself sufficient to OK hating them? I doubt you'd think so. So, as I said, I think you're OKing hate towards people who take certain actions, not hate based on someone's faith-status.

[Codswallop]

^ You're OKing hate towards people who take certain actions (suicide bombing, etc.) Those people can be believers in God, or not. A lot of the roots of so-called "terrorist" activities are economic. If the pay is better for mortaring bases than for farming, poor people will fire mortars. If the benefits to one's family of giving up your life in a suicide attack are sufficient, poor people will do that too.

If only the suicide attackers had more to lose...

I think this has been dealt with elsewhere. Lots of terrorists are not poor or underprivileged. They are simply true believers in the cause. The 9/11 hijackers were all middle class and college-educated. They all had good prospects for the future. The economic argument is over-stated.

[ReasonIsOutToLunch]

^ You're OKing hate towards people who take certain actions (suicide bombing, etc.) Those people can be believers in God, or not....If all you know about someone is that they are religious... is that by itself sufficient to OK hating them? I doubt you'd think so. So, as I said, I think you're OKing hate towards people who take certain actions, not hate based on someone's faith-status.

Yeah, it's kind of a hate the sin not the sinner type deal. But, that approach is still judgemental. I just don't think the "sinner", is going to go to hell. I wish no one did this as an act of faith or as an expression of economic desparation. You are right I don't hate anyone because they have a belief in a sky daddy or their sky daddy is different than the one I believed in. I do have this problem though where I do hate people that victimize other people based on their religion.

[Shawna]

Just checking.  I know nontheists who have said they would like to see laws against Christianity.

***

I would like to see a world where the suffering of others was as important to other folks as their own suffering.  I would like to see a world where everyone earned a living wage.

[OoohShiny]

I would like to see a world where the national holidays in honor of gardeners and dancers outnumber the national holidays in honor of soldiers.

I'd like to see a world where we didn't need soldiers.

[catwixen]

Where there is real care for the planet and animals.
Where war has become outlawed and only negotiations decide conflicts.
Where all the money spent on war is now spent on poverty so that people do not need to be so cruel just to survive.
Where creativity and artistic pursuits are actively encouraged and supported.
Where education is free everywhere and accesible to all.
Where space exploration and scientific endeavours are encouraged and applauded.
Where more Humanistic ethics pervade society.
Where population issues (and Euthanasia)have been humanely dealt with.

I could go on and on and ramble in fantasy forever here...so much I would love to be surrounding Goobs which currently is not.

[Kerlyssa]

I'd like to see a world where kittens never died.   

[OoohShiny]

I'd like to see a world where kittens never died.   

That would certainly be a better world.