AIBU to be upset that friend posted this on Facebook?

[Topaz25]

A friend posted this on Facebook "Beginning to feel like we need to wipe out Abrahamic religion by force, it's a cancer..."

It just seems very extreme to me. I'm religious but I have never pushed my views on her or anything. I don't want to start a debate about religion, I am respectful of other people's beliefs but I don't think what she said was respectful of mine.

That's unpleasant.

Abrahamic?
Not heard of that religion before.

"Abrahamic religions (also Semitic religions) are the monotheistic faiths of West Asian[1] origin, emphasizing and tracing their common origin to Abraham[2] or recognizing a spiritual tradition identified with him.[3][4][5] They are one of the major divisions in comparative religion, along with Indian religions[6] (Dharmic) and East Asian religions.[6]

As of the early twenty-first century, it was estimated that 54% of the world's population (3.8 billion people) considered themselves adherents of the Abrahamic religions, about 30% of other religions, and 16% of no organized religion.[7][8]

The largest Abrahamic religions in chronological order of founding are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; the Bahá'í Faith is sometimes listed as well.[9] There are other smaller religions that are also considered Abrahamic."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions

It is disrespectful.

But, followers of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism have responsible for horrific human rights violations in the name of their religions. Not just in the extreme people getting killed, but even in subtle forms with Christianity not teaching proper sex ed and using women as baby vessels.

Wiping out religion wouldn't stop assholes from being assholes though. They would just find a new cause to hide behind so they continue being little shits.

Is she a friend?

YANBU, what are you going to say to her?

It upsets me because she knows I'm Christian. I don't know what "wipe out by force" would entail and I doubt she's thought it through either but it essentially comes across as condoning the murder or forced conversion of 3.8 billion people!

Abrahamic means Judaism, Christianity and Islam. So nearly half the world.

I think it's a pretty hateful thing to say. Report as offensive? It would certainly colour my opinion of that person - not for being atheist but for spewing unthought-out bile.

I'm not sure what to say, what would you guys recommend? I'm just really taken aback. She is actually one of my oldest friends. We went to school together although we've grown apart a bit since then.

What a vile thing to say.

I'm an atheist but believe everyone has the right to worship however and whoever they like so long as that doesn't impact on everyone else.

Does she think no non-religious person ever did anything wrong?

Why not just ask "What, exactly, do you mean? " But I could understand just deleting her really

Ah, at first I thought she meant Judaism and thought Wow! Sounds like a more general rant against religion including possibly her own cultural religion. Wouldn't bother me that much unless she was singling out Muslims, Catholics, Jews etc.

I would delete her if I hadn't known her for ages. I might ask what she means.

"I'm an atheist but believe everyone has the right to worship however and whoever they like so long as that doesn't impact on everyone else."

I'm an atheist as well but generally respectful of other religions so similar to you but religion does impact on everyone else to a degree and sometimes very seriously.

I'm just really conflict averse generally so I don't want to start an argument with a friend but I strongly disagree with what she said.

I'd say: "So you want to wipe out half of the world's population by force for their beliefs - how exactly does that make you any better than islamic state, nazi's or crusaders?"

or

"I never pegged you for an extremist, genocidal maniac"

Adherents to Abrahamic religions have caused massive problems; deaths; wars; misogyny etc. Does she seriously think these people would become lovely if they were Socialist Atheists like Hitler?

She probably just means the world would be a nicer, friendlier place without the cancer of religion running through it. It causes so much trouble all over the world and there is no more proof of any "god" being real than there is of the fairies at the bottom of your garden.

I think the world would be a nicer place without religion too.

I'd agree with your friend that the world would probably be a better place on balance without religions.

But "wipe out by force" and "like a cancer" are offensive terms to use which are bound to offend the vast majority of religions people whose faith is not currently inspiring them to start wars.

I also don't tend to put political/religious views of any kind on FB, and don't much care for others doing so - it's just not a good medium for actually discussing things. And people mistakenly assume their friends all share their views, but actually they don't. But because FB isn't good for discussing differing views, you're left with no option but to feel uncomfortable leaving it unchallenged, or de-friend them, which is a shame as it will leave them only do have friends who share their world view in every detail.

Maybe just say that. It seems that you want to let her know somehow that you think her comment to be ludicrous and/or aggressive. I don't fb is a good forum for serious debate so I'd just record your disapproval and then hide her

I agree that she probably means the world would be better without organised religion which is a view held by many many people (and I agree) but she's trying to sound clever and in the process is offending.

Well she said wiping out the religions not the people that follow them.

Nothing happens unless people fight for it see civil rights, feminism etc etc. if you don't like religion and see it as cruel and oppressive you need to campaign surely?

Not religious and don't care if people do believe. Both believers send non believers act exactly the same as far as I can see.

You could reply "What kind of force do you have in mind? :/" or "you having a bad day today"

I don't like anything being referred to as cancer other than cancer itself.

I think Facebook should be wiped out.

If you don't like what she said then just forgive her.
That is what Christians are supposed to do.

She may have meant the world would be a better place without organised religion but she said wiped out by force. Which would seem to involve at the very least forcing people to renounce their religion. I don't see how the world would be a better place in that scenario because it would be run by the kind of people who thought it was acceptable to force 3.8 billion people to give up their religion. Someone doesn't need to be religious to be oppressive or extreme. I hope she just said it without thinking it through.