Vilén invited 25 users to read this post 8 months, 4 weeks ago.
P.S. - My screen name is the old one again, and I made myself a new avatar.
Ehere have you got the list from?
Well thanks for clearing that one up. I guess I misunderstood alot. Still a christian though. Cheers :D
I think Britain’s prison population is a large percent atheist. However, they’re more secular and organically atheistic than my country. However, I agree that atheists aren’t one of the groups causing trouble in the world. There are several bad statistics that are correlated with belief in god. Whether the people believe in god because bad things are happening in those countries, or belief in god makes people do bad things is up for debate. (All though, if you ask yourself if the Inquisition, Crusades, etc. was about offering god to people who were suffering, or making people suffer to believe in god, you should have an idea of the correct answer.)
And I’m curious who would say that atheists don’t use birth control. I’ve always been under the impression that non-theists supported the use of birth control more than theists. I know I support birth control.
New American Atheist wrote:
I think Britain’s prison population is a large percent atheist. However, they’re more secular and organically atheistic than my country.
The majority is a combination of Islamaphobes and ironically Muslims.
This post is possibly the best I’ve ever read here. Bravo.
New American Atheist wrote:
And I’m curious who would say that atheists don’t use birth control. I’ve always been under the impression that non-theists supported the use of birth control more than theists. I know I support birth control.
Doesn’t the Roman Catholic church forbid birth control altogether?
I don’t know. That might change though. I’m starting to like Catholics more than Protestants. I realize they’ve kept up with the times more than Protestants. (They even issued an apology to Darwin, and they’ve made it a deadly sin to destroy the environment.)
I want to correct a myth.
Myth - atheists cannot love.
Fact - atheists can love.
I’ve often heard it said that god is love and without god, love cannot exist.
I can tell you personally that isn’t true. I love many people. I love my mom. I love my friends, I love my neighbors. I love myself. I love my life. Not just in my words, but in my actions. The people I know would testify to it. They would say that I’m always eager to serve, jovial, forgiving, fair, sincere, generous, and well-mannered.
And I do it all without god. I don’t utter a prayer. I don’t believe in god. I don’t believe in heaven or hell. I don’t go to church. My love is my own, from me.
They’ve proven love to be chemical and neuro-synaptic processes occurring in the brain. ^^
Yes they have. And I have no problem with considering myself an organic machine/computer, but that idea is so alien to theists that trying to have a discussion with a theist using those ideas kills their all ready minimal receptiveness to new ideas.
New American Atheist wrote:
I want to correct a myth.
Myth - atheists cannot love.
Fact - atheists can love.
I’ve often heard it said that god is love and without god, love cannot exist.
I can tell you personally that isn’t true. I love many people. I love my mom. I love my friends, I love my neighbors. I love myself. I love my life. Not just in my words, but in my actions. The people I know would testify to it. They would say that I’m always eager to serve, jovial, forgiving, fair, sincere, generous, and well-mannered.
And I do it all without god. I don’t utter a prayer. I don’t believe in god. I don’t believe in heaven or hell. I don’t go to church. My love is my own, from me.
The myth is true in religion. It`s said that thru God one will find love. Without God, no love. Hence the myth.
They think it is true, but in reality it is true no where.
New American Atheist wrote:
They think it is true, but in reality it is true no where.
We don`t know this for shure. I`m not religious nor do i claim to know that there is nothing more than this life.
The science version of love.. What is love really? Emotions? What is emotions? Connections between cells inside the brain. Everything is not all that simple to explain. Why do some people become religious? Why do some people choose to not believe in anything?
There is a lot out there we do not know for shure.
For one, how is the question of why people are religious or are not religious related to the question of what is love? I can explain each separately. What makes you think they are related?
All things are related. These are part of human behaviour. If they`re not connected then clearly something is wrong.
On the abstract level, yes. However, just because something can be grouped under one general heading, doesn’t mean that when considered on a finer level, they are one and the same. Just because my brain handles sight and hearing, that doesn’t mean that my sight works the same way as my hearing, or that they are even handled by the same part of the brain.
I think that love and religion are separate.
You all ready know that I favor the material explanation of love.
I think religion is the result of societal, cultural, and familial pressures.
Those explanations are completely unrelated. Love is a naturally occurring material process. Religion is a programmed action.
Is love really explainable?
I`m not shure. Still i agree that one should not look at religion and love as one. I`m just thinking that love might be defined. Maybe there is seperate emotions that seem similar to us at present time.
Explainable as in we can determine what it results from? Yes. It comes from the brain. Before you argue with that, are you sure you really want to argue the position, and have supporting evidence, that things without brains can love? Do you? The brain’s inner workings, and the way emotions work is complex, but just because we don’t have a complete explanation, that doesn’t mean that a complete explanation doesn’t exist, or that our current explanation is flawed.
New American Atheist wrote:
Explainable as in we can determine what it results from? Yes. It comes from the brain. Before you argue with that, are you sure you really want to argue the position, and have supporting evidence, that things without brains can love? Do you? The brain’s inner workings, and the way emotions work is complex, but just because we don’t have a complete explanation, that doesn’t mean that a complete explanation doesn’t exist, or that our current explanation is flawed.
I`m not gonna argue with that. There is no point cause i agree with you.
I`m not trying to battle science or anything. I`m curious about the relationship people claim to have with God. They call it love and it would be weird, at least for me, that it`s the same kind of love that exist between humans.
True, but ultimately, ideas, people, religions, art, life, etc. are objects. Not objects in the sense of something tangible, but in the sense that they are units. And they are units they are units that people enjoy. (Not all people enjoy all units, but that is another idea.) So it makes sense that people are going to emotionally respond to things that people enjoy. (If you next question is what is enjoyment, it is a natural feeling that can result from a stimulus. Different from love in the sense that love is something that your brain causes you to give, whereas enjoyment is something that an object causes in your brain. Love is the output that is the result of the input enjoyment.)
New American Atheist wrote:
True, but ultimately, ideas, people, religions, art, life, etc. are objects. Not objects in the sense of something tangible, but in the sense that they are units. And they are units they are units that people enjoy. (Not all people enjoy all units, but that is another idea.) So it makes sense that people are going to emotionally respond to things that people enjoy. (If you next question is what is enjoyment, it is a natural feeling that can result from a stimulus. Different from love in the sense that love is something that your brain causes you to give, whereas enjoyment is something that an object causes in your brain. Love is the output that is the result of the input enjoyment.)
That`s one way of seeing it but i`m not quite shure about religion. I`ve been thinking a lot on why it exists. In every culture there is some level of religion. What roubles me is that i don`t see it all to be useful in any way. What made humans start with this obsession for “something else”?.
Maybe it’s not an obsession for “something else out there”, per se, but rather a desire for knowledge. I too have a strong desire, like many other people, to understand everything, but my understanding hasn’t led me to religion. Religion is just an attempt to understand things. An incorrect attempt, I think, but an attempt nonetheless. It is similar science, in one way. Religion is an attempt to provide the truth, and science is an attempt to provide a proven method for finding the truth.
Thanks, everyone.
With the condom thing - I was just joking around. I’m not being specific or anything, I’m just showing the cheap insults people try to use.
Oh. I’ve also heard that they found a remote tribe somewhere that didn’t have any concept of a god. I wish I could find more information if it’s true.
New American Atheist wrote:
Oh. I’ve also heard that they found a remote tribe somewhere that didn’t have any concept of a god. I wish I could find more information if it’s true.
Well that would be very interresting.
New American Atheist wrote:
Maybe it’s not an obsession for “something else out there”, per se, but rather a desire for knowledge. I too have a strong desire, like many other people, to understand everything, but my understanding hasn’t led me to religion. Religion is just an attempt to understand things. An incorrect attempt, I think, but an attempt nonetheless. It is similar science, in one way. Religion is an attempt to provide the truth, and science is an attempt to provide a proven method for finding the truth.
I don`t see any religion to be any attempt for understanding. I`d rather see it as a way of saying that they have no idea and rely on their religion for the “truth”.
All right. It’s more an attempt to provide an explanation.
Backtracking a bit, I take issue with the idea that every culture has some form of belief in god.
Couldn’t that be because religious missionaries spread their religion to new cultures?
New American Atheist wrote:
Couldn’t that be because religious missionaries spread their religion to new cultures?
You know, I’m an Atheist, but this discussion has quickly degraded into exactly what Vilen has accused Theists of doing. Your devotion to atheism and need to convince the believers that they’re deluding themselves is almost dogmatic.
I’m not convincing anyone. I’m having a discussion with Grim_Hardcastle. Why’d you fail to understand that?
New American Atheist wrote:
All right. It’s more an attempt to provide an explanation.
Backtracking a bit, I take issue with the idea that every culture has some form of belief in god.
Couldn’t that be because religious missionaries spread their religion to new cultures?
No, usually the native religion got extinct together with the civilisation.
Shepherd wrote:
New American Atheist wrote:
Couldn’t that be because religious missionaries spread their religion to new cultures?
You know, I’m an Atheist, but this discussion has quickly degraded into exactly what Vilen has accused Theists of doing. Your devotion to atheism and need to convince the believers that they’re deluding themselves is almost dogmatic.
Don`t see your point. I`m no believer.
New American Atheist wrote:
I’m not convincing anyone. I’m having a discussion with Grim_Hardcastle. Why’d you fail to understand that?
I’m speaking in reference to other posts I’ve seen from you - and this discussion. The thing that bothers me about the religious people is the self-righteous attitude that I need to be ’saved’. I’m confident that the same bothers you, but I wouldn’t want to become what I criticise.
Grim_Hardcastle wrote:
New American Atheist wrote:
All right. It’s more an attempt to provide an explanation.Backtracking a bit, I take issue with the idea that every culture has some form of belief in god.Couldn’t that be because religious missionaries spread their religion to new cultures?
No, usually the native religion got extinct together with the civilisation.
So that means that local religions are dissimilar in their specifics. I think that goes against the idea that religion is true because every culture has a religion. All though people can argue the tower of Babel for this objection.
New American Atheist wrote:
Grim_Hardcastle wrote:
New American Atheist wrote:
All right. It’s more an attempt to provide an explanation.Backtracking a bit, I take issue with the idea that every culture has some form of belief in god.Couldn’t that be because religious missionaries spread their religion to new cultures?
No, usually the native religion got extinct together with the civilisation.
So that means that local religions are dissimilar in their specifics. I think that goes against the idea that religion is true because every culture has a religion. All though people can argue the tower of Babel for this objection.
Well it does not prove anything really.
Maybe that creativity is fenomenal.
Looking back there were some awesome knowledge present. To this day we do not posess this knowledge. We think we know so much. One must wonder how they figured things out.
I wonder sometimes of religion beeing spawned out of the frightening idea of death. It seems unlikely in a way. If you`re born you will die. It`s really the most natural thing. Hmm… I think this question could be discussed until the end of days without any good answer.
Shepherd wrote:
I’m speaking in reference to other posts I’ve seen from you - and this discussion. The thing that bothers me about the religious people is the self-righteous attitude that I need to be ’saved’. I’m confident that the same bothers you, but I wouldn’t want to become what I criticise.
I don’t think I’m being dogmatic. Dogma is something that is supposed to be accepted without questioning or understanding. I have no problem telling theists that they are wrong, just as I have no problem telling anyone else when they are wrong. However, I make every attempt to answer fair and sincere questions honestly and accurately with some objective answer and provide objective reasons for my position. Are you sure you just don’t just have a lingering respect for religious belief? I’m not talking about respecting someone’s right to hold and express religious beliefs and observe religious practices. I respect peoples’ rights to hold their beliefs and observe them. I’m talking about respecting the belief itself. If there is a belief that I think is untrue being expressed in a public forum, I’m going to voice why I think it is untrue.
Wow, this is getting to be my most popular post. I should discourage arguing, but it’s fun getting more comments.
Though Verum and Sheperd, I think you guys should argue via shouts.
” Wow ” a whole Page full of ifs ,butt’s and still no Answers. I personally cant understand Any Human with a Little of Intelligence believing in a God or Gods or Goddess or s’ess.Any intelligent Person has to look at physics can see how things change just by being close to each other.Volta when he experimented with electricity and the twitching of a dead Frog..There is no god there is tiny little electron es riding along copper wires and doing these things to the halve dissected Frog.Its with our Brain the same one can get infected by brainwashing and it will last almost a lifetime.But i am certain that one Day Humans will disappear from this Planet and with it so are God,or Gods or Goddess.be better of by listening to barbyman.com…
I’m loving it - some guy is now telling us how to be Atheists - does that make him God?
mas1st* wrote:
I’m loving it - some guy is now telling us how to be Atheists - does that make him God?
Um… I’m not telling anyone to be anything, you dolt. I made that pretty clear in the post. I’m telling people what we really are like.
Anonymous
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8 months, 3 weeks ago (15 hours, 42 minutes after post)
Barbyman wrote:
” Wow ” a whole Page full of ifs ,butt’s and still no Answers. I personally cant understand Any Human with a Little of Intelligence believing in a God or Gods or Goddess or s’ess.Any intelligent Person has to look at physics can see how things change just by being close to each other.Volta when he experimented with electricity and the twitching of a dead Frog..There is no god there is tiny little electron es riding along copper wires and doing these things to the halve dissected Frog.Its with our Brain the same one can get infected by brainwashing and it will last almost a lifetime.But i am certain that one Day Humans will disappear from this Planet and with it so are God,or Gods or Goddess.be better of by listening to barbyman.com…
So you’re saying that anyone who believes in a higher power is stupid?
Some people believe in science and God. Are they stupid?
So you’re saying that anyone who believes in a higher power is stupid?
Some people believe in science and God. Are they stupid?
I don’t think he meant that necessarily. I think what he said is that the idea of a god is a silly one, and those with dogma, no scientific evidence whatsoever, and a sense of arrogance are the stupid ones.
Thanks for the informational post Vilén. =]
Mï†z¥-superMODel wrote:
Thanks for the informational post Vilén. =]
no probs
Shepherd wrote:
New American Atheist wrote:
And I’m curious who would say that atheists don’t use birth control. I’ve always been under the impression that non-theists supported the use of birth control more than theists. I know I support birth control.
Doesn’t the Roman Catholic church forbid birth control altogether?
every speeeerm is saaaacreeeed. every speeerm is greeeat…. =P
1.Agree with you.
2.Per person. Because I do live like that.
5.They/we don’t have proof. No one does.
Yay! Currently popular post! And thanks Dr. House.
We’ll see in the end what’s truth. I would hate for one side to be wrong though… I actually commend atheist because they stand on a belief where there’s a lot to lose if they’re wrong… but they do it with such determination and passion, their should be more christian like that.
This account has been deactivated.
thanks for clearing that up. we theists are apparently shallow minded and biggoted?
-~-SoEP-~-
Anonymous
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8 months, 3 weeks ago (1 day, 4 hours after post)
I was wondering if you could tell me what people get out of atheism. I don’t mean this in an offensive way, I’m just wondering. My insane Christian teacher asked this of someone and he didn’t really respond. I don’t think it’s a pointless system of belief, but, not being atheist, I can’t see the point. Please don’t take this the wrong way, I’m just wondering for future reference. I have a very open-minded belief system and I’m only interested in learning more about this belief. Thanks!
Anonymous wrote:
I was wondering if you could tell me what people get out of atheism. I don’t mean this in an offensive way, I’m just wondering. My insane Christian teacher asked this of someone and he didn’t really respond. I don’t think it’s a pointless system of belief, but, not being atheist, I can’t see the point. Please don’t take this the wrong way, I’m just wondering for future reference. I have a very open-minded belief system and I’m only interested in learning more about this belief. Thanks!
Well you do things because you feel its right, not because your told its right. Not saying theists just do things to get to heaven or whatever their belief holds for them but it just(to me) is less selfish in that sense. it makes you feel better to do something good so you still get something out of it but yea.
I miss how back in the day the ‘currently popular post’ had like 300+ replies.
The good ol’ days.
well hell , any christian would expect such amazing “statistics” espousing their way of life and believing.
its cause youre all controlled by the devil. :-D
but anyway, what is your big deal with trying to convince everyone that you are right? what do you gain? nothing. . . do you seriously blame modern christians for the things christians did in the past? you werent there, you dont know how it was. neither was i whatever blah blha blahb lah. anyway. still you espouse your beliefs as a valid ethos. . . why? what do you stand to gain? is there an athiest heaven? no, so why not keep your crap to yourself.
yourew an athiest, you do not cre, unless you are spiteful towards christianity, and that is becaue you are ruled by the devil. see my point? its pointless. good night.
cre = care : my apologies
nobody sees your point. youre a bain to society, and give all christians a bad name. shut up and go away like you promised us you would.
-~-SoEP-~-
I suppose this post turned into a fight over religion right?
ya’ll shouldnt fight about it, no one wins.
Joy. wrote:
I suppose this post turned into a fight over religion right?
ya’ll shouldnt fight about it, no one wins.
Religion brings out the worst in people. Go figure…
YeOldeBacon The Bard wrote:
nobody sees your point. youre a bain to society, and give all christians a bad name. shut up and go away like you promised us you would.-~-SoEP-~-
YeOldeBacon The Bard wrote:
nobody sees your point. youre a bain to society, and give all christians a bad name. shut up and go away like you promised us you would.-~-SoEP-~-
love you too, pal! hahaha!
hurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
-~-SoEP-~-
Dr. House wrote:
[quote Anonymous]I was wondering if you could tell me what people get out of atheism.
Is the question “What are the benefits of being an atheist?”
For me, there are no benefits. I look to other things in my life for benefits. The only reason I’m an atheist is because I think it is correct.
God is just a word for all the ideas we can’t explain.
sh.hawkin wrote:
God is just a word for all the ideas we can’t explain.
no, thats “lol”.
suit yourself. to each his own. but i still believe in God.
I don’t see why atheists should receive any condemnation. You have people, subsisting contently without devoting their time and imaginations unto believing in predestination and the providence behind it.
On the contrary, we have the pious throng, who will emphatically dissent with the atheists’ principles of living without hesitation.
Empirical evidence is a concept I’m sure, most of godless people intend to abide. Nevertheless, the pastor, minister, parson, and reverend insidiously castigate each and every nonbeliever for no better reason than the unrighteous liberty they insist upon. Sanctimony at its finest.
Anonymous
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8 months, 3 weeks ago (1 day, 19 hours after post)
Grim_Hardcastle wrote:
Joy. wrote:
I suppose this post turned into a fight over religion right?
ya’ll shouldnt fight about it, no one wins.
Religion brings out the worst in people. Go figure…
No, not always. But isn’t Atheism a religion in itself? Or am I just being ignorant and stupid as all theists are?
Atheism is the lack of belief in gods, or the belief that there are no gods.
Anonymous
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8 months, 3 weeks ago (1 day, 22 hours after post)
mas1st* wrote:
I’m loving it - some guy is now telling us how to be Atheists - does that make him God?
Hahahaha,gotta love that, I did not see a single mention anywhere in this post that suggests any kind of conversion, all I see is a mere statement on how a person feels about the stance they take in this world and aired a few facts as they know it
seas light wrote:
Well thanks for clearing that one up. I guess I misunderstood alot. Still a christian though. Cheers :D
This is more like it, a devout Christian accepting this atheist is merely sharing information as they see it.
Seas light, I just love your standing on things, your very strong in your belief system and I dont believe anything could ever waver it, I have so much respect for you for that, but your also very accepting of others and their beliefs.
I just love hate mail. It warms the cockles of my heart. Why? Because I know that they are diving into the hypocrisy of their preachings.
Anonymous wrote:
Grim_Hardcastle wrote:
Joy. wrote:
I suppose this post turned into a fight over religion right?
ya’ll shouldnt fight about it, no one wins.
Religion brings out the worst in people. Go figure…
No, not always. But isn’t Atheism a religion in itself? Or am I just being ignorant and stupid as all theists are?
lack of religion. If it’s a lack of belief or a belief is often argued about.
Vilén wrote:
I just love hate mail. It warms the cockles of my heart. Why? Because I know that they are diving into the hypocrisy of their preachings.
there are several names for what that makes you, and “athiest” is waaaaaaay down on the list.
Anonymous
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8 months, 3 weeks ago (2 days, 4 hours after post)
Vilén wrote:
I just love hate mail. It warms the cockles of my heart. Why? Because I know that they are diving into the hypocrisy of their preachings.
lol is all I have for that!
fatstone wrote:
Vilén wrote:
I just love hate mail. It warms the cockles of my heart. Why? Because I know that they are diving into the hypocrisy of their preachings.
there are several names for what that makes you, and “athiest” is waaaaaaay down on the list.
Right, because it’s “atheist”, not “athiest”.
Hey Vilen,
Just wanted to say a huge thanks!
I know this wasn’t a conversion post or anything like that, but I had already been trying to research atheism and was getting a bit fed up trying to find a good source until you posted this
I went straight for hunting down a copy of “The God Delusion” and I must say, Ive only got through the intro and first chapter, but I’m already feeling much more comfortable about ‘coming out’ as an atheist.
Its been festering inside me for so long, but the fears held me back to such an extent that while I strongly did not want my children to learn religion in school, I thought I would be considered a bad mother to withhold religion teachings, rationalizing that at least the bible holds good morals and I can teach them at home its just a story, but that’s hard to do when its taught as fact at school, it pains me every time my youngest daughter talks of god, she developed some kind of belief their, and I feel like I failed, knowing she will now be tormented by images of hell, especially when she realizes her mum will be going there because she doesn’t believe :S
I always feel edgy about being asked what religion I am, knowing in my heart I’m atheist, the old teachings had held me back and I always replied Church of England - though never practiced (at least they knew I wasn’t highly religious saying that).
I have been yearning to claim my standing, the last few years have been the worst, whinging how I wished I could believe in something, to be honest I knew nothing of atheism except what the word meant.
The last few months I have felt a growing anger to having had the wool pulled over my eyes like this, to a point where I was too scared to break fully free of the religious realm and stand tall as my individual self, claiming agnostic when in fact, I was sick of deluding myself that something could be there, so better be careful not to break the chain fully.
Today though, I take the charge in proclaiming my standing
I am an Atheist and I will not be held back by this fear any longer.
I am going to be armed to cope with any questions my friends or family may ask, I do not need to go and do some kind of coming out proclamation with them, but at least now, if they ever question my standing, I will be prepared.
Lucky I don’t know anyone highly religious or anything so its not like I’m walking into a death trap, lol
Thanx Vilen
P.S. Any good books or sites you could recommend, I was actually surfing the net for info recently but I didn’t really find much but basic info
Wow, Morgan! Good job!
I’m impressed. “Coming out” can be very difficult. Especially in your shoes - as a mother, it’s even harder, but I commend you on your will.
On http://richarddawkins.net/ there are plenty of opportunities for you. There is even a section called “convert’s corner” where you can see stories of others like yourself. Another group is the Rational Response Squad (http://www.rationalresponders.com/), though less famous.
Also read “God Is Not Great” and “Letter to a Christian Nation”.
Tel your kids to believe whatever they want, but to keep an open mind.
Once again, congrats.
Thanx heaps
That will be plenty of info to start with and I’m sure lead me onto other places too
Feel so liberated already,lol
Yeah. Pat Condell rocks. I’m a semi-regular at atheistforums.com.
Vilén wrote:
fatstone wrote:
Vilén wrote:
I just love hate mail. It warms the cockles of my heart. Why? Because I know that they are diving into the hypocrisy of their preachings.
there are several names for what that makes you, and “athiest” is waaaaaaay down on the list.
Right, because it’s “atheist”, not “athiest”.
lol!
its so terrible how atheists talk about atheism like its a religion, they talk about “coming out” like its a sexuality. . . its a joke. you need to know its a joke.
and has anyone else noticed how atheism attracts the lazy, and people who . . well . . are dumb? seriously, as a “belief system” that denys all other belief systems, atheism uniquely exalts itself, and apparently atheists above people who believe in the supernatural. atheists eat this up like candy, but all it is is common human arrogance.
which is why nobody cares, but the haters.
but you wouldnt have it any other way, would you? ;)
such a mess such a pity
Resorting to character smears to demerit an idea instead of discussing what it says only reflects poorly upon your own character.
lol
Resorts to name calling, sorry but Ive dealt with bullies at school
Why exactly does coming out need to refer to sexuality, get your mind out of the gutter . . . I am coming out about my true self, how I have always felt about my stance in the world, like anyone else coming out about ANYTHING, people ‘come out’ as a shopaholic, a closet bulimic , they ‘come out’ into the open as having cancer and dying, you wouldn’t refer to any of these the way you have just referred sexually towards an non believer ‘coming out’ about how they really feel
Atheism does not actually refer to a religion, its just a word to describe that you have ‘no’ belief system, theism is the same, it doesn’t name a religion, simply states you are a believer of something ‘else’ so to speak
The research behind it, is on the side of learning what obstacles a non belief system has caused people in the past and how / if they were able to overcome them,so basically arming myself for being honest about how I feel when someone asks that question again, or tries to bully me into their faith! or help explain my choice to anyone who may like to understand my choice better, ok the list could go on so I’ll leave it there
Ive met very smart people of many religious faiths, and many smart people who embrace the one life we have without the idea theres a magical realm of some kind waiting for my arrival ( or whatever is believed by faiths unknown to me) and make a go of it, Ive also met people of the opposite, some people who have no belief, but also couldn’t be bothered with life, others that are so high on belief that I have heard them proclaim they can do ‘whatever I want because god loves me’ before reaching the pub and getting totally wrecked and going home with YuK.
And Morgan, if you’re going to tell someone about your beliefs, don’t say “atheist”, just say that you have no religious affiliations.
The list and responses I mean.
MaggieRae17 wrote:
The list and responses I mean.
thanks (i think)
Bravo! Well said!!! My mom is a heavy believer in #1 and #2, so I’m hoping to prove her wrong (I’m agnostic). I think religions do teach morals, but it always has to be coupled with a very restrictive lifestyle and a belief in a deity. Plus, they ALL claim to be the RIGHT one! It’s quite amusing to see people of different religions fight with each other over who is right. I’m reminds me of a South Park episode where they show a bunch of dead people at the gate of hell, and they were told it’s because the Mormons were right lol.
I have a hypothesis that the original purpose of religion was to fill psychological needs: (1) to have answers to the unknown (what happens after death, where we came from, why the universe is as it is), (2) to offer solace to those who lose loved ones, (3) security in knowing there is something after we die, and that this life isn’t all we have.
Sometimes thinking of those things makes life seem quite pointless, and that probably has lead many into committing suicide. Religion offers “solutions” to all those problems. It’s like a balm to the soul. However, no doubt corruption lead to the creation of restrictive lifestyles, religious books, deities, and different religions. I used to wonder what the meaning of life was, and then my fiancé (who is likewise agnostic) gave me the answer: The meaning of life is simply to live. What you live for, however, is up to you. Being agnostic meant we weren’t forced into living for “god” or doing “god’s work”, but for ourselves! We could live for our families, our careers, and each other. I just wish other people could realize this…
By the way, I am most definitely going to read “The God Delusion” book that you suggested - it sounds quite interesting. Well I have to go now so good luck!
Oh, and this is in respons to a post by “Fatso” about how atheists are idiots, and how atheism attracts idiots. Here are the names of some very important and INTELLIGENT people who have had quite the influence on history and the present: Thomas Paine, Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, George Orwell, and millions more. Check out this link for the names of more famous atheists. http://machineslikeus.com/famous-athe…
Grim_Hardcastle
seas light
M. Wright
Joy.
Shepherd
mas1st*
its meee
Dr. Wilson
hel
Fatso
sh.hawkin
okei!
Good ole boy
Morgan
MaggieRae17
bluesilver8