Calling all atheists, new-age, against the norm thinkers

[ieatpeople]

I was an atheist, and then Tebow.

are you wearing your W.W.T.D. bracelet (what would tebow do?)?



i do not follow any religion.

i can't say i don't believe in a higher power, but this christian thing is for crazy people who can't rely on their own intelligence to make decisions. they need to be told what to think, do, and say.
oh, and anyone who doesn't do the same is a devil worshipper.


disclaimer: all views expressed here are my own, i do not care if you don't like them, but we can discuss them at length if it makes you happy.
there is no afterlife, so trying to be perfect in this life is kind of moot, isn't it?

^somewhat kidding, mostly serious.


i have no problem with people being religious in the same way i have no problem with people being homosexual.
I'm not, and if you are that's fine, but leave me out of it.



i can appreciate the fact that churches organize food drives, and run soup kitchens for the less fortunate. i see churches that collect clothing, and provide shelter to the homeless. i hear all the time about somebody finding the lord, and how it has turned their life around.

these are all good things, but i don't think that you need religion to make it happen. all you need is some common sense, compassion for others, and some like minded people to help.




all i ask is that you don't push your religion on me, and maintain your own self identity. the "lord" should guide your life, not control it. some people take it too far (bible thumpers), and they drive me batshit insane.

[Fusion]

I can bet a lot of you self proclaimed full fledged atheists on your deathbed will be praying to something.

I won't and never have.
Praying usually involves asking for something. Like when you were little and begged your parents for a toy, then thanked them for getting it. Except that begging is taking action. Praying is a false way to make yourself feel like you're doing atleast something to change things. It's a psychological helper, if you like, so noone can say "You didn't do anything to help us", so you can reply "Actually, I prayed".

Another thing theists think of atheists is that they have no belief, or are "numb" in their thoughts. I believe, I believe in myself. I don't pray or beg anyone to give me good ideas and be sucessfull. When something goes wrong, it's not a god punishing me or testing me or whatever. It's my fault, my decisions sometimes lead to problems. It's my responisibility to either resolve them, or fail and acknowledge the consequences.

It's like during the economic downturn in 2009. Almost everyone blamed everything on the "crisis" even though they often should have blamed themselves. Either for failing to adapt to the situation or failing to strategize before the situation.

It's just a psychological way to run away from your own responsibilities, problems and failures.

[HarryPotter]

That's good for you. I do not bother myself with what others believe about such things.

[Turf1600]

I can bet a lot of you self proclaimed full fledged atheists on your deathbed will be praying to something.

No, I won't. I'm not afraid to die at all. This is why I said atheism requires more faith than christianity.

Otherwise, this thread has gone WAY off track....

[xwill112x]

I would almost be afraid to write out all my beliefs on here.

[slaterd]

My experiences are more similar to Pac's than slaterd's.

As for myself here's how I figure:
If I die as a non-christian and there is no god, my belief on the matter is inconsequential
If I die as a non-christian and there is a god, I will incur negative consequences

If I die as a christian and there is no god, my belief on the matter is inconsequential
If I die as a christian and there is a god, I will incur positive consequences

Therefore, my best bet in terms of maximizing positive results while minimizing negative consequences is to die as a christian regardless of whether a god exists.

See just as I said though, you have that religion and you follow its teachings cause you're afraid of the consequences. Do it for yourself, not out of fear.

[smooth]

For those interested in what science has to say about the world, there is strong empirical evidence that praying reduces stress and those who pray regularly report higher satisfaction with their life as well as their relationships.

One doesn't need to belief in christianity to pray, nor does one have to even be religious to enjoy similar benefits, as the same research indicates meditation has similar benefits.


It's clear to me from this thread, though, that people are conflating "theists" with ideologues. Ideology is not dependent upon theism as this thread should be demonstrating by now.

@slaterd,
Read the rest of my posts. If that post confused you as to who I am or what I am about then disregard it.
It was a simple exercise in logic.

[Turf1600]

Not lies, speaking from pure experience. Most athiest will trash out against christians becaue we arepersecuted. I was outcasted as a child because of christian and catholic parents forbidding their children from being around me and my baby sister. We didn't harm anyone but because of the "infalible" viewpoints of the religious community, I, along with my other bretherine are deemed the "untouchables". This is how it has always been and as soon as anyone I have any sort of a relationship who is religious finds out I'm athiest I'm immediately cast out, persecuted, or attempted to conform. Don't try to defend an entire people just because YOU don't act like that. I have known many people like this, so your defense for YOURSELF is outweighed by my experience with hundreds of people.

Your point is invalid because you have no idea how many atheists you've actually met. You just remember the outspoken ones.

[slaterd]

Your point is invalid because you have no idea how many atheists you've actually met. You just remember the outspoken ones.

Dude, get off this thread, I am the athiest.

[Turf1600]

My experiences are more similar to Pac's than slaterd's.

As for myself here's how I figure:
If I die as a non-christian and there is no god, my belief on the matter is inconsequential
If I die as a non-christian and there is a god, I will incur negative consequences

If I die as a christian and there is no god, my belief on the matter is inconsequential
If I die as a christian and there is a god, I will incur positive consequences

Therefore, my best bet in terms of maximizing positive results while minimizing negative consequences is to die as a christian regardless of whether a god exists.

Yeah, go with the odds. That's what God wants. I figured out a long time ago that if there was a god he'd see right through that. The bottom line is that I don't believe it and my words and actions won't change that.

[joshh]

People like myself?

I don't give you any credit at all, just found it interesting that at least you didn't dovetail your position onto what society tells you to do.

That's at least more in line with where I stand...as a buddhist.



No, I really don't. You stated that you adhere to morals and integrity, which stem from those around you; external sources of authority just like christians.

You make broad assumptions.
You leap to errant conclusions based on your misunderstandings.
You did this all in the span of a few posts.

just like the christians you are trying to describe as weak minded

Show me a child that hasn't grown up in our society that carries our morals/ethics and law. Everyone is this way including yourself. To deny it is a lie as you do saying you're a Christian (I don't consider your type Christian). Your entire point there is irrelevant and pointless.
You seem to think that telling me I think like a Christian hurts me. In a fashion I'm proud of that because it shows I have morals and integrity. Which helped me (Christianity,laws,my parents etc) form my morals and integrity. I love that this has backfired on you.
And that has to do with my belief in Christianity directly how? I have to be Christian because it may have helped me form more ethics and morals directly or indirectly?

You admitted you're Christian because it's the safest route. You'll end up in the best position in the end. I know enough about Christianity to know it doesn't work that way for real Christians. It's an extremely weak position. Good luck with that.

[smooth]

I find it strange that the last two atheists capitalize a reference to a deity they claim to believe does not exist.

[slaterd]

For those interested in what science has to say about the world, there is strong empirical evidence that praying reduces stress and those who pray regularly report higher satisfaction with their life as well as their relationships.

One doesn't need to belief in christianity to pray, nor does one have to even be religious to enjoy similar benefits, as the same research indicates meditation has similar benefits.


It's clear to me from this thread, though, that people are conflating "theists" with ideologues. Ideology is not dependent upon theism as this thread should be demonstrating by now.

@slaterd,
Read the rest of my posts. If that post confused you as to who I am or what I am about then disregard it.
It was a simple exercise in logic.

It just sesms you're an athiest from what you said and are debating an athiest over religion. If that's the case then why is it getting heated? We should be kinda on the same side

[Turf1600]

Being Christian has never limited my ability to:

Go on a cruise to the Caribbean, go mountain biking, snowboarding, meet and socialize with other people, go to dinner, take an e30 to the track, own pets, see movies, go to a concert, play basketball, buy a house, start a family, graduate college............ you get the point.

I still do not see what kind of "fun" a Christian might miss out on which might leave them feeling unfulfilled at the end of a lifetime as a result of having beliefs.

Whoever you're responded to missed the mark. The point is that people are happy regardless of the source. Maximizing happiness is a different story and is a crap shoot. I highly doubt that religious preference is going to be the determining factor in any case.

[slaterd]

I find it strange that the last two atheists capitalize a reference to a deity they claim to believe does not exist.

Because in the english God is still a name. Do you capitalize Santa Claus?