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

[pureaudio]

My belief system has taken a big turn in the last year or so from your standard non-denominational church attending Republican to very outside the box spiritual thinking with strong libertarian political views. I feel like I've been resisting this change and fighting with myself inside but finally starting to accept it and be more vocal about it. I wouldn't call myself an atheist but oddly I almost identify more with them then I do with most Christians. Well, maybe not identify with them so much as understand their plight. I just can't handle the chosen ignorance most Christians choose to adopt and the idea that anything outside of what they can/want to understand is "because God". I have been diving into a lot of different stuff lately and I kind of have a man crush on Neil deGrasse Tyson even though I do still feel I am a Christian, just not one that is like any other I know.

So what is everyone else's story? What are your beliefs? How did you come to where you are now and what did you start out as? Not trying to get into any arguments or start fights, just taking advantage of the anonymity of the internet to have a discussion I can't quite have in my life yet.

My wife and I did decide to leave our church as of December and are going to explore our options of where we want to lay down roots that we both feel comfortable. She is definitely much more conservative than I but we had a "coming to Jesus" talk about it and realized that neither of us felt like we belonged or fit in with the Church we had been attending.

[Turf1600]

Don't think of it as moving from one end of the spectrum to another or switching sides or anything like that - just accept that you have morals and convictions of your own that you are choosing to commit to. Logic and empathy ultimately result in the same behaviors that christianity promotes but without the threat of a loving god condemning you to hell.

As for myself, I went to church sparingly as a young child but stopped around 2nd grade. With church being an major part of social life in Texas I started to feel a bit left out as a teen. I also struggled with what I believed in. I probably knew I was an atheist the whole time but I wanted to avoid the stigma attached with the title. I tried a variety of churches in my teens but they all rang false. Even if I agreed with the message I never saw God there. Being an atheist forces you to answer some tough questions regarding ethical behavior and the meaning of life. I pretty much believe that the determination of meaning is the sole responsibility of the individual. With that in mind, if it's important to someone it's important - the result being that making others happy/comfortable and at the very minimum avoiding harm is the most important thing in life. It doesn't matter what's important to me - serving others is the clearest path to happiness. For that to occur I believe that I must always behave with integrity, treat others with empathy and always be able to answer for my actions. If I can not answer for myself then I must evaluate the degree to which I have behaved unethically. I think the most important piece of that is avoiding judgement. I firmly believe that people are not in complete control of their circumstance and therefore must not be treated as anything other than equal. We must remember that people are very strange and that what you see is not always representative of reality. Presumptions are foolish and arrogant.

Otherwise, I think that anyone who uses atheism as a means of defending senseless and unethical action needs to look in the mirror. Many are full of spite and anger. I don't really understand it - but like I said above it's not my place to. My job is to help them seek balance if given the opportunity.

I think that one of the biggest challenges that christians face when dealing with an atheist is that their identity is challenged. Many people build their identity around their religion and it's principles. As a result they can't comprehend the alternative and are threatened by it. I've found that some christians would prefer that I believe in some other god than believe in nothing. The idea of believing in "nothing" is frightening and sketchy to them. I personally believe that it takes more faith to be an atheist than to be a christian. Atheists have everything to lose if they are wrong. Ultimately, actions speak louder than words and you should only speak if your words are greater than silence. Since I practice that I obviously prefer that I be judged by my behaviors rather than the definition of my moral foundation.

[SoopaGhetto]

Being a man of science makes religion tough. I have my faith but there are things that makes me doubt faith at times. The fact that there are different versions of the "bible" through out history to suit individuals agendas, new/old testament, and people who are hypocritical, just ruins it for me.

My fiance feels the same. She grew up conservative and raised in catholic church. Just that some people and some actions just doesnt add up when it comes to being a good christian.

Coming from different backgrounds (she white, im black) we both feel that religion should not dictate our lives. I believe in karma; what goes around comes around ten fold. Do onto others what you want done on to you. Being honest and approaching everything with an open mind is what allowed us to progress through the years. I just dont see how some of these things dont work with some people...

[pureaudio]

I think that one of the biggest challenges that christians face when dealing with an atheist is that their identity is challenged. Many people build their identity around their religion and it's principles. As a result they can't comprehend the alternative and are threatened by it. I've found that some christians would prefer that I believe in some other god than believe in nothing. The idea of believing in "nothing" is frightening and sketchy to them. I personally believe that it takes more faith to be an atheist than to be a christian. Atheists have everything to lose if they are wrong. Ultimately, actions speak louder than words and you should only speak if your words are greater than silence. Since I practice that I obviously prefer that I be judged by my behaviors rather than the definition of my moral foundation.

Oh I definitely agree with that, my in-law's are downright nutty about atheists. I've just never felt threatened by another's faith whether it be in God or a lack of one.

My belief has kind of evolved into just a following of Christ in the simplest form and I feel everyone will have to be judged for their own actions. I pretty much disregard the rest of the bible at this point. I don't feel that God has an active presence in my life and most things that are attributed to God, I usually think are either coincidence or another person not getting the credit deserved.

It was always instilled in me to seek knowledge and try new things by my mom even growing up as a Jehovah's Witness. We were always the outcast family because my mom was educated and a career women who encouraged her kids to attend higher education and never stop learning. I never could get why my mom was, and still is, a part of that cult being she was educated and independent but I left as soon as I was allowed.

[Turf1600]

I never could get why my mom was, and still is, a part of that cult being she was educated and independent but I left as soon as I was allowed.

I think the desire for a sense of community is built into most people. With it being easiest to assimilate with like thinking people those kinds of small, tightly knit sects of christianity can be very appealing to some. Believeing in something unconventional like that grants the group a sense of priveiege. You'll hear most of them supporting the idea that they were chosen or hand selected by god for various reasons. This heightens the sense of group solidarity and makes it harder to stray.

I have to say, it can be tough knowing that most people disagree with your core values. Atheists don't tend to congregate so you're pretty much on your own.

[Stanley Rockafella]

Why can't you just embrace both?

For me, I was raised with an Anglican background. I was baptised, confirmed etc as well as my GF.

After I moved out and never bothered with getting married, I was outcasted by some family members but I dont' really give a shit. They are narrow-minded and hate the relationships they are in. Me OTOH, I get to commit myself and choosingly ENJOY the company of my GF and have done so for the past 10 years.

Overall, I see the point of Christianity and religion, but at the same time I dont' really care for it as none of it really fits my lifestyle. I can make my "community" based on the friends I make and I treat them as I would like to be treated. I enjoy the athiest and the anglican views but dont' think I need to completely commit myself to one or the other to be happy.

[joshh]

The day I can shake God's hand is the day I'll believe in him. But that doesn't mean in any way I would follow him. If he's done what the bible claims, why the fuck would I follow a god like that?

That's about as simplistic as I can explain it. Yet I know there are powers/a power above me.

[cale]

Don't feel bad, Neil DeGrasse Tyson is a self professed agnostic and has corrected wiki several times when atheists tried to label him as an atheist so you're not TOTALLY pissing on the church with that bromance haha.

Don't worry about what to label yourself, just acquire knowledge from the best possible sources and use it to forge your conclusions and opinions. Far too many listen to sources they know will tell them what they want to hear i.e evangelicals.

[Sagaris]

I am a Christian, and a man of science (mechanical engineer).

Generally being an Atheist means you believe in the big bang theory and being a Christian means you believe in creation by a deity. I have known men of science that just can't get away from the big-bang as an explanation of how everything started.

Why can't both concepts coexist?

I think the big bang theory is a valid possibility to how the cosmos were created. What if the cosmos WERE created by something similar to the big bang theory but by means of God initiating that process? Just throwing that out there since it never seems to occur to men of science that the two could be related.


I find that it is important that we all believe in something. If everyone believed that death was the absolute end, then nobody would have a sense of accountability at the end of this life, nothing that you did would matter, and much more chaos than what we currently see would be unleashed.

[cale]

I disagree entirely Sagaris, I believe that when we die that it is it and that we no longer exist in any way besides the elements in our bodies breaking down. I don't think we'd be held accountable by anyone or anything, but I don't choose to go out and take advantage of that get out of jail free card because it's immoral. Why is it you think we all need an authoritative force to monitor and repremand us for our actions?

Atheism says nothing about the big bang, they're two processes entirely independant from one another. Yes most atheists would agree that it's the strongest theory for the creation of the universe presently available, but the way you'e worded it you think that's something that groups us together...it doesn't.

[Kershaw]

I find that it is important that we all believe in something. If everyone believed that death was the absolute end, then nobody would have a sense of accountability at the end of this life, nothing that you did would matter, and much more chaos than what we currently see would be unleashed.

what?

lol dude.

no.

just no.

how about, death is the absolute end so we have to make this life everything we can? because when it ends, that's it. and we should all hope that when we die, we dont die with regrets of a life unfulfilled.

[slaterd]

The reason why you connect with more atheists is becaue athiests are more understanding. We won't criticize someone's beliefs until they try to convert us or preach to the how far they are up a make believe person's ass. Shitty thing is though that most religious people consider us devil worshippers or something. But I consider christians and catholics the most dangerous and rudest people in the world.

[joshh]

The reason why you connect with more atheists is becaue athiests are more understanding. We won't criticize someone's beliefs until they try to convert us or preach to the how far they are up a make believe person's ass. Shitty thing is though that most religious people consider us devil worshippers or something. But I consider christians and catholics the most dangerous and rudest people in the world.

I'd say athiests are more realistic and down to earth.

But clearly if we only knew the power of the lord, we'd all be believers.:pimp:

[Kershaw]

PRAISE JESUS! avoidcapslock

[Cabriolet]

So, I was raised as a Christian my entire life. With a mother that was so strict, I wasn’t allowed to even watch Disney movies and I was neglected by her as she “home schooled” me. She has to be one of the biggest walking, bible thumping hypocrites I’ve ever seen. I really struggled and still struggle with believing, as I see so many in the Christian faith act hypocritically, with church fights, pastors having affairs and their families turning out so poorly. People all though history have used religion (nearly all of them) to oppress their subjects. But then as anyone can call themselves any religion they want, I had to look past the people in the religion, to the truths of the matter. Everything that exists came from somewhere. Such as me, I was made by my parents. This desk was made by a tree and other people. And my shirt was grown in a field then woven and then sold to me. Nothing comes from nothing. So I have to believe that there is a deity that started this whole thing.

But on the other side, no one was there to see the Big Bang or God create the universe, by our own scientific method, neither can been proven as a fact, both must remain theories, even if 90% of the world believes something, doesn’t make it true. After all people believed that the world was flat longer than the idea of a big bang has been around. The only thing we can do is look at what we have and weigh the decision.

But probable the thing that pisses me off the most is when people use any religion, even atheism as a crutch. There was this fat ass disgusting slob taking up the whole end of the row I was sitting in church in last week, an old man asked if he could sit on the end. She turned to him and said “no I am sitting on the end, get another seat.” I got so mad, wanted to deck her. EVERY religion has this idiots and rude people. Look in your heart and if you feel that you don’t need a God and life is final in death, then make the most of the days you have, so that you influence the world for the better. But for me that wasn’t enough @19, so I didn’t jump, step back from the edge of the bridge and changed my life.

Here is a short list of why I don’t believe in the big bag.

http://www.icr.org/article/1842/