NightyskyBlue is offline NightyskyBlue Post #1  February 8,2009, 12:09pm
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Hello, I'm an atheist and have been my entire life.Now I'm not going to get into the reasons why i'm an atheist because that would basically be describing my whole self, and who really has time for that? What I want to address is the general unappreciation towards atheists, our beliefs, and how we think. I feel as if (in America) every religion is openly accepted except for atheism. Now why am I calling atheism a religion? I classify religion as a set of beliefs on how the world or universe works. Under this definition, atheism is certainly a religion. Atheists simply don't take the generalstandpoint of supernatural forces driving life, and certainly do not believe in the selling point of almost every religion (promise of eternal life).


I think life is amazing and wonderful, and I do not feel the need to try to simplify this mysterious phenomena by accepting the teachings of any book written thousands of years ago (or thousands of days ago for that matter). I believe what I can experience or comprehend, not what I am told. Now, in no way do I attribute my way of thinking to any other atheists because frankly I have no idea how other people came about their beliefs. I do believe that everyone has the potential to be a good person, and that this goodness usually does not depend on religion.


Back to the topic, I want to say that being an atheist does not mean being bitter, angry, or unintelligent. It doesn't involve hating the world, being confused, or not taking care of yourself. It does not mean a lack of values, morals, or character. It means (for me)being at peace with how I see the world, andliving life to find my own happiness andfulfillment, while adhering to what I believe is right.I hope what I said was clear and I hope to see what other people think of atheism.


I know people may claim to accept everyone, but think about this. Now it is amazing enough that we have anAfrican American President. But imaginetheday when an atheist becomes president. Or for that matter, a non christian/catholic? I can't see it, can you?Haha and if we have had one in the last 100 years please correct me.
 
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godlessinseattle is offline godlessinseattle Post #2  February 11,2009, 1:56pm
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Scratch an atheist and you will see before you a mind just as closed as the most fundamentalist religionists. I have nothing personal against atheists other than they tend, as a group, to be a little too certain of the rightness of their cause and this sense of rightness (righteousness) can be dangerous if it was linked to power.
 
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DennisWisconsin is offline DennisWisconsin Post #3  February 11,2009, 3:19pm
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There is no reason to give an idea stock until there is some evidence to show that it could exist in reality.
 
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BobinFla is offline BobinFla Post #4  February 11,2009, 3:46pm
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Why is it that this idea is kept being justified as justifying an existance? If a person is an athiest, or they believe, that is up to the individual, it is their choice. This nation was founded on Christian principals and yet it is left up for each person to believe as they wish. If a person is a believer or athiest it does not give them the right to deny the others the rights that the Constitution provides to all citizens of the United States. Even with our new President, he does not try to cram his beliefs down everyone's throat, he leaves it to each individual to believe the way they feel is right.


This can be a tedious subject, this subject has led people to try to tell others how they believe, it has got some to try to preach the gospel to those that profess not to believe in God, and it has got Ahtiests to try to deny Christians their constitutional right to adhere to whatever religion they believe.


However you or anyone else wants to believe, that is up to the individual, but having to make a bid deal about it, or even responding can put a target on your back.
 
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NightyskyBlue is offline NightyskyBlue Post #5  February 11,2009, 4:26pm
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godlessinseattle,482565 wrote :

Scratch an atheist and you will see before you a mind just as closed as the most fundamentalist religionists. I have nothing personal against atheists other than they tend, as a group, to be a little too certain of the rightness of their cause and this sense of rightness (righteousness) can be dangerous if it was linked to power.
Of course an atheist believes in their own beliefs..just as any religious person should believe in theirs. I don't know what "cause" you are talking about. As an atheist I have never heard of or met anyone who has heard of a "cause" that we atheists must join.Everyone has the right to come to termson their own what the universe means to them, and if theycome to a belief that they canwholeheartedly accept..lucky them. If you want a group that isn't confident about their beliefs perhaps you should meet some agnostic people. (yes i am kind of mean..however the whole premise of agnoisticism is indecisiveness.)
 
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chawks64 is offline chawks64 Post #6  February 11,2009, 5:03pm
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I am a Christian, but I have many friends, both on and off these boards, who are avowed atheists. Why are they my friends? Because they are good people. I don't expect everyone to believe the wayI do, just as I don't expect everyone to like the same music I do.


Honestly, there are hostile people on all sides of this issue, and their attempts to convince their opponents get nowhere. If anything, it is polarizing.
 
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RobInPlano is offline RobInPlano Post #7  February 11,2009, 5:17pm
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chawks64,482946 wrote :


I am a Christian, but I have many friends, both on and off these boards, who are avowed atheists. Why are they my friends? Because they are good people. I don't expect everyone to believe the wayI do, just as I don't expect everyone to like the same music I do.


Honestly, there are hostile people on all sides of this issue, and their attempts to convince their opponents get nowhere. If anything, it is polarizing.





I agree with you about 80%...


Like you, I get along with people all over the political and religious spectrum. I've come to the conclusion that political and religious beliefs don't have much to do with character, as people with great character and horrible character can be found in all pursuasions.


The only thing I disagree with is that debating is unhelpful. I really enjoy reading what the athiest/agnostics say, because it helps me see things from another perspective and think through my own faith. I really appreciate the thought they have given to their ideas.


I know that many of them have certain stereotypes of Christiansthat just aren't true (usuallyfrom exposure to charismatic religious nutjobs that poorly represent most of us). I hope thatby interacting, I can helpthem to see the flaw insome of those stereotypes. Maybe, with time, they can come to see that not all Christians are deluded judgemental extremists, but many are fun and thoughtful intellectuals.


From the strong negative stereotypes of Christians that I've seen, I suspect that many athiests initially rejected religion based on a strong negative experience with religion. I can't blame them. But breaking those stereotypes is the first step to being able to tone down the hostility on both sides.


The key is to keep disagreements civil and friendly. Tough to do sometimes, but it's so important.
 
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chawks64 is offline chawks64 Post #8  February 11,2009, 5:35pm
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RobInPlano,482970 wrote :

chawks64,482946 wrote :


I am a Christian, but I have many friends, both on and off these boards, who are avowed atheists. Why are they my friends? Because they are good people. I don't expect everyone to believe the wayI do, just as I don't expect everyone to like the same music I do.


Honestly, there are hostile people on all sides of this issue, and their attempts to convince their opponents get nowhere. If anything, it is polarizing.





I agree with you about 80%...


Like you, I get along with people all over the political and religious spectrum. I've come to the conclusion that political and religious beliefs don't have much to do with character, as people with great character and horrible character can be found in all pursuasions.


The only thing I disagree with is that debating is unhelpful. I really enjoy reading what the athiest/agnostics say, because it helps me see things from another perspective and think through my own faith. I really appreciate the thought they have given to their ideas.


I know that many of them have certain stereotypes of Christiansthat just aren't true (usuallyfrom exposure to charismatic religious nutjobs that poorly represent most of us). I hope thatby interacting, I can helpthem to see the flaw insome of those stereotypes. Maybe, with time, they can come to see that not all Christians are deluded judgemental extremists, but many are fun and thoughtful intellectuals.


The key is to keep disagreements civil and friendly. Tough to do sometimes, but it's so important.
Absolutely!


My friends know, if they do have a question, they can ask me without feeling like I'm going to spout he11fire and brimstone. And they do have questions. Many of them are not as much deterred by Christianity as they are by Christians themselves. It's really quite sad. Who would want to join a group that has so much hate (on either side, really).


There are a lotof people out there who think Christians are small-minded, angry, ignorant, stubborn people. And there are many Christians who are more than willing to prove them right, all in the name of their faith. Ask any atheist or agnostic. It just doesn't work.


Also, intelligence and ethics are not the sole characteristics of ANY of these groups. I can show examples of each in theists, atheists and agnostics.


I'm glad SOMEONE sees things the same way!
 
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RobInPlano is offline RobInPlano Post #9  February 11,2009, 6:02pm
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chawks64,483007 wrote :

Absolutely!


My friends know, if they do have a question, they can ask me without feeling like I'm going to spout he11fire and brimstone. And they do have questions. Many of them are not as much deterred by Christianity as they are by Christians themselves. It's really quite sad. Who would want to join a group that has so much hate (on either side, really).
I just don't have enough emotional energy for hate. I spend it all doing things I really care about.


The only people on the planet that I have room to hate are the Seattle Seahawks
 
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chawks64 is offline chawks64 Post #10  February 11,2009, 6:07pm
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RobInPlano,483058 wrote :

chawks64,483007 wrote :


Absolutely!


My friends know, if they do have a question, they can ask me without feeling like I'm going to spout he11fire and brimstone. And they do have questions. Many of them are not as much deterred by Christianity as they are by Christians themselves. It's really quite sad. Who would want to join a group that has so much hate (on either side, really).


I just don't have enough emotional energy for hate. I spend it all doing things I really care about.


The only people on the planet that I have room to hate are the Seattle Seahawks
Argh!


(removes knife from the center of her back)


Why? It's not like they ever win or anything!


 
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