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My wife and I are a TINY bit jealous of religious people for the fact that they have an extra social club on weekends to meet with people who are likeminded. So we put out some feelers for people in our area who are atheists, and want to get together to discuss life, music, movies, parenting, mutual disdain for holy rollers, etc. We found an atheist "club," and went to a meetup.
The only problem....most of us don't have much else in common besides non-belief in God. Ironically, I don't find this to be such a horrible thing. It just means atheists aren't the stumbling clones that religious folk are. I still haven't given up on finding some non-religious people who are focused on life, not afterlife.
That's sort of the nature of atheism . . . it's not a "belief system," just a minor point of disbelief. Most Christians, for example, have similar views on not just religion, but politics, morality, family, lifestyle, social interactions, etc., while atheists, as you said earlier, are all over the place. It's sort of the downside of accepting reality.
Yes. I found that, while it was interesting to talk to people who had a response other than a yawn or 'I know there's a God'. There wasn't much we had in common. Once we'd all pretty much said 'I don't believe in God or the Bible' and had a curry, that was it.
While this seems on the face of it to be a disadvantage - it doesn't have a social activity bond such as makes religion or sports attendance or military or paramilitary groups so socially strong - it is good that the only reason for atheism is the existence of theism. When that disappears, atheism will not be needed. Just as when there is no more war or oppression, there will be no need for anti war groups or amnesty international. And we can get on with other things that really matter more.
However, while people do still believe, teach and push this stuff, we have to push back.
Also, I'm not disappointed by social clubs for those of us who do not believe in leprechauns, those of us who do not collect stamps, and those of us who do not like rutabagas.
My wife and I are a TINY bit jealous of religious people for the fact that they have an extra social club on weekends to meet with people who are likeminded. So we put out some feelers for people in our area who are atheists, and want to get together to discuss life, music, movies, parenting, mutual disdain for holy rollers, etc. We found an atheist "club," and went to a meetup.
The only problem....most of us don't have much else in common besides non-belief in God. Ironically, I don't find this to be such a horrible thing. It just means atheists aren't the stumbling clones that religious folk are. I still haven't given up on finding some non-religious people who are focused on life, not afterlife.
I never attended clubs in person, but many websites tend to just be atheists talking about religious people, or trying to get laid or finding someone to spend the rest of their life with.
I think part of my problem is that I don't really like groups of people in the first place. The quickest way to get me to shut up, clam up, and feel left out is to introduce me to a bunch of people at the same time. Groups of people, in my opinion, have a tendency to make things "cheesy." There's nothing I cannot stand more than making things "cheesy." I will not be playing Ring Toss, Pin the Tail on Jesus, Beating a Piñata, or anything else in my free time. Groups of people take things to extremes that I simply don't like.
I'd much rather be with one or two of my closest friends, with whom we all get along well, have no need to worry about passed judgments from a large group of people, and can say and do whatever we please without fear of reprisal or judgment. True humanity exposes itself on the most individual of levels. Large groups are nothing more than a concealment of humanity and a juxtaposition of false reverence. It is often hypocrisy in its highest form and something I simply cannot deal with.
That's sort of the nature of atheism . . . it's not a "belief system," just a minor point of disbelief. Most Christians, for example, have similar views on not just religion, but politics, morality, family, lifestyle, social interactions, etc., while atheists, as you said earlier, are all over the place. It's sort of the downside of accepting reality.
Aptly put. We aren't ALL disagreeing on things per se, there just isn't the instant bond and meeting of the minds I expected.
Perhaps establishing a group of like friends with common interests would be a more beneficial use of ones time.
Well we've done that, too. I have friends who are into snowboarding, mountain biking, movies, good books, etc.
However, my wife and I are sarcastic, cynical people who, for lack of a better way to put it, practice making religious people the butt of our jokes in our spare time. We thought perhaps an atheist social club might put us in that venue. It wasn't our only hope at making friends, like "put all the chips on red 23, the fellow atheists!"
I think part of my problem is that I don't really like groups of people in the first place. The quickest way to get me to shut up, clam up, and feel left out is to introduce me to a bunch of people at the same time. Groups of people, in my opinion, have a tendency to make things "cheesy." There's nothing I cannot stand more than making things "cheesy." I will not be playing Ring Toss, Pin the Tail on Jesus, Beating a Piñata, or anything else in my free time. Groups of people take things to extremes that I simply don't like.
I'd much rather be with one or two of my closest friends, with whom we all get along well, have no need to worry about passed judgments from a large group of people, and can say and do whatever we please without fear of reprisal or judgment. True humanity exposes itself on the most individual of levels. Large groups are nothing more than a concealment of humanity and a juxtaposition of false reverence. It is often hypocrisy in its highest form and something I simply cannot deal with.
I found myself agreeing with this to the point of snickering. My wife and I are the same way. And I wonder if this "lone wolf" personality is more represented among atheists.
We have a slight case of misanthropy. And given that the world is by and large fooled by superstitious myths, it's no wonder.
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