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I don't believe in any higher power, no deities, no gods, nothing. I do not believe in magic, faith healing, or an afterlife. I do not believe in these things but I admit they could possibly exist. I do not believe in any "sacred scripture" I think most of them are bronze age fairy tales made up in order to keep their followers in line.
Is it good to be an atheist? Hell it's great to be an atheist. I don't have to worry about pleasing any sky daddy looking down at me keeping a cosmic score. I don't have to attend boring church services every Sunday. I don't have to waste time praying every night, I've gained 5-10 minutes of extra sleep since "converting." I can think for myself and explore other points of view that I never dared consider while I was a member of the flock.
Yup! Ain't intellectual freedom wonderful, NGA? I think, in fact, that a state of mental atheism (i.e.: demonstrated intellectual honesty and integrity) makes devout fundy types very jealous, but their spiritual makeup does not allow them to enjoy such boundless freedom. Or if they try, they are hauled back in by the greater sheeple flock. After all, if this sort of thing became popular, purty-danged soon there'd be no flock to be co-warmed by!
They just can't break those bonds, tho' apparently you and I both did.
Nonetheless, there's always hope for them, and so I persist in trying to show them the light of lights.
Thinking back on my life, I have been taught almost nothing. My parents were very honest people who treated people fairly, so I guess I learned from their example.
I think religion or a philosophy of life are very important. Since I was taught nothing about it, I have been totally free to form my own opinions. After reading some of the horror stories in these discussion groups, I feel very fortunate.
Yup! Ain't intellectual freedom wonderful, NGA? I think, in fact, that a state of mental atheism (i.e.: demonstrated intellectual honesty and integrity) makes devout fundy types very jealous, but their spiritual makeup does not allow them to enjoy such boundless freedom. Or if they try, they are hauled back in by the greater sheeple flock. After all, if this sort of thing became popular, purty-danged soon there'd be no flock to be co-warmed by!
They just can't break those bonds, tho' apparently you and I both did.
Nonetheless, there's always hope for them, and so I persist in trying to show them the light of lights.
Oh when I first embraced atheism, I mean fully embraced mentally and emotionally, it was like this giant weight lifted off my shoulders. All of my life I had been taught that there was a god in the sky looking down at me, judging every action, hearing every thought, that's a lot pressure. Then I worried about my parents, my wife, her parents, it was the greatest cause of stress in my life. When I hear Christians tell me that Christianity is "true freedom," it takes a lot to not either laugh at them, or slap their face.
To fully understand and embrace the reality that there is no god in the sky judging me was freedom. To know that no thought is off limits, that no actions are out of bounds. (I'm speaking of legal actions only by the way) To not have to worry about the eternal state of my parents well free at last, free at last. Thank "god almighty" I'm free at last, is all I have to say.
I do try to "evangelize" as much as I can. I don't offer up my views unsolicited however. I don't appreciate it when Christians do it to me, so I try my best to not do it to them. I am not, however, afraid to articulate my views and defend them when necessary. I do believe that I have planted some seeds and turned a few light bulbs on. I know of the mental and emotional anguish, and torment I went through. I do not want anyone else to have to suffer like I did when I was a child.
I'm getting tired of the Christian view. Let me hear about the Atheist/Agnostic point of view. Is there a "diety" called god? Adam and Eve, how did they populate the earth. Has anyone heard of the Gospel of Eshua(hebrew for Jesus). The Vatican Corporation has copies. I'd like to hear the Atheist/Agnostic members from this forum. What are your non-beliefs?
Nothing be Praised!
Ok- The Adam & Eve thing creeps me out because their children would've had to have incestuous relationships to populate the Earth... which would make us all in-breds.
NorthGA, that is a really good post. One of the best I have ever read.
Even though I have always been an atheist, I think it is nice how religion has helped so many people. When I used to watch Billy Graham on TV, the people walking down to be 'saved' looked so happy.
However, it is sad how many people like yourself have had religion forced down their throats, and how it has caused them so much anguish.
You know, I think we all want "true freedom". I assume a Christian gets freedom by turning his life over to Christ - kind of a freedon from responsibility. You and I like the freedom to think and do whatever we want, as long as we obey the laws. It is kind of like putting a square peg into a square hole.
Oh when I first embraced atheism, I mean fully embraced mentally and emotionally, it was like this giant weight lifted off my shoulders. All of my life I had been taught that there was a god in the sky looking down at me, judging every action, hearing every thought, that's a lot pressure. Then I worried about my parents, my wife, her parents, it was the greatest cause of stress in my life. When I hear Christians tell me that Christianity is "true freedom," it takes a lot to not either laugh at them, or slap their face.
To fully understand and embrace the reality that there is no god in the sky judging me was freedom. To know that no thought is off limits, that no actions are out of bounds. (I'm speaking of legal actions only by the way) To not have to worry about the eternal state of my parents well free at last, free at last. Thank "god almighty" I'm free at last, is all I have to say.
I do try to "evangelize" as much as I can. I don't offer up my views unsolicited however. I don't appreciate it when Christians do it to me, so I try my best to not do it to them. I am not, however, afraid to articulate my views and defend them when necessary. I do believe that I have planted some seeds and turned a few light bulbs on. I know of the mental and emotional anguish, and torment I went through. I do not want anyone else to have to suffer like I did when I was a child.
Great post NGA!
I felt the very same weight lift from my shoulders and a sense of freedom that had never experienced before as a believer.
Not only intellectual freedom but a freedom deep down in my...mind.
Even though I have always been an atheist, I think it is nice how religion has helped so many people. When I used to watch Billy Graham on TV, the people walking down to be 'saved' looked so happy.
FYI, I read in a BG book that he admitted that 90% of his converts had fallen away after one year. Furthermore,he probably was converting either nominal believers or believers from orthodox churches where the born again doctrine was not taught.
In my xian experience, alter calls are mostly existing member rededicating to swell the numbers, I also noticed that these folk always responded to alter calls.
Nothing. There is nothing positive or negative about being an atheist.
Now being a skeptic and secular humanist on the other hand does have its advantages.
There are times when my vision reads written thoughts that jolt me a little and I start thinking. Some times I concur, and some times I don’t concur with the statements. Regarding my thoughts about the thoughts presented, most of them never get any mental acknowledgement. Thoughts that get most of my attention are because I concur with joy and wonder. They usually agree with my thoughts and beliefs, or lead to assessments with more enlightenment. Some thoughts with which I do not agree, are stated in a reaching out manner that seems to implore one to affirm a negative. This writing is in response to the quoted thoughts of Gplex
I am an Atheist and I have been since about 9 or 10 years of age, which is when I started telling Sunday School Teachers that (Lessons they called their chatter) their Lessons, were silly lies and fairy tales. Since then my learning years have not ended. My life as opposed to that of Gplex has been both Positive and Negative. When something is Positive or Negative to my way of thinking (A Value Judgment ) it usually means there has been research by me, regarding the supposed actions or activities of the things in question. Specifically, if the item being researched ends up in a bucket of Myths without proof, then it is a negative not worthy of any more time wasted on exploring
In regard to Negative Items in my milieu, it means they have been researched either with longer or shorter periods of time, and with the same mental excitement that was accorded to objects, or statements that can be added to my views on life. This adding and omitting views by which I live, in a sense can be described as a magnificent hobby. One accepts that one is going to end one’s present life of being aware, but it is a life of wonderful happenings. To read that my way of life of enjoyment is a Nothing, except maybe a Non Event or a Neutral, can be stated as Hog Wash. I accept that to Gplex my way of life as an aware human, might be one of his favorite Value Judgments. However, I am not capable of living in Gplex’s milieu, and I have a firm Value Judgment, that neither can Gplex live in mine.
I too, was a Skeptic, which does not mean I couldn't be an Atheist, which I am. One may be a skeptic only when it comes to words such as Religion and Faith. Perhaps I do not accept that a Skeptic is a Lazy Researcher. (Note Sceptic and Skeptic are allowable) One famous dictionary has half a dozen definitions of a Skeptic’s doubts. One definition is that real knowledge of any kind is unattainable. That sentence is crazy. If I have a small white rock, it is one. If I add another small white rock, then without a doubt, I have two small white rocks. Perhaps a second Skeptic doubts the competence of reason, which makes it difficult to judge. Do these Skeptics have doubts about their own reasoning? Does one only have doubts in regard to Atheist’s beliefs? Between the definitions mentioned there are massive differences. One might have to entwine the word Skeptic with the name of Doubter.]
Personally, with a bit of thinking I am led to the belief, or have a Value Judgment, that being a so called Skeptic or Doubter, without naming some of one’s beliefs hand in hand with one’s Doubts, only kicks up frivolous dust. Sure, the dust might be mental dust, which I have a definite feeling can be cleared through the use of Mental Reasoning Creating Clarity. I affirm that one can only reason like an Atheist, by being one.
Cheers Snaefell.
Last edited by Snaefell; 03-15-2011 at 04:07 PM..
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I can think for myself and explore other points of view that I never dared consider while I was a member of the flock.
A Nothing.
