I don't get Atheism

[Anonymous]

I don't get it, either. And what's with these commercials with Ron Reagan Jr. touting aetheism and then saying smugly that he won't burn in hell. Aetheists are likely to burn in hell, although I'm sure that the younger Reagan will be pardoned because Jesus loved President Ronald Reagan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it, either. And what's with these commercials with Ron Reagan Jr. touting aetheism and then saying smugly that he won't burn in hell. Aetheists are likely to burn in hell, although I'm sure that the younger Reagan will be pardoned because Jesus loved President Ronald Reagan.

Most of the Christians I know don't believe in Hell and Jews don't really either. So you can think I'll be in Hell but the general vote is that I won't be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it, either. And what's with these commercials with Ron Reagan Jr. touting aetheism and then saying smugly that he won't burn in hell. Aetheists are likely to burn in hell, although I'm sure that the younger Reagan will be pardoned because Jesus loved President Ronald Reagan.

Hypocritical comment is hypocritical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it, either. And what's with these commercials with Ron Reagan Jr. touting aetheism and then saying smugly that he won't burn in hell. Aetheists are likely to burn in hell, although I'm sure that the younger Reagan will be pardoned because Jesus loved President Ronald Reagan.

People say they are Christian all the time and that anyone who isn't will burn in hell -- we're just not used to hearing atheists talk openly about this things. It's about time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I just want to say that I objectively look at the world and find myself still believing in the Lord, albeit less and less recently, but I still believe.

I'll be honest since you guys seem like nice folks who don't judge; a part of me has known since I was 15, that God is not real and that religion is just a joke. Logically, God cannot exist at all and the proof is in the pudding. I try not to let that part of me control my thoughts on the matter because I honestly don't know if can become an Atheist. It just seems so wrong and icky to me and I'm perfectly fine believing in God and what Christianity stands for.

I am not the kind of guy who likes change because it scares the living shit out of me and forces me to adapt to something I've had no experience in. With respect to religion, the devil you know is better than the one you don't as far as I'm concerned.

Interesting. So, really, you are an atheist who follows the teachings of Christ.

Some people have a deep and abiding faith that gives them peace and solace, and I guess there are others who may not have the "faith" but find comfort in following the teachings of one particular person or group (Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha, etc). The choice of one over the other allows them to go deep and focus. You are part of a tradition.

Others, like myself, find choosing one dissatisfying as, to me, it feels limited. And my peace is found as I continue to learn more and having my thinking continually challenged. I love it, but maybe you find it unsettling.

If I still identify as a Christian, how can I be an Atheist? I have that thought in the back of my mind, but that doesn't mean I've acted on it.

I was raised in a Christian faith and have fond memories of my childhood in general, including going to church. I don't go to church anymore, but still love a lot of the music and still celebrate Christmas -- with family get-togethers and special foods. Really, you don't have to believe certain things in order to enjoy a good time with people you love.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, OP, but note that I didn't come into your house and start badgering you about your beliefs. You came on here to tell me my beliefs are bad. Why did you feel the need to do so? Because you are tempted by them? I'm not trying to convert you. Please stop bashing atheists.

I'm not badmouthing your beliefs at all. Where did you get that?

Not the PP, but perhaps it's because you keep saying things like "It's not right to be an Atheist," and that your conscience won't let you be an atheist, both of which make it pretty clear that you think there's something wrong or bad about atheism.

I just don't agree with it.

You "don't agree with it" because you think it is wrong.

But you almost do agree with it, as your other posts reveal.

I don't want to go against how I was raised and I was raised to view it as wrong. But there may be some truth to the idea that God is a myth. I don't know what to think at this point.

I was raised to think that strangers were dangerous. My parents thought I was crazy to want to go away to college and feared for my life when I wanted to work in another country. I found out on my own that "strangers" were like everyone else -- some good, some bad -- certainly not to be feared just because they were different or I wasn't used to them.

Nicely stated.

Though I'm an atheist, I can have respect for the types of religious people who really go on a journey and make themselves informed of what else is out there, outside of your safe nest. Read other philosophies, immerse yourself in other religions, study and explore, and let yourself come to your own well-thought, well-versed decision after that. If you change religions? Great. If you find you don't believe in it and are atheist? Great. If you find that your "birth" religion makes the best educated fit because you really truly believe in it? Great.

But let go of mommy and daddy's hand. Explore. Search. Don't do anything because it's "how you were raised" or were taught - or you'll miss out on a lot of great things in life. It doesn't make you a bad person to find things out for yourself. Color outside the lines. The lines are not your friends.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It's honestly frightening to me that for [some] religious people, the only thing stopping them from killing or raping their fellow humankind, stealing from them, or causing any other harm towards another, is a very old book compiled from some loose stories about men thousands of years ago. If a book is all that stands between you and committing violence or grief towards another, that's fucking terrifying.

You have no internal moral compass? Do you only do things for a selfish reward when you die? Do you really have that little compassion for your fellow humanity?

Well said.

Are you implying atheists are automatically equipped with a moral compass? Who's to say the only thing that stops you is not the fear of punishment? Stop this nonsense.

Regardless of religious belief, people who are psychologically mature move WELL beyond the fear of punishment as their primary reason for right behavior. Clinging to fear of a punishment is an extremely immature stage in moral development. You might want to do some reading on Kohlberg.

[Anonymous]

I realized I didn't believe in God as an early teenager. Yes, I do think I am more intelligent than religious people. I also realize that is obnoxious and try not to engage much with religion. The idea of God just doesn't make sense.

I believe religion was created by man as a crutch and a way to explain things we could not understand. Now it has stuck around out of fear and politics.

The only reason God is capitalized is because of iPhone autocorrect .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I realized I didn't believe in God as an early teenager. Yes, I do think I am more intelligent than religious people. I also realize that is obnoxious and try not to engage much with religion. The idea of God just doesn't make sense.

I believe religion was created by man as a crutch and a way to explain things we could not understand. Now it has stuck around out of fear and politics.

The only reason God is capitalized is because of iPhone autocorrect .

You are what's wrong w/ Atheism today. Nothing but delusional upper middle class white folks with a chip on their shoulders

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP, but if you have a strong feeling that "God is not real and that religion is just a joke," you're already an atheist, or at least an agnostic. See how easy that is? You can label yourself however you want, but you can't force yourself to believe in something.

I haven't forced myself to believe in anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, OP, but note that I didn't come into your house and start badgering you about your beliefs. You came on here to tell me my beliefs are bad. Why did you feel the need to do so? Because you are tempted by them? I'm not trying to convert you. Please stop bashing atheists.

I'm not badmouthing your beliefs at all. Where did you get that?

Not the PP, but perhaps it's because you keep saying things like "It's not right to be an Atheist," and that your conscience won't let you be an atheist, both of which make it pretty clear that you think there's something wrong or bad about atheism.

I just don't agree with it.

You "don't agree with it" because you think it is wrong.

But you almost do agree with it, as your other posts reveal.

I don't want to go against how I was raised and I was raised to view it as wrong. But there may be some truth to the idea that God is a myth. I don't know what to think at this point.

I was raised to think that strangers were dangerous. My parents thought I was crazy to want to go away to college and feared for my life when I wanted to work in another country. I found out on my own that "strangers" were like everyone else -- some good, some bad -- certainly not to be feared just because they were different or I wasn't used to them.

Nicely stated.

Though I'm an atheist, I can have respect for the types of religious people who really go on a journey and make themselves informed of what else is out there, outside of your safe nest. Read other philosophies, immerse yourself in other religions, study and explore, and let yourself come to your own well-thought, well-versed decision after that. If you change religions? Great. If you find you don't believe in it and are atheist? Great. If you find that your "birth" religion makes the best educated fit because you really truly believe in it? Great.

But let go of mommy and daddy's hand. Explore. Search. Don't do anything because it's "how you were raised" or were taught - or you'll miss out on a lot of great things in life. It doesn't make you a bad person to find things out for yourself. Color outside the lines. The lines are not your friends.

I prefer to color inside the lines and not make a mess out of stuff. I feel guilty about going against my parents even though they have specifically told me, that I need to make a choice on whether or not I am religious. Don't ask me why I feel like this, because I have no freaking idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, OP, but note that I didn't come into your house and start badgering you about your beliefs. You came on here to tell me my beliefs are bad. Why did you feel the need to do so? Because you are tempted by them? I'm not trying to convert you. Please stop bashing atheists.

I'm not badmouthing your beliefs at all. Where did you get that?

Not the PP, but perhaps it's because you keep saying things like "It's not right to be an Atheist," and that your conscience won't let you be an atheist, both of which make it pretty clear that you think there's something wrong or bad about atheism.

I just don't agree with it.

You "don't agree with it" because you think it is wrong.

But you almost do agree with it, as your other posts reveal.

I don't want to go against how I was raised and I was raised to view it as wrong. But there may be some truth to the idea that God is a myth. I don't know what to think at this point.

I was raised to think that strangers were dangerous. My parents thought I was crazy to want to go away to college and feared for my life when I wanted to work in another country. I found out on my own that "strangers" were like everyone else -- some good, some bad -- certainly not to be feared just because they were different or I wasn't used to them.

Nicely stated.

Though I'm an atheist, I can have respect for the types of religious people who really go on a journey and make themselves informed of what else is out there, outside of your safe nest. Read other philosophies, immerse yourself in other religions, study and explore, and let yourself come to your own well-thought, well-versed decision after that. If you change religions? Great. If you find you don't believe in it and are atheist? Great. If you find that your "birth" religion makes the best educated fit because you really truly believe in it? Great.

But let go of mommy and daddy's hand. Explore. Search. Don't do anything because it's "how you were raised" or were taught - or you'll miss out on a lot of great things in life. It doesn't make you a bad person to find things out for yourself. Color outside the lines. The lines are not your friends.

I prefer to color inside the lines and not make a mess out of stuff. I feel guilty about going against my parents even though they have specifically told me, that I need to make a choice on whether or not I am religious. Don't ask me why I feel like this, because I have no freaking idea.

Coloring outside the lines doesn't mean making a mess. It could mean exploration and discovery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realized I didn't believe in God as an early teenager. Yes, I do think I am more intelligent than religious people. I also realize that is obnoxious and try not to engage much with religion. The idea of God just doesn't make sense.

I believe religion was created by man as a crutch and a way to explain things we could not understand. Now it has stuck around out of fear and politics.

The only reason God is capitalized is because of iPhone autocorrect .

You are what's wrong w/ Atheism today. Nothing but delusional upper middle class white folks with a chip on their shoulders

funny- it seems like it's the religious who are delusional and have the chip on the shoulder

[Anonymous]

I don't like new things. The unknown has always scared me. I rather much stick with the status quo than make waves and end up w/ egg on my face.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realized I didn't believe in God as an early teenager. Yes, I do think I am more intelligent than religious people. I also realize that is obnoxious and try not to engage much with religion. The idea of God just doesn't make sense.

I believe religion was created by man as a crutch and a way to explain things we could not understand. Now it has stuck around out of fear and politics.

The only reason God is capitalized is because of iPhone autocorrect .

You are what's wrong w/ Atheism today. Nothing but delusional upper middle class white folks with a chip on their shoulders

funny- it seems like it's the religious who are delusional and have the chip on the shoulder

Funny...I've heard atheists echo the same thing about these millennial's who practice Atheism. They're arrogant and look down on others who don't agree w/ them.