I am an atheist but agree with the values of some very religious people.

[Anonymous]

Since you don't have a soul , why do you care what you think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since you don't have a soul , why do you care what you think?

people who don't think they have souls don't care what they think? I'm unfamiliar with this concept. Where is this taught? What does it mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's only thing that matters in all of this, OP: What do you think happens to us when we die?

To an atheist, it's not so much what we believe as a matter of faith, but what's been shown to happen. Which is to say, nothing happens to us when we die. Our brains stop functioning, our bodies decompose. Our friends and family remember us for some time, but 2-3 generations later, no one living would know we ever existed. We are merely insignificant links in a biological chain.

Now, that is what we logically understand will happen as a matter of fact. As to how that make us feel, that depends on the person. Some become scared, some find this as an indication to treasure life even more. It depends on the person, but I would say the most natural initial response, especially for people with no kids, is a profound feeling of sadness.

I'm not sad -- Im happy to be here. We are very Significant links in the biological chain--- none of us would be here if it weren't for the exact people before us.It's huge stroke of luck. As for kids -- memories of them die out after a few generations too and some day the whole universe may burn up. So what - there's nothing we can do about it. But we can enjoy it while were here.

Or we can believe in a whole invisible, eternal realm created thousands of years ago by our pre-scientific predecessors and later organized into numerous religious organizations that still exist today with financial support from their followers, and in some cases, reinforced with the threat of eternal damnation if you don't believe.

yup, live and let live. Anything else?

Live and let live would entail not forcing small children to believe things for which there is no evidence.

We parents do that with matters other than religion. Santa, tooth fairy, sorry but the grocery store ran out of ice cream. And?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's only thing that matters in all of this, OP: What do you think happens to us when we die?

To an atheist, it's not so much what we believe as a matter of faith, but what's been shown to happen. Which is to say, nothing happens to us when we die. Our brains stop functioning, our bodies decompose. Our friends and family remember us for some time, but 2-3 generations later, no one living would know we ever existed. We are merely insignificant links in a biological chain.

Now, that is what we logically understand will happen as a matter of fact. As to how that make us feel, that depends on the person. Some become scared, some find this as an indication to treasure life even more. It depends on the person, but I would say the most natural initial response, especially for people with no kids, is a profound feeling of sadness.

I'm not sad -- Im happy to be here. We are very Significant links in the biological chain--- none of us would be here if it weren't for the exact people before us.It's huge stroke of luck. As for kids -- memories of them die out after a few generations too and some day the whole universe may burn up. So what - there's nothing we can do about it. But we can enjoy it while were here.

Or we can believe in a whole invisible, eternal realm created thousands of years ago by our pre-scientific predecessors and later organized into numerous religious organizations that still exist today with financial support from their followers, and in some cases, reinforced with the threat of eternal damnation if you don't believe.

yup, live and let live. Anything else?

Live and let live would entail not forcing small children to believe things for which there is no evidence.

We parents do that with matters other than religion. Santa, tooth fairy, sorry but the grocery store ran out of ice cream. And?

and before they grow up,you tell them that it was just make believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's only thing that matters in all of this, OP: What do you think happens to us when we die?

To an atheist, it's not so much what we believe as a matter of faith, but what's been shown to happen. Which is to say, nothing happens to us when we die. Our brains stop functioning, our bodies decompose. Our friends and family remember us for some time, but 2-3 generations later, no one living would know we ever existed. We are merely insignificant links in a biological chain.

Now, that is what we logically understand will happen as a matter of fact. As to how that make us feel, that depends on the person. Some become scared, some find this as an indication to treasure life even more. It depends on the person, but I would say the most natural initial response, especially for people with no kids, is a profound feeling of sadness.

I'm not sad -- Im happy to be here. We are very Significant links in the biological chain--- none of us would be here if it weren't for the exact people before us.It's huge stroke of luck. As for kids -- memories of them die out after a few generations too and some day the whole universe may burn up. So what - there's nothing we can do about it. But we can enjoy it while were here.

Or we can believe in a whole invisible, eternal realm created thousands of years ago by our pre-scientific predecessors and later organized into numerous religious organizations that still exist today with financial support from their followers, and in some cases, reinforced with the threat of eternal damnation if you don't believe.

yup, live and let live. Anything else?

Live and let live would entail not forcing small children to believe things for which there is no evidence.

We parents do that with matters other than religion. Santa, tooth fairy, sorry but the grocery store ran out of ice cream. And?

and before they grow up,you tell them that it was just make believe.

No. They come to their own conclusions. You think I go down a list eliminating misunderstandings on their 18th birthdays?

"So, Tommy, the grocery store really did have ice cream that day."
"The badly limping rabbit we saw go through the yard when you were 4 yo WASN'T going to be OK."
"When you wished on all those stars, dandelion puffs and birthday candles it was for nothing. Nope, no wishes connected to those actions."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's only thing that matters in all of this, OP: What do you think happens to us when we die?

To an atheist, it's not so much what we believe as a matter of faith, but what's been shown to happen. Which is to say, nothing happens to us when we die. Our brains stop functioning, our bodies decompose. Our friends and family remember us for some time, but 2-3 generations later, no one living would know we ever existed. We are merely insignificant links in a biological chain.

Now, that is what we logically understand will happen as a matter of fact. As to how that make us feel, that depends on the person. Some become scared, some find this as an indication to treasure life even more. It depends on the person, but I would say the most natural initial response, especially for people with no kids, is a profound feeling of sadness.

I'm not sad -- Im happy to be here. We are very Significant links in the biological chain--- none of us would be here if it weren't for the exact people before us.It's huge stroke of luck. As for kids -- memories of them die out after a few generations too and some day the whole universe may burn up. So what - there's nothing we can do about it. But we can enjoy it while were here.

Or we can believe in a whole invisible, eternal realm created thousands of years ago by our pre-scientific predecessors and later organized into numerous religious organizations that still exist today with financial support from their followers, and in some cases, reinforced with the threat of eternal damnation if you don't believe.

yup, live and let live. Anything else?

Live and let live would entail not forcing small children to believe things for which there is no evidence.

We parents do that with matters other than religion. Santa, tooth fairy, sorry but the grocery store ran out of ice cream. And?

and before they grow up,you tell them that it was just make believe.

No. They come to their own conclusions. You think I go down a list eliminating misunderstandings on their 18th birthdays?

"So, Tommy, the grocery store really did have ice cream that day."
"The badly limping rabbit we saw go through the yard when you were 4 yo WASN'T going to be OK."
"When you wished on all those stars, dandelion puffs and birthday candles it was for nothing. Nope, no wishes connected to those actions."

Kids figure out those things when they are kids- from other kids, and with confirmation from their parents. Then if they have younger siblings, they play the game with them for a while, before affirming that they have good reason to doubt and clueing them into to the facts. No on expects an adult to still believe or harbor doubts about Santa or the Easter Bunny. In contrast, in the case of religion, people of all ages are taught to believe, are urged to continuing believing and while doubts are allowed and even expected, it's also expected that the doubts will revert back to belief, despite the evidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since you don't have a soul , why do you care what you think?

people who don't think they have souls don't care what they think? I'm unfamiliar with this concept. Where is this taught? What does it mean?

Rocks and fish don't care what they think and are less annoying than the souless items that go on and on about their valueless feelings and opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's only thing that matters in all of this, OP: What do you think happens to us when we die?

To an atheist, it's not so much what we believe as a matter of faith, but what's been shown to happen. Which is to say, nothing happens to us when we die. Our brains stop functioning, our bodies decompose. Our friends and family remember us for some time, but 2-3 generations later, no one living would know we ever existed. We are merely insignificant links in a biological chain.

Now, that is what we logically understand will happen as a matter of fact. As to how that make us feel, that depends on the person. Some become scared, some find this as an indication to treasure life even more. It depends on the person, but I would say the most natural initial response, especially for people with no kids, is a profound feeling of sadness.

I'm not sad -- Im happy to be here. We are very Significant links in the biological chain--- none of us would be here if it weren't for the exact people before us.It's huge stroke of luck. As for kids -- memories of them die out after a few generations too and some day the whole universe may burn up. So what - there's nothing we can do about it. But we can enjoy it while were here.

Or we can believe in a whole invisible, eternal realm created thousands of years ago by our pre-scientific predecessors and later organized into numerous religious organizations that still exist today with financial support from their followers, and in some cases, reinforced with the threat of eternal damnation if you don't believe.

yup, live and let live. Anything else?

Live and let live would entail not forcing small children to believe things for which there is no evidence.

We parents do that with matters other than religion. Santa, tooth fairy, sorry but the grocery store ran out of ice cream. And?

and before they grow up,you tell them that it was just make believe.

No. They come to their own conclusions. You think I go down a list eliminating misunderstandings on their 18th birthdays?

"So, Tommy, the grocery store really did have ice cream that day."
"The badly limping rabbit we saw go through the yard when you were 4 yo WASN'T going to be OK."
"When you wished on all those stars, dandelion puffs and birthday candles it was for nothing. Nope, no wishes connected to those actions."

Kids figure out those things when they are kids- from other kids, and with confirmation from their parents. Then if they have younger siblings, they play the game with them for a while, before affirming that they have good reason to doubt and clueing them into to the facts. No on expects an adult to still believe or harbor doubts about Santa or the Easter Bunny. In contrast, in the case of religion, people of all ages are taught to believe, are urged to continuing believing and while doubts are allowed and even expected, it's also expected that the doubts will revert back to belief, despite the evidence.

So this is a parenting decision. Do you raise your child in religion or not. Do you raise your child with the idea of being a vegetarian, a recycler, a sports watcher, a camper, a traveler, a patriot, a dog lover.

Why should you care about how parents raise their kids and with which values?

[Anonymous]

If humans don't have souls what exactly is it that we are trying to achieve in the universe ? Becoming God? Why does anything matter beside our own life? What's so horrible if this were the last generation of humans?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I were to ever switch religions, (I'm Catholic), and wanted to maintain much of what you seem to value though with a more universally accepting all approach I'd be taking a hard look at the Episcopalian Church.

Huh? The Episcopal Church is still an Orthodox Christian church, no matter how some of their bishops run off at the mouth.

The Episcopal church is usually very liberal. Some individual Catholic parishes are somewhat liberal too, but everyone knows what the rules are and that they are breaking them. Not so with the Episcopalians, who have fewer rules and less dogmatic beliefs.

I agree with pp - a switch from Catholicism to Episcopalian is a good move and one which many Catholics have made.

I think the Episcopal church is probably church (parish? Congregation? what do they call it?) dependent. I am a liberal atheist with a spouse who wants to attend and the church we found that works for both of us is Episcopalian, but I imagine that has a lot to do with the particular minister. Essentially I need a Chruch that believes and preaches the teachings of Christ (ie the how to live as a better person in *this* world) while still accepting people like me who question (in my case flat out don't believe) in the rest of it, and so far that is the vibe I get from the church we have been attending.

Of course we also haven't been through a political season at the church yet, so it's possible they may have social positions I'm not comfortable with, but so far this particular church has not struck me as particularly conservative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since you don't have a soul , why do you care what you think?

people who don't think they have souls don't care what they think? I'm unfamiliar with this concept. Where is this taught? What does it mean?

Rocks and fish don't care what they think and are less annoying than the souless items that go on and on about their valueless feelings and opinions.

You mean People who don't think people have eternal souls? I'm surprised you even bother communicating with people you think of as "items."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I were to ever switch religions, (I'm Catholic), and wanted to maintain much of what you seem to value though with a more universally accepting all approach I'd be taking a hard look at the Episcopalian Church.

Huh? The Episcopal Church is still an Orthodox Christian church, no matter how some of their bishops run off at the mouth.

The Episcopal church is usually very liberal. Some individual Catholic parishes are somewhat liberal too, but everyone knows what the rules are and that they are breaking them. Not so with the Episcopalians, who have fewer rules and less dogmatic beliefs.

I agree with pp - a switch from Catholicism to Episcopalian is a good move and one which many Catholics have made.

I think the Episcopal church is probably church (parish? Congregation? what do they call it?) dependent. I am a liberal atheist with a spouse who wants to attend and the church we found that works for both of us is Episcopalian, but I imagine that has a lot to do with the particular minister. Essentially I need a Chruch that believes and preaches the teachings of Christ (ie the how to live as a better person in *this* world) while still accepting people like me who question (in my case flat out don't believe) in the rest of it, and so far that is the vibe I get from the church we have been attending.

Of course we also haven't been through a political season at the church yet, so it's possible they may have social positions I'm not comfortable with, but so far this particular church has not struck me as particularly conservative.

Many, perhaps the majority, of Episcopal churches are extremely liberal and have parishioners and even staff who do not espouse the traditional beliefs of Christianity.

[Anonymous]

Episcopals like many , many "Christians" pick and choose what pleases them about God and reject whatever is inconvenient or indicts them as a sinner. They keep their foot in the door for salvation but don't want to be inconvenienced or rejected by the sinful world by following Christ too closely. They keep their distance but hope to be saved by the skin of their teeth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I were to ever switch religions, (I'm Catholic), and wanted to maintain much of what you seem to value though with a more universally accepting all approach I'd be taking a hard look at the Episcopalian Church.

Huh? The Episcopal Church is still an Orthodox Christian church, no matter how some of their bishops run off at the mouth.

Somebody doesn't know what "Orthodox" means.

[Anonymous]

^^ knowing you are a sinner/failing/trying not to/asking forgiveness is the path to salvation. Denying the things you do are sinful and / or teaching others that sinful acts are not sinful is the unforgivable sin.