Can there be an Atheist forum?

[Anonymous]

takoma wrote:Incidentally, I could just as well describe myself as believing in God as an indescribable entity (intelligence? force? being?) that is responsible for the cretion of the universe and the laws by which it runs -- God the prime mover. I further believe that this entity is so far beyond our ken that to think it walks with me and talks with me is incredibly self-aggrandizing.

So, if it makes anyone feel better about me, feel free to call me a deist rather than an atheist.

My point, in case it's not obvious, is that "God" means different things to different people, so I too can define "God" to be what I believe.

Pleased to hear from you. I'm a religious person --Catholic, in fact.

[takoma]

Anonymous wrote:Pleased to hear from you. I'm a religious person --Catholic, in fact.

The difference that bothers me is not between Catholic and atheist, Jew. Muslim, or whatever, but between tolerance and intolerance. I would hate to be banished to an atheist form where I could not talk to people like you about what makes us tick in our own individual ways.

[Anonymous]

takoma wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pleased to hear from you. I'm a religious person --Catholic, in fact.

The difference that bothers me is not between Catholic and atheist, Jew. Muslim, or whatever, but between tolerance and intolerance. I would hate to be banished to an atheist form where I could not talk to people like you about what makes us tick in our own individual ways.

I wouldn't want you banished there either. I hope that you will post more often in order to provide a balanced viewpoint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:Incidentally, I could just as well describe myself as believing in God as an indescribable entity (intelligence? force? being?) that is responsible for the cretion of the universe and the laws by which it runs -- God the prime mover. I further believe that this entity is so far beyond our ken that to think it walks with me and talks with me is incredibly self-aggrandizing.

So, if it makes anyone feel better about me, feel free to call me a deist rather than an atheist.

My point, in case it's not obvious, is that "God" means different things to different people, so I too can define "God" to be what I believe.

Pleased to hear from you. I'm a religious person --Catholic, in fact.

If it makes anyone feel better, think of atheists as agnostics instead of atheists, because neither one believes in god, but agnostic sounds better than atheist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:Incidentally, I could just as well describe myself as believing in God as an indescribable entity (intelligence? force? being?) that is responsible for the cretion of the universe and the laws by which it runs -- God the prime mover. I further believe that this entity is so far beyond our ken that to think it walks with me and talks with me is incredibly self-aggrandizing.

So, if it makes anyone feel better about me, feel free to call me a deist rather than an atheist.

My point, in case it's not obvious, is that "God" means different things to different people, so I too can define "God" to be what I believe.

Pleased to hear from you. I'm a religious person --Catholic, in fact.

If it makes anyone feel better, think of atheists as agnostics instead of atheists, because neither one believes in god, but agnostic sounds better than atheist.

Not the same thing. I've never had an agnostic tell me I was stupid for being a believer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:Incidentally, I could just as well describe myself as believing in God as an indescribable entity (intelligence? force? being?) that is responsible for the cretion of the universe and the laws by which it runs -- God the prime mover. I further believe that this entity is so far beyond our ken that to think it walks with me and talks with me is incredibly self-aggrandizing.

So, if it makes anyone feel better about me, feel free to call me a deist rather than an atheist.

My point, in case it's not obvious, is that "God" means different things to different people, so I too can define "God" to be what I believe.

Pleased to hear from you. I'm a religious person --Catholic, in fact.

If it makes anyone feel better, think of atheists as agnostics instead of atheists, because neither one believes in god, but agnostic sounds better than atheist.

Not the same thing. I've never had an agnostic tell me I was stupid for being a believer.

That is not a defining characteristic of an atheist either, any more than telling people they will burn in hell for not believing in God is a defining characteristic of a Christian.

[Anonymous]

New PP. I think even Richard Dawkins has said, on rare occasions, that he's technically an agnostic because nobody can be completely sure that God doesn't exist. He doesn't feel comfortable claiming agnosticism, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New PP. I think even Richard Dawkins has said, on rare occasions, that he's technically an agnostic because nobody can be completely sure that God doesn't exist. He doesn't feel comfortable claiming agnosticism, though.

the definitions are complex, in part because people tend to make them up for themselves and choose what they feel comfortable with, and may change to another label when their beliefs (or attitudes or perceptions) change. It seems to be less about what you believe or don't believe, and more about how you feel about what you belie and how you want to present yourself to the public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:Incidentally, I could just as well describe myself as believing in God as an indescribable entity (intelligence? force? being?) that is responsible for the cretion of the universe and the laws by which it runs -- God the prime mover. I further believe that this entity is so far beyond our ken that to think it walks with me and talks with me is incredibly self-aggrandizing.

So, if it makes anyone feel better about me, feel free to call me a deist rather than an atheist.

My point, in case it's not obvious, is that "God" means different things to different people, so I too can define "God" to be what I believe.

Pleased to hear from you. I'm a religious person --Catholic, in fact.

If it makes anyone feel better, think of atheists as agnostics instead of atheists, because neither one believes in god, but agnostic sounds better than atheist.

Not the same thing. I've never had an agnostic tell me I was stupid for being a believer.

That is not a defining characteristic of an atheist either, any more than telling people they will burn in hell for not believing in God is a defining characteristic of a Christian.

I've never done that and don't even believe that's what would happen to a non-believer who lived a good life. But I've certainly been repeatedly told by militant atheist that I can't possibly, as an intelligent person, believe in God.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I've never done that and don't even believe that's what would happen to a non-believer who lived a good life. But I've certainly been repeatedly told by militant atheist that I can't possibly, as an intelligent person, believe in God.

So that proves there are some "militant atheists" and some militant/evangelical/proselytizing Christians who should only talk to people that agree with them, and some people on both sides who are less unpleasant when engaging "across the aisle" as it were. I don't think either side has a monopoly on either of those attitudes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've never done that and don't even believe that's what would happen to a non-believer who lived a good life. But I've certainly been repeatedly told by militant atheist that I can't possibly, as an intelligent person, believe in God.

So that proves there are some "militant atheists" and some militant/evangelical/proselytizing Christians who should only talk to people that agree with them, and some people on both sides who are less unpleasant when engaging "across the aisle" as it were. I don't think either side has a monopoly on either of those attitudes.

Definitely. I have yet to meet a militant agnostic, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've never done that and don't even believe that's what would happen to a non-believer who lived a good life. But I've certainly been repeatedly told by militant atheist that I can't possibly, as an intelligent person, believe in God.

So that proves there are some "militant atheists" and some militant/evangelical/proselytizing Christians who should only talk to people that agree with them, and some people on both sides who are less unpleasant when engaging "across the aisle" as it were. I don't think either side has a monopoly on either of those attitudes.

Definitely. I have yet to meet a militant agnostic, though.

what's "militant?" Were they carrying guns? Marching? Wearing uniforms? giving orders?

Perhaps "militant," in regards to atheism, means someone who feels strongly enough to talk about their lack of beliefs openly and in a way that challenges people with different points of view. If so, assuming agnostics don't feel so strongly, they would not come across as militantly as some atheists.

The same would hold for religious people -- some of whom feel very strongly that they must proselytize to save people from hell vs others who prefer not to proselytize and may not even believe in hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've never done that and don't even believe that's what would happen to a non-believer who lived a good life. But I've certainly been repeatedly told by militant atheist that I can't possibly, as an intelligent person, believe in God.

So that proves there are some "militant atheists" and some militant/evangelical/proselytizing Christians who should only talk to people that agree with them, and some people on both sides who are less unpleasant when engaging "across the aisle" as it were. I don't think either side has a monopoly on either of those attitudes.

Definitely. I have yet to meet a militant agnostic, though.

what's "militant?" Were they carrying guns? Marching? Wearing uniforms? giving orders?

Perhaps "militant," in regards to atheism, means someone who feels strongly enough to talk about their lack of beliefs openly and in a way that challenges people with different points of view. If so, assuming agnostics don't feel so strongly, they would not come across as militantly as some atheists.

The same would hold for religious people -- some of whom feel very strongly that they must proselytize to save people from hell vs others who prefer not to proselytize and may not even believe in hell.

[Anonymous]

I wish the militants of all types would put a sock in it. The proselytizing religious people and the militant atheists.

(FWIW, I'm religious)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish the militants of all types would put a sock in it. The proselytizing religious people and the militant atheists.

(FWIW, I'm religious)

how about the people who want to put a sock in it?