I am an atheist, ask me anything.

Anonymous
what are your thoughts on the Bible as a historical document(s)?
forget about Jesus Christ is/as God, but do you believe that there was a man names Jesus Christ, and perhaps inspired people "way back when?"
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Since you don't have a soul. Is it ok to kill you like a bug or a mouse?


Since I don't think you have a soul, is it ok for me to kill you like a big or a mouse?


No my logic and beliefs hold that I have a soul and my God has described murder of a human as a sin . If I were totally atheist I would logically conclude a mouse and human have equal universal value which is essentially nothing.


NP - this is what troubles me about religious people...That without a supreme being, they become nihilists.

Atheists can believe that life has meaning because it feels like it has meaning. We have an interest in our own lives. We don't want you to end those lives. Not because of what's going to happen for all eternity, but because we care about our lives now.

And, I will add, that the mouse and the bug also have an interest in their own lives. I think you shouldn't kill them willy nilly, either.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:NP of course it's possible to be an atheist and still believe murder is wrong. One does not have to be religious to have ethics and morals. PS I do not kill mice or bugs, nor do I eat meat, and I also am an atheist.


That's a religion. Hate to break it to you. And it's just as dumb as any other religion.


By what definition is that a religion?



Religion is believing your ethics and morals developed by your feelings are more valid than the values and ethics Hitler developed from his own feelings .


I don't believe in g_d, but you've made me a believer in Godwin's law
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do you make fun of those who believe?

Anonymously or not?


OP here. No, I am uncomfortable around them though.


You realize you are pre judging them based on thier beliefs, isn't that what you don't want them to do to you.


They don't know that I am uncomfortable.


So it is okay to be prejudice if the person you are prejudice against does not know?


Yes, but I am not prejudiced.


But you judge somebody based on something they wear or use to decorate their house, not on the content of their character. So you are pre-judging, you may not knowingly discriminate, but you are pre-judging.


OP here. I am using past experiences to form an opinion. I usually do not get along for very long with people who are extremely religious. It would not make sense to get close to a Christian fundamentalist since it is just a matter of time before they offend me or vice versa.


Is this also true about politics? Or just religion?

I actually do the opposite, I expose myself to all types of people and challenge myself to accept people even when I don't agree with their ideology. I am very surprised how much I can like and respect somebody who has a belief system way different than myself.
Anonymous
liamw wrote:The constitution gives of freedom of religion not freedom from it, I have no issue with an atheist as long as they do not attack the way me or my children worship. If you find me praying offensive you don't have to listen, so why should I have to listen to the "God is fake mumbo jumbo"

How is you listening to "god is fake mumbo jumbo" different from atheists having "in god we trust" on our gov't issued currency, "under god" in the pledge of allegiance I had to recite every school morning for a decade, having a national prayer breakfast, and countless other religious things that have made it into our culture?
Anonymous
liamw wrote:YOU don't have to do them, you don't have to say a word, but why should I not be allowed to do it because you don't like hearing it, what makes your right to not hear it more important than my right to do it?


Sure, as long as you're cool with another kid doing a Satanic prayer or whatever. Sauce for the goose, etc.
Anonymous
liamw wrote:YOU don't have to do them, you don't have to say a word, but why should I not be allowed to do it because you don't like hearing it, what makes your right to not hear it more important than my right to do it?

You're talking in circles. First you say you have a right not to hear "god is false mumbo jumbo", then you say you have a right to say "god exists mumbo jumbo" whenever you want and I can just deal. You're kind of stupid. Which maybe exists why you believe in god.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
liamw wrote:YOU don't have to do them, you don't have to say a word, but why should I not be allowed to do it because you don't like hearing it, what makes your right to not hear it more important than my right to do it?

You're talking in circles. First you say you have a right not to hear "god is false mumbo jumbo", then you say you have a right to say "god exists mumbo jumbo" whenever you want and I can just deal. You're kind of stupid. Which maybe exists why you believe in god.

*explains
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do you make fun of those who believe?

Anonymously or not?


OP here. No, I am uncomfortable around them though.


You realize you are pre judging them based on thier beliefs, isn't that what you don't want them to do to you.


They don't know that I am uncomfortable.


So it is okay to be prejudice if the person you are prejudice against does not know?


Yes, but I am not prejudiced.


But you judge somebody based on something they wear or use to decorate their house, not on the content of their character. So you are pre-judging, you may not knowingly discriminate, but you are pre-judging.


OP here. I am using past experiences to form an opinion. I usually do not get along for very long with people who are extremely religious. It would not make sense to get close to a Christian fundamentalist since it is just a matter of time before they offend me or vice versa.


Is this also true about politics? Or just religion?

I actually do the opposite, I expose myself to all types of people and challenge myself to accept people even when I don't agree with their ideology. I am very surprised how much I can like and respect somebody who has a belief system way different than myself.


OP again, I did that when I was younger. Now as I age, I just settle in with people like me. It is not really the same with politics, but extreme conservatives and extreme liberals make me uncomfortable too. My kids have all kinds of friends.
Anonymous
liamw wrote:YOU don't have to do them, you don't have to say a word, but why should I not be allowed to do it because you don't like hearing it, what makes your right to not hear it more important than my right to do it?


OP again. I never said that people do not have the right to pray. I never said that I do not want people to pray. I have listened to people pray. Not for long, but I have listened.
FruminousBandersnatch
Member Offline
liamw wrote:YOU don't have to do them, you don't have to say a word, but why should I not be allowed to do it because you don't like hearing it, what makes your right to not hear it more important than my right to do it?


(Not the OP)

You are allowed to do it, and the government can't pass laws to stop you.

The government is not permitted to pass laws or take actions in support of or explicitly adverse to any religion. When the government does something like prohibit prayer in public schools, the reason for that is that if teachers (who are employees of the state) were to use public school facilities to proselytize, that would be a government endorsement of religion, which is not permitted under the 1st Amendment.

The same with putting up statues of the 10 Commandments on a court house lawn or a crèche on the state capitol lawn. That creates an implicit endorsement of Christianity from the government, which is not permitted under the 1st Amendment.

Freedom of religion must also cover freedom from religion, because not having a religion has to also be a valid choice or the government is effectively endorsing religion in favor of non-religion. The government must treat all belief systems equally - if one religion is barred from using a public space to proselytize, then the same prohibition must apply to all religions AND atheists. If a public space is going to be used to support one religion, the public space must be available to all religions and atheists for similar purposes.

If religious institutions are permitted to advertise on Metro busses, which are owned by the government, then atheists must also be permitted to advertise.

The government can't deny an FCC license to a religious broadcaster because of the religious message (be it Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Mormon), nor could they deny a license to an atheist because of the message.

You have every right to stand on a street corner and proselytize, if you choose to, and the government can only stop you if you are doing something that would be stopped regardless of what the person was saying (i.e., you can't stand IN the street and claim that you have a 1st Amendment right to proselytize there, because the cops would ticket you and/or arrest you regardless of your message).
Anonymous
Since you don't have a soul. You should be aware that your opinion is of the same consequence as an ant fart. The ant is actually superior to you since it consumes far less resources and produces far less urine and fecal matter.
Anonymous
OP, how do you explain scientific studies that show prayer helps people heal.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Since you don't have a soul. Is it ok to kill you like a bug or a mouse?


Since I don't think you have a soul, is it ok for me to kill you like a big or a mouse?


No my logic and beliefs hold that I have a soul and my God has described murder of a human as a sin . If I were totally atheist I would logically conclude a mouse and human have equal universal value which is essentially nothing.


NP - this is what troubles me about religious people...That without a supreme being, they become nihilists.

Atheists can believe that life has meaning because it feels like it has meaning. We have an interest in our own lives. We don't want you to end those lives. Not because of what's going to happen for all eternity, but because we care about our lives now.

And, I will add, that the mouse and the bug also have an interest in their own lives. I think you shouldn't kill them willy nilly, either.


Who cares what an entity without a soul thinks? All this blubbering about feelings is tiresome . Be a real atheist ! Own it! Accept your insignificance!
FruminousBandersnatch
Member Offline
liamw wrote:
FruminousBandersnatch wrote:
liamw wrote:YOU don't have to do them, you don't have to say a word, but why should I not be allowed to do it because you don't like hearing it, what makes your right to not hear it more important than my right to do it?


(Not the OP)

You are allowed to do it, and the government can't pass laws to stop you.

The government is not permitted to pass laws or take actions in support of or explicitly adverse to any religion. When the government does something like prohibit prayer in public schools, the reason for that is that if teachers (who are employees of the state) were to use public school facilities to proselytize, that would be a government endorsement of religion, which is not permitted under the 1st Amendment.

The same with putting up statues of the 10 Commandments on a court house lawn or a crèche on the state capitol lawn. That creates an implicit endorsement of Christianity from the government, which is not permitted under the 1st Amendment.

Freedom of religion must also cover freedom from religion, because not having a religion has to also be a valid choice or the government is effectively endorsing religion in favor of non-religion. The government must treat all belief systems equally - if one religion is barred from using a public space to proselytize, then the same prohibition must apply to all religions AND atheists. If a public space is going to be used to support one religion, the public space must be available to all religions and atheists for similar purposes.

If religious institutions are permitted to advertise on Metro busses, which are owned by the government, then atheists must also be permitted to advertise.

The government can't deny an FCC license to a religious broadcaster because of the religious message (be it Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Mormon), nor could they deny a license to an atheist because of the message.

You have every right to stand on a street corner and proselytize, if you choose to, and the government can only stop you if you are doing something that would be stopped regardless of what the person was saying (i.e., you can't stand IN the street and claim that you have a 1st Amendment right to proselytize there, because the cops would ticket you and/or arrest you regardless of your message).




My issue comes in when the Muslim I went to school with was allowed to pray as is required by their religion, how ever I was suspended for wearing a shirt that stated "in the event of rapture this shirt will be unmanned" The double standard is where I have the issue.


On its face that does sound like a double standard, and one that was inappropriate. If you were in a public school you should be permitted to wear any religious t-shirt you choose (unless you were a teacher), and I support your right to do so. The comparison to your muslim classmate shouldn't even be relevant.
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