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.

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.

You can be anything you want, or whatever combination brings you peace.

You're getting hung up on labels though. What you call yourself matters not, rather the decisions you make that form you as a person. And if you want to flow the teachings of Christ and call youself a Christian then do it. Jesus has some good messages.

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.

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.

It makes sense as a little kid to avoid strangers -- but as an adult, you would be missing out on a lot if you limited yourself to only what you knew as a child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why?

I'm 23 and supposedly most my age aren't religious, but I don't understand how you can just say you don't believe in God anymore? Do you think you're more intelligent because you're an Atheist? I'm pretty free thinking myself, so I obviously don't let religion influence my thinking. So what is it about Atheism that is appealing to you all?

What don't you understand about it?

it's not so much a matter of "appeal" -- it's a matter or lack of evidence for religious belief or not believing the supernatural claims of some religions.

I may not find it appealing that drinking too much booze makes me drunk, but it's a fact I can't ignore if I plan to drive after hanging out at a bar.

Anonymous wrote:Why?

I'm 23 and supposedly most my age aren't religious, but I don't understand how you can just say you don't believe in God anymore? Do you think you're more intelligent because you're an Atheist? I'm pretty free thinking myself, so I obviously don't let religion influence my thinking. So what is it about Atheism that is appealing to you all?

What don't you understand about it?

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.

You say: 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.

The "act" here is the thought. We are talking about what you think, not about whether you go to church or tell you people you are Catholic. If you don't think God exists, you are an atheist, even if you want him to exist.

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.

maybe you would benefit from watching the CNN special on non-believers in America that was on just last night - full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xMoBsozcUE

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.

It's saying that most human beings are equipped with an internal moral compass. It's the fact that some people religious have what appears to be just a book standing between them and doing harmful/dangerous things - which is really pretty damn flimsy.

And narcissistic, to only be decent because you fear being punished by Dad.

Do you seriously have nothing in you that makes you want to be a compassionate, decent human being, for its own merit? You only do good to avoid punishment or because a book says so? That's pretty scary.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.