Important Questions for atheists

I guess another question would be, if atheists are set in stone that there is no god, why do religious people try to change the atheists belief and waste their time?

 

I don't pose a question of rights. It just makes no sense to me for somebody to discuss something they think doesn't exist. If it doesn't exist, why discuss it? Makes absolutely no sense to me. But I suppose, God is simply inescapable and that might have something to do with it.

 

If I believe in my own way that there is a god but choose not to sink my money into a church and follow some particular direction of belief does that make me atheist? If so then I am.

I choose to believe but not in a religion of choices offered, my own beliefs are good enough for me and like Ruby and others here I don't have to buy into anything to do so. Mean while you say it's rare to find someone like Ruby when yet I have never seen a non religious person bring up their beliefs on anyone but defend their own beliefs when triggered by a religious person to do so.

Rare we are not, the pushers are the ones trying to get peeps into their congregations, (We don't have one), and usually only then there is time wasted by both sides.

Ever seen a non religious person on a side walk pushing pamphlets or asking strangers what religion they are or knocking door to door to push Non religion? Never. I never talk about it unless triggered and I don't allow it in my home, I am of the belief it is to each their own so don't bring it up.

When I was in the military it was ok to discuss it but it was against their law to be caught pushing it on another member. It was also not allowed at functions, such as formal dinners and neither was politics. The policy was Booze, politics and religion don't mix so not allowed where booze is served. Thats my policy in my home as well because I found there was very little argument in the setting if those rules were followed. Here is the cool part, I was young when I got in but learning fast, a bit of a rebel at times especially when drinking and having a good time so my officer asked me to talk to him and the conversation ended abruptly when he yanked out a small bible from his desk. I told him he was wrong to do so and I would press charges. He wasn't well liked so when I told my sergeant about it he started proceedings, the officer apologized and I let it go on the basis it would never happen again, he was my fool after that, he knew he was had because paper work was started and stored and I got away with prit near anything, even got days off I asked for when I thought I wouldn't.

I don't have that backing anymore but I do have one thing,,, NoT in My home. My roof, my rules, no religion and no politics in my house or in my yard at any kind of gathering, booze or no booze.

Oh and I live in Canada so the only Bless I hear is "Bless you" when someone sneezes.

 

I can't speak for other people's motivations. But me? My entire life is a Living Testimony .. I'm not your average religious person.

 

I'm the opposite of you. My home is like a mini-church, all its own.

Hmm. Sink money into and buy into. First thought that comes to mind is charity and philanthropy. Both of those things are religious and non-religious behaviors. I recently read the long list of donors for the American Heart Association. I automatically wonder: how many of those people are true lovers of God and how many are not, because I'm sure they're not all one thing or the other. Those people made their contributions for whatever their individual reasons but I don't think, of the ones who love God, that they gave out of a pathological "brainwashed" or "mind controlled", guilt-stricken drive to do so. As for money in the Church's hands, that's not the focus of the thread so I won't touch upon it but I will say that people do benefit.

I don't have to see non-religious people handing out pamphlets or going door to door to know their beliefs and feelings. I'm well informed what they think and feel and that's because they let it be known, in a multitude of ways.

In a sense, we're all "truthers".

 

it doesn't make you an athiest. it makes you what most people would call an agnostic. though there are those who split hares of the meaning of that term as well. atheist, while applied to themselves by people who choose not to concern themselves with matters of belief at all, has the very specific meaning of believing in the NON-existence of anything resembling a god. some go so far as to claim nothing non-physical can possibly exist.

i, like you, believe there may well be unseen and completely non-physical things, which none the less owe nothing, to what anyone might happen to believe they know about them.

i also do not believe they are at war, either among themselves, nor with anything else, and that claims of such conflicts and 'dark forces' are an invention of humans for entirely human ulterior purposes.

but i do believe in many things, and that most beliefs have their origens in the best of intentions, and that it is freedom and peace that are the natural state, and not tyranny and war.

i see no harm in any worship, as long as it does not become an excuse for devisions and animosities, but i find improbably to my mind, that anything worthy of worship, would wish to be, let alone insist upon it.

 

exactly how I feel. I don't troll religious forums or threads to tell others how to believe or live and I don't confront anyone who says stuff I find silly (as in "God Bless You" or anything else like that). But when they use their beliefs about their "god" to run my life the claws come out.

 

Case solved :2thumbsup:

 

This might be my point, I donate and will help another in need, that's what living right is all about, mind you we do have to watch who we donate to, some of these organizations are just like some churches where a high percentage of the buck donated goes into someone's personal pocket rather then the organization and it's intended or said to be recipients.

I don't have to have a church to do this and never did. My house is not a church because I have a mixture of religious types in my family and friends and if they start they get shut down. They can do this in their homes. I will not let one or the other or even myself take a podium in my house to preach to others here. I did have my worker and my sister inlaw start something once while a small crowd was here. He knew his stuff and she knew her's and they began to argue on one point. Her in the living room and him in the kitchen. Thoughts flying, others watching TV. I hollered out "Enough!" and the whole place of about 8 people went silent. Suddenly I could hear the movie again.
I was right in the middle of this and these two basically of the same beliefs, both Christian were arguing. Him having taken a course in collage to preach (later deciding he wasn't into it) and her finding her new life many years ago. Sorry this don't work under my roof. My mom and dad were surprised at my sudden tone but relieved it stopped the argument. They are much like me but would have probably let it go on because they don't speak up like I do. It's a respect thing they grew up with I guess, me, I don't take no crap from anyone under my roof. I would stop any fight religious or not. Disagree with each other, take it outside on the road.

And as far as us making it known,,, rarely when there isn't a cause or we are forced to defend our position, we do not campaign our beliefs. I have never heard of a church of The Non Believers being pushed or advertised, have you?

 

If we aren't allowed to discuss things that don't exist does that mean we also cant talk about Santa, the Easter Bunny, Unicorns or Wizards? Just because something may or may not exist doesn't mean we cant talk about it.

I think its safe to say that most atheists don't sit around bringing up the god conversation with anybody. I think most of us believe that since we don't believe in it that its pointless to talk about but that doesn't mean that if its brought up to us that we're not allowed to speak our opinions about it.

 

It speaks more of the Christian ego than any real blessing. After all, the phrase posits that god only blesses 'Murica and he does not care about any other country.

It is the same concept as discussing anything fictional. One who discusses Harry Potter on a regular basis does not have to believe that Harry Potter is a non-fictional character. One discuses that which s/he finds interesting. Belief in the existence of that which is being discussed is as unnecessary as the belief itself.

 

No kiddin! Gods been around for an eternity and he was just waiting for America to exist so he could choose a team?

And as for an earlier comment from someone else along the lines of "Oh well....I guess it's just that god is inescapable..." What the hell is that supposed to mean? Then why do people supposedly go to hell? This just sounds like a way to put your head in the sand and claim to be right regardless of what anyone else has to say. And of course non-religious people can talk about religion. I love the topic. I love learning the histories of different people and their religions. I'm not afraid of religion or talking about it at all. I'm not even an atheist. More of an agnostic. I think whatever is true will be true for all of us and when people start saying they know for sure or their magical book says this or that.....that's exactly when the bullshit starts.

And another thing....for a group that's always acting so sure of what they know....I bet religious people are a lot more afraid of what not having their god exist means than non-religious people are of finding out that god exists. If I die tomorrow and find out that god exists as one group or another claim to know....I'm not even the slightest bit worried about it.

 

Exactly. My parents are Catholics, but I myself am an Agnost. They do not care to discuss it and respect my beliefs, and I respect theirs. So it is really a non-issue for us. That goes for most people around here.

However, in this forum posts are made to sparkle a discussion, so ofcourse you will get a discussion about it, gina.

Also, luckily nobody here ever says "God bless the Netherlands". I think most people here are smart enough to understand how silly that is.

 

I wouldn't consider myself an atheist. I don't know how you could know there is no god. God can't be proved or disproved, so I'm open to a lot of new ideas and really enjoy religious discussion. I've studied with Catholic and Protestant, as well as other religious groups and have found something to admire in all of them. I hardly consider it a waste of time or energy, but rather an enriching experience (usually).

I hate when people say that. Why do people assume that god would favor one country over others?

 

Religious conversation should be a fine experience, problem is as someone said above many religious are afraid of what's really true so they are worried. They think they can save many by pushing what they have been told. There is no proof there is or isn't and it's best people if they think there is a god worship him best they can and do good for themselves as well as others. That's why I end it, peeps can't just let me say "Ok, great" it's like leaving Them hanging for some reason and they feel under some kind of gun to get the job done. I hate pressure and avoid it at all times and if it means telling someone to back down then that's what it is. I studied with many too finding many good points and many "I" couldn't get along with so I took from it all what I wanted and I go with it.
I am not afraid to find out there is or isn't a god because we landed here for some reason and if it was for no reason but to live one life and then be done then so beit. Why try to run a race to be better then anyone else? It may mean a whole lotta nuthin in the end.

 

Again, I don't pose a question of rights. I've stated my point many times.

Again, I don't pose a question of rights (or allowances). And you're definitely not correct about atheists "don't sit around bringing up the god conversation". YES, they do. In my experience, atheists *love* to talk religion and God. They're some of the most active participants in God and religion talks. You're not the sort of atheist I'm talking about, despite the fact that you choose to participate in this thread.

 

So, are you saying that you are religious, or no?

 

The only thing I find offensive with God bless you, is the arrogance of speaking for god. I prefer may god bless you.....

 

Not in the way Religious people would want me to be, not at all but to understand there is probably a great reason we are here and do my best to be good to others and not harm anyone and offer my time where needed, yes in that way I am of my own religion.

 

God is inescapable .. I started the thread and I'm the one who said that.

What does it mean? It's pretty clear: God is inescapable.

For some reason, atheists can't resist a God talk (thereby, God is inescapable). And that's my point .. if God truly did not exist for those people, they'd never ever get into any discussion at all.

I don't know about any "magical" book but I do know the power of the Word of God. There are those who know and those who don't. And those who don't know have 100% total freedom to learn. That is their choice.