Atheism & Spirituality

A Theism - Without belief in a God or gods.


Ello, ello. My name's Chris. I'm 23yo and I've been an atheist for most of my life. All of my adult life. (I feel like I'm in an AA meeting.) Anyway, I ran a little search for Atheism on these forums and found little to nothing. So I'm startin' my own God damn it.... My goal for this thread is really to have a place for the Theist and the Atheist to mingle. Share thoughts and views. Voice opinions. Etc. etc. I'll begin....

When you tell people that you do not believe in a creator one of the first questions you'll hear is, 'Well, how do you think everything came to be?' My answer, of course is Big Bang, Evolution. Evolution on a cosmological sense as well as a biological one. There seems to be a lot of confusion concerning the Theory of Evolution. For many people of faith I think the word 'evolution' immedialtely brings up a defensive wall. Firstly, I would like to say that I know MANY theists who believe very much in a God and still manage to accept the Theory of Evolution. Evolution really only starts to become a problem when you believe the literal interpretation of your holy book. People who believe that the stories of the Bible (Insert holy book of your choice) actually happened will tend to have the hardest time accepting evolution. Apparently believing that God fashioned women from Adam's rib. Or that snakes talk, or that Janoah lived in the belly of a large fish for a few days is easier to buy into than evolution for some people. I don't get it.
I commonly hear people say 'But it's just a theory! There's no proof!' Well, yes. You are correct, theories don't have proof. But to say that something is 'JUST a theory' is being a bit deceptive. A theory is something that ALL current scientific evidence points to. You are correct to state that Evolution has no proof. Neither does God. But what Evolution DOES have is evidence. Shit loads of it. And God of course has none.

Another question I get is 'What do you live for? What's your purpose?' All I can say is that I live for myself, my family and my friends. That's all I need. Not believing in a God or an afterlife forces me to focus on the now. Life is special because it's for a limited time only. I don't get a second one.

Umm... I'm going to stop talking now. I hope this thread doesn't sink.

I was raised to be religious.
I personally think that people have blown religion way the hell out of propotion.
First and foremost I do not believe that the one they called Jesus ment for his beliefs to become manipulated into a means to control the masses.
I think if I had to state what I believe it would be that energy can not be created or destroyed it can only change forms. example Light becomes radiant enery like that is used for photosynthesis. Then the plant uses that energy to grow then it makes it fruit and puts off oxygen and so on.
I can not say that I believe in re incarnation. I certainly think it could be possible.
I feel like humans as a group are a perpetuating life force. This brings me to duality.
You can not have one without the other.
For example light - dark, good - bad.
So therefore you can not have life without death and vice versa.

another bullshit thread. whether you call yourself atheist or not, you are defining yourself by god. get off the short bus.

I see where Atheism comes from. It's honestly just about a lack of faith, which also happens to be the first building block of theism.. so there's your first problem when trying to relate haha.
I believe in God. The reason is because I am and you are and the world is. I don't see god as this crazy old guy in the sky playing chess with our lives and sneezing and then BAM! tsunamis suddenly happen in indonesia. Not at all. God is when you're in the park on a beautiful day and the sun is warming you and the birds are in their own world in the skys and the trees and you see an ant carrying a leaf that's almost the size of your hand. That shit is amazing and I believe that a higher power had something to do with it. I can't accept that it 'just happened.'
Also, I think that organized religion is pretty much bullshit.. the way it has developed, anyway. Like anything on earth, humans have exploited it for personal gain and it's lost it's purity. That's why I'm a Sufi.

Sufism is an ancient sect of islam that is more about the pursuit of Oneness with God than anything else. It's belief parallels mine on the whole 'god in nature' theory AND it's really about finding all the gems of truth and brilliant concepts of God's power in all the major religions. We believe they all hold pieces of the answer but by exploring them all is the only way to truley find God because seperate, they're incomplete.

Midgrade - I'm sorry. I still don't understand why you're religious. I'm a little stoned, but could you clarify your post for me? I understand that matter (energy) cannot be created or destroyed. But I don't see your point.


Userfreindly - Did you really have to post that? Why don't you just stay the fuck out then? I'm assuming you're another asshole, know-it-all agnostic who thinks he/she has one up on everyone else, but please. Do the people who actually might be interested in this thread a favor and fuck off.

I've never understood that douche bag argument, atheists still define themselves by God. STFU. Atheism is without belief in a God. You either believe in one or you do not. Suck it long and hard.

UserFriendly said:

whether you call yourself atheist or not, you are defining yourself by god

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I don't think this thread is bullshit but that's an awesome point. The realization that god is all pervasive because you're defining yourself by god. that's pretty ill. The question is how do you not?

4theist20 said:

Midgrade - I'm sorry. I still don't understand why you're religious. I'm a little stoned, but could you clarify your post for me? I understand that matter (energy) cannot be created or destroyed. But I don't see your point.


Userfreindly - Did you really have to post that? Why don't you just stay the fuck out then? I'm assuming you're another asshole, know-it-all agnostic who thinks he/she has one up on everyone else, but please. Do the people who actually might be interested in this thread a favor and fuck off.

I've never understood that douche bag argument, atheists still define themselves by God. STFU. Atheism is without belief in a God. You either believe in one or you do not. Suck it long and hard.

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I did not say that I was religios. I said I was raised that way.
I do not think you can force anyone to belive anything unless they are followers by nature.
Some people need something to believe in.
I personally do not believe in anything. God or no god same difference to me.

I don't think this thread is bullshit but that's an awesome point. The realization that god is all pervasive because you're defining yourself by god. that's pretty ill. The question is how do you not?

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How am I defining myself by God? What is meant by this? Please explain, I am confused.

I did not say that I was religios. I said I was raised that way.
I do not think you can force anyone to belive anything unless they are followers by nature.
Some people need something to believe in.
I personally do not believe in anything. God or no god same difference to me.

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My bad, I said I was stoned.... I agree you cannot force people to believe. Why do people NEED to believe in God?

UserFriendly said:

another bullshit thread. whether you call yourself atheist or not, you are defining yourself by god. get off the short bus.

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This is simply poor logic. Using your train of thought I can say I'm a Broncos fan because I define myself as not being a Raiders fan (yup, I'm watching the draft right now). Obviously, although I could be a Broncos fan, I could be a fan of one of thirty other teams without being a Raiders fan.

Some people need to be led (followers) and then of course some people lead.
Some people can think for themselves. (fewer than you would think)
I feel like the majority of these religious people are just looking to someone to tell them how to live,feel,act,worship, and so on..
Some people believe in current religious ideals just because they where told they are supposed to.

Jordy Villain said:

I see where Atheism comes from. It's honestly just about a lack of faith, which also happens to be the first building block of theism.

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No, not a lack of faith. Merely not believing in a fairy tale god. I don't believe in these fairy tales. In fact I know there is no god, at least not in the sense that you believe. To my mind if there was a god then it wouldn't be a living being or entity but the catalyst for the birth of the universe, or the 'big bang' if you will. That is where it stops, apart from this I know there are no gods.

I have faith, I have faith in the human race to one day see through the fog of bullshit that has clouded us for 2, 000 (? As nobody really knows when it was) years. The earliest form of control for those intelligent enough to use it like... the catholic church, in fact all sects.

UserFriendly said:

another bullshit thread. whether you call yourself atheist or not, you are defining yourself by god. get off the short bus.

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FUCK YEAH!

UserFriendly said:

FUCK YEAH!

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You quoting yourself? You have nothing more to add? Maybe you don't have the mind for it, afraid of being forced to question your faith?

LOL
skunk you got it. I feel I think things are simmilar to what you have said.

There's somebody on this board with a sig that goes something like this:
"Religion provides comfort in a world torn apart by religion."

I can't remember who uses it, but I thought that was an excellent quote.

I grew up Roman Catholic, but also went to Baptist churches (Hellfire and Brimstone sermons) as well as Presbyterian churches (pass the collection plate around one more time, and this time we want the full 20% of your wages). It wasn't until I was 18 that I decided the belief systems and practices were a load of bull. Even Constantine, who brought about the bible through compiling those gospels he thought appropriate, was a pagan until he was on his deathbed. He decided bringing everybody under one umbrella of religion would bring about peace. Ooops!

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against all the various religions. I do, however, tend to have problems with the religious zealots and violent fanatics who use religion to justify violence, oppression, and control. I still cannot understand why we (in the USA) still allow the church to effectively influence our lawmakers. Where I live it is unlawful to sell alcohol on Sunday, and sex/porn shops are illegal. Why can't I buy a six-pack on Sunday? And if my fiancee wants to slip into something comfortable and enjoy a vibrating, wiggling, laser-guided dildo she should enjoy that freedom. The separation of church and state should go beyond tax liability. I get disgusted with the wealth of our local clergymen. Just up the road a preacher at a Holiness church received a brand new Harley from the congregation and they sent his wife to France with $10K to buy a dress at a fashion show!!! They also have matching Hummer H2s. What about the hungry and homeless in the area? They won't help unless they are a member of the church, and the church won't accept them unless their salaries are high enough to support the Clergy's expensive tastes.

Sorry for the rant. My fiancee still hasn't found a church that isn't ripe with corruption and greed and there's a church on every corner around here.

skunkushybrid said:

The earliest form of control for those intelligent enough to use it like... the catholic church, in fact all sects.

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i admitted theres corruption on all levels but thats because if the humanity that you have so much faith in.

Jordy Villain said:

i admitted theres corruption on all levels but thats because if the humanity that you have so much faith in.

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No, that's because religion is like a veil. It's thrown about ones head and their vision is blurred. Religion is a con, likewise belief in fairies or whatever magical things you believe in.

Corruption, lol. What are you talking about? I'm not really talking about organised religion. I'm talking about belief in fairy tales, magical creatures... Your beliefs are false, what's corruption got to do with it?

Before your god was thought up there were thousands of gods before, what makes you think that this is real? What makes you think it could be real?

How long has man been on the Earth?

You see, before you can say you believe in something you must first understand what it is you believe. You must investigate. Any amount of investigating will lead to the LOGICAL conclusion that there are no gods. Tell me why you believe in these gods, if you can.

skunkushybrid said:

No, that's because religion is like a veil. It's thrown about ones head and their vision is blurred. Religion is a con, likewise belief in fairies or whatever magical things you believe in.

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You can take offense to a word in a joke, then in the next breath directly assault someone else's beliefs and faith? I doubt anybody here believes in fairies, unicorns, or dragons. However, nobody deserves to be ridiculed for being religious. Likewise, you don't deserved to be chastised for being an athiest.

TheConstantGardner said:

You can take offense to a word in a joke, then in the next breath directly assault someone else's beliefs and faith? I doubt anybody here believes in fairies, unicorns, or dragons. However, nobody deserves to be ridiculed for being religious. Likewise, you don't deserved to be chastised for being an athiest.

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I can't see the relation.

I say fairies and magical creatures as this is the same thing as belief in gods. In what way was there a direct assault? I did not verbally abuse or attack anyone... what are you talking about?

Heres the joys of this one. Its all about belifs. You cannot really prove there is or isnt a god. It is all about ones belifs. Some one bleives in god or they dont. If you belive in god and i dont well just have to agree to disagree. You cant prove to me there is a god just like i couldnt prove to anyone else there is no god.