atheist Drennan It is not fair to say that an atheist is not religious, for to deny God must be a religious stance. A non-religious man would not care either way if God did or did not exist. 990929 ... Sour Balls McGee Atheism does not simply deny God's existence, it denies any higher power's existence. 000511 ... MollyGoLightly Actually, I have met quite a few religious athiests. Dogmatic athiests, evangelical athiests. Takes all kinds, I guess. 000511 ... heretic flea there is no dog. 000511 ... dug starts with an a 000712 ... saehn literally: one who is without god. at times, i wish there was a god. how pleasant that would be. however, the concept goes against any "evidence" that exists for it; the concept goes against involved thought. the best thing about being an conscious atheist is that you are forced to take responsibility for everything in your life. 000713 ... peyton There is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole. When you feel death destroying the earth with mortars, and feel the blood as the reaper tears a man to pieces with his bullets just inches from you.. Then.. you will find God. I hope he's more forgiving than I. I would let you die alone.. you poor poor reformed atheist. Wouldn't it be sad, if after all this time forsaking your creator, that then.. when the blood fills your lungs.. God doesn't believe in you anymore.. You get to die an agony of a death.. and still you have hell to look forward to. Here lies the atheist of the battlefield.. before the war took his breath, he was screaming the Word of God more loudly than a minister. Praise be.. a shame he saw the error in his sight too late.. Praise be to God.. and to Jesus the Christ. 010210 ... . what does it say about god if people turn to him (her? it?) only in fear? simply a fairy-tale to soothe their fears? 010210 ... suzy i am vaguely aware of the candles being snuffed out one by one 010217 ... god yeh me too 010218 ... black-dyed gel product I am an atheist by nature. My parents tried to raise me as a catholic, but I could just never buy into the ideals. The way people worship today seems strange anyway. What's more important, that a big omnipotent force is dwelling above and that we give 30 dollars to the church collection plate or just being a generally good person? I just can't believe in religious dogma. We're here, isn't that enough? 010622 ... kingsuperspecial my parents tried to raise me as a alcoholic, but I've since developed my own belief system. 010622 ... rockstar no, i didn't chose the most comfortable faith. atheism takes a lot of courage. to acheive it you have to say, "there is no afterlife, only the life i live now, so this is it. this is our reality, so we have to make the most of it. this life is NOT just one big test, to see if we deserve eternal happiness. the real reward for our good deeds is that we are making someone else's reality just a little bit better... isn't that reward enough?" if you ask me, christianity promotes selfishness, saying that if you do good deeds, live a good life, then you will get to experience eternal happiness in heaven. so christians go doing good things so they can acheive happiness. my happiness comes from knowing i am helping the strive for natural balance: good deeds promote happiness, and happiness among all people promotes good societal balance, which will lead to a perfect natural human balance, and that is all the reward anyone should need for decency. 020126 ... cube Rockstar makes an interesting case for atheism. Thought provoking too, until it occurred to me that atheists can just as easily take the path of total selfishness. After all, if there's no afterlife and no reward system, then there's no punishment... ³ 020126 ... silentbob Along with doing good deeds, in christianity you ahve to have a relationship with the god they believe in. So even if you do bad deeds as long as you have a relationship with him, you get to go to heaven. and you get this holier than thou thing where if you aernt in their exclusive christian club you dont associate with them. the bible tells them not to. somehwere. 020127 ... pralines&cream The Bible does in fact say not to spend time hanging out with non-believers. But this is not to form an exclusive ring of Christians; it is to prevent Christians from being caught up in the sins of the non-Christian world. Christians are also told to spread the gospel to unbelievers; Jesus himself mingled with sinners and lepers and criminals. Anyway, how many Christians now make it a point not to mingle with non-believers to make it easier to abstain from sinning? It's practically impossible. 020128 ... misstree "there ain't no god and there ain't no devil, just corporate criminals playing with tanks..." -concrete blonde, i think most of the christians that i've met that i could really respect came at it from a scholarly standpoint... 'course, the same stands true for atheists... religion is an important enough choice in one's life to be taken from more than an emotional reaction in either direction... spent some time trying to be an atheist, myself, trying to hop the fence from agnosticism. i finally decided it was a little too lonely on that side of the fence, and i'd take what i knew (mostly magically based concepts) and paint a pretty picture on top of it. maybe of a calico cat, holding a golden apple. for me, it works as well as a guy on a cross, and in the end, it's the effect on the person (and their effect on the world) that matters. 020130 ... cube Mr.E, How well do you communicate with cats and does this cat have a clear understanding of the human condition? ³ 020130 ... silentbob and does the cat punish you to eternil damnation whether or not he understands the human condition? theres a lot of christians that only hang out with christians and make it a point to. and christians arent set_apart from the world, they try to but they fail because seriously, they are human too and just as imperfect as the rest of us. they sin. they hurt. they do. i think its rather big-headed to try to set them apart. 020130 ... Mahayana some1 whom is discriminatory towards the's [a theist, is demeaning towards my usage of the word the ... the this the that... it doesn't matter, a theist will always frown at me][shessh im only trying to write] ['the'ist pig] [oink oink] 020130 ... misstree the cat and i have an understanding... i don't mess with it, and it will put its paws into my life as it damn well pleases 'cause i can't stop it. it does have some concept of the human condition, but no pity or mercy because of it... the closest you'll find is a genuine desire to bring a little enjoyment to life, sometimes at your own expense. (irony and a tough skin should be in every newbie pack). and no, no eternal damnation... having to wade through the simple crap of being human is hard enough. but no frilly happy afterlife, either, unless Eris, er, the kitty cat, has a few secrets she's not sharing. which is always possible. see also discordian. 020130 ... Phil I am tired of all this, no cold without warmth bullshit. Oh what will happen tomorrow, let's see...based on what happened to day...Imagine the first time someone heard about a dictionary..."but you got to know how to spell it just to look it up!" Please murder me! 020201 ... phil Someone said believing in nothing is difficult. I don't even believe in water. 020201 ... silentbob now, now now, if you believed in nothing youd be a nihilist not an atheist. an atheist just denies the exist of god. a nihilist denies the existance of everything. 020201 ... drunk misstree bobby, where were yo when i was writing a comparative religions blurb for the school newspaper? *smewch* it was editied by someone else to say that atheism and agnositcism were the same thing. (agnositicism is doubt, or unkmnowing). i posted 25 copies of the definition of agnositicism around the journalism room the next day. i was ANGRY. 020202 ... phil religion is arrogant 020204 ... god atheism is catching on in these parts. must be something in the pepsi around here... 040928 ... silentbob I beg to differ, Lord, you see, i have just drunk a coke and i am feeling mighty atheistic Together in Christ, Bobby 040929 ... emem hmm 050120 ... emem hmm.. well i don't really know i f this is addressed to any one in particular, but, i try to stay as far away as i can from categories or titles. i don't like it when i am called an atheist, although i do not believe in god or a god. i do not think it is possible to know if there is a god for sure or not. so people will call me agnostic. i guess if i HAD to be something.. which i don't... i would be an agnostic atheist. and there is such a thing. but, when there are titles and categories that i am placed in, i have no room or space to think for myself. it's like i have guidelines to follow, that i cannot follow because of the way i think or feel. so, in a way, i guess it can sometimes be difficult to explain to people... which i don't like doing... what exactly my beliefs are, because as we all know, people like to judge and are too quick to 'label' people as whatever they feel is appropriate. but i guess that's not my fault, but theirs, and maybe they will see this in the end. 050120 ... missionary Well said, emem. I think people want to label everything so they know where they stand, and where they don't stand. Perhaps they do it to try and gain a bit more clarity on these issues. Whatever it is, its definitely a human thing to try and cram everything into categories. We are the definers of the universe. It's funny though, we all seem to want to be different and unique, while looking out for others who believe like we do. But I, like mistree, made a lousy atheist. I tried it once... and ended up on my knees three days later praying to God for forgiveness. He's nice though, he took me back :) Now, I've been a devout Christian for two years, and I still face times where I wonder... usually when I face hardships and I am whining about it. Then I remember, "Oh yeah, I've TRIED to disbelieve in God, I just CAN'T DO IT!" Then I remember why_I_believe. Plus, God never said it would be easy! I don't think anyone would appreciate eternal life as much if it was just given away without any challenges. 050121 ... i_bleed_koolaid Why must I believe in god (one god, our god, pick a god, any god, choose one, one and only one for toleration...) for my life to have any meaning? Isn't the fact that I'm alive enough? It is far too easy to give my life meaning by attatching divine belief to the end of it. 050325 ... thanhahanna How come man is so egotistical that it has to have somehting revolving around it every second of the day? 050506 ... Chris aka Christ without the cross I am everything. I am moving to a place where I accept and open to everything but choose certain things simply because it feels right to me. I believe there is a God. I just don't choose to entertain the way the bible depicts him at time. To say that God's love is unconditional and then for him to turn around and give a set of conditions seems to be a little contradictory. I believe that God is love and that God is everything and that he created everything. That's it. That makes sense to me. I like that a lot more than believing in a judgmental, condemning God who uses fear to get people to follow him. Hell seems to be a threat to me, a way to instill fear. And to say that your love is unconditional means no matter what, your love will be there. No conditions, no requirements, no preferences. Love. I believe that that is all you need to melt even the most stubborn hard heart. You see this marvelous gift that has been given you. How could this be a random occurence. Look at the mysteries of this universe. How could it not have been intelligently designed? You are not obligated to see God the way that people have been percieving him for thousands of years. You can form your own view of him and then form your own view of yourself. Don't believe the hype. A God of love is a God of love not of fear. If you feel fear it is not God. But of course this is my opinion. Its personal. 061004 ... Christ without the cross No gimmiicks. No force. No formulas. No conditions. No tests. No wrath. No vengeance. No requirements or scare tactics. No manipulation. No fear. We have human beings for that. I see God as completely confident in himself(there is a difference between confidence and arrogance). I believe he is completely secure in himself and doesn't need to test people or be dependent on any actions outside of himself (which is impossible). He doesn't need to force things on you. He knows everything. He needs not be in a rush. He is eternal. He doesn't need to use fear. His love is limitless. He is secure in who he is. He needs not use fear to recieve love. You will love him because he is amazing not because you are fearful. He doesn't need to have conditions. What for? Then he couldn't be unconditional. Why have requirements? Then his love wouldn't be selfless. Why judge. He has infinite knowledge. WE don't. He has complete understanding and wisdom. He knows of our ignorance. WHy condemn? We are HIS creation. Why would he condemn what he has brought forth out of his perfection. Why have wrath when you can melt the hearts of any man with love, a love greater than any hate. If his plan is perfect, then everything is the way it should be in this moment, including the image of perfection which is you.WHy restrict anything that he has created. HOW could you harm what can never be destroyed? It seems like to believe that God IS the way he has been depicted would mean that he would have to be an insecure, faithless, selfish, manipulative, vengeful, restrictive being. That sounds more like human beings to me. THE reason why life sucks is because in ignorance we have forgotten how to be free and full of love. We try to control everyone. GOD doesn't seek to control. He gave us free choice. But we have belittled that gift by placing restrictions on FREE CHOICE. Choice that is free IS FREE. Why would he give free choice to then turn around and cast judgment on people for not making the right CHOICE. I believe that the TEN COMMANDMENTS are the ultimate guide in knowing how close to GOD you are. I do not believe that they are restrictions on your freedom. They are just a step in the direction in which would grant the most peace and love to this world. Helpful; advice is not an order. If we love fearlessly ourselves as well as eachother there would be no pain, no hurt. If we set eachother free instead of trying to restrict and control eachother, we would have the opportunity to experience the gift of God. if we honored eachother and spoke the truth, completely, we would know one another and in knowing each other we would know God. If we accepted eachother in love instead of attacking each other in judgment we would have peace and fear would be no more. If we built eachother up instead of condemning eachother we would attain the greatness of God. Love. Only love. Collective love. We are all one. God is here and is giving you what you have chosen. Choose a new thing. Break free of the bondage that you have placed on your spirit. Believe in the spirit that is within you. Listen to your heart and follow it. Be like Jesus, not knowing at any moment where the spirit would take him. Follow your heart. I am not talking about your head or your groin. i am talking about that feeling that you get when you see someone and you want to reach out to them but can't because you are paralyzed by your fear. I am talking about that feeling you get when you are touched deep down inside when you feel like you can do anything. I am talking about that limitless potential you have to be limitless love. I am speaking of true beauty, truly living.Offer yourself a new choice. Choose love. Choose freedom. CHoose truth. Choose Upliftment. Choose wisdom. Choose openness. Choose control of yourself. Choose experience. Choose to LIVE A FULL LIFE FOR EVERY MOMENT IS THE HOLY MOMENT OF GOD. Sorry if this is long. 061004 ... an athiest why did you blathe the above under this topic? 061005 ... Christ without the cross For fun. What other reason would i have? 061006 ... an athiest It is a related topic, I guess, but it does not deal directly with the blathe's subject. It seems kinda like if there was a blathe named I_like_red and someone blathed about the sound of sleighbells. Evangelism (of any stripe) seems to have the idea that athiests are lacking something. As one, I can tell you that I am not. Why are you preaching to me? 061008 ... Christ without the cross hmm, you seem guilty of something. Am i correct? Why did you make the implication that i was preaching to you? I was stating my opinion not trying to convert you. I personally am against conversion. I would have to take a seat as your superior in order for me to preach to you. I have no such seat nor do i wish to have one. I like the color red but black is my favorite. Please don't let your paranoia get the best of you. There was something on this page that prompted my response and i assure you it was not the title. 061008 ... Christ without the cross I just reread my response with an open mind. I can see how you could take it as a sermon. it probably was. Maybe i have nothing better to do with my time but to preach about God to atheists. No. That's not true. It was a response i think to the people who were talking about religion and its problems (which is based on their perspective). Sorry playa. Did not mean to offend I did however mean to voice my opinion. And i did. All has been accomplished. There is great value in opening your mind to many perspectives. I was just putting one on the table. And I respect your freedom to be paranoid over what i said but to set the record straight, i do not think you lack anything and i am glad you don't think so either. Be blessed. 061008 ... bricks There just can't be a God, not when you look at the vastness of existence and the universe. Its too big for us to know how it came in to being, I believe. Its too complex for its origin to be so simple. the people who created all of the worlds religions were looking through a very limited scope, trying to answer those great big questions. they all claim to be right, and they're all just as right as the next. I really just don't think about it anymore, i'm content in not knowing. as for the spiritual, I'm not trying to convert you or disrespect your beliefs, only stating mine. live your lives. religion is by no means a bad thing. 061009 ... misstree i think that you're taking a rather limited view of god... the christian god (and likely many of the others) are blatantly stated to be incomprehensible, concepts we just can't wrap our brains around because they're so much bigger than us... we're flatlanders, basically. i simply don't personally see a reason not to allow for the possibility. 061009 ... Christ without the cross once again yes i think that an all powerful God is definitely a possibility. But you must not look at God in the typical sense. God is merely a word designated to define the creator of all creations. HE/She/It has also ben given many other names, definitions, duties, and privileges (like judgment) in which we are forbidden to partake in. But God, the name we have designated for the omnipotent and omnipresent is simply a word. it becomes of value when meaning is attributed to it. And indeed we have given it many meanings. Now personally, God to me is everythin in existance, what we know to exist and what we don't, what we understand and what we can't comprehend, the sane and the crazy. He is anything that has every thought, emotion, feeling, desire. he every creation and he is the creations of his creations and so on. He is the universe. He is love. You can call him(I use him because i still haven't removed that construct from my mind) whatever you want. But you can't deny the existance of everything and if you do you can't deny the illusion. And in that perspective God does exist. As to all religion, i believe that the truth is present in each but it is just taken from different perspective perceptions and approaches. yep, still talkling about God on the atheist page. 061010 ... Christ without the cross correcting himself I am sorry about the error. I meant to say the God is every thought feeling and desire. 061010 ... phil Thanks for the clarification CWC. I dont like God. 070227 ... Christ without the cross Why are you directing so much negative energy towards God? Im just kidding. Life is too short. Just enjoy it 070227 ... god is cool http://www.mrdeity.com/ 070228 ... Anna Livia Plurabelle Man: I'm an atheist... I don't believe in God. Woman: Well, I'm a feminist... I don't believe in men. 070228 what's it to you? who go blather from