I'm an atheist ... swear to God!

[Tim]

Bottom line when it comes to faith, there is nothing factual to argue and when it comes to feelings, how can anyone's feelings be promoted as more justified? Like minded people form faith based groups. IMO numbers of believers don't count either, otherwise Christianity would loose. So where does this lead? There is no single correct answer. If it was important to know the one right answer, it would not have to be in the realm of faith, and it would be much easier than adopting the group you were raised within or taking guesses. So, in conclusion, go with the flow. You know what you need to know despite the guy up on the pulpit telling you what you should be believing and how you should be acting. Most church goers don't listen to that guy anyway.

Bottom line when it comes to faith, there is nothing factual to argue and when it comes to feelings, how can anyone's feelings be promoted as more justified?

Time, all it comes down to is the amount of time a belief is held and by how many people. Just compare Christianity and Scientology. Why do more people believe in Christianity and not Scientology? Time, that's all. They are both wacky when you sit down and really think about it. And you can say the same thing about any religion.

Like minded people form faith based groups. IMO numbers of believers don't count either, otherwise Christianity would loose. So where does this lead? There is no single correct answer.

Of course there is a single correct answer, believe none of them. If you are going to dismiss 99.9% of all the religions out there, then why believe in the one you do? It really doesn't make sense if you think about it...

 

[Stone]

Time, all it comes down to is the amount of time a belief is held and by how many people. Just compare Christianity and Scientology. Why do more people believe in Christianity and not Scientology? Time, that's all. They are both wacky when you sit down and really think about it. And you can say the same thing about any religion.



Of course there is a single correct answer, believe none of them. If you are going to dismiss 99.9% of all the religions out there, then why believe in the one you do? It really doesn't make sense if you think about it...

Time, all it comes down to is the amount of time a belief is held and by how many people.

Just pointing out that you've used this in projecting atheism as justifiable by claiming atheism would become a dominant concept in the far future.
It's justification by consensus, too..

Just compare Christianity and Scientology. Why do more people believe in Christianity and not Scientology? Time, that's all.

If that were true in concept, as man evolved from early hominids to modern man, the time period of Christianity is so relatively short in human history that Christianity or even Islam shouldn't have gained the rapid acceptance seen against earlier beliefs.....religious or non religious including atheism.

Time is obviously an influence, but not the controlling factor as you claim.
Acceptance drives change and the greater the appeal, the shorter time it takes to achieve significant growth.

They are both wacky when you sit down and really think about it. And you can say the same thing about any religion.

You forgot the 'imo'.......but it is rather natural to think of opposing thought as 'wacky'.
I think atheism is wacky
Fundamentalism, too.

If you are going to dismiss 99.9% of all the religions out there, then why believe in the one you do?

Seriously....what kind of logic is that?
Since atheists seem to think empirically, time for an analogy......... if 99.9% of all hypotheses are false ........ it's a fallacy to claim the remaining unknown .1% are also false.
Even as an atheist, you can not empirically claim that the .1% hypotheses are false. They are unknowns in this analogy.

If you are going to dismiss 99.9% of all the religions out there, then why believe in the one you do?

As a generalization, the choice is one of acceptance, not a choice that initially conflicts.
As you've pointed out in your life, conflicts caused you to abandon your religious views.
Atheism is now your choice.
You seem to be having trouble in accepting that not all people feel the same way as you.

It really doesn't make sense if you think about it

In your opinion.

 

[Minor Axis]

Of course there is a single correct answer, believe none of them. If you are going to dismiss 99.9% of all the religions out there, then why believe in the one you do? It really doesn't make sense if you think about it...

You know where I'm coming from. I've been consistent in this forum since the beginning. Sometimes I get the feeling with you (as with other Atheists) that the the term "disbeliever" means you discount everything that is not fact based especially the discussion of spirituality, something beyond the realm of what we can prove. However there are many people who would argue it can be sensed.

This plays to the psychology of humans. We are philosophers, we hope for purpose in our lives, we sense a connection with the universe although I admit it could be imagined. Some hope and some believe in spirituality, a spiritual existence although there is no evidence for this. After much self examination, my desire is such that, in essence, I'm a wanna-be believer in a generalized spirituality, but intellectually, I say I don't believe, can't believe for lack of proof. There is no proof. I don't believe in something just because I feel it or I want it to exist.

I get the impression that Atheists like yourself shut off concepts like these. If you only believe what can be proven, this has to be reasonable. However, you should remain open and be alert if and when something spiritual presents itself to you. My opinion.

So back to the idea of the "right answer". Your right answer is to not believe. My right answer is to hope. Our local theists right answer is to believe. It's just not important in the big picture.

What is more important is how we lead our lives, not who we waste time bowing down before. If there is a God who is as great as they say it is, I don't think it gives a hoot about how much time we spend acknowledging it. I would imagine a great God much more interested in the human race raising their standards by their own accord, instead of focusing all their efforts just to please HIM. Morality comes from within. If we act in a way just because we think we are required to, it means nothing.

 

[Stone]

You know where I'm coming from. I've been consistent in this forum since the beginning........................

I stopped reading your post right there--------> you've been all over the map, seriously.

 

[Tim]

I get the impression that Atheists like yourself shut off concepts like these. If you only believe what can be proven, this has to be reasonable. However, you should remain open and be alert if and when something spiritual presents itself to you. My opinion.

My beliefs have absolutely nothing to do with proof, never have. I do not dismiss religion and the idea of some deity because it can't be proved scientifically.

The only time science and religions should be used in the same sentence is when science is used to disprove certain religious beliefs... like, lightning is created by Zeus and thrown down from Olympus in anger... as we all know today, lightning is not from the hands of a god.
Other than that they should be kept separate. Science can NEVER prove or disprove the existence of a deity nor should it be used as such.

 

[Catavenger]

I hate the term "religious." I don't believe in "religion." I believe in Jesus as the Christ Lord Messiah.

1:23 Corinthians:
"but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,"

 

[Minor Axis]

My beliefs have absolutely nothing to do with proof, never have. I do not dismiss religion and the idea of some deity because it can't be proved scientifically.

Then upon what basis do you disbelieve? As an Agnostic, I don't believe because there is no proof and I see no compelling evidence that man has got it right. Moldy old scriptures written by superstitious men, don't do it for me. I grew up with it and can no longer buy into it's premise. However I do feel something spiritual, can't put my finger on it. This leaves me hopeful. And you?

I hate the term "religious." I don't believe in "religion." I believe in Jesus as the Christ Lord Messiah.

1:23 Corinthians:
"but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,"

Why do you believe in Jesus? I'm curious, were you indoctrinated as a child or did you discover Jesus as an adult?