Why I'm not an Atheist

[Ben Shapiro]

I'm always amazed of the sisters of charity that help and continue feeding,clothing, and healing the poor in Mexico in spite that socialism was suppose to take care of that.

[Cain]

-

[P3nT4gR4m]

A bunch of born-again freaks tried to brainwash lead me to the light, when I was in my early teens. I took offence and was a kneejerk-athiest for a good while after that 

[EK WAFFLR]

I don't really care if God, or gods, exist, and wouldn't worship or bow down to Him or them if they did.

[minuspace]

Fuck them, they don't understand the profundity of my lack of self-respect.

[P3nT4gR4m]

I don't really care if God, or gods, exist, and wouldn't worship or bow down to Him or them if they did.

I've never met a god who could beat me in a fight - that's my one criterion for a deity to have me worship them.

[Cramulus]

Overheard in Dunkin Donuts on Sunday-----------------

Beardo wearing a wolf shirt was explaining the world to his friend:

"Here's how I see it --- if you say you don't believe in something, you are shooting yourself in the foot. Because if it didn't exist, why bring it up? It has to exist in order for you to say you don't believe in it. Atheists are essentially hypocrites."




CHECKMATE, ATHEISTS

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Overheard in Dunkin Donuts on Sunday-----------------

Beardo wearing a wolf shirt was explaining the world to his friend:

"Here's how I see it --- if you say you don't believe in something, you are shooting yourself in the foot. Because if it didn't exist, why bring it up? It has to exist in order for you to say you don't believe in it. Atheists are essentially hypocrites."




CHECKMATE, ATHEISTS

Seemed like he was onto a good idea there for a moment. What should have come out of his mouth after why bring it up should have been something along the lines of "there's no point in debating about something that you don't believe in with someone who refuses to also not believe."

[Cramulus]

I was brought up in a WASP's nest. Raised episcopalian. Was dragged to church every Sunday until I was 15. As a teenager, I went through a series of costume changes.

When you say you're not a christian anymore, people ask "Well then, what DO you believe? What ARE you?" There is an expectation that you have some kind of team affiliation. Sort of like political affiliation. If you're not liberal, you must be conservative. If you're not religious, you must be an atheist.

It's weird though, I hear you -- atheist should refer to somebody that just doesn't have any religious beliefs, or doesn't believe in a god. But it's slowly becoming another group with beliefs and champions.


It's interesting that the definition of atheist has changed over the centuries. Originally it meant "against god", ie, TEAM SATAN

[Nephew Twiddleton]

I was brought up in a WASP's nest. Raised episcopalian. Was dragged to church every Sunday until I was 15. As a teenager, I went through a series of costume changes.

When you say you're not a christian anymore, people ask "Well then, what DO you believe? What ARE you?" There is an expectation that you have some kind of team affiliation. Sort of like political affiliation. If you're not liberal, you must be conservative. If you're not religious, you must be an atheist.

It's weird though, I hear you -- atheist should refer to somebody that just doesn't have any religious beliefs, or doesn't believe in a god. But it's slowly becoming another group with beliefs and champions.


It's interesting that the definition of atheist has changed over the centuries. Originally it meant "against god", ie, TEAM SATAN

I thought it meant without god(s) originally? I could see it being used that way in the Middle Ages, but I think the ancient use of the term was similar to ours.

I think though, that there is something about the group identity as far as religious beliefs go that has had an effect on modern atheism.  Not only are atheists kinda herded together by theists because everyone needs to be lumped in a group, but people for some reason see it as their business what you believe. Religion and politics are those two things where if someone is something other than you, you become incredulous, question their mental stability and see the need to challenge their beliefs as much as possible. But then there's the flip side of that, if they're the ones doing the preaching. It's real easy to dislike Richard Dawkins (aside from the fact that he's always putting his foot in his mouth) because he's a proselytizer. You don't really see people getting mad at Neil DeGrasse Tyson's agnosticism, because he's not the one bringing it up, says he's agnostic, and moves on.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

My parish as a kid didn't really have too much socializing after Mass, so I never really got that community angle afterward. We were just a bunch of Irish people all trying to get out of the same parking lot in order to drive 3 or 4 blocks.

I was actually pretty surprised that that sort of thing exists, when I discovered it. I went to see a friend ordained in an Orthodox Mass, and there was coffee and talking and such afterward. Same thing when I went to church with my Lutheran friends when I was visiting them. Same thing when for a paper and presentation, I went to a Unitarian Universalist service. Coffee and socializing.

To be fair, my parish also ran an elementary school, which hosted other events for the parish, but it was always a "Mass has ended, now get the fuck out of here" sort of thing. I probably would have liked church more if I could get a bunch of free coffee and talk to people.

[Cain]

-

[Cramulus]

I thought it meant without god(s) originally? I could see it being used that way in the Middle Ages, but I think the ancient use of the term was similar to ours.

There was atheist thought in ancient times, most definitely -- but I think the word atheist itself didn't start getting tossed around until the 16th century

I think though, that there is something about the group identity as far as religious beliefs go that has had an effect on modern atheism.  Not only are atheists kinda herded together by theists because everyone needs to be lumped in a group, but people for some reason see it as their business what you believe.

While the tribal politics are regrettable, I do think it's good for atheists to be established and visible.

Because I think people need to understand that not everybody is religious. I'd rather have a moment of silence than a moment of prayer. For some reason, you need a group identity for those demands to seem valid. Lots of people assume that if you just make the religious references vague enough (ie "in God we trust") nobody will be left out.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

I thought it meant without god(s) originally? I could see it being used that way in the Middle Ages, but I think the ancient use of the term was similar to ours.

There was atheist thought in ancient times, most definitely -- but I think the word atheist itself didn't start getting tossed around until the 16th century

I think though, that there is something about the group identity as far as religious beliefs go that has had an effect on modern atheism.  Not only are atheists kinda herded together by theists because everyone needs to be lumped in a group, but people for some reason see it as their business what you believe.

While the tribal politics are regrettable, I do think it's good for atheists to be established and visible.

Because I think people need to understand that not everybody is religious. I'd rather have a moment of silence than a moment of prayer. For some reason, you need a group identity for those demands to seem valid. Lots of people assume that if you just make the religious references vague enough (ie "in God we trust") nobody will be left out.

True.

Also do they have free coffee?

Twid,
Can pretend to be atheist, secretly worship Juan Valdez

[Q. G. Pennyworth]

The local Unitarian church has a bunch of atheists. They might be a reasonable final destination for your spiritual adventures, since there's coffee and they give zero fucks what you worship or how.