Simple, yes? This is my topic of interest. I know most here are atheist, so I want to know really why you believe in atheism. (Or lack of belief, same thing really.) I'll post mine later in this post or a later one, if this even gets replies.

I don't believe, in fact as I've stated I believe religion as a whole hinders society's progression by hindering the thought process of its followers generally with outdated and ridiculous scripture.

I also don't find myself to fall in with atheists although I'm sure you can just chunk me in with them anyway.

Why? Because I'm not going to blindly believe something that doesn't exist, be it a god or even religious scripture made by mankind.

The only possible " higher power " would be space men.

I believe what I believe for a sense of self.
I wanna know who I am, and with no beliefs I'd feel lost

p.s. I guess I would call my self Buddhist, according to my beliefs.
I believe the world never began, but it is a circle. the circle of life.
and a circle doesn't have a beginning nor an end.

I guess I'm an "atheist." (I usually just go with that.) I can't really explain "why" too well, though. To me, it just seems like common sense to go with such a belief (or lack thereof). The idea of a god and whatnot just seems ridiculous to me. Not that I have anything particularly against religion, but I just don't feel it's necessary in my life.

I guess I'm a bit different, as I cannot see existence without a creator. It's just more likely a higher power made us rather than the universe up and starting itself one day. I really don't have enough faith to be an atheist. At the very least I could only be a deist. Onto Religion, well, it's nice, but it's a "ministry of death", I know, weird coming from a Christian..a conservative one no less. (theologically, not politically.) The Evil Dead, what makes you think it's all stupid? What is your knowledge on the subject? Has your own personal research led you to this? All my studies have only bolstered my belief in God, but everyone is different. But mainly I'm drawn to Christianity because of well, God for the most part, but also historical evidence and the truth of the bible. (The life, crucifixion, burial, and empty tomb, as well as the boldness of the apostles in their belief of the resurrection.) I hope we can all learn something from this topic.

Quite frankly, I’ve been trying to explain why I believe what I believe (I’m Roman Catholic), but the fact holds for me that I can’t explain it. I mean, I couldn’t even if I wanted to write a novel equal in length to War and Peace. So, I’m not even going to try. It’s too complicated of a subject for me, personally, to explain.

Simply put (and without trying to sound like some fool spouting poppycock), “I just know”. It just makes sense to me. That’s the best I can do, haha...Either you believe or you don’t (speaking of religion in general), and I believe in my faith completely. Why? “I just do”. =p.

Are you a cradle Catholic?
j/w. (I have nothing against Catholics, don't worry.)

I think this edited for visual content successory knockoff I found and posted before explains my position the best.



Sorry, if I had one for every religion I'd post it. Christianity is just the easiest to pick on.

My education? Going to church until I was 10... I suppose that's about it. I'd imagine we'd have kept going if my mom wasn't persecuted at several different churches here locally for being a single parent and looked down upon. I have an intense dislike for the religious right ( Christians, really ) due to them having a huge presence here in my state.

As I've stated I have no problem with people following any religion, even though I do believe as I stated that it narrows the mind of society. People can believe what they want so long as they don't impose it, and I try to do the same unless provoked.

Honestly I haven't really done a whole lot of " research " on the subject outside of my experience with Christianity because it's just... Not... Reality to me... It'd be like wanting to go do years of investigation on Bigfoot or something. Not something I want to waste my worthless time on.

Crude summary, but somewhat accurate. So you don't believe because of what people did to your mother? I guess we can't get too into it if you're unwilling to look at things, but that's the way of the world I suppose. But in the same respect, I just cannot accept people telling me I'm foolish for believing Christianity when their belief is that the universe just up and started itself and somehow life started and from that goo we have us. It's just too out there for me. This link may be of use if anyone is interested in just a little information. Christian or Atheist alike. Answers for Atheists

I am, actually. =). I was raised in the faith, but I do actually believe it of my own accord right now. Of course, like I said before, I can’t explain why, haha (yeah, not too helpful in this circumstance). It’s not because I’ve been raised to believe it, it just...makes sense to me. I dunno. *shrugs*.

Just to add on to what I said before: I'll say right now that Christianity is really the only religion I know much about (raised Christian, albeit very loosely, and only a few years included church and whatnot), so I speak of the topic a bit ignorantly. For me, though, it's not all just about a god or whatever. The best I can really explain my thoughts on the matter is that... well, I believe religion in any form is basically the same as government, in the sense that it's there to prevent the human race from tearing itself apart (so to speak). Nothing more than that, basically. I can't really measure how much of my current morals and whatnot are based on Christianity or whatever, but the thing is simply that I've got my morals built now, and have the logic to continue to manage them myself, so I have no need for religious beliefs. Also, looking back on the ideas of Christianity, as well as the little bit I know about some other religions... Well, as I said in my other post, it all just seems "ridiculous" to me. (I place emphasis on the "to me" part -- it's just my personal opinion, so no disrespect meant to those who believe any of it.)

As far as the question of origin goes... Frankly, I don't give a damn. It's fun to think about from time to time, but that's in the past, and personally, I don't think it matters much. We're here now, aren't we? That's what matters to me. And as for post-life matters... Again, I really don't care. I honestly believe I'll die and just decompose in the ground, and that'll be the end of me. And I have no problem with that. (Again, "fun" to think about, but I don't truly believe in an afterlife of any kind, nor reincarnation.)

I think that just about sums up my thoughts on the matter... Not 100% certain, but at the moment, that's all that comes to mind.

I'm a heretic, I believe in Catholicism, but view some key aspects and practices differently from the doctrine (that may be viewed as somewhat heretic). However, I do agree with TED the religion as a whole can hinders potential growth and narrows a person's view on life into some outdated practice that has no real impact on our lives today. For instance, I find the whole celibate life for priests is complete nonsense, because the celibate life was just instituted because the Church didn't want to give out land to the priests' children (back when priests could marry). Still I find it as a good basis for an ideally moral life. Hence why I follow it as an idea, because I hate religious zealots, but I wouldn't discriminate them for following something they believe in. I just find it annoying some of the crap they spew out when they try to preach their view on religion to me.
Now why follow it is an idea? I'm gonna quote a line from the movie Dogma, "I think it's better to have ideas. You can change an idea. Changing a belief is trickier. Life should malleable and progressive; working from idea to idea permits that. Beliefs anchor you to certain points and limit growth; new ideas can't generate. Life becomes stagnant. "

I'm agnostic.

I don't think the god of the bible or any other religion is THE man. But I mean, evolution sounds true. I actually believe in the big bang. But then I ask, well, who started that? "The" god I believe is somewhere around that.

Also, I'm a lazy bastard, and agnostic is the religion for lazy bastards, people don't bother us much.

I can't believe in anything that I can't touch see. It really is as simple as that. Faith really doesn't exist for me as I really can't believe in something that can't be proven true. Unfortunately, that is the entire definition of faith.

The unfortunate thing is I am beginning to loose my ability to believe in everything that isn't tangible. For example, take something as simple as love. The past few months, I have begun to think that maybe it doesn't exist. How do you know with 100% certainity that love exists? Yes, some people are in love, but maybe that isn't love. Maybe they are just strongly attracted to somebody and care about them deeply.

I am a scientist at heart and I am a critical thinker, almost to a fault. So, it is hard for me to believe in anything.

Agnostic-deist? Or just apathetic agnostic? Eh, you're the majority. XD The big bang is just evolutionary theory applied to the universe?


It is said religion "narrows" ones mind and hinders progress, but I think ruthless atheism and "scientism" is just as bad if not worse in that department, I only believe what I can observe, I think requires more faith than one would like to think. Do you believe in the laws of logic? Can you touch them? Can you see them? An interesting epistemology. Well, love does exist, I don't see how anyone can deny it, or it least it's a powerful illusion. Romantic love is the most shallow of these, but love through your own will (As wanting the best for your children and wanting to protect them even though it may hurt you) is something that cannot be denied.

I, actually, take everything as a possibility. If god doesn't exist, then no harm no foul; if he does exist, then I don't respect him/it. I mean, let's take christianity for example (as it is "considered" the most truthful of all). Lucifer was a "good" guy, although I don't believe in the universal good and evil, but according to christianity, Lucifer was good. Now, let's say all of that exists, then Lucifer/Satan, is superior to humans; far superior to humans. His intellect/mind far exceeds our boundaries. Thus, we cannot say that Lucifer is stupid. If he was a good guy, then why did he rebel? He must've figured out something, and that something cannot be called "untrue" because he is an empyreal being. According to the bible, god is supposed to be the one we MUST obey and worship, lest we be punished. That's a whole new discussion, but I don't accept that. That's not freedom. If he exists, I won't worship him, and if he is such a control freak, and knows no better than "good" and "evil", then I'll burn in hell. I say this now, but if hell does exist, we don't know what it's like, and I can be brave here, but I'll probably beg for mercy if I get tortured. Nevertheless, I don't accept him NOW, at this moment. If that's a problem, I'll take care of it when the time comes--when I'm dead.

That was a lot about IF that all exists, but I believe it doesn't exist just the same as I believe that it does; but there is not much to discuss in the part where I don't believe that it all exists. Like I said, if it doesn't exist, no harm, no foul.

Agnosticism, yeah, that's what it is.

Its kind of hard to explain why I believe what I believe. But To be able to tell you why, first I must tell you what I believe.

I believe in a thing called love.
Just listen to the rhythm of my heart
There's a chance we could make it now
We'll be rocking 'til the sun goes down
I believe in a thing called love
Ooh!

Forgive the diatribe, but if I were to explain it, it'd be kind of like this.

Can't explain all the feelings that you're making me feel
My heart's in overdrive and you're behind the steering wheel
I wanna kiss you every minute, every hour, every day
You got me in a spin but everythin' is A.OK!

Touching you, touching me
touching you, god you're touching me

I believe in a thing called love
Just listen to the rhythm of my heart
There's a chance we could make it now
We'll be rocking 'til the sun goes down
I believe in a thing called love

I think that explains my beliefs in a nutshell.

I have changed my mind. Darkness is my new god.

Not to idiots like me. Explain.

I believe in harming with no foul. Fact.

Well, I know I'm gonna open up a can of worms here.... but what the heck. Here I go.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I go to church every Sunday, read the Bible and the Book of Mormon as daily as possible, served as a missionary to New Jersey (ya, I was one of those guys with black name tags walking around talking about the Church.).

We believe that God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three seperate beings. The Bible and Book of Mormon are words given to prophets anciently to help guide people back to live with him after this life. Also, we believe that there are prophets (such as Moses and Abraham) on the earth today who talk with God to tell us what to avoid (such as Drinking, drugs, pornography, ect.) so we can live great lives and help others live good lives.

What we are NOT:
Polygamists: Those who practice polygamy (now) that claim to be "Mormon" are other off-shoots of what we are. I would NEVER marry more than one wife. That would just suck. Those who do are kicked out of the Church. The church hasn't officially done that for over a hundred years.
Cult: Anybody is welcome to join. We don't do crazy stuff. Also, no crazy initiation stuff either.
Trying to take over the nation: Romney wanted to run because he wanted to run. Not because the Church told him to.

We just are people trying to help other people live good lives. I believe in it because I really know it's true. Kinda personal to describe why in this setting, but it's enough to say that I believe in what I believe in because I know.

No drinking, drugs, or pornography? ####.

Nope. Those things are bad for you anyway.

No, what you meant is they're bad for you.

my beleefs than wery simple. than peaple do not beleve in trinity (allah (hte father) mohamed (the sun) and djinn (the punishesr) than go to hlel and pelt flame rocks on groin.

than not inclide khristian nd jiwish. than called "peopl of the boak" by koran. than koran list thme as wery honor peopl.

I disagree. I'd kinda like to live life before I'm rotting in the ground. They might be bad for you, but they're good for me. I respect your choice to avoid them just as you should respect the choices of others to indulge.



It'd be best if you just helped yourselves. I mean as much as I like the cute Latter Day girls ( For some reason they're always cute and female... Never happened anywhere else I've lived ) that drop by my apartment every now and then it'd be great if you guys just kept it to yourselves.

Oh yeah and I'd really like to see you and Rune argue it out on who's religion is correct if you guys are both devout. I'd pick on other people but you guys seem the most devoted to your respective religion.

No hostility or anything intended. Just sharing my thoughts. I suppose as always I'm a bit abrasive.

How is it helping someone anyway by telling them porno is bad for them hahah? Drugs and alcohol, fair enough argument for health reasons there, but everyone gets turns on XD

resisting than temptation key number two for enter than heavem. number one than believe in alah.

I believe that needing an upper being is a sign of weakness. I do not want to depend on someone else, I want to control what I do and how I do it.
I believe in the freedom of speech and therefore I shouldn't be limited by a book.
I also believe that the Bible is a book with guidelines, not a book of rules. Surely, if you need your religion, go ahead, but as TED said, keep it to yourselves.
You find it rude when we swear, we find it rude when you force things upon us, or interrupt our daily lives. We have chosen our way, live with it.

I also belief that many people that are in a religion are truly honest, but because of the constant teaching of the Bible, they fail to see some of the hypocrisy.
I had a short discussion with Sharkfinn about this, about that Christians always say that good Christians go to Heaven and non Christians, but still good people go somewhere else.
Personally, I belief that many Bible like religions are straying away from the book, due to many translations and incorrect interpretations. Yes, I do know what I talk about, as I spend 3 whole years on a Christian school.

I belief in the Big Bang theory as the cause of evolution. I also belief that humankind is destroying this planet slowly, day by day.
We are like a parasite that slowly takes away all life of the planet we inhabit. We destroy forests, made severl animal species go extinct, litter the planet, destroy the Ozonelayer and whatnot.
I believe this, because it is pretty much true. Humankind is a reaction from another event. We wouldn't have existed if that would've occured and the planet wouldn't have been in its current state.
We also are the creators of some of the most common deceases and viruses, as well as chemical drugs and other nonsense.

Sure, it is a negative view, but is basically how I feel about it. Of course there are good things as well, like porn for Raz to collect, or more upcoming Uwe Boll flicks for TED (although men could debate how well that is for the planet), but as far as humankind goes, the Earth and animal kingdom has suffered severely at our hands.
We take, expand, we take, we grow and this keeps on going.

Edit: I also believe many Bible readers that pray in the Church every sunday are missing one of the most simplest and first points in the book ever made.
The 7th day, God rests. So, why are people going to churches in the morning every sunday? Never heard of REST? Stay in ##### BED! Nowhere in the Bible (as far as I can remember) is stated that men MUST go out sunday morning to pray, let alone sunday at all.

nubmer 1: earth not living organism. earth mixtur of rock and lava.

number 2: global warming than alarmist news spread by maedia for to score than high rating. raed a hitsory book earth have weather change every 200 yeers.

nubmer 3: www.islam.com you reeding than one atricle and telling me you not believe in grater being.

The question was why that helps us though? Just because you believe that, doesn't mean others do.

I agree with you guys anyway. I was walknig down the street the other day in glasgow city center, and a dude stopped me, asked if I could take 5 and have a chat with him, and I humuored him. He told me all about how much his life sucked, and how he listened to metal and he did heroine etc etc then he found god. I just don't see why religious people have this assumption that we need help/ I had to explain to the guy that was a shame for him,and i'm glad he found something, but I simply can't relate. My life is great. I'm a very happy person. And I drink alcohol, do drugs (although, granted, not heroine), and watch the occasional porn. Just because some people decide that the best thing is to live in fear of a god, doesn't mean I live in fear from anything. I have an awesome life, family, friends, etc etc.

I don't need help, and even if I ever had a religious inkling, maybe I'd like to find that out myself, instead of having some #### on my doorstep with a bible, parading their 7 year old sons around in suits. Religion is supposed to be deep, spiritual; if thats true, why try and sell it like a door to door salesperson?

Fact.

than job of human toil. not smoke hashish in basement. i saying you now excerpt from than koran

than a bit offensive so skip if than christian or jewish

Those who say: "God is Christ, the son of Mary," disbelieve.

SAY:"Who would control anything from God if He ever wanted to do away with Christ, the son of Mary and his mother, plus everyone on earth? God holds control over Heaven and Earth, as well as anything in be them. He creates anything He wishes. God is Capable of everything!

Jews and Christians say: 'We are God's children and His favorites." SAY: "Then why does He punish you for your offences?" Rather you are human beings just like anyone else He has created. He forgives anyone He wishes and punishes anyone He wishes. God holds control over Heaven and Earth, and whatever lies between them. Towards Him lies the goals!" People of the Book, Our messenger has come to explain [things] you after an interval between the messengers, lest you say: 'No herald nor any warner has ever come to us." A herald and a warner has indeed come to you! God is Capable of everything!

Thats all well and great but its still what you believe. if you believe in human toil or whatever, you can help people who believe what you believe too. I mean, isn't it that we're all sinners anyway? I'm sure there's some out there that have the same beliefs as you that you can help. I don't and I don't need god's help.

Believe in nothing, question everything. Thats my general outlook right now. I wanna see proof of a greater power. I am deaf and have a cochlear implant. I aint by some greater power that I can hear, it is science that was created by man.

Thats my two cents.

will cochlear impalnt worc on someon who have ben def since age 6 and now 65+? how much it cost on average? is it alway work 100% or small chance?

Ive seen it worked on babies 3 months old and I was in speech with a 72 year old man who had it. In Canada, medicare will cover a huge chunk of it, but your looking around 75k+. And batteries are killer right now. As for chances it has about a 90% chance of the body accepting it.

thamks

Out of interest, what exactly is a cochlear implant? Never heard of it before ^^

It's a device implanted in my skull that replicates the human cochlear and basically hears for me then transmits the wavel lenghts to my brain, and it recognizes it as sound. Google it for a better explaination.

I get your point and agree. I do realize that people see us as "intrusive" at times with our missionary efforts, but we want people to know what we believe in and then let THEM decide whether it's true or not. That's one of the main differences between us and everyone else with regards to our missionary efforts. Everyone has a choice and right to believe what they want to believe in. We say that the truth has been restored in our day by men called of God. It's up to you to want to find out more if you want to.

WRT to "arguing it out" I will respectively decline. Normally I'm the argumentative type with regards to guys liking pink, X-box and other things, but I refuse to argue about religion because it does nobody any good. It just creates hatred and nothing is learned. When I was serving my own mission, there were plenty of people who would say, "Well, you believe this, but the bible says ____". Truth is, I cannot convince anyone that what I believe in is THE truth. We ask people to pray to God and ask him if it's true or not. Only he can be the convincing one. That's all I will say about this.

@Might of Kerrigan God is capable of anything, but even he has rules to play by.

I just don't see the necessity to go out there and make sure people know what you think. I don't come to your door and tell you i think its bull, and lets not kid, you'd certainly be offended if I did. If you really want to let people make a choice, then let them seek you out themselves. Like I stated above, religion is supposed to be a personal and spiritual thing. Its not something you go door to door with.

Another question I guess I have is this.

Is Rune going to go to hell because of what he believes according to your religion, ferrell?

Same question goes for Rune.

Alright, lemme give you a situation:

Say, you are walking down the highstreet with a good mate of yours and you are in a conversation, about something relevant to you, or of decent to high importance.
This advertiser sees the two of you and sees it as a golden oppurtunity to talk you guys into buying something from him, or joining this membership.

Do you find this rude/annoying?

Or how about another situation, where you're enjoying watching a movie, or just tele in general.
Your phone rings and when you answer your phone, you find out it is a telemarketer, trying to sell you random stuff.

Do you find this rude/annoying?

I am pretty sure that John Doe does.
This is the same with you, talking us into religion.

See, it is pretty simple. If people are interested in joining your religion, they will come to you. If not, it means they aren't really bothered.
If religion is a choice and according to yours, life is a choice, let people make the choice themselves and do not force the choice upon them. Granted, you might not feel the same way, but others do.

I was out last night and had a few drinks and my buddy brought this up. How can we always assume that the book ( Bible) is right when the only other book that is tellings us that its right is the Bible?

Because its words passed down from God duh

in some case than relegon need being force down oposer throat
for eksample imaginnig than mongols in 1500. than attak arabia kill than muslims.
need be they learn koran and be muslim as not be than savage

..........so many offensive yet true things I could say right now are bouncing around in my head right. I don't even know where to start. I'll try and be nice though.

We are not the mongols, and its not 1500. So your example means nothing. Plus, there's so many problems with the logic you presented anyway, its still wrong.

than i giv more resent exampl

than persians (iran) conspire on than arabiams. than even saying that they go atack than oil barrol in kuwait (than kill over one millionm possible)

than even saying thn wipe isreal from map (than koran warn againsdt such holocaust)

than ahmajinedad needing good koran teecher tell him than things

But what makes that right? What if there is a greater power than that?

Super-man?