I'm really flattered to be mentioned in that post, Ash. Seriously, you have no idea how good that made me feel.

I de-converted in nearly the same way. I was agnostic for quite a while, but still insisted that my God was real, and powerful and He loved me. I don't quite remember when I fully became atheist, but I know it was a direct result of my correspondence here. I'd debated with people in real life and over the Internet many times, but here at Stickpage, I encountered the most resistance and the most knowledgeable opponents I ever had while I was Christian. When you don't feel smarter than your enemy, you can learn to respect their ideas more easily and that respect(as you said, Ash) turns to an acceptance of the possibility that it may be true, and finally belief in it.

To answer the original post, I believe religion is a natural evolution of writing and logic. It seems contrary to what logic shows us today, but the knowledge the ancients used to apply logic to was extremely limited and resulted in the myths that their descendants followed as fact. Oral history helped to spread the faiths that arose, but when writing was invented, it became "proof" of their validity. Religion has no real use. There was never a purpose for it; it just came to be. Economies weren't created to accomplish a goal. They just came about from people needing things they didn't have while they had an abundance of something else. They're just systems for humans to better adapt to their environment. It's evolution at a higher level than genetics. It's ironic that evolution led to religion, yet religion denies the existence of evolution. XD

(except the Catholic Church, Buddhism, and other smaller religions no one cares about)

Beliefs.


/thread

:'( .

Quote from OGrilla2

I'm really flattered to be mentioned in that post, Ash. Seriously, you have no idea how good that made me feel.

I de-converted in nearly the same way. I was agnostic for quite a while, but still insisted that my God was real, and powerful and He loved me. I don't quite remember when I fully became atheist, but I know it was a direct result of my correspondence here. I'd debated with people in real life and over the Internet many times, but here at Stickpage, I encountered the most resistance and the most knowledgeable opponents I ever had while I was Christian. When you don't feel smarter than your enemy, you can learn to respect their ideas more easily and that respect(as you said, Ash) turns to an acceptance of the possibility that it may be true, and finally belief in it.

To answer the original post, I believe religion is a natural evolution of writing and logic. It seems contrary to what logic shows us today, but the knowledge the ancients used to apply logic to was extremely limited and resulted in the myths that their descendants followed as fact. Oral history helped to spread the faiths that arose, but when writing was invented, it became "proof" of their validity. Religion has no real use. There was never a purpose for it; it just came to be. Economies weren't created to accomplish a goal. They just came about from people needing things they didn't have while they had an abundance of something else. They're just systems for humans to better adapt to their environment. It's evolution at a higher level than genetics. It's ironic that evolution led to religion, yet religion denies the existence of evolution. XD

(except the Catholic Church, Buddhism, and other smaller religions no one cares about)

That was very well put.

Quote from Steiner

Atheism: Science and the law.

Incorrect .

Atheists get their morals from many different things. Usually it's context dependant humanist morals.

Im athiest and do feel a bit depresses when it comes to death,like really, Ill just be decomposed and then bam! im gone forever but we all die at one point so what the hell? who cares if I die 'cuz you do to. Something I read in another forum: Sex, drugs, and rock and roll, speed, weed, and birth control. Lifes a bitch and we all die so **** the world and lets get high

Quote from GunnarJ

Im athiest and do feel a bit depresses when it comes to death,like really, Ill just be decomposed and then bam! im gone forever but we all die at one point so what the hell? who cares if I die 'cuz you do to. Something I read in another forum: Sex, drugs, and rock and roll, speed, weed, and birth control. Lifes a bitch and we all die so **** the world and lets get high

Why is the idea of continuing on after life so important? Why is it that you feel sad with the idea that when it's over, it's over? If you live a fuffilling life, then you will be happy with your fate. Don't think of death as something to avoid, think of it as something to look forward to, as a point to reflect on your life and ask yourself if your life was good or bad.

Before I live life to its fullest I have to do something the entire world will remember me for... like blow up the moon or something....

Buddhism is Atheism, people don't seem to understand that.

In my -PERSONAL OPINION- religion is best when it isn't a religion, but philosophy.

There is no reason to be Muslim, Christian, Scientologist, or a follower of Greek Myths. They all present the same amount of "proof". Why choose the Judeo Christian God over Zeus? I know why - social and traditional reasons, simple as that.

I find Atheism (in it's non-religious form) to be somewhat silly as well, as there may be a force stronger than us, and there may not be, so Atheism seems to just stick to what is currently believed to be factual and no "what ifs".

I believe that if you can take teachings from multiple religions and secular philosophy, it's fine. I'll take advice from "Jesus" or "Buddha", but I will also take advice from Mark Twain (Forgot his real name) and Bruce Lee. When there are multiple sources of knowledge, why limit yourself to one?

With that, I leave you, the Church of Bob. http://f.a.c.t.s.tripod.com/HomeChurch.htm

And on the topic of death - death is actually a big part of life, oddly enough. People spend their whole lives preparing for death. I think we should focus on enjoying our life now instead of focusing on what most people try to avoid. As said in "The Secret", the more one focuses their energy on something, the closer they become to experiencing it.

Buddhism is a way of life, it's a philosophy, but it's also classified under religion because of the Buddha's fictional accounts in his writings. Like sitting under a tree for 20 or 40 years. haha

I agree with you, but I think you're misunderstanding a bit. There are many atheists such as myself who are agnostic, too. Atheism means you don't believe in a god, but it doesn't mean you think it's certain that one doesn't exist. You can be an atheist and believe that, but it's at the extreme end of the definition. If you just don't believe in any deities that are presently worshipped, yet accept the possibility that one of them or something else might exist, then you're an agnostic atheist or atheist agnostic. I've read up on Buddhist teachings a little bit and I was Christian for nine years, and I sometimes use those religious teachings in my life, but I also try to find things out for myself and make my own set of morals/values.

I set my own values based on logic, as well as using metaphors and teachings from different religions to help out. I find buddhism allows a very passive lifestyle that fits me, but I don't wish to pursue one religion.

I always thought Atheism meant "Without Deity".

Athiests are the ones who would believe if some actual evidence came up.

Quote from kaillera

Answer this if you are an atheist. What could you lose by believing in god? And following it?.. On the other hand, what could you lose if you don't believe in god, and for some chance he happens to be real? I don't think you want to make that mistake.

What so we go to hell if we don't beleive? I'm sure as shit not going to worship in a god like that.

Quote from Myself

What so we go to hell if we don't beleive? I'm sure as shit not going to worship in a god like that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_wager

Pascal's Wager...

That basically overviews it, then shows why it's bollocks.

"the church within which alone salvation is to be found is not necessarily the Church of Rome, but perhaps that of the Anabaptists or the Mormons or the Muslim Sunnis or the worshipers of Kali or of Odin."

So which one would you have to follow? Or more like, what God(s) would you have to believe in? How would you please it?


Not to mention that playing Russian Roulette with religion is probably an offense to the religions themselves.