[Aleandcynicism]

(Original post by TurboCretin)
Political convictions aren't a matter of truth and falsehood. They rest on value judgments.

The Theory of Relativity was under question back in October.

The word 'agnostic' is usually applied to religious issues, but can equally be applied to any matter concerning truth.

Right, let's take the theory of relativity then. Outside this discussion, would you describe yourself as agnostic to anyone talking about the theory of relativity?

[jam277]

(Original post by Basit2010)
Over the years I have really been beginning to question religion.. I mean it truly is man made.. for example the Rastafarian movement or the Jedi census, both religions were made by man in order to comfort one another, whats to say this wasn't the case 2000 years ago? well it obviously was as this explains how different religions started at different time periods.

Another thing which I'm not too sure about and would like some input is say Islam first came to be about in the 1600 years ago (it is relatively new) do muslims believe all the humans before Islam was introduced will go to hell? I mean as no body believed that Life was a test before Islam was introduced what happens to all the people before then? Also I'm not too sure about Judgement day, I've been told by a few Muslim scholars that the Koran says it is a specific date where the dead's souls will be risen and judged, So what happens to the dead till then?

There's a similar thing in christianity, apparently as jesus saved us from sin, he went to hell for 3 days and saved the people suffering in hell according to some people , why did they have to suffer because they were born in a different time to us when we get passes to heaven for believing in God now, but all the jews who worshipped the same God before the new testament went to hell. It sounds so inconsistent.

There's been so many more religions before Hinduism as well but Hinduism is just more popular, there's a reason different religions are spread between different areas of the world, not because it is valid, but because it is due to the word being spread over a certain area, also wars caused religion to spread like roman catholocism and islam.

[TurboCretin]

(Original post by Aleandcynicism)
Right, let's take the theory of relativity then. Outside this discussion, would you describe yourself as agnostic to anyone talking about the theory of relativity?

If asked the relevant question, yes.

[Pastaferian]

(Original post by jam277)
There's a similar thing in christianity, apparently as jesus saved us from sin, he went to hell for 3 days and saved the people suffering in hell according to some people , why did they have to suffer because they were born in a different time to us when we get passes to heaven for believing in God now, but all the jews who worshipped the same God before the new testament went to hell. It sounds so inconsistent.

That's because it is

[Sheep]

I was never brainwashed into any particular belief system from childhood, in fact my parents said they would accept whatever I chose to believe it but it was ultimately my choice which is something I have to appreciate, I did go to a catholic school though (simply because it was a good school)- which had an extension of a church, in which we would pray daily and sing hymns etc lol

Frankly I never gave it much thought or cared about it at all till after high school, in fact I went to 2 high schools and in both, RS (Religious Studies) was incredibly boring, where they just shoved heaps of useless information down your throat and didn't even attempt to make it interesting

even though today I find it to be one of the most interesting topics of all

It was only after high school when I started having lots of debates with my best friend who was a christian (raised a christian by his parents as usual lol), him being quite an intelligent and introspective person actually improved my understanding a lot, I suppose I was quite ignorant to begin with, never having gotten past the first part of "lol the bible is so ridiculous, you have to be retarded to believe all those fairy tales" but eventually I just understood more and more why religious people believe what they do, and why they are simply wrong

and recently my friend admitted he is currently an agnostic atheist lol

[emmielociraptor]

I was raised by my devoutly Christian grandfather until I was 12, at which point my parents sent me to a CofE secondary school where daily chapel attendance was mandatory. I went through a bit of a rocky period in my family life at this point that led to me questioning why the God I'd been so strongly following up to this point had turned his back on me. Then I hit the teenage angst phase and decided the best way to rebel would be to claim all sorts of weird controversial religious affiliations (I know, lame right?) before I arrived on the other side at around age 16 and realised that no matter how much I wanted to believe in God, it just didn't seem plausible to me anymore. Now, at 21, I suppose in technical terms I'm an atheist but I don't like the weight that word carries anymore...I'm not the sort of person who will condemn someone just because they believe that God created the world exactly the way it is 4000 years ago, as long as they're not hurting anybody. I don't believe in God but I know there's no way to prove that he does or doesn't exist, and so it's not something that worries me anymore. As long as people don't try and force their beliefs on me, I don't mind what anyone else needs to get through the days.

It does bug me that some sects don't teach evolution in their schools though. I think that's belief forcing by proxy.

[splodge88]

(Original post by jam277)
Damn, you sound a lot like me. I understand how you feel, I even go to church every now and then. Not many people in my main social group that aren't in uni know either, only one guy and he's an atheist too. It actually feels weird, everyone at home thinks I'm a christian, I've had people asking when I'm getting baptised because my brothers, my nephew, and loads of my friends have done it over the past 2 years.

I couldn't have said what you've said about religion any better. When I go to church(mainly to play piano and to say hi to friends) I see people just in terrible states just shaking and crying to God. A quote from one of frank oceans songs called bad religion. "If it brings you to your knees, it's a bad religion."

I think it emotionally appeals to their weaknesses, that's what I hate about it. I hear people saying that without religion they wouldn't be alive and that they would die for it and it actually saddens me but it's just years of indoctrination that's turned them into that.

The other problem is that the older generation will make their kids religious and the cycle starts again. I won't force my kids to be atheist, but if they ask me the truth I'll tell them the truth.

That's all so true! I remember when I thought life wouldn't be worth living without a God! *cringe* I just couldn't see the bigger picture. I still have to go to church most sundays (coz of family) - I feel quite the imposter, only one religious friend there knows. I hate it tho, every second I feel like screaming to all the people and trying to make them see what I can see now. The sad thing you've picked up on is when THEY try to convert people or their kids, they honestly think its the most loving thing to do.
I also gotta say I love that quote gotta write that one down.

[tazarooni89]

(Original post by jam277)
Agree, it's a big comfort, it's a bummer thinking that you'll become nothing when you die lets be honest.

Surely the idea of nothingness after I die (and therefore no pressure to do lots of good deeds and behave in any particular way in this life, since it makes no difference either way) is a greater comfort than the idea that there is a Hell and a Heaven, and constantly feeling the fear of Hell, and the pressure to abide by a religion's many laws and rulings in order to avoid it.

I wouldn't expect that a person who tomorrow has important exam results coming out, or a criminal court hearing, or some other kind of judgement day is going to sleep more comfortably at night than someone who doesn't.

[Pastaferian]

(Original post by tazarooni89)
Surely the idea of nothingness after I die (and therefore no pressure to do lots of good deeds and behave in any particular way in this life, since it makes no difference either way) is a greater comfort than the idea that there is a Hell and a Heaven, and constantly feeling the fear of Hell, and the pressure to abide by a religion's many laws and rulings in order to avoid it.

Agreed. Personally, I don't see a problem with the concept of "you live, you die, that's all folks". Problems with the Heaven and Hell model were what first turned me off religion - fx, it seems a little harsh to condemn a borderline case to eternal hellfire, if they would have made the cut but for a careless attitude to parking tickets. If anyone wants to believe in an afterlife, the Buddhist concept of karma-driven reincarnation seems more logical.

Anyway, if the concept of Heaven is supposed to be comforting, I'm surprised that religious people don't congratulate others who are about to go there - perhaps deep down they recognise that the concept of eternal life in Heaven is just folklore.

[tazarooni89]

(Original post by Pastaferian)
Personally, I don't see a problem with the concept of "you live, you die, that's all folks".

Well I can see why some people might not like the idea that there's nothing after death. I just find the suggestion that religious people belief in the afterlife because it is "comforting" to be rather odd. I mean, at least with the "nothingness" model, you know you have nothing to worry about. You know you won't feel any unhappiness. And you won't miss happiness either, so you're fine either way. I think this is the one you would choose if you were just in it for the comfort.

Problems with the Heaven and Hell model were what first turned me off religion - fx, it seems a little harsh to condemn a borderline case to eternal hellfire, if they would have made the cut but for a careless attitude to parking tickets. If you want to believe in an afterlife, the Buddhist concept of karma-driven reincarnation seems more logical.

I agree, that seems harsh. Then again, ask any knowledgable religious people if this is actually an accurate description of the afterlife they believe in - where minor sins can be the difference between total punishment and total reward. I expect in most cases it won't be. Judaism and Islam in fact are more along the lines of punishment for every sin [i]and[i] reward for every good deed performed, as opposed to simply punishment or reward. And Christians believe all sorts of things depending on their denomination.

Anyway, if the concept of Heaven is supposed to be comforting, I'm surprised that religious people don't congratulate others who are about to go there - perhaps deep down they recognise that the concept of eternal life in Heaven is just folklore.

Are you talking about the fact that people grieve when their loved ones die, rather than celebrating? I would have thought this was more due to their own sadness at not being able to see that person again (or at least not for a long time, anyway). In any case, how would they know whether the deceased is destined for Heaven or Hell? Perhaps there's some element of worry there as well. They often seem to spend a lot of time praying that the deceased will end up in Heaven though.

[Pastaferian]

(Original post by tazarooni89)
I agree, that seems harsh. Then again, ask any knowledgable religious people if this is actually an accurate description of the afterlife they believe in - where minor sins can be the difference between total punishment and total reward. I expect in most cases it won't be. Judaism and Islam in fact are more along the lines of punishment for every sin [i]and[i] reward for every good deed performed, as opposed to simply punishment or reward. And Christians believe all sorts of things depending on their denomination.

The 'minor sin' argument simply shifts the focus of the discussion - what is a minor sin and what is a major sin? Were there extenuating circumstances? Did the sinner repent afterwards? However you approach the discussion, there is supposed to be a binary outcome (Heaven or Hell) when the reality is that there is a spectrum of (for want of a better word) scores. In any case, the idea that Heaven is comforting doesn't make it true.

Are you talking about the fact that people grieve when their loved ones die, rather than celebrating? I would have thought this was more due to their own sadness at not being able to see that person again (or at least not for a long time, anyway). In any case, how would they know whether the deceased is destined for Heaven or Hell? Perhaps there's some element of worry there as well. They often seem to spend a lot of time praying that the deceased will end up in Heaven though.

Sadness for their own loss is understandable, but surely they should also feel happy for the person who is dying, particularly if that person did some last minute repenting on their death bed (thus guaranteeing entry into Heaven). I remember hearing a story about a Cardinal who told a Bishop that he (the Cardinal) was dying, whereupon the Bishop congratulated him, saying "That's wonderful news! I wish I was going with you!" Surely this sort of reaction should be more common?

[tazarooni89]

(Original post by Pastaferian)
The 'minor sin' argument simply shifts the focus of the discussion - what is a minor sin and what is a major sin? Were there extenuating circumstances? Did the sinner repent afterwards? However you approach the discussion, there is supposed to be a binary outcome (Heaven or Hell) when the reality is that there is a spectrum of (for want of a better word) scores.

I don't particularly mean to make a distinction between "major" and "minor" sins. My point is that, contrary to popular misconception, Muslims and Jews (and I believe many Christians, subject to their denomination) don't actually believe in the binary outcome you're referring to, but in fact believe in a "spectrum" of potential afterlives, to match the spectrum of potential current-lives.

(e.g. I mentioned Islam and Judaism, in which a person is punished for every sin and rewarded for every good deed, rather than simply being punished or rewarded).

In any case, the idea that Heaven is comforting doesn't make it true.

No, I wouldn't suggest that something being comforting makes it true. I simply think that "You only believe in such and such an afterlife because it is comforting" is a rather poor argument against the "Heaven and Hell" model, which many might actually consider more discomforting than the "nothingness" model.

Sadness for their own loss is understandable, but surely they should also feel happy for the person who is dying, particularly if that person did some last minute repenting on their death bed (thus guaranteeing entry into Heaven). I remember hearing a story about a Cardinal who told a Bishop that he (the Cardinal) was dying, whereupon the Bishop congratulated him, saying "That's wonderful news! I wish I was going with you!" Surely this sort of reaction should be more common?

As I said earlier, the usual reaction is to pray or hope that the person gets rewarded in Heaven rather than to assume it. You never really know what fate awaits a dying person. I know that Islam, for example, mentions that upon seeing Heaven or Hell, you will often be surprised at who else you see there.

(By the way, it is usually understood amongst Abrahamic theists that deathbed conversion or deathbed repenting does not guarantee entry into Heaven, and for the most part simply 'doesn't count').

[Pastaferian]

(Original post by tazarooni89)
I don't particularly mean to make a distinction between "major" and "minor" sins. My point is that, contrary to popular misconception, Muslims and Jews (and I believe many Christians, subject to their denomination) don't actually believe in the binary outcome you're referring to, but in fact believe in a "spectrum" of potential afterlives, to match the spectrum of potential current-lives.

They don't believe in a spectrum, they believe in (usually) seven discrete levels. This simply shifts the argument to a decision on whether someone qualifies for Nth heaven or N+1th heaven. The various religions provide a lot of detail, which is surprising given the total lack of any evidence.

No, I wouldn't suggest that something being comforting makes it true. I simply think that "You only believe in such and such an afterlife because it is comforting" is a rather poor argument against the "Heaven and Hell" model, which many might actually consider more discomforting than the "nothingness" model.

It's probably true that many (most?) Westerners will be discomforted by the idea of nothingness, but I see it as a cultural thing - a result of being led astray by religion. By contrast, Buddhists positively aspire to nothingness.

As I said earlier, the usual reaction is to pray or hope that the person gets rewarded in Heaven rather than to assume it. You never really know what fate awaits a dying person.

Mmmm, I think I do

I know that Islam, for example, mentions that upon seeing Heaven or Hell, you will often be surprised at who else you see there.

Supposedly (and I apologise for quoting Wikipedia as a source) "Inhabitants [of heaven] will rejoice in the company of their parents, wives, and children". This presumably becomes a little tricky if family members didn't qualify for the same level of heaven.

(By the way, it is usually understood amongst Abrahamic theists that deathbed conversion or deathbed repenting does not guarantee entry into Heaven, and for the most part simply 'doesn't count').

I would agree with them, but perhaps not for the same reasons

[janet9]

I used to be a Muslim (Janet's one of my online pseudonyms) and I left Islam when I was 18.

Why? Because the only reason I was a Muslim was because I was raised in a Muslim family. I know for certainty that if I were to be raised by parents of a different faith, then I surely would have followed their faith. My childhood upbringing was learning about Islam all the time and I admit that I used to admire the claims it made of miracles and the prophets. But it was only when I started thinking critically and looking at better and more logical reasons to how the universe came into existence did I wonder whether we were all created with a signature of approval by Allah (God). I would wonder why Allah would have contradictory names such as all-merciful and all-just, and wonder why he creates people knowing that they're going to end up in hell - the meaning of all-knowing and yes, the true meaning of a tyrannical and sadistic *******.

And then there's the concept of eternity, which as absolutely incomprehensible and vile both ways: whether you're in heaven and stuck in a party where you can't leave, where men f**k big-eyed translucent virgins and drink rivers of wine, or whether you writhe around in hell and get force fed hot oil and scream to let those in heaven hear. Why does it matter what us humans do for an atomic fraction of the cosmic time of god, and is there anything possibly in such a tiny period of time that would warrant an ETERNITY in hell? The whole thing is so sinister, and sounds so infantile - and I'm glad to find that there's not a shred of evidence for any of it.

It might have worked thousands of years ago where we didn't have the tools to look out into the cosmos or look under the microscope, and okay, so it may have given people something to hold onto and a meaning to their existence - I don't blame these people, I mean, who wouldn't want the song-sirens of heaven over the graphic horror that's told of hell? But why, today, with the technology that we have, why do we still hold on to stone-age beliefs - and Islam in particular which had its entire tradition at the time based orally? The people that I do blame today are the parents and all those who tell gullible young children that they will go to hell if they don't believe. It is science and only science that tells children that they came from the stars and gives them a logical reasons to understand their existence in the universe. And science welcomes asking questions and there is no authority figure that you have to be afraid of challenging, nor does science force it down people throats, whereas challenging Islam (true, sharia islam and not the apologist progressive rubbish) resulted in (and it still happens today) the swift oppression with the sword.

For ANY religious claim made in the past, there's absolutely *nothing* that we can use today to suggest that it was caused by was a prime mover. Think about the scientists who dedicate their entire lives to research and using reason to answer the questions of biology and physics and the universe we're in... and then the douchebag creationist who doesn't care or understand their work , who interjects and can't comprehend the simplicity of one step to another and says, blindly, that it was all by god. Ugh. I just hope that such people one day get tired of finding that their creator is so deceptive that they decide to then abandon the idea that there ever was one in the first place.

Also, think about the wrath that's imagined that Allah has, and how that and all the rest of his characteristics are so human-like. Hint hint?!! And people who say they 'feel' god, sadly, are victims of their own intense brain chemistry. We know this by looking into the brains of individuals such as the sociopaths (who themselves, let's not forget, are apparently made in the image of god) who get exactly the same effect from other things, I mean, if you REALLY put your mind to it and had your previous generations doing the same, you can find yourself worshipping a can of baked beans and feel the same sense of 'calm' those with other religions get.

Why does what we percieve of heaven sound so appealing to eastern desert nomads of a thousand years ago? Why is islam a relatively young religion in the heat of its own self-confidence, why does it roots emerge go back to the last few thousand years when humans clearly have existed for at least 100,000? Why would a god like Allah sit in heaven tapping his toes and do nothing for 98,000 years of war, famine, and savagery before deciding to do something in ONLY barbaric, illiterate and the most backward parts of the middle east?

We have evolved from the most basic forms of life - just watch episode 2 from the series, Cosmos by Carl Sagan. The evidence is in our genes and fossilised remains of species that once were - and why should that take away our integrity? Look at how far we've come as a species and the intelligence we've developed and tools and machinery we've made. And now look at those religious people who say that without god, we won't know right from wrong and so we would have no morals. This is a great insult to how we've progressed as a primate species. And answering that exact questions, really, are the non-believers out there butchering and raping people on the streets? Theoretical physicists have spent their lives researching and have found that YES, a big bang and the resulting universe can indeed come from nothing - the science is out there and it should be read, but you'll find most of the religious community stick their fingers in their ear and shout lalalalala. Because they just won't listen. Our observable universe (maybe we're even living in a multiverse) is indistinguishable from a universe with ZERO divine intervention.

Finally, I think the reason we have all the religions out there is because thousands of years ago, people could not comprehend that death was the end. Death is the physical and true reality, and because we are pattern-seeking animals (a good thing about us), we choose to prefer a junk-theory or a conspiracy theory (a bad thing about us) to not having a theory at all - and what better could we have done this than to delve into the non-physical and supernatural?

I don't need religion to live a just life. I don't see any proof that there is a god, and I don't want to have an eternal life in the hereafter. I want to live here on this tiny blue dot in the universe with a sense of urgency, and if it turns out that I'm wrong, then I would say to the creator why didn't he give more evidence? What harm would it have done? Why bother giving humans a pre-fontal cortex, and why hate the atheists for using theirs in the right way - for aren't we the interesting ones? Having still lived a just live and if I'm still thrown in hell, then so be it, I wouldn't have wanted to worship a god like that anyway. I don't want to live my life praying all the time (muslims actually pray 5 times a day which was apparently reduced from 500) begging god to put them into heaven. A god who made the rules like that is flawed and therefore has to be man made. And I think it's cowardly to say that god's a higher being who works in mysterious ways so we can't comprehend him - if you worship a person like that, you may as well worship a fool running down the street saying the same thing, because at least you have evidence that the fool exists.

[jam277]

(Original post by splodge88)
That's all so true! I remember when I thought life wouldn't be worth living without a God! *cringe* I just couldn't see the bigger picture. I still have to go to church most sundays (coz of family) - I feel quite the imposter, only one religious friend there knows. I hate it tho, every second I feel like screaming to all the people and trying to make them see what I can see now. The sad thing you've picked up on is when THEY try to convert people or their kids, they honestly think its the most loving thing to do. I also gotta say I love that quote gotta write that one down.

Haha join the club! I feel like an imposter too although I just go there to play piano so I don't really care. I feel like screaming to them too, especially when they put in controversial statements. Someone said that if jesus wasn't even the son of god, why wouldn't you follow someone who died for you? I facepalmed hard. Felt like answering but the rest of the church was just swayed because the person was being emotional.

[jam277]

(Original post by janet9)
I used to be a Muslim (Janet's one of my online pseudonyms) and I left Islam when I was 18.

Why? Because the only reason I was a Muslim was because I was raised in a Muslim family. I know for certainty that if I were to be raised by parents of a different faith, then I surely would have followed their faith. My childhood upbringing was learning about Islam all the time and I admit that I used to admire the claims it made of miracles and the prophets. But it was only when I started thinking critically and looking at better and more logical reasons to how the universe came into existence did I wonder whether we were all created with a signature of approval by Allah (God). I would wonder why Allah would have contradictory names such as all-merciful and all-just, and wonder why he creates people knowing that they're going to end up in hell - the meaning of all-knowing and yes, the true meaning of a tyrannical and sadistic *******.

And then there's the concept of eternity, which as absolutely incomprehensible and vile both ways: whether you're in heaven and stuck in a party where you can't leave, where men f**k big-eyed translucent virgins and drink rivers of wine, or when you writhe around in hell and get force fed hot oil and scream to let those in heaven hear. The whole thing is so sinister, and so infantile - and there's not a shred of evidence for any of it. For ANY religious claim out there, there's absolutely nothing to suggest that there was a prime mover.

Think about the wrath that's imagined that Allah has, and how that and all the rest of his characteristics are so human-like. Hint hint?!!

Why does what we percieve of heaven to be so appealing to desert nomads? Why is islam a relatively young religion in the heat of its own self-confidence, why does it roots emerge go back to the last few thousand years when humans clearly have existed for at least 100,000? Why would a god like Allah sit in heaven tapping his toes and do nothing for 98,000 years of war, famine, and savagery before deciding to do something in ONLY barbaric, illiterate and the most backward parts of the middle east?

We have evolved from the most basic forms of life - just watch episode 2 from the series, Cosmos by Carl Sagan. Theoretical physicists have spent their lives researching and have found that YES, a big bang and the resulting universe can indeed come from nothing - the science is out there and it should be read, but you'll find most of the religious community stick their fingers in their ear and shout lalalalala. Because they just won't listen.

Finally, I think the reason we have all the religions out there is because thousands of years ago, people could not comprehend that death was the end. Death is the physical and true reality, and because we are pattern-seeking animals (a good thing about us), we choose to prefer a junk-theory or a conspiracy theory (a bad thing about us) - and what better could we have done this than to delve into the non-physical and supernatural?

I don't need religion to live a just life. I don't see any proof that there is a god, and I don't want to have an eternal life in the hereafter. I want to live here on this tiny blue dot in the universe with a sense of urgency, and if it turns out that I'm wrong, then I would say to the creator why didn't he give more evidence? What harm would it have done? Why bother giving humans a pre-fontal cortex, and why hate the atheists for using theirs in the right way - aren't we the interesting ones? Having still lived a just live and if I'm thrown in hell, then so be it, I wouldn't have wanted to worship a god like that anyway. I don't want to live my life praying all the time (muslims actually pray 5 times a day which was apparently reduced from 500) begging god to put me into heaven. A god who made the rules like that is flawed and therefore has to be man made. And I think it's cowardly to say that god's a higher being who works in mysterious ways so we can't comprehend him - if you worship a person like that, you may as well worship a fool running down the street saying the same thing, because at least you have evidence that the fool exists.

Woah!
That seemed too long at first, but damn you got it spot on. The thing I love about atheists and non religious is that we are individualistic too, it seems like with religion it's so grouped and cult like that it feels like anyone outside that particular group is shunned. catholocism, protestantism are groups of christianity who fight with each other all the time when they're all christian.

[0000fw]

I used to be a Christian and believed strongly in the morality of the bible. When I was 13 one of my teachers made a passing comment about the validity of the bible which prompted me to read the whole book again. I realised that I didn't agree with much of the content and this along with the way I had never had a religious experience despite praying to God twice every day made me think that Christianity probably wasn't the religion for me. It took a while for me to come to terms with losing my faith but now I find it very liberating as I pretty much have to make up my own morality which I think is harder and means I have to be mature about my decisions as I have myself to answer to- if that makes any sense.

[.eXe]

(Original post by 0000fw)
I used to be a Christian and believed strongly in the morality of the bible. When I was 13 one of my teachers made a passing comment about the validity of the bible which prompted me to read the whole book again. I realised that I didn't agree with much of the content and this along with the way I had never had a religious experience despite praying to God twice every day made me think that Christianity probably wasn't the religion for me. It took a while for me to come to terms with losing my faith but now I find it very liberating as I pretty much have to make up my own morality which I think is harder and means I have to be mature about my decisions as I have myself to answer to- if that makes any sense.

Don't you think 13 is a bit young to be deciding on things like the Bible?

I mean I didn't particularly like broccoli when I was young but that doesn't mean that it isn't good for me...

[0000fw]

(Original post by .eXe)
Don't you think 13 is a bit young to be deciding on things like the Bible?

I mean I didn't particularly like broccoli when I was young but that doesn't mean that it isn't good for me...

Well I'm 18 now but I honestly don't think I've changed much since then, I had most of my major life experiences (so far) at that age. I've read more and experienced more now but I still agree with my original choice, I'm open to religion if any evidence comes to light but otherwise I think atheism is the right choice for me.

[Jabberwox]

(Original post by sulpicia)
I think religion is often a comfort / support / offers membership of a community. I felt that I didn't want / need those things.

I think in most cases that is why people have a religion, so they can pray to some magical bloke in the sky to sort out their problems for them, when 9 times out of ten problems are solved by the people themselves, unconsciously.

Also, realising that we're just a bunch of chemicals/bones/blood etc and nothing of any real significance is a bummer too, and we just happened to be born by chance with no real sense of special purpose. It's just a comfort zone, really, because humans, unlike animals, are intelligent enough to mull these things over.

What I can't stand is when you get religious people dubbing atheists as 'god-fearing' and the reason why we DON'T believe is because we are in fact, too frightened of the prospect of God, when in fact, it seems religious people are too frightened of the prospect that nothing lasts forever and humans are just another animal.