Thoughts on Religion

[dEadERest]

Originally Posted by Abby

Also to atheists: Do you believe there is a possibility of a God.

No.

Originally Posted by Abby

Do you think differently about people who do believe?

And yes. But not in a bad way. I just don't invest time in conversations with them of any depth.

as a kid, i served more catholic masses than many people go to as I served daily mass for years. when you are at daily mass you hear readings most people never hear or read. i also served lots of funerals and weddings (small town). i thought the nuns were nuts and the general teachings sounded like crap. i had an older brother who read Vonnegut, etc. So i was dyed in the wool with cynicism.

there is a beautiful freedom, i find, that comes with allowing the universe to be vast and meaningless.

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful." - Seneca the Younger 4 b.c.- 65 a.d.

[Dean from Australia]

My Christianity got crushed at an early age. Now, I believe that this is it - life as it is now is it. And once you're dead, you're dead.

Jesus was born, Jesus lived and Jesus died on the Cross. End of Story.

[dEadERest]

Originally Posted by Dean from Australia

And once you're dEad, you're dEad.

oh hell yes

i tell born-agains - "Have you accepted JC as your personal savior?" "Nah, but I will, right here, right now, if you can accept him as political radical."

I then tell them, if they're still standing there, that I am a Jesusian. Heluva guy, that Yeshua.

[panicBoy]

Atheist. Not something I take lightly either. Took years of introspection.

And yes, unfortunately, I tend to view those who believe as somewhat intellectually stunted, sometimes to the point of being anti-intellectual. People tend to view non-theists as arrogant and untrustworthy. I ask if there's anything more arrogant than the idea that an omnipotent, omnipresent ruler has a unique plan for little ol' you.

We amass knowledge at a geometric rate that explains how the physical universe operates. It's simple, it makes sense, and it's beautiful. Why would anyone want more? We have all been given this brilliant flash of existence, against insurmountable odds, and you want MORE? We're really going to waste our time warring over which end of the egg to open? Aren't there better things to do than genuflect to the man in the sky?

Or argue about this on the internet?