tl;dr
My takeaway- you wanted to drink and eat bacon.
If you dont believe in God, there is actually less to fear and more to enjoy.
My mother will feed me to the dogs.pork :usacry
I dunno why it has to be a big deal. Anyway, you should read up on Buddhism (I've thought that ever since you went on your spiritual walk in the park) since you can totally be agnostic and be a Buddhist. But maybe you're at a point in your life where you just don't want to buy into any "isms" which is totally understandable and respectable imo.
Being the best religion is the equivalent of being the Mets' MVP.
Being the best religion is the equivalent of being the Mets' MVP.
Nvm Buddhism is just as stupid as other religions. Why does every goddamn religion has something against sexual activity and taking drugs? That's life, man. I'm not a pothead or a sex fiend (lol) or anything, but what the hell does God have against that kind of thing?
Being the best religion is the equivalent of being the Mets' MVP.
Nvm Buddhism is just as stupid as other religions. Why does every goddamn religion has something against sexual activity and taking drugs? That's life, man. I'm not a pothead or a sex fiend (lol) or anything, but what the hell does God have against that kind of thing?
the social stigma really is the worst. i still can only give out evasive answers when someone asks me about faith because i dont want to deal with all the put-downs and questions and just the general feeling of disgust/pity that a lot of religious people have towards atheists/agnostics. "BU BU BU WHY DON'T YOU JUST GROW A PAIR AND TELL THEM?!" Because i'd rather not have my friends, coworkers and family look down on me just to make a stand on something i really don't give a shit about.
the social stigma really is the worst. i still can only give out evasive answers when someone asks me about faith because i dont want to deal with all the put-downs and questions and just the general feeling of disgust/pity that a lot of religious people have towards atheists/agnostics. "BU BU BU WHY DON'T YOU JUST GROW A PAIR AND TELL THEM?!" Because i'd rather not have my friends, coworkers and family look down on me just to make a stand on something i really don't give a shit about.
Religion never comes up with people out here. Must be a Seattle thing.
the social stigma really is the worst. i still can only give out evasive answers when someone asks me about faith because i dont want to deal with all the put-downs and questions and just the general feeling of disgust/pity that a lot of religious people have towards atheists/agnostics. "BU BU BU WHY DON'T YOU JUST GROW A PAIR AND TELL THEM?!" Because i'd rather not have my friends, coworkers and family look down on me just to make a stand on something i really don't give a shit about.lolmerica indeed :usacry
midwest :'(the social stigma really is the worst. i still can only give out evasive answers when someone asks me about faith because i dont want to deal with all the put-downs and questions and just the general feeling of disgust/pity that a lot of religious people have towards atheists/agnostics. "BU BU BU WHY DON'T YOU JUST GROW A PAIR AND TELL THEM?!" Because i'd rather not have my friends, coworkers and family look down on me just to make a stand on something i really don't give a shit about.
Religion never comes up with people out here. Must be a Seattle thing.
wow, some pretty big ignorance of buddhism and buddhist precepts all up here in da heezy
I tend to think that as long as you dont mention religion, the religious people wont mention it too, and you can get along fine.
Being the best religion is the equivalent of being the Mets' MVP.
maw: "well, i reckon the polack's white, that's good enuff for me"
paw: "shut yer hole, woman. i wanna see iffen he fucks like he talks"
maw: "now yew know i ain't gunna let no-one but you an' our boy git me wif child"
paw: "i didn't mean YOU woman! i'mma take his furrin ass out to the ol' pig chapel mahselfs!"
maw: "well just you don't go upsettin the chickens with his hootin"
paw: "ah'll do what ah wants, and the lord take him if he's still breathin in the mornin"
kosma, through his ball gag: <cries>
kosma's bike: <traded for 50 bales of hay, a pound of sasquatch fur, and a small child with downs>
Guys seriously it can't be that bad in the U.S.
I know you're a huge country and there must be some backward places, but you can always communicate with fucking people right? You make it sound like its more looney then the third world.
Guys seriously it can't be that bad in the U.S.
I know you're a huge country and there must be some backward places, but you can always communicate with fucking people right? You make it sound like its more looney then the third world.
If you dont believe in God, there is actually less to fear and more to enjoy.
If you dont believe in God, there is actually less to fear and more to enjoy.
It's from which angle you look at it. I'm more comfortable with the idea of the existence of God because the thought that everything and everyone that has ever lived is just gone forever is terrifying. Not to mention the infinite numbers of injustice done to people throughout history. I hope they get their punishment, and we will watch them have it.
That's why I don't plan on telling them. But it's hard lying about someone I'm not when approached even in church when I turn down communion.
Honesty, especially with parents, is overrated. Seriously, lie if you have to. At this late point in their lives you have no idea how long it might take to mend any severed ties.
Last month I decided to not participate in Ramadan because I felt I wasn't ready yet.
And that month got me thinking.
I realized that my relationship with God was superficial, as was my belief in him.
I still think Islam gave me a lot more than Christianity ever did, though. I'm certainly healthier and I feel better about myself. It gave me a lot. I still don't think I'll take up drinking and smoking the green stuff again, and I still haven't picked up pork again, although yesterday I accidentally ate bacon. By the same token, though, I don't eat beef as much either.
Maybe I'll start eating both again when I reach my goal of 140 and 150 pounds.
Chicken all the way, especially grilled.
Anyways, no one in Islam did anything to make me lose faith. Although it was unsettling to go to a mosque and be gawked at by a bunch of Pakisatni's. It also didn't help that I was really the only my age, aside from one or two other people who was muslim, but that enabled me to do more soul searching.
I was referring to Ramadan and not being ready. I'm sure that it's not just that, I read the OP, I feel what you're going through.
You dont need any religion to make you a better person, you can do everything out of your own.
I tend to think that as long as you dont mention religion, the religious people wont mention it too, and you can get along fine.
I am 100% sure my mom will break down and cry if I told her this, so no.
She once said before she thought she failed as a parent because of my lack in faith of Jesus.
I am serious.
What do you do "wrong"?
... :-*
It's from which angle you look at it. I'm more comfortable with the idea of the existence of God because the thought that everything and everyone that has ever lived is just gone forever is terrifying. Not to mention the infinite numbers of injustice done to people throughout history. I hope they get their punishment, and we will watch them have it.I used to think about this when I was younger and it seriously scared the shit out of me. I still do think about it every now and then, but I find something to distract myself when I realize it.
Welcome to the club, Himu.
Here around NY, not very many people care about your religion... my aunt told me a story that when her and my uncle moved down to Melbourne Florida (from Flushing), after a few weeks the neighbors knocked on their door, concerned because they hadn't seen the 2 of them at the local church. Most people here are either very liberal Catholic, reform Jews, or agnostic. Though occasionally you meet the occasional nutjobs as I can certainly attest to.
I totally can't imagine living in an area where everyone is so gung-ho about church and will chastise and avoid you if you aren't religious.
But seriously Himu, was it Castle? and the shame of sharing the same religion with him?
I don't understand this, is your faith is based on fear? Fear of conclusion you'd have to draw so you make yourself belief? Who cares if it's uncomfortable, it's reality.If you dont believe in God, there is actually less to fear and more to enjoy.
It's from which angle you look at it. I'm more comfortable with the idea of the existence of God because the thought that everything and everyone that has ever lived is just gone forever is terrifying. Not to mention the infinite numbers of injustice done to people throughout history. I hope they get their punishment, and we will watch them have it.
I don't understand this, is your faith is based on fear? Fear of conclusion you'd have to draw so you make yourself belief? Who cares if it's uncomfortable, it's reality.If you dont believe in God, there is actually less to fear and more to enjoy.
It's from which angle you look at it. I'm more comfortable with the idea of the existence of God because the thought that everything and everyone that has ever lived is just gone forever is terrifying. Not to mention the infinite numbers of injustice done to people throughout history. I hope they get their punishment, and we will watch them have it.
Besides that, it depends on what you consider 'gone'. Nothing disappears, it's just matter that ends up going into other stuff, we're all made of stardust as Carl Sagan says. I don't fear the idea that I won't be here anymore, I haven't been here for billions of years. I'm just glad I'm able to live on this planet, at such an interesting time where we're able to know a part of what all this stuff is.
Is it condensing towards other who believe? I find the subject of religion fascinating so I respect people who are religious. I just hope it doesn't perpetuate every stereotype about atheists, because I've met far more rude atheists in my life than theists.
Bill is an agnost not an atheist, he simply doesn't know. He justs confronts people with the idotic things about faith in a humurous way. Not really any new arguments but fun to watch.
I think the best line in the movie is "Religion makes a virtue of not thinking, it's nothing to be proud of."
I don't understand this, is your faith is based on fear? Fear of conclusion you'd have to draw so you make yourself belief? Who cares if it's uncomfortable, it's reality.If you dont believe in God, there is actually less to fear and more to enjoy.
It's from which angle you look at it. I'm more comfortable with the idea of the existence of God because the thought that everything and everyone that has ever lived is just gone forever is terrifying. Not to mention the infinite numbers of injustice done to people throughout history. I hope they get their punishment, and we will watch them have it.
Besides that, it depends on what you consider 'gone'. Nothing disappears, it's just matter that ends up going into other stuff, we're all made of stardust as Carl Sagan says. I don't fear the idea that I won't be here anymore, I haven't been here for billions of years. I'm just glad I'm able to live on this planet, at such an interesting time where we're able to know a part of what all this stuff is.
I can't tell if you're serious or not.I don't understand this, is your faith is based on fear? Fear of conclusion you'd have to draw so you make yourself belief? Who cares if it's uncomfortable, it's reality.If you dont believe in God, there is actually less to fear and more to enjoy.
It's from which angle you look at it. I'm more comfortable with the idea of the existence of God because the thought that everything and everyone that has ever lived is just gone forever is terrifying. Not to mention the infinite numbers of injustice done to people throughout history. I hope they get their punishment, and we will watch them have it.
Besides that, it depends on what you consider 'gone'. Nothing disappears, it's just matter that ends up going into other stuff, we're all made of stardust as Carl Sagan says. I don't fear the idea that I won't be here anymore, I haven't been here for billions of years. I'm just glad I'm able to live on this planet, at such an interesting time where we're able to know a part of what all this stuff is.
You must not really give a fuck about family and loved ones then.
awesome, now you can join the annoying ass "people who watched Religulous" religion. don't be that douche who wants to put down every religious person they meet with Bill Maher's witty logic. :)
I don't believe in any particular religion either but I absolutely hate "piss-on-the-blanket" agnostics who think they're above it all and don't acknowledge that the belief helps a lot of normal people out.
I ran into some strange behaviors when I stopped going to the church I grew up in, but only from those in that church. Someone had started rumors that I was into drugs and bad behavior, and the other youth had believed it. I eventually came to Quakerism after staying with my beliefs, but finding nothing of use within the church. But since this is California, that sort of soul searching is rather accepted. Being atheist or agnostic isn't a big deal. You get more hell here if you don't recycle. People don't really care much about my choice of faith, they just wonder where my horse and buggy are.
She was disappointed but accepted it. However she said things like,"I've failed you as a parent".
I am 100% sure my mom will break down and cry if I told her this, so no.
She once said before she thought she failed as a parent because of my lack in faith of Jesus.
I am serious.
Besides that, it depends on what you consider 'gone'. Nothing disappears, it's just matter that ends up going into other stuff, we're all made of stardust as Carl Sagan says. I don't fear the idea that I won't be here anymore, I haven't been here for billions of years. I'm just glad I'm able to live on this planet, at such an interesting time where we're able to know a part of what all this stuff is.
I've also been preoccupied with that thought but ever since I started reading up on evolution and the history of the universe I'm just overwhelmed with a sense of privilege and wonder. I'd like to live forever, but that's impossible, I'm quite content with this chance. Maybe I still feel sad or nostalgic about this or something, but I just can't make myself to believe something based on that so you have to live with it.Besides that, it depends on what you consider 'gone'. Nothing disappears, it's just matter that ends up going into other stuff, we're all made of stardust as Carl Sagan says. I don't fear the idea that I won't be here anymore, I haven't been here for billions of years. I'm just glad I'm able to live on this planet, at such an interesting time where we're able to know a part of what all this stuff is.
I try to use that rationale to ease the fear of nothingness, but the problem is that, a person is currently alive NOW, so it's hard to imagine otherwise.
I'm a 6, defacto atheist. Wether there's something before the big bang or whatever, I highly doubt (6) it's supernatural therefor not god in religious terms which I pretty much reject. I don't like to use the term 'god' in non-supernatural/religious ways.
So where do you fit on the scale old man?:lol
With Hitchens and a bottle of scotch we would probably win too.
if it does exist, it doesn't want us knowing that for sure.
How can ANYONE be a 1 or 7? I don't get it.
if it does exist, it doesn't want us knowing that for sure.
god is a recluse, like me or Howard Hughes.
How can ANYONE be a 1 or 7? I don't get it.
In this wide-ranging discussion with D.J. Grothe, Norm Allen explores some of the challenges advancing science and secularism within the African American community. He examines the pressure to conform to the religious ideal among various black skeptics and atheists, including many historical African American figures such as Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Nella Larsen, and Faye Wattleton, former president of Planned Parenthood of America. He debates whether religion is a liberating or oppressive force for African Americans. He also details many anti-science trends in the Black community, including those coming from Black entertainment outlets promoting anti-science such as psychic 900 lines, televangelists and belief in prophecy. He ties all of this discussion to an exploration of religion and secularism as they relate to political activism, including the influence of such high-profile Black preachers such as Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Senator Barack Obama's spiritual advisor.
In this discussion with D.J. Grothe, Michael Lackey talks about black liberation atheism, and the view among certain black intellectuals that belief in God results in racial inequality. He explores the black intellectual critique of the Enlightenment and of humanism, and how this has played out in post-modernist skepticism of humanism, science and reason in the academy. Focusing on Richard Wright, he explains the view that the real value of science is how it is democratic, not necessarily that it leads to "the truth". And he talks about the correspondence theory of truth and why he rejects it.