I'm an atheist, but I really don't care. A parental deity is crazy, but I don't really care if a god exists or not. Such a pointless idea. I honestly have trouble understanding why anyone really cares. I grew up completely outside of any kind of judeo-christian religion so they all seem as crazy as a bunch of adults believing in Santa Claus.
If you want to believe in a god go ahead.
WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW? NOTHING, 'CAUSE YOU'RE A DAMN DIRTY APE!!!
@GuyIncognito: but you can't take the questions of whether voodoo or Zeus exist to represent all queries possible about theism and religion.
Why not? My point is that a person's worldview dictates what is either absurd or worthy of consideration. Ancient Greeks thought questions about Zeus and his family were as important as your questions about afterlife. Likewise, other people are free to judge your questions to be equally trivial.
BTW, you replying to my comment awarded me the "Touched by God" trophy. It must be a sign from Joe Pesci.
Why not? Because we know that would be deliberately limiting our perspective of the world, why would you be wilfully narrow-minded and incorrect about the issue? Of course whether these questions are worthy of consideration is a matter of personal perspective, but I find it very unlikely that someone who really thought about it genuinely wouldn't care about whether they were immortal or whether the most powerful being in the universe loved them, or at least the answers to some of these questions. Many of these kinds of questions seem very relevant to not just me as an individual, but people on a wider scale. In fact the Ancient Greeks are the perfect example of a people who were concerned with major theological and philosophical questions, and not just the details of the world staring them in the face. If I knew more about Joe Pesci this is where a Joe Pesci joke would go.
apathetic for the most part. I think they might be a god or gods, but I don't really care. It has always seem to me that people either praise or curse it/them depending on how their day is going.
My view on religion is that it's not a subject to talk about in public. Someone's 'faith' should be more private and personal even than one's sex life. Those zealots who flaunt their mystic beliefs around like everybody else's is wrong are total sluts.
Athiest. I really hate people trying to get others to believe in god. Its stupidity at its finest, its cool you have an imaginary friend but I dont need to know about it.
People at the church I used to attend were pretty much against all of my favorite things so as of right now I don't really know. Plus they were really racist and intolerant of other religions which I always found hypocritical considering that is almost exactly the opposite of what I got out of the Bible.
I don't consider atheism to be a religion, but the sake of clarity, I'll call myself an atheist (Ex-Christian) here. I also have slight anti-theist tendencies.
People at the church I used to attend were pretty much against all of my favorite things so as of right now I don't really know. Plus they were really racist and intolerant of other religions which I always found hypocritical considering that is almost exactly the opposite of what I got out of the Bible.
I'm actually surprised by that. We live in a modern era, and it seems that Christians (at least where I grew up) were more accepting of science and progress, and, dare I say, liberal ideology. Might I ask where (as in country, not too specific) you live, and what kind of church it was?
People at the church I used to attend were pretty much against all of my favorite things so as of right now I don't really know. Plus they were really racist and intolerant of other religions which I always found hypocritical considering that is almost exactly the opposite of what I got out of the Bible.
I'm actually surprised by that. We live in a modern era, and it seems that Christians (at least where I grew up) were more accepting of science and progress, and, dare I say, liberal ideology. Might I ask where (as in country, not too specific) you live, and what kind of church it was?
I live in the south in the USA and it is a Baptist church. I don't think most churches in the area are as bad as the one I attended and I am sure not everybody that went there held those views but it was entirely too many that did.
People at the church I used to attend were pretty much against all of my favorite things so as of right now I don't really know. Plus they were really racist and intolerant of other religions which I always found hypocritical considering that is almost exactly the opposite of what I got out of the Bible.
I'm actually surprised by that. We live in a modern era, and it seems that Christians (at least where I grew up) were more accepting of science and progress, and, dare I say, liberal ideology. Might I ask where (as in country, not too specific) you live, and what kind of church it was?
I live in the south in the USA and it is a Baptist church. I don't think most churches in the area are as bad as the one I attended and I am sure not everybody that went there held those views but it was entirely too many that did.
I'm from Canada, and the church I attended held extremely liberal views regarding acceptance, creation, and views about Biblical events (mostly in an allegorical snese). In a way it actually ENCOURAGED its members to be agnostic to the matter, a fact that I enjoyed about it. But, yeah, there are a lot of churches, unfortunately, who favor suspending logic and discriminating against people who don't "fit their mold."
Wait, do you mean Agnostic Atheist? Because Gnostic is most definitely a theist religion where knowledge is God. It has all sorts of beliefs built around it. Though maybe you have a different interpretation of Gnosticism? :o
Somewhere in between Agnostic and Atheist I guess. I would like there to be something greater than what it in front of us but when I try to think logically or look at science etc. that pretty much just stamps on any hope I have.
Non-believer here. I don't mind when people have a faith so long as they don't let it control them or make irrational decisions to accommodate it.
At the same time though... I think the world would be a better place without it. People still looked out for each other and knew adultery was wrong and murder was wrong and what have you, thousands of years BC. It's been the root of many bloody wars that we could surely have done without.
Greed has hamstrung our growth as a species, but religion has played a major part in preventing peace.
I personally believe that religion is an institution of man and will forever be marred by the flaws of our nature. Faith, however, is the personal relationship between one and their chosen deity. Thus I choose to be a man of faith, and not of religion.
Just throwing it out there. Hope you check the facts.
I have studied my religion far more than you ever have. And I have done so from every angle.
How dare you come here and attack my beliefs. I will believe what I will and I don't need you linking me to sites that shit on what I hold sacred. You don't believe it. That's fine but you don't need to through it in my face You stupid, ignorant, fucking cunt.
Edit: Maybe I am being a bit too harsh. But it was seriously a dick move.
Wait, do you mean Agnostic Atheist? Because Gnostic is most definitely a theist religion where knowledge is God. It has all sorts of beliefs built around it. Though maybe you have a different interpretation of Gnosticism? :o
Gnosticism means he is 100% sure there is no god. Agnostic means that one is uncertain, hence the "a," meaning not, gnostic meaning certain, so naturally gnostic means the opposite of that.
Raised Catholic, epiphany ensued, became atheist when I was 16 (I'm 32 now).
And I absolutely adore speaking with people of all faiths about their beliefs. I don't think it's a such a personal issue that it can't be spoken about or debated. As long as religious folks aren't preachy and atheists aren't ignorant douchebags, it can be done.
Wait, do you mean Agnostic Atheist? Because Gnostic is most definitely a theist religion where knowledge is God. It has all sorts of beliefs built around it. Though maybe you have a different interpretation of Gnosticism? :o
Gnosticism means he is 100% sure there is no god. Agnostic means that one is uncertain, hence the "a," meaning not, gnostic meaning certain, so naturally gnostic means the opposite of that.
Gnos·tic (nŏs'tĭk) adj. gnostic Of, relating to, or possessing intellectual or spiritual knowledge. Of or relating to Gnosticism. n. A believer in Gnosticism .
Wait, do you mean Agnostic Atheist? Because Gnostic is most definitely a theist religion where knowledge is God. It has all sorts of beliefs built around it. Though maybe you have a different interpretation of Gnosticism? :o
Gnosticism means he is 100% sure there is no god. Agnostic means that one is uncertain, hence the "a," meaning not, gnostic meaning certain, so naturally gnostic means the opposite of that.
Agnostic means to not know, and Gnostic means to know. Gnosticism is an early Christian cult seen in the Dead Sea Scrolls which believed that knowledge itself is God. They professed that Jesus only claimed to be one with God because he was the first to ever attain all knowledge. So, a Gnostic pursues knowledge as the ultimate way to move closer to God.
Under no circumstances has "Gnostic" ever meant that someone doesn't believe in God. Its basis is in worshipping "Gnosis", or knowledge. Agnostic isn't the opposite of Gnosticism; it's just a descriptive term for the idea that it is not clear whether a higher power exists or not. When someone is a "Gnostic", they are professing to an archaic belief that has few adherents today. The videogame Xenogears famously used Gnostic gospel as the basis of its story and thematic elements. El Shaddai last year also made references to it by latching onto supposed "lost" gospels for inspiring the surreal story.
Thus, I think it makes a lot more sense that he meant "Agnostic" Atheist, as many have been saying that. In other words, a lack of certainty that there is no god, but leaning on the side of there not being one.
I am an atheist, I find it highly improbable that any sort of god(s) has ever existed, nor do i wish that the Yahweh (abrahmic god ) presented in the bible,Quran or the Toran exist. What a tyrant way to rule and force people to live :p
Any reasonable person is at least agnostic with the issue, be it a theist or an atheist. And in philosophy, we can truly never disprove god (but then again, we do not have the burden of proof) yet, when I study these holy. Books and see truly see them for what they are, books made to control people, keep them in line.
Yet, I do not hate on religious people (unless they use their religion to justify a law or same weak hypothetical discussion (homosexual, abortion etc.)). Because most of them (imo) are religious because of the community around them, and for many, it gives them comfort and guideline (thou very few know their religion as good as they should ).
I don't think it's a such a personal issue that it can't be spoken about or debated. As long as religious folks aren't preachy and atheists aren't ignorant douchebags, it can be done.
I'm an atheist that gets really pissed when somebody says that atheists "believe in nothing" but does not bother religious people to death with atheist evangelization anymore (i.e. not a atheist Jehova's witness).
But for the record, atheism is the active belief that there is no god, which is usually paired with humanist beliefs. There is still a morality system attached to it about removing religious alienation and realizing humanity's potential for good. What people are thinking of when they think of this is either agnosticism or nihilism. Not quite the same thing.
Sry, that is wrong. Atheism has no dogma, there nothing that says atheist seek to do what best for the human condition, especially regarding morals, which there are none standards to speak. It is the lack of belief, not the belief that there is no god, that doesn't make any sense.
You could argue that humanist seek such a goal, but then again, aren't we all a little bit of a humanis if you think about it?
Wait, do you mean Agnostic Atheist? Because Gnostic is most definitely a theist religion where knowledge is God. It has all sorts of beliefs built around it. Though maybe you have a different interpretation of Gnosticism? :o
Gnosticism means he is 100% sure there is no god. Agnostic means that one is uncertain, hence the "a," meaning not, gnostic meaning certain, so naturally gnostic means the opposite of that.
Agnostic means to not know, and Gnostic means to know. Gnosticism is an early Christian cult seen in the Dead Sea Scrolls which believed that knowledge itself is God. They professed that Jesus only claimed to be one with God because he was the first to ever attain all knowledge. So, a Gnostic pursues knowledge as the ultimate way to move closer to God.
Under no circumstances has "Gnostic" ever meant that someone doesn't believe in God. Its basis is in worshipping "Gnosis", or knowledge. Agnostic isn't the opposite of Gnosticism; it's just a descriptive term for the idea that it is not clear whether a higher power exists or not. When someone is a "Gnostic", they are professing to an archaic belief that has few adherents today. The videogame Xenogears famously used Gnostic gospel as the basis of its story and thematic elements. El Shaddai last year also made references to it by latching onto supposed "lost" gospels for inspiring the surreal story.
Thus, I think it makes a lot more sense that he meant "Agnostic" Atheist, as many have been saying that. In other words, a lack of certainty that there is no god, but leaning on the side of there not being one.
But couldn't he say: I am an atheist gnostic Which means that not only does he not believe in a god(s), he makes the claim that there is none at all. Which is basically my view :p
Sorry for the bad grammar people, writing on a mobile phone is a bitch..
I'm an atheist that gets really pissed when somebody says that atheists "believe in nothing" but does not bother religious people to death with atheist evangelization anymore (i.e. not a atheist Jehova's witness).
But for the record, atheism is the active belief that there is no god, which is usually paired with humanist beliefs. There is still a morality system attached to it about removing religious alienation and realizing humanity's potential for good. What people are thinking of when they think of this is either agnosticism or nihilism. Not quite the same thing.
Sry, that is wrong. Atheism has no dogma, there nothing that says atheist seek to do what best for the human condition, especially regarding morals, which there are none standards to speak. It is the lack of belief, not the belief that there is no god, that doesn't make any sense. You could argue that humanist seek such a goal, but then again, aren't we all a little bit of a humanis if you think about it?
I think he's talking about Neo Atheism which does have ideas on morality and an active interest in removing religion from society. People like Christopher Hitchens(who died recently) promote this form of atheism.
@TruthTellah But couldn't he say: I am an atheist gnostic Which means that not only does he not believe in a god(s), he makes the claim that there is none at all. Which is basically my view :p Sorry for the bad grammar people, writing on a mobile phone is a bitch..
That wouldn't really make sense, as Gnostic is still inherently a term for a theist belief. You couldn't both say you don't believe in gods and that knowledge itself is god. ;)
The religion my beliefs fall closest to would be Pantheism. I don't believe in following the dictates of any organized religion word for word, though. Religion should be purely on your own terms.
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