Question for the religious

I have a question that applies equally to the religious (of any stripe) and to theists.

Why do any of you are what another believes?

If they try to change you I can see a problem, if not so what?

If the beliefs of an individual make that individual happy, or even satisfied, why do others concern themselves with it?

For the record, I am a long time atheist and could care less why anyone believes as they do, just leave me alone.

 

I was an Atheist myself from the time that I was about eight years old until I was about thirteen.

Finding out about the evidence that indicates that a major purpose is being worked out here on earth
has greatly benefited my life in so many ways.

An Atheist can be an extremely ethical person........
more so than many Theists...... but it is a step in the right direction to begin to call yourself an
Agnostic as you take a serious look at the evidence for intelligence existing in higher more fundamental energy dimensions of space - time.


http://www.politicalforum.com/opini...lligence-begin-matter-fundamental-energy.html

Where did Intelligence begin, in matter or fundamental energy?
I am an Evolutionary Theist........

I am of the belief that a being with "Godlike" technological capability

began, far far far far far more than 13.72 billion years ago, in
fundamental or nearly fundamental energy that to at least some
degree corresponds with "Energy from Quantum Vacuum."


This Intelligence learned and learned, and experimented..... .and
designed Big Bang type events, nearly an infinite number of them,
and eventually, around 13.72 billion year or so ago began our.......
Big Bang event that led to the evolution plus creation of
all the life forms that we see here on earth.


http://www.near-death.com/reincarnation/experiences/mellen-thomas-benedict.html#a05

 

I have my reasons for being an atheist, based on my life experience and serious doubt that anything will ever change this.

I don't worry about the "big picture" as there is enough to be concerned about in day to day life.

As stated, if no one bothers me in my beliefs, I see no reason to bother anyone else.

 

I have not attacked your belief system, why are you attacking mine?

If it turns out that you are wrong, your attack is worthless and would prove mine to not be "ignorant".

 

Yes. And there is much to dislike about the politics and splintered nature of the Christian Church.

However, I always say to non-believers that they, too, can stand on the promise given in Matthew 7:7.

One needn't have the answer, it is sufficient to be able to ask a sincere question and see where that leads...

 

Btw, atheism is not "based on a dislike of Christian Church". It is based on the sure knowledge that these beliefs that the doctrine is false and therefore worthless.

 

For the most part I don't. However, I do care what he says, especially when, as is so often the case with atheists, what he says is bullpucky.

Case in point.

 

To not care about others well-being is selfish.

To force others to care about their own well-being is totalitarian, however. To some degree, that is necessary and normal....such as with children.

The best you can do with adults is open the door to honest discussion.

 

If Atheism were a "sure thing" there would be no religion.

 

As I said, your beliefs are your own, why try so hard to convince others when you, by your own words, you express your doubts in them yourself.

Also, why do you feel you have to attack others who have different beliefs? Insecure?

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Yet, so many of the religious insist that all believe as they do. Totalitarian, yes.

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Sure there would. People constantly need to be reassured in a father figure, even with no evidence.

 

A-Theist is the religion of those who don't believe in God.

 

A-Theist is the religion of those who don't believe in God. You can answer your own questions, about yourself.

 

I don't try at all.

Obviously you've got me confused with someone else.

Is that why you do it?

As if I didn't know.

 

Is someone trying to convince you not to be an atheist?

 

There are atheists that spend much of their time maligning religion as well.

 

Get a dictionary. Atheist indicates zero religion, no matter how much you insist.

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Atheism is not a religion, merely stated so by the religious.

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Show me where have attacked anyone. Others have attempted to attack, including you.

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And other who don't. While many of religion seem to be so insecure that they just have to attack an atheist.

Deny it if you can.

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Most of the posters who have replied, that's who.

 

Wanting others to believe as you do has nothing to do with religion as much as it does human nature.

We see the same thing with political affiliations, personal behavior, and every other facet of life.

As far as atheism, you don't know if your belief (and even you referred to it as such) is true or not. There is no way to prove God does or does not exist.

Belief in a higher power is the one commonality all human beings, from pretty much all cultures, have shared since our brains were able to conceive the idea.

 

Sure it is. SCOTUS says so. Torcaso v. Watkins

Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God are Buddhism, Taoism, Ethical Culture, Secular Humanism, and others.

 

And diminishing as time goes by.

Herd think is not something to be proud of.

 

Is it, or is it just being replaced with something similar?

 

Lots of the usual theistic red herrings already in this thread so to address some of those and make a point about the OP I will add that I'm not particularly bothered about whatever delusion that believers want to use to give them comfort. I am bothered about the way that that delusion is subsequently applied to politics, society and relationships in the real World that we all have to inhabit. It is unfortunate that politicised religion has been harnessed by those who feel a need to wield temporal power over others and it is also unfortunate that there are those who would willingly grant them that power, I guess that to use a cliche, it's not gods that I have a problem with so much as their followers. In the Western World, that normally translates into followers of Christianity since it is by far and away the predominant religion involved in politics in our region. If you want to translate that into a prejudicial statement like, 'atheists just dislike the Christian Church' then I'm not going to waste time on trying to disabuse you of your persecution complex, which is held despite the entitlement that you would enjoy in our society as Christian.

Atheism is not a religion or a theology, it is a simple statement regarding belief in gods. Personally, I lack belief in the absence of evidence, if someone wants to present some evidence then they have got me, I would then be, to paraphrase, 'convinced not to be an atheist'. In general, most atheists say that they don't believe or variants thereof but, if you ask deeper questions then you soon realise that what they mean is that they lack belief because there is no evidence. To use another cliche, we are all atheists of one sort or another, I am atheist about one less god than most religious people. So, you can try to attack atheism by saying, 'well, it's just another religion' but, all that really says is that you don't like atheism for all the reasons that you like your religion, kind of ridiculous. My understanding is that in the US, the SCOTUS did not declare atheism a religion, it simply stated that for legal purposes it would be treated as one under law. That is not the same thing as saying it is a religion.

The internet is where religions go to die.

 

SCOTUS also say that not paying for Obamacare and getting fined for it is not a penalty but a tax. They are often wrong.

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If you don't know, a silly question. It is being thrown aside, not replaced, with a lack of belief in its dogma.

 

Rat cheer:

That's an attack on every Christian. You're welcome.

 

No, it is based on knowledge, unlike your attack on me.

BTW, your "rat cheer" seems appropriate coming from you.

 

You have no belief system, and I am not attacking you just stating facts.