At what age did you come to realize that God/Devil/Heaven/Hell/Angels/Demons are all man-made fairy tales?

[Ban Hammer 12,842]

[Peikko 1,575]

I like the idea that the soul is the Breath we share with the Divine, and the rest of Creation. That man holds a special place in Creation is a bit of vanity.

More insults.

Only if you believe that the way it sounds in your head is more important than the content of what you are reading.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Only if you believe that the way it sounds in your head is more important than the content of what you are reading.

English, please.

[^_^ 5,021]

English, please.

MC, why do you bother?

[Peikko 1,575]

MC, why do you bother?

Good question. What is the point of arguing with someone who thinks that rocket science is faith based?

[^_^ 5,021]

What is the point of arguing with someone who thinks that rocket science is faith based?

There isn't one.

[Peikko 1,575]

There isn't one.

I've seen the light! It's a sign

[BishopM 114]

What do you think of the direct quote in my signature?

I personally don't view the Bible as a historical work, but science has shown that much of it indeed historical. It goes without saying that I don't think the Bible is a literal work, but I do believe that the authors (through God's direction) may have used historical characters to provide a context which modern man may then be able to comprehend...often times this is shown through war, which seems to be something that man can comprehend (both physical war and internal war(s) of...say, in this example of David, Lust and Greed). By this manner, God is able to use historically accurate people in order to provide context/backdrop for the reader and also makes quick history/waste to the lore of man as kings/queens in brief history while simultaneously driving home his religious/Godly theme.

But if you're specifically asking me if all those foreskins were REALLY cut off...well, I don't know!

[BishopM 114]

That's a mere 2000 years, and people born before then are judged by a different set of standards than people born after that time? That seems rather arbitrary which is an entirely human quality.

As to catholics, mostly a likable bunch, especially the 'agnostic' caltholics, the ones who do not believe the pontiff is god's representative here on earth. It seems very odd to me, in this day and age to underscore the sexual act as necessarily procreational with the recreational angle being a function of its primary objective and not an objective in its own right, the same as the enjoyment of food and the arts for example. The focus on sex as such an origin of sinful behaviour and to deny protection to the less educated peoples against sexually transmitted disease on the back of this seems so churlish and discriminatory - again so very modern man rather than godlike.

He definitely did boggle that one last year, without a doubt! Yet, I believe his point was accurate that the root of problem doesn't lie in a plastic bag. In fact, I recently read that he said the use of the condoms was a 'first moral step/obligation'. He's right in that aspect (my opinion again) that if you're going to do it, then protect yourself/partner.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

somewhere in middle-school age... So 12-14 maybe??? *shrugs*

[Dan J 277]

What then is the set of beliefs required by someone who believes in the existence of a God? I'm sorry, but I don't see how they are different from each other in that respect. They are two sides of the same coin - both choosing to believe in something they cannot prove.

Atheism is not a religion, but it is a faith. Its essentially a belief that there is no God, Deity or grand plan for the universe. But like any other faith, it cannot be absolutely proven.

Religion is an organized practice of a faith. There really isn't any organized practice around atheism. You might get close with some of the Humanist movements.

[Fandango 1,439]

I don't think you get it so I will try again. Although I don't believe in God I still have morals. There is right and wrong and nice and mean in the real world. On the internet it doesn't apply.

So if I went around making fun of religious people and explaining how there is no flying monster out there. That when you talk inside your mind and sincerely think you are communicating with a flying monster you are really just talking to yourself. There is no fairy tale land called Heaven full of trillions of people, all with perfectly hot bodies fvcking each others brains out, eating good, sleeping good, doing amazing drugs, and living this permanent life of bliss (this is how I always perceived Heaven even as a small child). The flying monster has never talked, never showed himself, and if a tow truck driver gives you a jump it doesn't mean it was an almighty blessing and sign from the flying monster.

If I did this preaching then I would have to be insane and fortunately I am sane enough to know that only a lunatic would go around preaching atheism among friends, strangers, and family. If in your mind that makes me a coward then you really need to think about it a little harder. Is Stephen a fake coward too if he doesn't pass out 40 political articles a day?

I don't see much a difference between me having to preach atheism to not be a fake coward and Stephen having to pass out 40 articles a day...

She's saying you're a coward because you hide your atheism in your real life and only show your true self online. As well as finding pleasure in mocking the religious.

And I would tend to agree. If those are your beliefs and you feel as strongly as you do, for fuque's sake, be proud of it and tell your family and friends, instead of portraying yourself to be someone you're not.

So that is why (at least imo) she called you a coward. Or a fake, now I'm not sure which it was. But either one holds true.

Oh, btw...I have always found it rather amusing...the tendency for many who are non-believers to bash or belittle the faith of the believers. Why do you do it? If you are secure in your beliefs, why feel the need to piss on others' beliefs? You're a non-believer? GREAT. More power to you. That is your own journey. You don't need to 'explain' to peeps with faith how it 'really works'...while that may be YOUR interpretation, there's no need to sit around like you're the more enlightened of the two, and you're going to 'set us all straight'. Even the fact that you have to refer to God as a 'flying monster' shows what a disrespectful and insecure POS you are.

Have a great night!

Edited November 23, 2010 by Lisa C

[mawilson 2,133]

Atheism is not a religion, but it is a faith. Its essentially a belief that there is no God, Deity or grand plan for the universe.

It's really not. Atheists don't make up stories for things they cannot explain - that's the difference.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

It's really not. Atheists don't make up stories for things they cannot explain - that's the difference.

How do anti-theists handle things they cannot explain?

[mawilson 2,133]

How do anti-theists handle things they cannot explain?

We say "I don't know".