Well it isn't through lack of trying hehe, ironically I had a religious themed post on the forum earlier on today and it wasn't even in this thread, I will copy and paste it here seeing as it seems more appropriate here.
I'm an atheist/agnostic, I am tolerant of the religious but I have no tolerance for religion. If an idea is a bad idea it deserves no respect, most of the ideas that the religious would force on us are bad ideas. Only religion reinforces anti-semitism, homophobia, misogyny, racism, hate crimes, thought crimes, wars, anti-scientism all at the same time. And we have people defending this stone age bullshit because it makes them feel better, people don't care if their beliefs are correct. If people applied some critical thinking skills to their religious views we would have a lot less religion in the world.
Again I don't hate the religious I only hate the institution of religion.
As you can see i'm very passionate about this subject, I believe that this dogmatic belief system is holding us back. The sooner we release our selves from this nonsense that was written thousands of years ago by a bunch of savages the sooner we can move into the future.
I agree, I even said a few posts back that I feel like it holds us back. I'm passionate about the subject as well, but I don't want to turn this forum into a warzone.
As you can see i'm very passionate about this subject, I believe that this dogmatic belief system is holding us back. The sooner we release … moreour selves from this nonsense that was written thousands of years ago by a bunch of savages the sooner we can move into the future.
I know you you and I have similar view points, I just wanted to throw in a little addendum to explain my perspective to those who don't or wont understand.
I agree, I even said a few posts back that I feel like it holds us back. I'm passionate about the subject as well, but I don't want to turn this forum into a warzone.
I know you you and I have similar view points, I just wanted to throw in a little addendum to explain my perspective to those who don't or wont understand.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, if you are talking about Christian beliefs they can be summarised like this.
The bel… moreief that a cosmic Jewish zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree.
I need a LOT of evidence to believe this premise!
Well it isn't through lack of trying hehe, ironically I had a religious themed post on the forum earlier on today and it wasn't even in this… more thread, I will copy and paste it here seeing as it seems more appropriate here.
I'm an atheist/agnostic, I am tolerant of the religious but I have no tolerance for religion. If an idea is a bad idea it deserves no respect, most of the ideas that the religious would force on us are bad ideas. Only religion reinforces anti-semitism, homophobia, misogyny, racism, hate crimes, thought crimes, wars, anti-scientism all at the same time. And we have people defending this stone age bullshit because it makes them feel better, people don't care if their beliefs are correct. If people applied some critical thinking skills to their religious views we would have a lot less religion in the world.
Again I don't hate the religious I only hate the institution of religion.
The perspective on anyone who isn't blinded by this superstitious nonsense, christianity has endorsed slavery for thousands of years. Racism is the belief that someone who is different is inferior just because of the amount of melanin in their skin that is why it is bad. Misogyny is the belief that women are inferior because they were born with a vagina instead of a penis.
I'm a UCC Protestant turned Agnostic. I grew up in a militant Christian, right-wing community, so we went to church in because the kids at school used to give my sister and I shit for not believing. Being told that you're going to hell is something that's easy to laugh off as a teen/adult, but not when you're seven. Eventually I grew up enough that I didn't care anymore and stopped going.
Don't get me wrong, most churches/mosques/synagouges do a lot of good work in their communities, it's just not for me.
In response to AusZombie: I think that at some point in the future society will rid itself of religion. But remember, humans and every other living thing in the universe must have been created somehow, and how can there be a logical explanation? Everything had to start somewhere, and there probably is some kind of supernatural force out there.
I'm a UCC Protestant turned Agnostic. I grew up in a militant Christian, right-wing community, so we went to church in because the kids at … moreschool used to give my sister and I shit for not believing. Being told that you're going to hell is something that's easy to laugh off as a teen/adult, but not when you're seven. Eventually I grew up enough that I didn't care anymore and stopped going.
Don't get me wrong, most churches/mosques/synagouges do a lot of good work in their communities, it's just not for me.
In response to AusZombie: I think that at some point in the future society will rid itself of religion. But remember, humans and every other… more living thing in the universe must have been created somehow, and how can there be a logical explanation? Everything had to start somewhere, and there probably is some kind of supernatural force out there.
I am not fond of the whole cause and effect argument, the argument that life had to be created by some supremely powerful supernatural force. The cause and effect argument ignores the fact that if every effect needs a cause what was the cause of this supernatural force.
In short if there is a god and he created life, what created him?
In response to AusZombie: I think that at some point in the future society will rid itself of religion. But remember, humans and every other… more living thing in the universe must have been created somehow, and how can there be a logical explanation? Everything had to start somewhere, and there probably is some kind of supernatural force out there.
I'm a UCC Protestant turned Agnostic. I grew up in a militant Christian, right-wing community, so we went to church in because the kids at … moreschool used to give my sister and I shit for not believing. Being told that you're going to hell is something that's easy to laugh off as a teen/adult, but not when you're seven. Eventually I grew up enough that I didn't care anymore and stopped going.
Don't get me wrong, most churches/mosques/synagouges do a lot of good work in their communities, it's just not for me.
Also I know you are agnostic but the argument you putt forth to me is an argument from ignorance. Basically what I mean by that is just because science hasn't explained abiogenesis it doesn't mean that a creator is more plausible.
In response to AusZombie: I think that at some point in the future society will rid itself of religion. But remember, humans and every other… more living thing in the universe must have been created somehow, and how can there be a logical explanation? Everything had to start somewhere, and there probably is some kind of supernatural force out there.
Well I said I have nothing against those who believe and I truly don't, as long as people don't try to force their beliefs on others they can believe whatever they want. I'm only here for a healthy discussion if people will have one with me.
Catholic although it would be more logical to be called a deist or a "lazy catholic" because of how the religion works in my country. I come from some south american country that is about 95% catholic but the thing is we don't really take it too much seriously. I went to a religious school that taught us many science classes and also evolution, the teachers being the nuns themselves. Can you imagine that? A nun having absolutely no trouble with teaching evolution, well that's how it is down there.
Eh, I wouldn't say I was persecuted or anything, just looked down upon by some people. Eventually I just realized I had no reason to give a shit about said people or their opinions. It bothered my older sister a lot more, so I blame her for making me have to sit through all those church services.
I don't regret joining the UCC church though. It's a very moderate denomination that doesn't bash non-believers/gays/etc. Met lots of great people and my family is still friends with most of them, even though we aren't active anymore. Besides, I got to learn about one of history's greatest works of fiction.
Catholic although it would be more logical to be called a deist or a "lazy catholic" because of how the religion works in my country. I come… more from some south american country that is about 95% catholic but the thing is we don't really take it too much seriously. I went to a religious school that taught us many science classes and also evolution, the teachers being the nuns themselves. Can you imagine that? A nun having absolutely no trouble with teaching evolution, well that's how it is down there.
Are most Christians seriously like that? Because my great-grandmother was one of the only Christians in our household and it never seemed to… more bother her that no one else shared the belief. Then again, she had Parkinson's Disease in her later years so communication was a bit of a problem.
My mom tried to get me to go to church when I was a little kid, but I would always fall asleep. I also never understood why I had to eat a person's flesh. At five that confused me greatly, because we never ate people at home... that I knew of. I was born on a dairy farm after all, lol.
Anyways, after about three trips we never went again and religion pretty much left my life until high school. I never even gave it a second thought, and the majority of my family that I'm close to are atheists as well, so it wasn't that I was so much an atheist at first, because I had all but forgotten about god and religion in general so I held no belief either way. I guess rather than an atheist I'd have just been considered a heathen at the time. It was in high school when religious pressure started again, and that was when I finally took my stance on the issue.
Eh, I wouldn't say I was persecuted or anything, just looked down upon by some people. Eventually I just realized I had no reason to give a… more shit about said people or their opinions. It bothered my older sister a lot more, so I blame her for making me have to sit through all those church services.
I don't regret joining the UCC church though. It's a very moderate denomination that doesn't bash non-believers/gays/etc. Met lots of great people and my family is still friends with most of them, even though we aren't active anymore. Besides, I got to learn about one of history's greatest works of fiction.
My mom tried to get me to go to church when I was a little kid, but I would always fall asleep. I also never understood why I had to eat a p… moreerson's flesh. At five that confused me greatly, because we never ate people at home... that I knew of. I was born on a dairy farm after all, lol.
Anyways, after about three trips we never went again and religion pretty much left my life until high school. I never even gave it a second thought, and the majority of my family that I'm close to are atheists as well, so it wasn't that I was so much an atheist at first, because I had all but forgotten about god and religion in general so I held no belief either way. I guess rather than an atheist I'd have just been considered a heathen at the time. It was in high school when religious pressure started again, and that was when I finally took my stance on the issue.
I can't particularly label myself as anything, but I do believe in a creator.
I can't stand atheism. I can understand having doubts, but straight up stating that there is no God is very narrow minded.
Edit:
To clear this up, I'm just trying to say I wish people would be more open minded to the possibilities of the origin of life when they have no clue what actually happened. I'm not saying they should for sure believe in a creator, but they should at least consider the theory a possibility and not write it off when they have no evidence at all to do so.
That's basically opposite to me. Both my mom and dad had strict Catholic educations/upbringings but eventually left the church. (my dad hated it so much he blew up a toilet to get expelled). Because of this, they decided that my sister and I shouldn't have religion forced on us. When my sister asked hem to take us, they basically shrugged and said "Okay, you asked or it." I just kinda went along with it, since I had no clue what I was getting myself into.
My mom tried to get me to go to church when I was a little kid, but I would always fall asleep. I also never understood why I had to eat a p… moreerson's flesh. At five that confused me greatly, because we never ate people at home... that I knew of. I was born on a dairy farm after all, lol.
Anyways, after about three trips we never went again and religion pretty much left my life until high school. I never even gave it a second thought, and the majority of my family that I'm close to are atheists as well, so it wasn't that I was so much an atheist at first, because I had all but forgotten about god and religion in general so I held no belief either way. I guess rather than an atheist I'd have just been considered a heathen at the time. It was in high school when religious pressure started again, and that was when I finally took my stance on the issue.
You could have just said Pravoslavie instead. It would have sounded much cooler to an English-speaking audience and had them scratching their heads for a good while. ;-)
Well I said I have nothing against those who believe and I truly don't, as long as people don't try to force their beliefs on others they can believe whatever they want. I'm only here for a healthy discussion if people will have one with me.
I can't particularly label myself as anything, but I do believe in a creator.
I can't stand atheism. I can understand having doubts, but … morestraight up stating that there is no God is very narrow minded.
Edit:
To clear this up, I'm just trying to say I wish people would be more open minded to the possibilities of the origin of life when they have no clue what actually happened. I'm not saying they should for sure believe in a creator, but they should at least consider the theory a possibility and not write it off when they have no evidence at all to do so.
Comments
Well it isn't through lack of trying hehe, ironically I had a religious themed post on the forum earlier on today and it wasn't even in this thread, I will copy and paste it here seeing as it seems more appropriate here.
I'm an atheist/agnostic, I am tolerant of the religious but I have no tolerance for religion. If an idea is a bad idea it deserves no respect, most of the ideas that the religious would force on us are bad ideas. Only religion reinforces anti-semitism, homophobia, misogyny, racism, hate crimes, thought crimes, wars, anti-scientism all at the same time. And we have people defending this stone age bullshit because it makes them feel better, people don't care if their beliefs are correct. If people applied some critical thinking skills to their religious views we would have a lot less religion in the world.
Again I don't hate the religious I only hate the institution of religion.
As you can see i'm very passionate about this subject, I believe that this dogmatic belief system is holding us back. The sooner we release our selves from this nonsense that was written thousands of years ago by a bunch of savages the sooner we can move into the future.
I agree, I even said a few posts back that I feel like it holds us back. I'm passionate about the subject as well, but I don't want to turn this forum into a warzone.
I know you you and I have similar view points, I just wanted to throw in a little addendum to explain my perspective to those who don't or wont understand.
Gotcha.
You bored me real quick.
Define most. Provide statistical evidence.
Define bad. From whose perspective? What makes racism bad? What makes misogyny bad? From whose perspective?
You are obviously unaware what a joke is.
I'm not here for your entertainment, if what i'm posting bores you don't read it
The perspective on anyone who isn't blinded by this superstitious nonsense, christianity has endorsed slavery for thousands of years. Racism is the belief that someone who is different is inferior just because of the amount of melanin in their skin that is why it is bad. Misogyny is the belief that women are inferior because they were born with a vagina instead of a penis.
I'm a UCC Protestant turned Agnostic. I grew up in a militant Christian, right-wing community, so we went to church in because the kids at school used to give my sister and I shit for not believing. Being told that you're going to hell is something that's easy to laugh off as a teen/adult, but not when you're seven. Eventually I grew up enough that I didn't care anymore and stopped going.
Don't get me wrong, most churches/mosques/synagouges do a lot of good work in their communities, it's just not for me.
In response to AusZombie: I think that at some point in the future society will rid itself of religion. But remember, humans and every other living thing in the universe must have been created somehow, and how can there be a logical explanation? Everything had to start somewhere, and there probably is some kind of supernatural force out there.
So you were basically condemned for not believing? Ugh. Sometimes i wonder if humans have really evolved at all these past few centuries.
If there is, it doesn't seem to particularly care about us, contrary to what religion teaches.
I am not fond of the whole cause and effect argument, the argument that life had to be created by some supremely powerful supernatural force. The cause and effect argument ignores the fact that if every effect needs a cause what was the cause of this supernatural force.
In short if there is a god and he created life, what created him?
I thankfully grew up in Australia and we are not a very religious country, there is almost no social pressure to conform to any particular doctrine.
I am Christian, but haven't gone to church in a few years.
I'm an Atheist. Was brought up as a Catholic however, my Dad is a Geneticist and led me to the interests of the universe.
Also I know you are agnostic but the argument you putt forth to me is an argument from ignorance. Basically what I mean by that is just because science hasn't explained abiogenesis it doesn't mean that a creator is more plausible.
I know what you mean. I'm Aussie as well
I'm actually surprised a flame war hasn't started yet. It's just to show that everyone here is awesome.
Well I said I have nothing against those who believe and I truly don't, as long as people don't try to force their beliefs on others they can believe whatever they want. I'm only here for a healthy discussion if people will have one with me.
Catholic although it would be more logical to be called a deist or a "lazy catholic" because of how the religion works in my country. I come from some south american country that is about 95% catholic but the thing is we don't really take it too much seriously. I went to a religious school that taught us many science classes and also evolution, the teachers being the nuns themselves. Can you imagine that? A nun having absolutely no trouble with teaching evolution, well that's how it is down there.
Eh, I wouldn't say I was persecuted or anything, just looked down upon by some people. Eventually I just realized I had no reason to give a shit about said people or their opinions. It bothered my older sister a lot more, so I blame her for making me have to sit through all those church services.
I don't regret joining the UCC church though. It's a very moderate denomination that doesn't bash non-believers/gays/etc. Met lots of great people and my family is still friends with most of them, even though we aren't active anymore. Besides, I got to learn about one of history's greatest works of fiction.
I remember hearing somewhere that "evolution is god's blueprint" I guess the nuns would agree with that. :O It's still really weird, though.
Most evangelical Christians are...like my Uncle Scott. Who looks and sounds exactly like Uncle Pete from TWD. It's unnerving tbh.
Greek or Russkie?
Russkie. I live in Ukraine, and Russian Orthodox Church has many adherents here (biggest Christian denomination in the country).
Ah, that's not surprising. There's a bunch of Ukrainian immigrants in my area, and most of them go to the Russian Orthodox Church in the closest city.
Oh? Where do you live, if you don't mind me asking?
Eastern Pennsylvania, Lancaster to be exact. A pretty sizable community moved here during the early 90's.
christian, but i'm not super religous so i don't know what subgroup i am, i just believe in all that basic christian stuff :P
My mom tried to get me to go to church when I was a little kid, but I would always fall asleep. I also never understood why I had to eat a person's flesh. At five that confused me greatly, because we never ate people at home... that I knew of. I was born on a dairy farm after all, lol.
Anyways, after about three trips we never went again and religion pretty much left my life until high school. I never even gave it a second thought, and the majority of my family that I'm close to are atheists as well, so it wasn't that I was so much an atheist at first, because I had all but forgotten about god and religion in general so I held no belief either way. I guess rather than an atheist I'd have just been considered a heathen at the time. It was in high school when religious pressure started again, and that was when I finally took my stance on the issue.
I see what you did there
I can't particularly label myself as anything, but I do believe in a creator.
I can't stand atheism. I can understand having doubts, but straight up stating that there is no God is very narrow minded.
Edit:
To clear this up, I'm just trying to say I wish people would be more open minded to the possibilities of the origin of life when they have no clue what actually happened. I'm not saying they should for sure believe in a creator, but they should at least consider the theory a possibility and not write it off when they have no evidence at all to do so.
Hehe, dairy farmers.
That's basically opposite to me. Both my mom and dad had strict Catholic educations/upbringings but eventually left the church. (my dad hated it so much he blew up a toilet to get expelled). Because of this, they decided that my sister and I shouldn't have religion forced on us. When my sister asked hem to take us, they basically shrugged and said "Okay, you asked or it." I just kinda went along with it, since I had no clue what I was getting myself into.
You could have just said Pravoslavie instead. It would have sounded much cooler to an English-speaking audience and had them scratching their heads for a good while. ;-)
Can't disagree.
So would you consider yourself Agnostic?