I'm an atheist.
I was raised a Baptist and over time I have juggled with various religions (and denominations within Christianity) and never find one that I liked. Not only that I got to the point where I started to question everything with religion such as God being all knowing (which is what I've been taught since I was little), the aspect of Heaven & Hell being pointless if God is all knowing, and other things with Christianity that I've learned over the years that just made me stop believing in general.
I don't have a problem with Religion in general, and if someone follows one I wont heckle or belittle someone for their religion. All I ask is to not have religion shoved down my throat by anyone. If later I find some reason to believe again I want it to be because of my own accord not through force
Every group or belief has this section of nutter extremists, so I don't like belonging to large sects with lots of rules, they're all self-imposed and a way to control others. I've become a very bitter and cynical person recently so I have no idea what my own ideas are, I usually don't think about them because I don't mind dying either way, in fact I sort of welcome it, so it doesn't much matter to me in the present what happens or if there's anything out there. I really hate large drawn out discussions from religious people or atheists though, don't you have anything else to obsessively talk about in a hostile manner, like the newest episode of Chopped on Food Network like damn, you have to discuss the meaning of the Universe 24/7? Have some doritos and calm down.
Agreed. You can still have a belief without being in a sect/cult, though. Lots of them are legitimately out there to make $$$ or corrupt people.
Regarding hostile debates... some militant atheists I've encountered will go into religious groups, usually on the Internet, and start bashing them and having unintelligent, insulting arguments with them because they think it's fun (I even asked one who was doing it to me). There are some that are pretty much shoving atheism down others' throats the same way many religious people do, and trying to shame them for believing what they believe, not letting them get a word in edgewise and bending their statements like politicians (or the way some bend the words of the Bible/cherry pick to make it mean what they want it to). I look at their G+ feeds and it's literally all they ever post or talk about; it seems to be the only characteristic that they let define themselves. I mean, some religious probably do it too, but that's the point: atheists being preachy about their beliefs the way people who actually believe in God do... religious atheists. lol. So yeah there's some crazy everywhere on the spectrum.
I even get sick of trying to debate these things at times. I have other interests besides professing my beliefs and defending them, as important as it may be. Like guys chill out, grab a Coke, play some MarioKart, turn Spotify up, and live for awhile, why don't you.
Im agnostic. Was formerly Lutheran, Christian, and Mormon. I felt alienated and judged by them, so i was atheist for a bit. But now i am agnostic and chill with everyone. As long as they arent darude about it.
I was raised Christian, but recently my family wanted to go to a new church. Well in order to become a member of the Church you have to be baptized, My sister and I aren't. My father is forcing us to. He proclaims it to be "good for you". In the end, he really is doing this to make himself look better in the church.
I was raised Christian, but recently my family wanted to go to a new church. Well in order to become a member of the Church you have to be baptized, My sister and I aren't. My father is forcing us to. He proclaims it to be "good for you". In the end, he really is doing this to make himself look better in the church.
Forcing? Honestly, that is a sin I'm pretty sure. Either to force someone to when not ready and/or getting baptized when not fully comfortable with it or feel Christ is with you completely.
You should NEVER get baptized if you aren't completely ready, he needs to understand that cuz honestly it's one of the 1st things you should learn when becoming a Christian. Like.. He can't force you. That in and of itself is unholy.
(I'll respond to others soon, bit busy today, but I do read and plan to respond, this just really struck me lol)
Agreed. You can still have a belief without being in a sect/cult, though. Lots of them are legitimately out there to make $$$ or corrupt people.
Regarding hostile debates... some militant atheists I've encountered will go into religious groups, usually on the Internet, and start bashing them and having unintelligent, insulting arguments with them because they think it's fun (I even asked one who was doing it to me). There are some that are pretty much shoving atheism down others' throats the same way many religious people do, and trying to shame them for believing what they believe, not letting them get a word in edgewise and bending their statements like politicians (or the way some bend the words of the Bible/cherry pick to make it mean what they want it to). I look at their G+ feeds and it's literally all they ever post or talk about; it seems to be the only characteristic that they let define themselves. I mean, some religious probably do it too, but that's the point: atheists being preachy about their beliefs the way people who actually believe in God do... religious atheists. lol. So yeah there's some crazy everywhere on the spectrum.
I even get sick of trying to debate these things at times. I have other interests besides professing my beliefs and defending them, as important as it may be. Like guys chill out, grab a Coke, play some MarioKart, turn Spotify up, and live for awhile, why don't you.
That's always the thing that gets me, people looking specifically for just an argument. Like that's what fulfills you as a person is tearing into peoples lives and spirituality and ripping apart the beauty they try to see in life all under this pompous attitude like they're actually helping people "see the light." For one, arguing with someone and telling them they're never going to see their dead loved ones again, probably not the best way to make someone understand your lack of belief. That's just debate 101, you don't attack someone personally on something that's usually emotionally-driven and then expect top tier results, why in the world would anyone listen to what you have to say if it's driven on hate or negativity of any kind? Likewise why would anyone listen to you if you're preaching about money, hatred, or intolerance based on so called religious values? Nobody is perfect and knows it all, so people need a healthy dose of humility and basic common sense.
Forcing? Honestly, that is a sin I'm pretty sure. Either to force someone to when not ready and/or getting baptized when not fully comfortable with it or feel Christ is with you completely.
You should NEVER get baptized if you aren't completely ready, he needs to understand that cuz honestly it's one of the 1st things you should learn when becoming a Christian. Like.. He can't force you. That in and of itself is unholy.
(I'll respond to others soon, bit busy today, but I do read and plan to respond, this just really struck me lol)
Frankly I cannot understand how people do believe in an Almighty Creator this day in age, because I don't really understand how it's possible to deny science and logic but at the end of the day if you're a theist and you do you and you let me do me then who really cares if you're a "believer" or not. But if you're a believer and an ultra ****ty person (I'm looking at you Westboro baptist church) I hope bad things happen to you
I don't think you really know much about what you're talking about.
1. Science and logic do exist in religion. While most people (including you) have little to no knowledge of it, it's quite prevalent. (edit: and to back up my statement, the fact that you assumed logic doesn't exist in religion is quite illogical of you. If you really believed such a thing you would have researched it first)
2. Westboro Baptist Church is a cult based off of Christianity.
I was raised Christian, but recently my family wanted to go to a new church. Well in order to become a member of the Church you have to be baptized, My sister and I aren't. My father is forcing us to. He proclaims it to be "good for you". In the end, he really is doing this to make himself look better in the church.
Some churches do this although it's not based on any Biblical teachings. Although, if you want to be a member of the church, it would probably make sense for you to be baptized anyway.
Only catholic and strongly liturgical churches baptize babies. Catholic churches are actually quite endowed in old and strange habits that the modern church doesn't agree with.
I don't think you really know much about what you're talking about.
1. Science and logic do exist in religion. While most people (including you) have little to no knowledge of it, it's quite prevalent. (edit: and to back up my statement, the fact that you assumed logic doesn't exist in religion is quite illogical of you. If you really believed such a thing you would have researched it first)
2. Westboro Baptist Church is a cult based off of Christianity.
- - - Post Merge - - -
Some churches do this although it's not based on any Biblical teachings. Although, if you want to be a member of the church, it would probably make sense for you to be baptized anyway.
Only catholic and strongly liturgical churches baptize babies. Catholic churches are actually quite endowed in old and strange habits that the modern church doesn't agree with.
I was baptised as a christian, though that's a reoccurring trend in the UK. Literally, most families that get their children baptised doesn't even practice religion, they see it more of an opportunity to have a gathering and flaunt their child in people's faces
Only catholic and strongly liturgical churches baptize babies. Catholic churches are actually quite endowed in old and strange habits that the modern church doesn't agree with.
Some really valid points were raised regarding religion practises gathering people together to form a stronger community.
(To those that are interested in watching it, it's not a "It exists vs it doesn't exists" debate, it's more like a debate about the impacts religious beliefs have on modern day societies)
I was raised a Jehovah's Witness, although I'm not sure what I am anymore. I still share some views, but I'm not as extreme as some of my family members. I have four siblings, and I think most of them aren't Jehovah's Witnesses anymore. My parents are pretty upset about that. If you have any questions I can try to answer lol.
I'm honestly not sure. I do know that some certain types of Christianity though they allow you to be baptized more than once. Which I find kind of dumb cuz it's like "uh oh I sinned, lemme go wash it all away. Oops, did it again, time to wash it away once more, etc." which totally ruins the meaning of it..
I thought I was baptized as a baby, so when my mom asked me when I was gonna get baptized I told her I thought I already was so how could I again? She told me it was just some ceremony where they sprinkled Holy water on me, it wasn't a baptism. So I'm still free to do it when I'm ready.
Lately they have been giving me the glare or ask when it'll be my turn when someone gets baptized at our church though. It kind of bugs me, like I will when I'm ready please don't nag me about it..
I'm sorry that was so tough on you. But you did deal with it the right way for YOU. It is a shame that you had to worry for your brother, but so it is with MANY young adults.. Not just over being Homosexual, or bisexual, but smaller things too.. I agree that if it wasnt so shoved at people, and they were to discover any religion on their own that more people would embrace the idea.. Unfortunately this is not the world we live in... The very first chance my friend got to break free she did, and being repressed for so many years, she went nuts and almost got herself killed.. Beliefs should be made out of love not fear. stated.. I have no issue with what anyone wants to believe... It is your choice. Just like i have a choice, everyone should have a choice.. Its taking away someones choice that breeds resentment.
Yeah, a lot of things in my family are really hard for me to handle..
Everyone should have a choice, I get you want your children to follow your religion (most the time they do) but don't force it on them, there's a way to teach them about it respectfully and right! Shoving it in their faces and lecturing them about things they don't understand or was never fully explained to about the situation is what makes them run away. And I think that's one of the reasons so many ppl resent Christianity these days, and it just keeps getting worse.
Also, the world as a whole really makes it hard to not do all these wrong things. The temptation and wrong-doings in this world just get greater and greater and it slowly becomes the "norm" for ppl though 50, 100 years ago we'd be killed for these stupid things.
Currently I am an agnostic atheist. One thing I hate is when people judge you for your beliefs, I have ran into that a lot in my life. My birth mother is Catholic and my adopted mother is Christian. I struggled a lot with religion when I was younger because my adopted mother forced her religion on me when it was clearly something that I didn't want, and in turn I ended up growing bitter towards it. Eventually I gave up all together, I 'tried' other religions but they just weren't for me, believing in god just never logically clicked in my brain. I guess the reason why I'm agnostic is because I am very spiritual and I believe that if any gods were to exist it would be the ones in greek mythology. Now, I'm not saying I go out and make people feel bad about their religion because I don't. I have many religious friends, but I just get so annoyed when people try to force their religion on me. Like I guess its okay to talk about but respect what I choose to believe. I feel like atheists sort of, in a manner of speaking, get spit on for their beliefs or lack of because they are not widely accepted. Especially in the US from what I experienced. ^^
If you're a parent, is it your "job" to judge your children on what they do and choose in life, even if you're now an adult? As far as I was aware of, you're not supposed to judge anyone as it is not our place. So how can it be their JOB to do so?
From growing up in a very Christian oriented household I can tell you that this is not something based purely on religion. Sometimes parents raise their children a certain way because they want them to grow up to be like them or be what they couldn't be. It also can be that maybe your dad worries about you and wants to make sure you have the best life that you can possibly have.
I do not think that it is a parents job to judge their children at all not matter how old they are, it leads to very unhealthy problems. But regardless, to your parent you will always be their child, and thats not going to change even when you are 30 or even older. As far as religion goes, no we should not judge others it isn't our place, not if you are Christian, you are suppose to love everyone for who they are. But like I said before this seems like something outside of religion, if this is something that greatly bothers you it may be best to talk to your dad. I had a similar situation like this happen with my adopted mom and talking to her is impossible so it turned into a very long and strongly worded text message conversation (I'm in college so seeing her in person is rare.) Sometimes you just need to communicate with your parents and let them know that they have raised you well, reassure them, but that they have to trust you to make the right decisions now. It's your life and you have to be the one to live it and you want to be happy and if that means that you date a boy they don't like or go into a career they don't approve of, they have to accept that you as their child will do the right thing for you and make them proud in a way that they wouldn't expect. No matter how stubborn they are or how much they are against it they are your parents. Hope this helped!
Yeah, I understand that that's part of it, but when he kept judging me about everything I'd do I asked him isn't it against the Bible to judge others, and that's when he stated that as my parent it's his job to judge me and my decisions. That's why it didn't make sense to me and why I asked. Like, I've never seen anywhere in what I've read in the Bible that says no one has the right to judge others, except for parents they can judge their children. Or stuff of the sort.
However, it's very hard for me to talk to my dad. He's a very grumpy person, and it simplest discussions, 90% of the time, turn into arguments or lectures with him. He's also pretty intimidating and has done/said some things in my lifetime that has hindered him from being able to really talk to him without being very nervous and hesitant. On top of that I'm naturally really shy, paranoid and worry/stress about all kinds of things, so even to begin with it's hard for me to talk to ppl, even family and friends sometimes.
I don't think you really know much about what you're talking about.
1. Science and logic do exist in religion. While most people (including you) have little to no knowledge of it, it's quite prevalent. (edit: and to back up my statement, the fact that you assumed logic doesn't exist in religion is quite illogical of you. If you really believed such a thing you would have researched it first)
2. Westboro Baptist Church is a cult based off of Christianity.
- - - Post Merge - - -
Some churches do this although it's not based on any Biblical teachings. Although, if you want to be a member of the church, it would probably make sense for you to be baptized anyway.
Only catholic and strongly liturgical churches baptize babies. Catholic churches are actually quite endowed in old and strange habits that the modern church doesn't agree with.
Yeah because it's so logical to believe that there's a big dude in the sky that created and controls everything
And you said absolutely nothing to "back up your statement" lmao
Yeah because it's so logical to believe that there's a big dude in the sky that created and controls everything
And you said absolutely nothing to "back up your statement" lmao
Something that I always feel is missing from religious debates is a little dose of humility, which ironically is something that is taught in all religions that I've learned about. I think whether it's from a belief in an all-knowing God, or just an understanding from science of how small you are in the big scope of things (or both!), it's important to remember that none of us have all the answers.
So it kind of bothers me when these conversations go the way of "your traditions are stupid" or "obviously my beliefs make the most sense". I mean, yeah my beliefs make the most sense to me too, does that really prove anything? That being said I've loved reading about everyone's personal experiences with religion!
Message to the OP: With regards to your situation, I can't really comment on the religious aspect, but I think a lot of parents respond in extreme ways when their children are getting ready to move on. I also had one really controlling parent growing up, and I can say that you might be pleasantly surprised in a few years after you've gone out on your own. My relationship with my family has improved drastically with a little more space between us.
I also had the experience of being very nervous around that one parent (sounds like we have similar personalities), but when you're no longer in a situation where they are able to have that control on a daily basis, some of that anxiety will dissipate.
Yeah because it's so logical to believe that there's a big dude in the sky that created and controls everything
And you said absolutely nothing to "back up your statement" lmao
Without turning this into a violent debate and getting this closed lol.
How is that illogical, yet literally nothing exploding into everything makes total sense?
I don't think anyone ever doubted that. Why don't we just have a sticky where these kinds of threads aren't allowed, because it doesn't really matter for how long they stay civil, it always goes to **** no matter what happens because there's one or two people that lack the ability to debate in either an educated or reasonable way. There's never going to be a peaceful discussion all the way around, so I don't see the point in even attempting it. Though I applaud how long it's lasted now. I'm pretty surprised actually. Nice reply also, ams, I agree with your first paragraph, that's some good stuff there.
Also, I'll be adding a more specific rule: NO BASHING OTHER RELIGIONS
Because that is kinda being done atm. Can have opinions, and as stated will be serious, but courteous.
Please read and follow the rules or don't post.
Something that I always feel is missing from religious debates is a little dose of humility, which ironically is something that is taught in all religions that I've learned about. I think whether it's from a belief in an all-knowing God, or just an understanding from science of how small you are in the big scope of things (or both!), it's important to remember that none of us have all the answers.
So it kind of bothers me when these conversations go the way of "your traditions are stupid" or "obviously my beliefs make the most sense". I mean, yeah my beliefs make the most sense to me too, does that really prove anything? That being said I've loved reading about everyone's personal experiences with religion!
Message to the OP: With regards to your situation, I can't really comment on the religious aspect, but I think a lot of parents respond in extreme ways when their children are getting ready to move on. I also had one really controlling parent growing up, and I can say that you might be pleasantly surprised in a few years after you've gone out on your own. My relationship with my family has improved drastically with a little more space between us.
I also had the experience of being very nervous around that one parent (sounds like we have similar personalities), but when you're no longer in a situation where they are able to have that control on a daily basis, some of that anxiety will dissipate.
I agree very much ^^
If put in the situation I do bring up my faults and things I've done wrong, I don't act perfect and like I know everything, of course everyone tries to seem like they know a LITTLE more, at least, than they really do, but it's also important to really be honest and let them know what you DO know, and also be open-minded by how they see things too. Like you said, however you are raised, whatever you grow to know is what makes most sense to you, if you want to be able to understand the other person's view on things, you need to look it up, hear personal experiences and get a feel for it to truly understand, then is when you can honestly know what really makes most sense to you.
If that even made any sense... At least it did to me xD
It's always good to know that I'm not the only one that has these kind of problems, I mean obviously I know I'm not, but to hear another actually say it reassures you. ON the other hand though it really sucks to be that way, imo.
I am hoping that when I'm out and have space that it will be a lot better, I feel like sometimes they're always so up in what I have going on, or act like they know what I'm going through, or whatever, which is sorta off subject. But yeah..
I feel like it's especially hard since I have all kinds of crappy qualities and feelings to go along with it all. It like intensifies it by 1000000!!
I'm being raised in a secular household. My dad was raised Catholic, but had it easier for him to leave it because he was the youngest of 8. Now he's an atheist, and when the topic of religion comes up, he often cites his disliking for the fighting that goes on within and between religions. I would be atheist like him if I hadn't found God the way I did.
My mom was raised a type of Christian, and though she believes in God and Jesus, she doesn't actively pray or go anywhere or do anything, she doesn't really revere the Bible that much... basically, the most you can safely say about her beliefs is that she claims to be a Christian.
I have an older brother, but he has somewhat low-functioning autism and I'm not sure he has a well-developed concept of who God even is. He probably doesn't think about things like that, and if he did it would likely be hard for him.
The reason I know of God is because of the schools I was enrolled at. My parents paid for me to go to Christian private schools, because in Florida that's usually the most prominent type of private school around, especially Catholic schools. They put me there purely for the academic/educational benefit, and the religion I suppose was just a bonus they didn't care about and that they didn't think I'd catch on to.
Near the end of 6th grade, I told my teacher I didn't believe in God. She said she'd pray for me. At the time, I started catching on to the presence of a thing called Illuminati. I read about it, watched videos/documentaries about it, and it interested me how the entertainment industry was run by them... it still does. Naturally, I couldn't get my parents to believe me; my dad thought I was joking when I brought it up. This was actually the start of my faith, this part where I learned of "the powers that be" and kept my belief in its existence despite the differing ideas of my parents, and this might've been the reason God took me as far as He did.
As I studied deeper, I found the connection between the Illuminati and everything surrounding it: Satan. My thought process was probably different back then, but logical thought would have led me to think "If there is a Satan and people worship him and there are witches that use his power, then by all means there must be a God." I began to believe again, and it turned out that my brief period of atheism was as much a phase as I'll bet my dad wants to think that my Christianity is a phase.
Anyway, over the course of my middle school years, which were spent in a Catholic school that had much more religious influence than the place I went for 6th and below, I began to get depressed over a different matter that I was constantly being taught about, which I struggled with up until freshman year. During this period, I began to find websites talking about the bad practices of the Catholic religion. It began to show to me in class, how their doctrines began to make less sense and seemed more like a system of corruption. I began my search on what it means to be a true Christian, and I am still on this search today, all the while praying and reading and researching. I notice that whenever I seek, I find, often a lot more than I'm asking to know. I see the connections between Bible verses and daily life. I see the lies behind secular and religious systems, the media and the government's "plans." With no human help besides what I've been given in Catholic religion classes and a church I got up the courage to ask my mum to take me to (and eventually found something in it to disagree with), I'm seeking the truth, that which I've only found in God and what He's given to me. He changed my life around, and you can say that's stupid, but even if I die wrong about His existence, I'd rather live ignorant of that fact because otherwise we're all pieces of meat with no actual reason for being here, and no reason for being able to think the way we do; life would be a trap we're stuck in pointlessly until it ends. And really, I think that's the stupid idea to live on.
Personally, I think people err on all sides of the equation. Like KainAronoele said above, the way people shove the stuff down your throat is not Christ-like at all. Believing is a choice that has to be made by the individual, not the parents or anyone else with authority over them. If I had a family, I would teach my kids what Christianity is, take them to a good church that teaches the good stuff, but if they reject God's Word, that's not my problem, and that's not my fault as a parent. I've done what I can; I've given them the information. The best I can do at that point is to sit back and watch how they react to it. It's their choice that lands them where they're going to end up, and I want them to know that and understand that. I will still pray for them if that's what it comes to, but in the end it's still their choice what they do with their life and their beliefs.
I think the whole idea of finding "evidence" for God's existence is absolutely absurd. I posted it on the "Do you believe in miracles" thread and I ended up killing the thread. You want to find my reasons, there they are... now that I've checked, the thread's on the second page of the board.
*Stands up and claps* Your post is really well-thought out and detailed. Especially what you said in the spoiler. Good job sir on making a truthful and logical post.
